It was the end of November. Immediately after the second draft, he talked with Kiwoom Heroes general manager Ko Hyung-wook about this and that. Among the veterans who became qualified as an FA, Lee Yong-gyu (38) did not exercise their qualifications, and Lim Chang-min and Lee Ji-young said so when asked if they did. They also respected Lim Chang-min (38) and Lee Ji-young (37)'s application to become an FA.
Kiwoom is the youngest team in the league along with the Hanwha Eagles. However, from the 2022-2023 offseason to the 2023-2024 offseason, the culture of respect for veterans is clearly visible. In fact, it has attracted a large number of players who were released from other clubs, including Lim Chang-min. In addition, it recruited Lee Hyung-jong (34) and Won Jong-hyun (36) from the FA market.
At the beginning of this season, he acquired Lee Won-seok (37) through a trade and even gave him an extension contract of 1 billion won (2+1 year) in the middle of the season. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the second draft last month. He even sought to recruit Seo Geon-chang (34), who was recently released from the LG Twins.
Of course, most of the players who had been released a year ago were reorganized after this season. Even so, the recent one or two years have certainly changed from previous years. In the past, Kiwoom was generally cool-headed to veterans. If any club is similar, it seems that the club favors younger players. However, Kiwoom was a culture that boldly chose younger players.
Kiwoom repeatedly uses younger players in the first team to check their use, send them back to the second team to supplement their use, and put them on the first team again. Entry changes are frequent. It may seem unstable in terms of stability, but it is ideal in terms of endless tension and motivation. 토토
Recently, however, the tension and motivation are given to veterans in the same way. When bringing up Lee Yong-gyu, the team leader, Ko Hyung-wook, said, "We have a lot of work to do," adding, "We have high expectations for leadership outside the field. Lee Yong-gyu is not the Lee Yong-gyu who we used to have when we were with the KIA Tigers and Hanwha Eagles in the past.
However, it also means that the value of player Lee Yong-kyu is still recognized. In fact, Kiwoom has many players whose outfield is relatively poor compared to infield. It is even more so that Lee Jung-hoo is leaving for the Major League. The attempt to recruit Seo Geon-chang again is also to prepare for the case that Kim He-sung actually goes to the Major League a year later. I think there is still a possibility of revival.
Veteran Jung Yong has light and shadow. Kiwoom suddenly has more veterans, but its individual performance this season has been generally sluggish. That's why it doesn't put too much value on it. It is also true that Lee Ji-young and Lim Chang-min are not active. However, if you use it well amid the variable salary cap, it is medicine. There are also expectations that veterans will increase along with each other to some extent next year.
In fact, rebuilding in the KBO league is more of a nonsense. Kiwoom also has a hard time giving up its next year's performance. In fact, the intention is to retool, but to extract the merits of its veterans. In a way, it is running toward true old-fashioned harmony.
