"Samsung fan booing? I hope you don't care."Kiwoom Daegu's Opening Game, No Worry Cardines

"Samsung fan booing? I hope you don't care."Kiwoom Daegu's Opening Game, No Worry Cardines

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"I don't know what Samsung fans would think, but I believe in the sincerity of Cardinez."

Kiwoom Heroes' new foreign hitter Ruben Cardinez played in nine games during the 2025 KBO exhibition game and showed a good batting average of 0.308 (8 hits in 26 at-bats) with one home run, three RBIs and an OPS of 0.846.메이저놀이터

Although Cardinez had no hits in two at-bats in the final exhibition game against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 18th, he was not in a bad condition overall. It seems that the pace has risen smoothly in time for the opening of the pennant race on the 22nd.

Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki expressed satisfaction, saying, "It was impressive to see Cardinez actively hit the ball when he had three hits against Lotte on the 17th. The batting is coming up stably."

Born in 1997, Cardinez is a U.S.-born U.S.-based right-handed hitter. He signed a contract with the Samsung Lions as a substitute foreign player in July last year, and became acquainted with the KBO League for the first time.
As soon as he wore the Samsung uniform, Cardinez showed off his unique slugging capability to the fullest. He displayed impressive performance by hitting home runs against Lotte for two consecutive days from July 20 to July 21 last year. In his first six games, he displayed a batting average of 0.348 (eight hits in 23 at-bats) with two home runs and five RBIs.

However, since the game against the KT Wiz on July 26, 2014, Cardinez has complained of back pain and has not been able to participate in games continuously. He was released after the game against the Hanwha Eagles on August 6.

Before his release from Samsung, Cardinez was suspected of being a "lack of work." While Cardinez continued to complain of back pain, the Samsung club said there was no abnormality in the detailed examination.

For this reason, Samsung fans' view of Cardinez is still not favorable. When Cardinez signed a contract with Kiwoom ahead of the 2025 season, there were also loud criticisms among Samsung fans.
Kiwoom said, "I think there was a misunderstanding (of the controversy over the layup)," after confirming the recruitment of Cardinez, adding, "If a player says he can't play when he's not sick, it's really wrong, but from what we check, Cardinez still has some fine damage to his side."

Immediately after joining the Kiwoom team in mid-January, Cadines also quickly melted into the team's atmosphere through sincere training attitude and active communication with teammates. Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki is also satisfied with Cadines' current condition.

Coincidentally, Kiwoom's opening match for the pennant race of the 2025 season is Samsung. It will play two consecutive games at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu from the 22nd to the 23rd.

Before the final exhibition game against Lotte on the 18th, Hong Won-ki said, "We have finished talking to Cardinez (about Samsung) in the U.S.," adding, "We have to prove to Cardinez ourselves. I told him not to mind (the suspicions during the Samsung period) because it was not his intention, and he replied that he would do the same."
"Whether it's booing or cheering in Daegu, it's something to go through anyway and it's something to pass by," he said. "Personally, I don't know what many fans in Daegu will think, but I believe in the sincerity of Cardinez."

It is no exaggeration to say that the direction of the 2025 season's performance depends on Cardinez's bat. Amid the humiliation of the lowest rank for two consecutive years amid the slump in the batting lineup last year, Kiwoom threw a winning move this year by simultaneously using two foreign batters, Yasiel Puig and Cardinez.

It is the first time in 16 years that Kiwoom will start the regular season with two or more foreign hitters since Cliff Brumba-Duck Clark in 2009.