SSG Coach Lee Soong-yong Takes his First Step: I Will Play Player-Centered Baseball
SSG Landers coach Lee Soong-yong held an inauguration ceremony and took his first steps as head coach.
SSG held an inauguration ceremony for coach Lee Soong-yong at the Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo on the 21st.
Coach Lee, who was appointed as SSG's 9th head coach on the 17th, signed a contract for a total of 900 million won, including a 2-year contract period and an annual salary of 300 million won. 지울프-토토
SSG CEO Min Kyung-sam presented Coach Lee with an SSG uniform and hat with the number 71 engraved on it. Captain Oh Tae-gon, Kim Gwang-hyeon, Choi Jeong, and Noh Kyung-eun, who attended as representatives of the players, also offered congratulatory greetings with bouquets of flowers.
SSG held an inauguration ceremony for coach Lee Soong-yong at the Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo on the 21st.
Coach Lee, who was appointed as SSG's 9th head coach on the 17th, signed a contract for a total of 900 million won, including a 2-year contract period and an annual salary of 300 million won. 지울프-토토
SSG CEO Min Kyung-sam presented Coach Lee with an SSG uniform and hat with the number 71 engraved on it. Captain Oh Tae-gon, Kim Gwang-hyeon, Choi Jeong, and Noh Kyung-eun, who attended as representatives of the players, also offered congratulatory greetings with bouquets of flowers.
Oh Tae-gon said, "I received a lot of help when the coach was at KT. I will create a good team atmosphere between the coach and the players. I think our team atmosphere is the best. We have suffered this year, but I hope that we can do well together with the coach." “I will try my best,” he welcomed.
Coach Lee responded, "I think I should ask the players to take good care of me. These are the players I played with when I was active. I think we will be able to work well together."
Coach Lee, who joined the Pacific Dolphins as the first overall pick in the second round of the 1994 rookie draft, played for the Hyundai Unicorns, Heroes, and Nexen Heroes. Coach Lee experienced four Korean Series wins while playing for Hyundai. He appeared in 2001 games over 18 seasons and had a career batting average of .281 with 162 home runs and 857 RBIs.
Coach Lee, who retired in 2011, began his career as a batting coach for the KT Wiz in 2014, and served as KT's general manager from 2019 to 2021.
Director Lee, who moved to KT's position in charge of training from 2022 to 2023, left KT at the end of October this year and took charge of SSG.
Coach Lee said, "For a former baseball player, the position of manager is a dream. I am grateful to SSG for helping me achieve my dream. This is Incheon, where I first joined the professional team. I started my career as a player in Incheon in 1994, and as time passed, “It’s meaningful to be the director. I’m thrilled to be able to meet the fans,” he said about his inauguration.
He then said about SSG, "It is a prestigious team that has won the championship several times. The veteran players are doing their part, but there are areas where the young players' skills are not improving. We will check closely and try to motivate the young players so that they can grow." “I want to give players a sense of responsibility,” he said.
Coach Lee became the 6th person in history to serve as both head coach and general manager. Coach Lee said, "My time as general manager was a turning point in my life. My perspective changed. I learned the direction the club should take and how to run it. Although it is my first time as a manager, I think I gained indirect experience through being the general manager. “That part will be helpful,” he said.
At the same time, regarding the baseball he pursues, Coach Lee said, "I want to play player-centered baseball. I will bring out the best in my players and have many conversations. I want to emphasize two principles to the players. First, One Team." "I consider it important. This is something I have emphasized since I was active. If I harm the team, I will become a scary senior. Second, professionalism is important. I have to play my best on the baseball field," he emphasized.
Coach Lee, who joined the Pacific Dolphins as the first overall pick in the second round of the 1994 rookie draft, played for the Hyundai Unicorns, Heroes, and Nexen Heroes. Coach Lee experienced four Korean Series wins while playing for Hyundai. He appeared in 2001 games over 18 seasons and had a career batting average of .281 with 162 home runs and 857 RBIs.
Coach Lee, who retired in 2011, began his career as a batting coach for the KT Wiz in 2014, and served as KT's general manager from 2019 to 2021.
Director Lee, who moved to KT's position in charge of training from 2022 to 2023, left KT at the end of October this year and took charge of SSG.
Coach Lee said, "For a former baseball player, the position of manager is a dream. I am grateful to SSG for helping me achieve my dream. This is Incheon, where I first joined the professional team. I started my career as a player in Incheon in 1994, and as time passed, “It’s meaningful to be the director. I’m thrilled to be able to meet the fans,” he said about his inauguration.
