Seoul-based kt wiz’s foreign batter Sam Hilliard was initially discussed as a prime candidate for early release in the 2026 KBO League season. Despite facing potential removal, Hilliard has unexpectedly emerged as a contender for the league’s Most Valuable Player award. This surprising development highlights the faith manager Lee Kang-cheol has placed in the player, embodying his “baseball of trust” philosophy. Manager Lee’s unwavering support appears to have unlocked Hilliard’s potential. The kt wiz are benefiting from Hilliard’s improved performance. This showcases a remarkable turnaround for the player within the KBO League.