Lions catcher Kang Min-ho playing in Korean Series through injury: 'I am pouring my soul into it'

DAEGU — In pursuit of his first championship ring in his 23-year career, Samsung Lions catcher Kang Min-ho said Friday he is playing in the Korean Series through an oblique injury. He has been clearly hampered by the pain on his left side, unable to put much behind his swings, but the 41-year-old said he is doing "whatever I can to help the team." "I am doing what I can to keep getting into games," Kang said after his batting practice before Game 3 of the series against the KT Wiz at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, some 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece. "I am dealing with a lot of pain when I am swinging the bat but I will still try to do my best," Kang added. "I also want to help out on the defensive side and keep the other team from scoring." He was guarded about revealing the extent of his injury, saying he had torn a muscle on his left side but adding, "It is not something I want to go around and tell people about." Kang has gone 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the first...