LG left after 25 years of relationship while holding back tears, now it is a special name for rebuilding the SSG mound

Nov 17, 2024

Coach Kyung Heon-ho participated in the Kagoshima closing camp. Photo =SSG Landers

[Kagoshima (Japan) = Reporter Na Yuri of Sports Chosun]"Fortunately, I didn't see the players, so I didn't look ugly."

Coach Kyung Heon-ho, who newly joined the SSG Landers pitching coach, settled his 25-year relationship with the LG Twins.

In my professional life, I always had LG. He was nominated first by LG in 1996 and joined in 2000 after graduating from Hanyang University. And even after his career ended, he has been coaching only at LG for more than 10 years. This is the first time that he has moved to a non-LG team.

This is the pitching coach that manager Lee Sung-yong had in mind for a year ago. At that time, the team could not be moved due to circumstances, but this time it was done. As his relationship with General Manager Kim Jae-hyun is deep, he can start in a more comfortable atmosphere even if he comes to a completely new team.

Coach Kyung Heon-ho is currently coaching pitchers at the closing camp in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima, Japan. SSG has set up a camp participation list centered on promising players in their 20s such as Choi Hyun-suk, Jeong Dong-yoon, and Kim Gun-woo. Coach Kyung Heon-ho is actively giving advice to prospective players based on his know-how and data analysis. Some pitchers can already see the changes.

Coach Kyung Heon-ho, who is coaching Jeong Dong-yoon. Photo =SSG Landers

Coach Kyung Heon-ho has only been on one team for 25 years. I heard a lot about it with the players, but I think I would have gotten a little emotional if I saw their faces at the end, but fortunately, I didn't see them. I didn't look ugly"I laughed.

The mission is heavy as it understands the situation of SSG, which has been agonizing over the mound overall this season. Coach Kyung Heon-ho said, `It was a little different when I thought about moving to SSG than when I played as an opposing team. Looking at the pitcher's history, I thought it would be difficult (to have a good performance). But when I came to see it, I thought it was better than I thought?' I have a feeling that. I keep thinking about many things in the accommodation, and I'm also doing it while looking at the players. It will take time to become the No. 1 pitcher team, but I think it will be better if we prepare like this."

Choi Hyun-suk, Park Sung-bin, Park Si-hoo, Kim Gun-woo, Shin Ji-hwan, and Jung Dong-yoon are already aiming for the 2025 season while watching the various strengths and weaknesses of pitchers currently training in the closing camp.

사진=SSG 랜더스

SSG, which has a thirst for a left-hander bullpen, is eyeing that it needs a better pitcher than sticking to the left and right. Coach Kyung Heon-ho said, `It's good to have a good left hand, but you can't use a left hand that doesn't play. Kim Min, who joined the trade, is a good gritty player, so he can also show his strength to left-handed batters. If we do it until next year's camp and (left-handed pitchers) judge that it is not possible, we have no choice but to go while facing left-handed batters as right-handed pitchers."

I'm also thinking of old and new harmony. SSG believes that two foreign pitchers, Kim Kwang-hyun and Moon Seung-won will likely receive the opportunity to start first next season, and that the bullpen will be conceived to some extent by Noh Kyung-eun, Cho Byung-hyun and Seo Jin-yong, who are under FA contracts. Coach Kyung Heon-ho said, `If Seo Jin-yong is okay, about seven players, including Seo Jin-yong, will be fixed. However, it also means that the remaining seven digits are empty. I think the team needs to look further than next year to raise and change the players by giving them a chance" he said.

He also confirmed the pitchers' changes in the closing camp, which has already exceeded the halfway point. Coach Kyung Heon-ho said, `When I first came here, I only did what SSG players told me to do. Rather than that, it encourages the players to find something and do it themselves. He didn't do that in the beginning, but as time passed, the players are now starting to see themselves doing it. Something is changing as I feel how to exercise and these parts on my own. If this is well established, I think SSG can be a strong team" encouraged.

youll@sportschosun.com