A strong pedestal that advocates ‘big brother leadership’ but mercilessly replaces star players
Director Lee Beom-ho directing
KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho is the first professional baseball manager born in the 1980s.
The coach, who graduated from elementary, middle, and high school in Daegu, started his professional career with the Hanwha Eagles, then played for the Softbank Hawks in Japan before retiring with KIA.
After that, he served as KIA’s batting coach, but in February, during spring camp, he was suddenly promoted to manager and took charge of the professional baseball team representing Gwangju.
At a press conference held at Incheon International Airport immediately after taking office, Coach Lee emphasized communication, saying, “I am a rookie coach, but our players are veterans,” and “I will approach foreign players, young players, and veteran players without hesitation.”
He also revealed his plan for managing the team as a coach of the ‘MZ generation’, saying, “I honestly don’t want to bring down the atmosphere itself just because the team is on a losing streak and the atmosphere is not good.”
Coach Lee, who is called ‘hyung’ because he has been a player and coach at KIA for a long time, is on friendly terms with the players to the point where even the younger players say, “Is this okay?”
But it doesn’t seem like he’s the type of guy who’s just warm and fuzzy.
In the match, he shows his determination by mercilessly replacing even star players.
In the game against Samsung Lions held in Gwangju on the 17th, Manager Lee ordered the replacement of veteran pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning when the score was 9-5.
KIA was leading 9-3 through the 4th inning, but Yang Hyeon-jong gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, including a triple and a double, in the top of the 5th, and the score was cut to 9-5.
With two outs and a runner on first base, Yang Hyeon-jong walked Lee Seong-gyu, creating a crisis with runners on first and second base, so manager Lee Beom-ho made a decision.
Yang Hyeon-jong, who could have secured the winning pitcher status by getting just one out, could not hide his bewildered expression when pitching coach Jeong Jae-hoon came up to the mound to announce the substitution.
Yang Hyeon-jong, the current pitcher with the most wins, may not have experienced this situation in recent years.
KIA fortunately prevented additional runs when Kim Dae-yu, who relieved Yang Hyeon-jong, struck out the next batter.
It seems that the director’s cool-headed judgment paid off in the decisive moment.
But what caught more attention was director Lee Beom-ho’s next action.
He approached Hyun-jong Yang, who was very angry during the inning change, and comforted him with a ‘back hug’.
This was also a situation where all the other players were watching from the dugout.
It is rare to find a coach, who is considered the ‘epitome of authority’, being so open and intimate with players.
Manager Lee Beom-ho replaced Kim Do-young, who emerged as a star hitter in the game on the 2nd, due to a bonehead play, even though he hit a home run in the next at-bat.
There were also situations where foreign player Socrates Brito and home run hitter Na Sung-beom made mistakes and were replaced.
When players make mistakes, they are held accountable regardless of whether they are starters or not.
On the other hand, he shows himself communicating with the players while comforting them.
He is using ‘cold and warm leadership’ that is not befitting of a so-called rookie commander.
As of now, coach Lee Beom-ho’s leadership has led KIA to the sole lead.
Attention is being paid to whether manager Lee Beom-ho, a member of the ‘MZ generation’ who demonstrates leadership that has been hard to find in the KBO League so far, will be able to lead the players to the top of the fall baseball league. 파워볼사이트