Koo Ja-wook voted Korean Series MVP despite hamstring injury
Koo batted .500 in the series and received 72 of 97 media votes, while the Lions ended a 12-year title drought.
Samsung Lions captain Koo Ja-wook was voted Korean Series MVP on Sunday after playing through a hamstring injury, South Korea's national news agency Yonhap reported.
Koo received 72 of 97 media votes after the Lions beat the KT Wiz 12-1 in Game 5 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, the clincher that gave the team its first South Korean baseball title in 12 years.
In the five-game series, Koo batted .500 with a home run, two doubles, a triple, six RBIs and five runs scored.
Koo, 33, had won the regular-season batting title with a .371 average, but he missed the last dozen days of the season with hamstring problems.
He was not fully healthy when the Lions' postseason began on Oct. 26 against the Kia Tigers, and he played every game of that round as a designated hitter, batting 3-for-20 without an extra-base hit.
His health improved during the Korean Series, and he had three hits in Sunday's clincher, including a game-tying double in the third inning.
In the eight-run fifth inning, he scored a run on an infield single by Kim Young-woong, and the Lions built an 11-1 lead that effectively decided the game.
"In 2015, I thought we were going to win the Korean Series easily, but I guess nothing is ever given," Koo said.
"This victory is so gratifying because of all those dark years that we went through as a team."
Koo said the whole lineup deserved the MVP award and named bullpen pitcher Lee Seung-min, catcher Kang Min-ho and outfielder Choi Hyoung-woo, who played left field in the series while Koo was limited to designated hitting.
"I learned so much from Hyoung-woo the whole year," Koo said of Choi, who rejoined the Lions this year after nine seasons with the Kia Tigers.
Koo also thanked the team's trainers, even though his initial diagnosis at the end of September had him sidelined for up to 12 weeks.
"It is going to be a treacherous journey but I think we are capable of winning more championships," Koo said.
"But we cannot afford to be complacent."
The Lions won four straight titles from 2011 to 2014 but lost the 2015 championship round, the year Koo made his debut with the club.
They did not return to the postseason until 2021.