Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte

Jul 11, 2024

Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
The match between SSG Landers and Lotte Giants at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 10th. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung, who won, is delighted. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.07.10/



Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
The KBO League KT Wiz and Lotte Giants match at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 20th. Manager Kim Tae-hyung is appealing to the ground when Kim Dong-hyuk, who was heading to second base when he hit a ground ball to Lotte Seo Dong-wook's infield with one out in the top of the eighth inning, was declared to interfere with defense for colliding with KT second baseman Shin Bon-ki. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.06.20/
Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
Lotte and KIA match held at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 5th, and Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung takes the mound in the bottom of the 6th inning with one out and runners on second base to talk with Kim Sang-soo and Yoo Kang-nam's battery. Gwangju = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.06.05/
"I smile often?"

Manager Kim Tae-hyung's first year in charge of the Lotte Giants was never smooth.

The goal for the first year was to advance to fall baseball, win within three years, but the highest ranking since the opening was seventh.



There was also a time when the winning margin fell to -14 with 8 wins, 22 losses and 1 draw until May 1. Since then, he has reorganized the atmosphere around young hitters and improved his performance by ranking first overall in June, but attempts to jump to the mid-range have been hampered repeatedly.

Still, Kim Tae-hyung's face is generally bright. He is often seen playing pranks with players or encouraging them with a big smile. Some players approach first and make jokes like Hwang Sung-bin.



Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
A game between KIA and Lotte at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 22nd. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung. Busan = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.5.22/
The atmosphere is quite different from that of the Doosan Bears in 2015, when he first took the helm.

At that time, manager Kim Tae-hyung was one of the strictest leaders in all 10 clubs. The charisma of the head coach has been added while maintaining the presence that has dominated the team as a captain since he was a player. It did not lag behind the charisma of existing head coaches such as Kim Kyung-moon and Kim Sung-geun.



The players ran away from him. I often flinched and avoided my eyes just as my eyes were directed.

Based on this strong control, a large-scale reconstruction was successful. Young players such as Kim Jae-ho, Heo Kyung-min, Oh Jae-il, Park Gun-woo, Jung Soo-bin and Heo Kyung-min burst their potential, and Yang Eui-ji also became the best catcher in Korea by raising his long-range power during this period. With Yoo Hee-kwan, Jang Won-jun and special foreigners in the starting rotation, once called 「Fantastic 4」, Lee Hyun-seung and Ham Deok-ju have blossomed into their heyday.

In Lotte this year, young military-pil hitters such as Hwang Sung-bin, Ko Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Yoon Dong-hee burst their potential all at once.

Son Ho-young, who was acquired through a trade, has stood tall at the center of the team, and veterans such as Jin Hae-soo, Choi Hang, and Kim Sang-soo are burning flames. Depending on the pace of the second half, it is enough to aim for autumn baseball.

Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
8th game of the season between LG and Lotte at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 15th. Lotte won 9-8 after a close game against LG. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung applauds the players after the game. Jamsil = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.15/
The ranks are different, but the aspects are similar.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung has a different attitude. Director Kim Tae-hyung said "More smiles than before"When Doosan first directed, he was a really scary character. At that time, there were many players who couldn't even make eye contact with me," he said with a smile.

"A player is afraid of a coach because he is not confident in himself. I don't get angry because I make mistakes and strike out. You get angry when a player is preparing for a game and you don't do what you have to do during the game."

He explained that it is important to value the process rather than the result and not to repeat mistakes.

Even in the days of Doosan, there was a player who had a different style but was not intimidated like Hwang Sung-bin.

It's Jung Soo-bin. Director Kim Tae-hyung said, `Jung Soo-bin was not afraid of me. He explained, "I'm a style that doesn't care about others and only does what I'm going to do."

Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
A game between KIA and Lotte at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 22nd. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung. Busan = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.5.22/
Players may have different opinions.

A veteran Doosan player recalled his days as manager Kim Tae-hyung, saying, `The manager's eyes were like a blade. Now that I think about it, I didn't even think about it then"If you look at Lotte these days, you look like a different person."," he said with a smile.

Lotte veteran Jung Hoon suffered an extreme slump with a batting average of 17.2 in May and a batting average of 209 in June. Jung-hoon, who met after the match against Incheon SSG Landers on the 10th, said "I had a lot of thoughts and did everything to do well. I also thought that if I can't even play the left-handed pitcher's ball, there's no place to stand anymore,' he said, looking back on the past time when he was upset. Then "When I came in after practice, the director said 'Why do you have so many thoughts. Just do it. What a great player he was. He said. 'The Room of Truth' did not go. It was before the game, so..." he laughed.

Charisma → Buddha transformation? Kim Tae-hyung's leadership, which has changed significantly over the past nine years, is directly revealed 'Young Team'Difference between Doosan and Lotte
Lotte won three consecutive games with a 9-3 victory at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 5th. Manager Kim Tae-hyung smiles after the game. Gwangju = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.06.05/
"It made me feel at ease to hear that. As expected, baseball's most comfortable. When I go out to third base, I pray like 'Please don't come to the ball' and 'Come only easy balls' However, when you feel the director's trust, you will repay that trust again. Because a player like me has to survive..."

However, Jung-hoon was asked with a smile, "'Lotte's young players are not afraid of Kim Tae-hyung.'"

"A baseball player's result is confidence. Aren't you all hitting 30 right now. That's the case when your grades are good. It's good if your grades don't drop, but once you drop it, you'll feel very scary."



lunarfly@sportschosun.com