“If you think you’ll do better next year, you’re completely mistaken”…Kim Tae-hyung warns ‘resignation idols’ to be nervous
“Don’t be under the illusion that you will do better next year.”
Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung had a strong message on the first day of the offseason camp, especially for the rookies who made the leap to the main roster this year, telling them not to be complacent and to be more nervous.
Following the inauguration ceremony on the 24th, Kim held a meeting with the players on the 25th at the Gimhae Sangdong Stadium. He then changed into his uniform and began to direct the players’ final training. Although the coaching staff was not finalized, the team moved quickly to identify players. The young pitchers in the final camp pitched out of the bullpen in front of Kim Tae-hyung.
Kim Tae-hyung cited the fact that Lotte has many young and promising players as a strength. However, he also sent a message that the team shouldn’t be complacent. Kim Tae-hyung was known as the “championship coach” and was a master at unlocking the potential of young players. Along with Kim Tae-hyung, Min Byung-heon, Kim Jae-hwan, Oh Jae-il, Jeong Soo-bin, and Park Gun-woo began to show their full potential. 바카라사이트 When he saw a budding player, he gave him a chance and watched how he behaved and played, and when he crossed the line, he tamed him.
This year, Lotte had a number of beastly rookies such as Kim Min-seok, Yoon Dong-hee, and Son Sung-bin stand out and establish themselves in the first team. They were dubbed the “resignation idols” as they were loved by many fans. Rookie Kim Min-seok and second-year player Yoon Dong-hee played full-time seasons and secured the two outfield spots. The fact that they didn’t miss the opportunity presented by the injuries and sluggishness of the existing players clearly shows that they have skills and potential.
High school hitting prodigy Kim Min-seok, dubbed “Little Lee Jung-hoo,” switched positions from infield to outfield this year and quickly adapted to become the starting center fielder. In 129 games (400 at-bats, 102 hits), he batted .265 with three home runs, 39 RBIs, 53 runs scored, 16 doubles, and a .652 OPS. He became the first Lotte high school rookie to reach 100 hits, something Lee Dae-ho never did. It was a Lotte first.
Second-year player Yoon Dong-hee was bombing through the second team, but injuries to established players gave him a chance to play in the first team and he didn’t miss it. In 107 games, he batted .288 (111-for-387) with two home runs, 41 RBIs, 45 runs scored, and an OPS of .687. As one of the few right-handed hitting outfield prospects in a league-wide shortage of right-handed hitters, he dramatically broke onto the Hangzhou Asian Games team and won a gold medal with his bat. His career blossomed when he was granted a special exemption from military service.
However, the ‘resignation idol’ also emphasized that athletes should not be complacent and should work harder. Coach Kim Tae-hyung said, “You have to be stronger than your opponent to play aggressively. They will have to put in a lot of effort. You have to feel a lot with your body. I have to try and feel the limits of my body. There are not many players like that. You have to feel it with your body, with your skin, not just think about it with your head,” he emphasized.
He also pointed out the younger players, saying, “They are just starting to play in the first team and their faces are starting to be recognized. The only thing I want to tell them is that they seem to think they can do better next year than they are doing now. I’ve been saying this since I was at Doosan, but it’s a complete delusion to think that you’re going to do better next year than you did this year. You should never think that way,” he emphasized.
“You have to prepare really well. You don’t build your body with weight training in the winter. You have to build your body with baseball. “Veterans like Jeon Jun-woo and Ahn Chi-hong build their bodies by lifting weights in the winter, but it doesn’t make sense for young players to think they’re building their bodies by lifting weights. You have to build your body by playing baseball, including throwing and hitting. That’s what I would like to emphasize to the rookies.” It was a strong message that they shouldn’t be satisfied and complacent with a full-time season, but should improve and work harder.
The young players, dubbed the “resignation idols,” had been criticized for their inappropriate behavior during the final stretch of the regular season, when their performance was slipping. Kim Tae-hyung is no stranger to this. Kim Tae-hyung’s warning is sure to make the “resignation idols” nervous. However, if they can overcome these tense times and prove themselves with their performance, Kim Tae-hyung will give them unlimited opportunities and love.