New member new season. And it was a solid message to “Ace”.
SSG Landers Kim Kwang-hyun spent most of January in Okinawa, Japan. He conducted individual training sessions in the warm southern part of the country with his juniors, including Oh Won-seok, Baek Seung-gun, Lee Yu-ro, Shin Heon-min, and Lee Ki-soon. His performance was satisfactory. Kim left for Vero Beach, Florida, the site of his first spring camp, on Saturday in an easy condition.
While Kim Kwang-hyun was training in Okinawa with his juniors, there was a “surprise guest.” It was Min Kyung-sam, the CEO of SSG Landers, and Kim Jae-hyun, the new general manager. The CEO and the general manager took the time for two days to visit Okinawa, and met with Kim Kwang-hyun and the players. Kim Jae-hyun and Kim Kwang-hyun are seniors and juniors. They were the oldest seniors and the youngest members of the pitching team when they were in the “Kingdom” of the SK Wyverns. They had different positions as fielders and pitchers, but Kim loved Kim Jae-hyun, who was charismatic. Kim Kwang-hyun stressed, “In my heart, Kim Jae-hyun is the captain forever. He is a person that I followed a lot when I was a player, a spiritual supporter, and a person that I respect.”
The years have passed. Cannon-heater Kim Jae-hyun has become the new general manager of the Landers, and Kim Kwang-hyun has become the highest ranking pitcher in the team. Except for pitchers in their 40s such as Noh Kyung-eun and Ko Hyo-joon, there are now far more juniors in terms of career and age. And he is still an ace in his team.
It’s time to establish a new relationship with the general manager and main players, not seniors and juniors.
After completing urgent tasks such as FA contracts and annual salary contracts since taking office, he flew to Okinawa to buy meals to the training players, and met with Kim Kwang-hyun to talk candidly.
It is unusual for the team’s representative and general manager to visit individual training sites overseas for players.
This is an example of the club’s high expectations for Kim Kwang-hyun. The move includes not only his ace role but also his desire to lead younger pitchers by example as a veteran. He had a season full of ups and downs last year due to his below-expected performance and controversies that erupted outside the stadium. 꽁머니지급
Kim Kwang-hyun is also well aware of the intentions of the team’s leadership.
“He came all the way to Japan to encourage me,” she said in an interview before leaving Korea on Saturday. “I’m so grateful. I think it was an opportunity for me to stretch my shoulders a little bit as a senior to my juniors. I think I’ve gained a lot of strength,” she said, smiling. “I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the director and the president.”