KIA Coach “Challenge to Win this Year”, Hanwha Captain “If we don’t Place 5th, We will go to the Sea”
Even if you don’t attend the media day, the topic of discussion is ‘Ryu Hyun-jin’s return’
“I will win this year.”
Fans erupted in cheers at the firm words of KIA Tigers Coach Lee Beom-ho, born in 1981, the youngest among the head coaches of the 10 teams in the 2024 Korean Professional Baseball KBO League.
At the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Media Day held at the Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 22nd, the host asked the ‘three new head coaches’ to “predict the timing of victory.” 바카라사이트
Coach Kim Tae-hyung, a ‘championship contractor’ who signed a three-year contract with the Lotte Giants, promised, “I will do it within three years,” and SSG Landers coach Lee Soong-yong said, “My contract period is two years.
I will do it within two years.”
Coach Lee Beom-ho then took the microphone and firmly said, “We will do it this season.”
Coach Lee said, “Among the 10 teams, I was the last to take office,” and pledged, “However, I will work hard to achieve the dream that I could not achieve last year (6th place) this season.
I will play good baseball for the fans.”
Manager Lee Beom-ho started spring camp as a hitting coach, but was appointed as the new head coach of KIA on the 13th of last month following the dismissal of former manager Kim Jong-guk, who was investigated by the prosecution on charges of breach of trust by receiving kickbacks from sponsors.
Although key hitter Na Seong-beom was recently diagnosed with damage to his right thigh hamstring (the muscle behind the thigh) and was withdrawn from the lineup, KIA is still evaluated as having ‘top-tier power.’
Coach Lee Beom-ho, who quickly restored the team atmosphere, did not hide his ‘dream of challenging for the championship.’
KIA ace Eui-ri Lee said, “The players’ goal is also No. 1,” and also pledged to win, saying, “If we win, we will host an event with fans at the baseball stadium to enjoy together.”
The ‘defending champion’ LG Twins, who achieved a combined championship last year for the first time in 29 years since 1994, also has no intention of stepping down.
LG coach Yeom Kyeong-yeop said, “I had a really good experience last year.
I and the players want to feel that joy again this year,” and added, “I will work hard with the goal of winning a second consecutive championship.”
KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-cheol, who performed the ‘magic’ of rising from last place to second place in 2023, declared his challenge for the championship, saying, “This season, I will have a leisurely season with a baseball that always wins.”
Although he did not participate in the media day, the name of Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles), who returned to the KBO League after 12 years, was constantly heard at the event venue.
Hanwha coach Choi Won-ho excitedly said, “Our starting pitcher for the opening game (23rd) is Ryu Hyun-jin, who ‘no other team has’” and added, “We recruited Chae Eun-seong last year and Ahn Chi-hong this year, and even Ryu Hyun-jin is back, so we will definitely be playing fall baseball with Hanwha fans this season.”
“I will do it,” he promised to advance to the postseason for the first time in six years since 2018.
When asked about the possibility of the first-ever starting match between Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Gwang-hyun (SSG), the left-handed duo representing Korean baseball, SSG coach Lee Soong-yong said, “Due to my personality, I will not avoid it.
If we meet, I will prepare well so that we can win.”
It raised the expectations of baseball fans.
With Ryu Hyun-jin’s return, Hanwha players’ confidence also grew.
Hanwha captain Chae Eun-seong said, “Our goal is fourth place,” and added, “If we don’t make it into the top five, the senior players have decided to swim in the waters off Taean.”
Noh Si-hwan also made a huge pledge, saying, “A new stadium will be built in Daejeon next year,” and “If we win, we will invite all fans to the first game at the new stadium for free.”
Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop, who finished 5th in his first season (2023), said, “Our team’s catchphrase this year is ‘247’.
We created ‘Fans’ so that our fans can enjoy baseball 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“I will play baseball that satisfies everyone,” he said.
Coach Lee predicted that ‘big rookie’ Kim Taek-yeon would win the Rookie of the Year Award and encouraged him, saying, “One day, he will be able to play in MLB (Major League Baseball).”
Coach Kang In-kwon of the NC Dinos, who struggled in last year’s playoffs, dreamed of advancing to the Korean Series, saying, “This year, I will work with the fans until the final stage in the fall.”
Samsung Lions coach Park Jin-man, who was in the bottom tier (8th place) last year, predicted a rebound, saying, “There will be more winning days than losing days this season.”
Coach Hong Won-ki of Kiwoom Heroes, who finished in last place (10th place) in 2023 and even sent Jeong-hoo Lee (San Francisco Giants) to the United States, promised, “This year, I will discover new faces and show myself constantly challenging myself.”
After completing the ‘Speaking Contest’, professional baseball coaches and representative players begin their long journey of playing 144 games per team on the 23rd.
