The first thing acting manager Cho Sung-hwan of the professional baseball Doosan Bears did after taking the helm was to reorganize high-salary players who were contributing little to the team. Those who were guaranteed a first-team life under the unlimited trust of former manager Lee Seung-yeop now find themselves in a survival competition for a spot in Cho's eyes alongside rookies.
On the 2nd, Doosan, where Lee Seung-yeop voluntarily resigned, made significant changes to its first-team roster ahead of the 7th game of the season against the KIA Tigers at the Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 3rd. Long-time starter first baseman Yang Seok-hwan, second baseman Kang Seung-ho, and the former stolen base king outfielder Jo Soo-haeng were demoted to the second team, while infielders Kim Min-hyuk, Kim Dong-jun, and Lee Sun-woo were newly registered in the first team.
Yang Seok-hwan, Kang Seung-ho, and Jo Soo-haeng were players who played key roles in Lee Seung-yeop's season plan. Yang Seok-hwan was the sole owner of the first base position with virtually no competition, while Kang Seung-ho returned to second base after failing to challenge for third base and steadily earned playing opportunities. Jo Soo-haeng also had various roles, playing as a left fielder, pinch hitter, pinch runner, and defensive replacement.
The problem was their performance. Yang Seok-hwan had a batting average of .260 for the season and a clutch batting average of .224, while he struggled with a batting average of .167 over the last 10 games. Kang Seung-ho had a season batting average of .217 and a stark .200 batting average over the last 10 games. Jo Soo-haeng also struggled with a batting average of .230 and a clutch batting average of .158. Nevertheless, former manager Lee Seung-yeop showed unlimited trust in the three players. There were no removals from the first team, and being excluded from the starting lineup was a message he sent to them.
However, Cho was different. On the 3rd, he confidently told reporters at Jamsil, "I proposed the removal of the three players from the first team," and emphasized, "As starters, they need to take more responsibility. When those players are ready, they will play here again. I will check that with my own eyes or decide based on reports from the second team."
He also sent a strong message to the veterans. Cho said, "It’s only natural that the players who need to perform do so. I also told them not to frown at the baseball field. That way, young players can play without worrying about anyone's gaze," and added, "Of course, there may be talk and dissatisfaction due to the team's struggles, but at least at the baseball field, we agreed to communicate without showing it."
At the same time, he said, "I want to remind the players how precious this opportunity is. I really like saying that if players don’t give up, fans won’t give up either. Soon, fans may feel they can give up, so I told the players to play with sincerity at the baseball field," adding, "The most critical point is that prepared players will be the ones I use. If they play carelessly, I’ll treat them carelessly too."
Having just taken the helm, he could not yet envision what color he would bring to Doosan baseball in the future. However, one principle was clear: the revival of the 'Hustle Do' spirit, which former manager Lee Seung-yeop had also emphasized.
Cho said, "Is there a word with a more positive meaning than Hustle Do among the 10 teams? Hustle encompasses many things. You must not give up, be tenacious, and become a team that the opponent cannot easily see as one. If you don't understand the meaning of Hustle Do, you don't deserve to wear a Doosan uniform," he noted, adding, "Our fans want to see that. Right now, I don't have the spirit to reveal my baseball color, nor the luxury to do so. However, I hope the invisible tenacity that Doosan possesses will be revealed."
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