Samsung Lions Futures Will Train and Compete in Japan
The team will travel to Fukuoka for a two-week exchange program featuring joint training and exhibition matches.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Baseball
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Beginning October 1st, 2026, the Samsung Lions Futures team will head to Fukuoka, Japan, for a 15-day development program. The squad will engage in joint training sessions and play five exhibition games against the SoftBank Hawks' third team.
Why it matters
The organization established this exchange program to accelerate the skill development of its promising young players. By competing against international counterparts, the team aims to provide a growth-focused environment for its prospects.
The 15-day program includes a three-game series at Mizuhō PayPay Dome Fukuoka and two games at Tama Home Stadium Chikugo. In total, the team will play five games against the SoftBank Hawks, alongside two additional matches against Japanese corporate teams.
The players
Samsung Lions Futures
This is the developmental squad for the professional Samsung Lions baseball team, which plays in the KBO League.
SoftBank Hawks
This is a prominent Japanese professional baseball club based in Fukuoka that competes in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
The details
The trip facilitates a collaborative environment where players will participate in joint training with the SoftBank third team from October 2nd to October 4th. This initiative stems from existing connections between the Samsung Futures management and the SoftBank organization.
Timeline
October 1st to October 15th marks the duration of the team visit in Fukuoka.
October 2nd to October 4th is scheduled for joint training sessions.
October 5th to October 7th features a three-game series at Mizuhō PayPay Dome Fukuoka.
October 13th and 14th will host two final exhibition games at Tama Home Stadium Chikugo.
Season Trajectory
This international training initiative marks a strategic effort to enhance the developmental pipeline for young players outside of the standard domestic season. It aligns with the KBO League's player development pathways to provide essential competitive exposure for future roster depth.
Fans and observers can track the performance of these prospects in five high-level exhibition games against the SoftBank third team. These matches serve as a critical benchmark for evaluating the current talent progression within the organization's developmental farm system.
The takeaway
The program emphasizes the value of international cooperation in professional sports development. Investing in cross-cultural training can provide young athletes with diverse competitive experiences that domestic leagues alone may not offer.
Further reading
For more insights into professional development, visit the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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