Daegu: Lewin Diaz of the Samsung Lions made history by becoming the first foreign-born player to hit 50 home runs in a season in South Korean baseball. Diaz achieved this milestone with a three-run shot off Kim Tae-hyeong of the Kia Tigers during the bottom of the first inning at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, located 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Diaz, a first baseman from the Dominican Republic, joined an elite group of only three other players, all South Korean-born, to reach the half-century mark in the KBO's 43-year history. The record for the most home runs in a single season is held by former Lions slugger Lee Seung-yuop, who hit 56 home runs in 2003 and 54 homers in 1999. During Lee's record-setting season in 2003, Shim Chong-soo of the Hyundai Unicorns hit 53 homers.

Diaz's current teammate, Park Byung-ho, previously hit 52 home runs in 2014 and 53 in 2015 for the Nexen Heroes. In addition to his 50 home runs this season, Diaz's three-run shot increased his RBIs to 156, setting a new league record. The previous record of 146 RBIs was set by Park in 2015.