In the second year of Kim Tae-hyung's division, he dreams of the birth of a new club called 'Hwachapun'

Nov 04, 2024

김상진 코치. Sports Chosun DB

Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung greets the players. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.9.25/

He's 3 years older. I worked on the battery for 9 years. He spent three years as a fellow coach and another three years as a coach and coach. Even after joining the Doosan Bears, it has already been 24 years.

Pitcher coach Kim Sang-jin has been confirmed to join the Lotte Giants. It is the first reunion in two years since manager Kim Tae-hyung put down the baton at Doosan in 2022.

Head coach Kim Tae-hyung, who led the final training for the first time in a long time with an inauguration ceremony at the end of last year, was full of confidence in Lotte's mound. Back in spring camp, the rookie Jeon Mir Gong was pretty good, but I don't know if I'll make the entry. There are too many good pitchers."

But it was different during the regular season. The starting team had holes one after another, and the quality of the bullpen was disappointing except for some pitchers. In the case of hitters directly conducted by head coach Kim Tae-hyung, it is in contrast to the fact that they have been reborn as a hitting line for the second place in the team batting average (2805), second place in the OPS (on base rate + long hit rate, 0.782) and second place in the team hit (1454, first place KIA Tigers) with multi-year newcomers such as Hwang Sung-bin and Son Ho-young, young players such as Yoon Dong-hee, Ko Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop, and veterans such as Jeon Joon-woo and Jung Hoon.

Coach Kim Sang-jin during Doosan. Photo courtesy = Doosan Bears

He is manager Kim Tae-hyung, who has reorganized the first-team coaching staff with acquaintances and supporters who have worked together with him since his appointment. They include senior bench coach Kim Kwang-soo, senior coach Kim Min-jae, defensive coach Kim Min-ho and Yoo Jae-shin, operation running coach Ko Young-min, and battery coach Jung Sang-ho.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung said, `I know the batters and catchers well, but we have to leave the pitchers to the experts" he says. Add coach Kim Sang-jin to this. He is an expert in developing pitchers in the baseball world.

It was the recruitment that he also requested when he took office last year. At that time, coach Kim Sang-jin chose to stay in Doosan, but he joined belatedly.

Coach Kim Sang-jin during Doosan. Photo courtesy = Doosan Bears

He was in charge of SK's mound during the dynasty, and Doosan also announced the revival of the mound. Seo Jin-yong, Lee Seung-yong, Jung Chul-won, Choi Seung-yong, Choi Jun-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Choi Ji-gang are the main players. Lotte is also a team with many promising players who coach Kim Sang-jin can raise.

Lotte will focus on fostering promising players through customized field training in Japan, including exchanges with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Chiba Lotte Marines in November. Coach Kim Sang-jin is expected to join the team in the next season.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung's goal of entering the fall baseball league in his first year failed. In order for Lotte to become a strong team within the contract period of three years, it is essential to have at least the experience of autumn baseball in the second season. Will the Kim Tae-hyung and Kim Sang-jin duo, who met again, be able to recreate the history of water at Lotte.

lunarfly@sportschosun.com