He then said about SSG, "It is a prestigious team that has won the championship several times. The veteran players are doing their part, but there are areas where the young players' skills are not improving. We will check closely and try to motivate the young players so that they can grow." “I want to give players a sense of responsibility,” he said.
Coach Lee became the 6th person in history to serve as both head coach and general manager. Coach Lee said, "My time as general manager was a turning point in my life. My perspective changed. I learned the direction the club should take and how to run it. Although it is my first time as a manager, I think I gained indirect experience through being the general manager. “That part will be helpful,” he said.
At the same time, regarding the baseball he pursues, Coach Lee said, "I want to play player-centered baseball. I will bring out the best in my players and have many conversations. I want to emphasize two principles to the players. First, One Team." "I consider it important. This is something I have emphasized since I was active. If I harm the team, I will become a scary senior. Second, professionalism is important. I have to play my best on the baseball field," he emphasized.
The following is a Q&A with director Lee Soong-yong.
-What kind of team is SSG from the outside?
"This is a prestigious team that has won the championship several times. The veteran players are doing their part, but there are areas where the young players' skills are not improving. We will check closely and try to motivate the young players so that they can grow. There is a sense of responsibility for the senior players. “I want to grant it.”
-How did your experience as a general manager help you?
"My time as general manager became a turning point in my life. My perspective changed. I learned the direction the club should take and how to run it. Although it is my first time as a manager, I think I gained indirect experience through being the general manager. That part is It will be helpful."
-Is there a commander role model?
“There is not just one person. There are things I have felt while being a player, coach, and general manager. I plan to sublimate the strengths of various coaches and adapt them to mine.”
-Why did you choose uniform number 71?
“I chose number 71 because I was born in 1971. It means starting over from the beginning.”
-Next year, I will be playing against KT, a team I know well.
"I don't care more about KT. One SSG employee said that KT was particularly weak this year. I will work hard to increase the win rate. I will not only think about a specific team. I will focus on winning."
-This is your first step as a manager. What about coach Lee Soong-yong’s baseball?
“I want to play player-centered baseball. I will bring out the best of my players and have many conversations,” he said. “I want to emphasize two principles to the players. First, I value one team. This is something I have emphasized since my playing days. . If you harm the team, you will become a scary senior. Second, professionalism is important. You must play your best on the baseball field.”
-I met on the field with LG coach Yeom Kyeong-yeop, who was my teammate during my Hyundai days, and KT coach Lee Kang-cheol, with whom I collaborated to win the championship when I was the KT general manager.
“They are both coaches who have won championships. I am a new coach, but I will do my best to win when we go out on the field and face the other team. We know a lot of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I was roommates with coach Yeom Kyung-yeop when I was a player, and with coach Lee Kang-cheol I was the general manager. “We had a lot of conversations during our time. I think we will have to stick together to find out. I will try to accumulate many wins on the field.”
-What are your specific goals for next season?
“Goals are important, but it is necessary to further strengthen the team. Veterans are the main players, so it is important for young players to have a competitive edge. If they grow further, the team will be able to rise to the top.”
-An important part of the manager's role is the timing of replacing a pitcher. What should you do?
"I'm thinking a lot about it. I'm thinking of having a former pitcher as the head coach. I plan to completely trust the pitching department. I plan to discuss things with the pitching department, including operations."
-What are your plans to strengthen your strength through the free agent (FA) market and the second draft?
“We are constantly discussing with the front desk. We are dividing the roles that the field and the front desk should play. We plan to communicate, respect, and collaborate. The role that the front desk plays is important. We plan to build a team in harmony.”
-What are your plans for foreign players?
“We are discussing that as well, and it has not been decided yet. AI umpires will be starting next year. It feels like the width of the strike zone has narrowed a bit. Pitchers who can use up and down rather than left and right, and who have breaking balls that drop to the bell, will likely have an advantage. "
-We had disappointing results this year, so how would you appeal to your fans for confidence?
“SSG is a good team to have. It is my job to identify young players and develop them well. I will make sure the fans do not worry, and I will try to relieve their stress by coming to the ballpark.”
-You started playing baseball in Incheon. What does it mean to you?
