Kim Tae-hyung, Lotte's new coach, shows strong will “ We look forward to Jun-woo Jeon, a leader who will provide all-out effort in times of crisis by strengthening defense, which is the first step to winning the championship. ” Experienced Kim Yong-hee appointed as 2nd team coach

Professional baseball coach Lotte Kim Tae-hyung was interviewed by this newspaper on the 21st at Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae, where the team's final training is in full swing. Lotte, which had not been at the top of the Korean Series for 31 years from 1992 until this year, recruited Coach Kim as a 'winning contractor' and entrusted him with the baton. 

“This is a team worth competing against as a coach and as a man.”

Lotte’s new coach Kim Tae-hyung (56) was still unstoppable. Coach Kim, who met on the 21st at Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, where he is directing the team's final training, said, “The position of manager is an object of envy for all baseball players. In particular, Lotte, which is supported by the most passionate fans, is a team that any baseball manager would definitely want to take charge of.”

The rumor of ‘Lotte + Kim Tae-hyung’ has been steadily circulating inside and outside the club since the middle of this year’s regular season. Lotte, which failed to advance to the postseason by placing 7th in the regular league, handed over the baton to coach Kim as soon as the season ended. A ‘winning contractor’ was needed to fulfill the team’s long-cherished wish. Coach Kim, who worked as a baseball commentator this year, is a 'master' who participated in the Korean Series seven times and won three of them while serving as the head coach of Doosan for eight years from 2015 to 2022.

● The key to winning is defense

Lotte is the team that has not won a championship for the longest time among the 10 Korean professional baseball teams. 1992 was the last Korean Series victory. Since 2017, I haven't even stepped foot on the postseason stage. This year, interest in Lotte grew as LG won the Korean Series for the first time in 29 years.

Coach Kim said that the first step to the top is ‘defense.’ He said, “There were not many team mistakes this year (103, tied for 3rd lowest team errors). However, there were many games where the team collapsed after a crucial defensive mistake. “Only when the defense is strong will the team become stronger and better organized.”

As soon as Coach Kim took charge of Lotte, he brought in head coach Kim Min-jae, defense coach Kim Min-ho, and base running coach Ko Young-min. They are all defensive experts. Chief Kim is a former shortstop for the national team who participated in the 1st World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2006. Coach Minho Kim and Coach Go won Golden Gloves as shortstop and second baseman, respectively, during their playing days.

Lotte has a huge void in its infield as second baseman Ahn Chi-hong, who qualified as a free agent (FA) at the end of this season, moved to Hanwha. Manager Kim said, “Park Seung-wook, Noh Jin-hyuk, Lee Hak-ju, Han Dong-hee, etc. must take their positions well,” and “Second-year rookie Jeong Dae-seon and Lee Joo-chan, who returned from military service, are also resources that will add strength to the infield defense.”

● No more ‘Bomde’

Coach Kim evaluated Lotte, whom he saw while working as a commentator, as lacking the strength to overcome a crisis and rise above it. Lotte, which briefly took the lead at the beginning of this season, has fallen in ranking since early summer and has never rebounded. Every year, the team flashed in the beginning but ended the season in the bottom tier, earning them the nickname ‘Bomde’ (Lotte that is only good in spring).

Coach Kim said, “In times of crisis, the leader must ultimately set the tone for the team,” and added, “The players must follow the leader and move in unison to become a strong team.” Coach Kim nominated Jeon Jun-woo (37) as the player leader. Jeon Jun-woo, who signed his second free agent contract for a total of 4.7 billion won over 4 years and remains an ‘eternal Lotte man,’ will serve as captain next season and lead the junior players.

Manager Kim said, “The pitching staff, which includes two foreign pitchers, Park Se-woong, and Na Kyun-an, is calculated. “If young fielders like Na Seung-yeop, Kim Min-seok, and Yoon Dong-hee grow well, 카지노사이트랭크 we will be able to take on a great challenge,” he said. He also expressed confidence, saying, “If we advance to fall baseball, which is our primary goal for next season, we can even aim to win the short-term postseason.”

● Add experience to your passion

Lotte coach Kim Tae-hyung (left) and Lotte Futures (2nd team) coach Kim Yong-hee stood together in front of the camera at Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae on the 21st. Lotte announced the appointment of second-team manager Kim Yong-hee this afternoon. 

On this day, Lotte appointed Kim Yong-hee (68), Chairman of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Game Operations Committee, as the Futures (2nd team) coach. This decision was made after the club discussed opinions with Manager Kim. Coach Kim said, “When I was coaching at SK (now SSG), senior Kim Yong-hee was the manager of the SK 2nd team, and we talked a lot about baseball.” He added, “I thought he was the right person to create a proper system in the 2nd team that needed training. “I did it,” he said. He also recruited Ilgu Chairman Kim Kwang-soo (64), whom he had referred to as the ‘head of the room’ during his time as a player, as a bench coach. He said, “As you go through a season, unexpected things happen. “At that time, we will be able to borrow the wisdom of our seniors.” 고스톱