Kim Tae-hyung’s offer to become a bench coach for Lotte
Coach Kim Kwang-soo
“Can I just go down there?”
Those were the first words of Kim Kwang-soo (64), the newest member of the Lotte Giants’ coaching staff, after being offered a job by manager Kim Tae-hyung (56).
“After Kim Tae-hyung became the new manager of Lotte, he contacted me and asked me, ‘Can you be the bench coach,'” Kim told Yonhap on Wednesday. “I wanted to play on the field, and Kim Tae-hyung gave me the opportunity. I replied that I would come down right away,” he chuckled.
Since the first of this month, Kim has been training with Lotte players at Sangdong Stadium.
Kim joined the OB Bears (now Doosan) in 1982, the inaugural year of the Korean Professional Baseball League, and played in the KBO for 11 years until 1992. After retiring, he worked as a coach for the Doosan and Hanwha Eagles in the KBO and the Goyang Wonders in independent baseball.
He was the head coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he helped South Korea win the gold medal, and served as a coach at the 2015 Premier 12 and 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Kim Tae-hyung, who coached at Doosan for eight years (2015-2022), recognized Kwang-soo’s passion and experience and politely asked the “senior coach” to join the team.
Kim Kwang-soo and Kim Tae-hyung formed a relationship at Doosan as coach (Kim Kwang-soo) and player (Kim Tae-hyung), 카지노사이트랭크 head coach and battery coach.
Coach Kim didn’t hesitate to accept his junior’s offer.
After assisting senior coaches such as Kim In-su, Kim Kyung-moon, and Kim Sung-geun, Kim now works with his junior, Kim Tae-hyung.
New Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung answers questions
Lotte’s new head coach Kim Tae-hyung answers questions from reporters during a meeting with players at the Lotte Giants’ Sangdong Baseball Stadium in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, on Oct. 25.
Coach Kim Kwang-soo said, “Kim Tae-hyung is an outstanding manager who took Doosan to the Korean Series for seven consecutive years and won the title three times (2015, 2016, 2019). I’m excited to work with him in the LOTTE dugout as he starts a new chapter,” said Kim. “Even as a junior, I thought he was a good coach. I will help him maximize his strengths,” said Kim Tae-hyung.
“We have a good mix of young and veteran coaches at Lotte right now,” he said, “I really enjoy working with the younger coaches. I have a lot to learn from them. I want to pass on my experience not only to the players but also to the younger coaches.”
Coach Kim Kwang-soo’s voice was full of bright energy.
“The worms have to eat pine needles to live,” he said. I’m so happy to be back on the field after six years since 2017 and running around the training ground with the players.” “Lotte is preparing for the 2024 season. We want to have a great postseason next fall with our passionate LOTTE fans.” 섯다