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| Kiwoom Heroes Hong Won-ki is the new director. (Provided by Kiwoom Heroes) © News1 |
Senior coach Hong Won-ki has been promoted to the new command tower of Kiwoom Heroes, the only vacant seat among the 10 clubs. With this, all 10 club managers have been decided, and four new faces will compete in the 2021 season.
SK Wyverns and Hanwha Eagles, who were in 9th-10th place side by side last year, appointed new managers early.
SK’s pride in ninth place brought in manager Kim Won-hyung, who was the founding member of the team. Newly, CEO Min Gyeong-sam and Ryu Seon-gyu joined forces, recruiting outside FA Choi Joo-hwan, and bringing in Kim Sang-soo by sign-and-trade.
Hanwha, who was at the bottom, also hired coach Carlos Subero, a ‘cultivation expert’ for the rebuilding.
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| Hanwha Eagles new coach Carlos Subero is entering Korea through Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 11th. 2021.1.11/News1 © News1 Reporter Seongcheol Lee |
From 2001 to 2015, Subero coached the team of the American professional baseball minor league. He then served as first base and infield coach for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2016 to 2019.
Hanwha, who had been from Eagles so far, began a major renovation, including the recruitment of a foreign command tower for the first time in the club.
Like SK, LG Twins, as well as SK, took the baton as chief coach Ryu Ji-hyun, who was from a franchise, as a replacement for former coach Ryu Joong-il.
Director Ryu, who joined LG in 1994, won the Rookie Award that year and experienced winning the Korean series. Even after retirement, he is a representative’one club man’ that only existed in LG.
Kiwoom, who was delayed in the appointment of the command tower, chose Hong Won-ki, who had been with the coaching staff since 2009, as the director.
New coach Hong expressed his determination to win this season by filling in the gap of Kim Ha-sung (San Diego) and resolving the tumultuous team atmosphere.
Three out of ten teams have coaches from the second year.
KIA Tigers coach Matt Williams has cleared the regret of staying in 6th place last year and is running with the goal of advancing to baseball this fall. KIA is keenly aware of whether Ace Yang Hyun-jong will advance to the major league after catching Hyung-woo Choi, an internal free agent.
The 30th is set as the Maginot line and the situation is carefully monitored.
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| On the afternoon of the 31st, coach Matt Williams claps while watching the athletes’ training match at the KIA Tigers Red and White Match held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Buk-gu, Gwangju. 2020.3.31/News1 © News1 Reporter Hwang Hee-gyu |
Samsung Lions manager Heo Sam-young, formerly the power analysis team leader, is also aiming to leap to the top this year.
Samsung, who finished in 8th place last year, recruited Geopo left-hander Oh Jae-il as a free agent, and raised expectations by catching internal free agents such as Woo Gyu-min and Lee Won-seok.
Lotte Giants coach Huh Moon-hoe, who finished 7th in the 2020 season due to a lack of backsight, also needs results this year.
Lotte selected prospects who will be responsible for the team’s next 10 years, such as Na Seung-yeop and Kim Jin-wook, but they have not yet finished their free agency contract with Lee Dae-ho. It is also regrettable that outfielder Min Byung-hun, who was the captain of last year, also left the operating table.
The 2021 season is expected to be another test for Doosan Bears coach Kim Tae-hyung, who has been holding the Doosan Bears’ baton for seven years.
Coach Taehyung Kim led the team to advance to the Korean series for six consecutive years, but this year the situation is a little different.
One-two punches Chris Flexen and Raul Alcantara both left for Japan, and free agents Choi Ju-hwan (SK) and Oh Jae-il (Samsung) also transferred. He caught Gyeong-min Heo, Su-bin Su, and Jae-ho Kim, but it is clear that their power is weaker than last year.
KT Wiz, who entered the first postseason of the 2020 season, is looking higher in the third year of coach Lee Kang-cheol.
NC Dinos coach Dong-wook Dong-wook, who achieved the combined championship last year, is also confident of winning the second straight victory with Na Seong-beom remaining.