"I am from Seoul, but I consider Incheon my second hometown. I joined Pacific and played for Hyundai and Heroes, but looking back, I have no roots. I was always in the same team, but when the team name changed, I had no roots. I was upset. "I was heartbroken, but now that I have become the coach of SSG, I have been able to find my roots. Now, when people ask me where I am from, I am happy to be able to say that I am the coach of Incheon SSG."
-I suggested a difficult discussion.
"I think harmony with the coaching staff is important. The players can feel it right away when they see it. I want to know the team's performance, strengths and weaknesses, and thoughts about the team, and I want to have active conversations. The coach may have a sense of authority, but let's talk about that. "I'm trying to get rid of it."
-What do you want to say to your fans?
-What kind of team is SSG from the outside?
"This is a prestigious team that has won the championship several times. The veteran players are doing their part, but there are areas where the young players' skills are not improving. We will check closely and try to motivate the young players so that they can grow. There is a sense of responsibility for the senior players. “I want to grant it.”
-How did your experience as a general manager help you?
"My time as general manager became a turning point in my life. My perspective changed. I learned the direction the club should take and how to run it. Although it is my first time as a manager, I think I gained indirect experience through being the general manager. That part is It will be helpful."
-Is there a commander role model?
“There is not just one person. There are things I have felt while being a player, coach, and general manager. I plan to sublimate the strengths of various coaches and adapt them to mine.”
-Why did you choose uniform number 71?
“I chose number 71 because I was born in 1971. It means starting over from the beginning.”
-Next year, I will be playing against KT, a team I know well.
"I don't care more about KT. One SSG employee said that KT was particularly weak this year. I will work hard to increase the win rate. I will not only think about a specific team. I will focus on winning."
-This is your first step as a manager. What about coach Lee Soong-yong’s baseball?
“I want to play player-centered baseball. I will bring out the best of my players and have many conversations,” he said. “I want to emphasize two principles to the players. First, I value one team. This is something I have emphasized since my playing days. . If you harm the team, you will become a scary senior. Second, professionalism is important. You must play your best on the baseball field.”
-I met on the field with LG coach Yeom Kyeong-yeop, who was my teammate during my Hyundai days, and KT coach Lee Kang-cheol, with whom I collaborated to win the championship when I was the KT general manager.
“They are both coaches who have won championships. I am a new coach, but I will do my best to win when we go out on the field and face the other team. We know a lot of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I was roommates with coach Yeom Kyung-yeop when I was a player, and with coach Lee Kang-cheol I was the general manager. “We had a lot of conversations during our time. I think we will have to stick together to find out. I will try to accumulate many wins on the field.”
-What are your specific goals for next season?
“Goals are important, but it is necessary to further strengthen the team. Veterans are the main players, so it is important for young players to have a competitive edge. If they grow further, the team will be able to rise to the top.”
-An important part of the manager's role is the timing of replacing a pitcher. What should you do?
"I'm thinking a lot about it. I'm thinking of having a former pitcher as the head coach. I plan to completely trust the pitching department. I plan to discuss things with the pitching department, including operations."
-What are your plans to strengthen your strength through the free agent (FA) market and the second draft?
“We are constantly discussing with the front desk. We are dividing the roles that the field and the front desk should play. We plan to communicate, respect, and collaborate. The role that the front desk plays is important. We plan to build a team in harmony.”
-What are your plans for foreign players?
“We are discussing that as well, and it has not been decided yet. AI umpires will be starting next year. It feels like the width of the strike zone has narrowed a bit. Pitchers who can use up and down rather than left and right, and who have breaking balls that drop to the bell, will likely have an advantage. "
-We had disappointing results this year, so how would you appeal to your fans for confidence?
“SSG is a good team to have. It is my job to identify young players and develop them well. I will make sure the fans do not worry, and I will try to relieve their stress by coming to the ballpark.”
-You started playing baseball in Incheon. What does it mean to you?
"I am from Seoul, but I consider Incheon my second hometown. I joined Pacific and played for Hyundai and Heroes, but looking back, I have no roots. I was always in the same team, but when the team name changed, I had no roots. I was upset. "I was heartbroken, but now that I have become the coach of SSG, I have been able to find my roots. Now, when people ask me where I am from, I am happy to be able to say that I am the coach of Incheon SSG."
-I suggested a difficult discussion.
"I think harmony with the coaching staff is important. The players can feel it right away when they see it. I want to know the team's performance, strengths and weaknesses, and thoughts about the team, and I want to have active conversations. The coach may have a sense of authority, but let's talk about that. "I'm trying to get rid of it."
-What do you want to say to your fans?