"Yang Seok-hwan to the second team? I suggested it."
Doosan Bears interim manager Jo Sung-hwan drew attention for his strong charismatic leadership, which is not typical for an interim manager, when he met with reporters before the KIA Tigers game on the 3rd.
After manager Lee Seung-yeop voluntarily resigned on the 2nd taking responsibility for the team's performance, Doosan made significant changes to the first team roster the following day. Starting infielders Yang Seok-hwan, Kang Seung-ho, and outfielder Jo Soo-haeng, who was a former stolen base king, were sent to the second team, while newcomers including infielders Kim Min-hyeok, Kim Dong-jun, and Lee Sun-woo were promoted to the first team.
Yang Seok-hwan, Kang Seung-ho, and Jo Soo-haeng were key players in the season strategy envisioned by former manager Lee Seung-yeop. Yang Seok-hwan was essentially the sole starter at first base with ‘zero’ competition, and Kang Seung-ho returned to second base after failing at third base, consistently earning playing opportunities. Jo Soo-haeng was also versatile in left field, as a pinch hitter, pinch runner, and defensive replacement.
The issue was their performance. Yang Seok-hwan struggled with a batting average of .260, a batting average with runners in scoring position of .224, and a recent 10-game average of .167, while Kang Seung-ho faced severe slumps with a season batting average of .217 and a recent 10-game average of .200. Jo Soo-haeng also suffered with a batting average of .230 and a batting average with runners in scoring position of .158. Nevertheless, former manager Lee Seung-yeop expressed unwavering trust in the three players. There were no omissions from the first team, and their exclusion from the starting lineup served as a message.
In fact, sending a high-paid player like Yang Seok-hwan to Icheon is no easy task. Yang Seok-hwan signed a large 4+2 year maximum contract worth 7.8 billion won in the lead-up to the 2024 season. Doosan guaranteed the signing bonus of 2 billion won alongside total salary of 3.9 billion won, with a mutual option of 1.3 billion won for two years triggered by the agreement between the club and the player. This is why most managers keep high-paid players in the first team despite poor performances, and the players' demotion to the second team always generates considerable discussion.
However, Jo boldly broke that tradition. He confidently stated, "I suggested the demotion of the three players to the second team" and emphasized, "As starters, they need to take on more responsibility. If the players are ready, they will be able to play here again at any time. I will judge this based on what I see or reports from the second team."
He also left a strong message for the veterans. He explained, "It is natural for the players who should perform to do so. And I told them not to frown at the baseball field. Only then can young players play freely without worrying about others' opinions." He added, "Of course, there may be discontent and discussions because the team is not doing well, but I asked them not to show it on the field and to communicate with each other."
He remarked, "I asked if there is any word among the 10 teams that carries as much meaning as hustle. Hustle encompasses many things. You must never give up, be persistent, and become a team that cannot be easily seen by the opponent. If you do not understand the meaning of hustle, you do not deserve to wear the Doosan uniform." He expressed, "Our fans want to see that as well. Right now, we do not have the spirit or time to show the color of my baseball. However, I hope the invisible cohesion that Doosan possesses will be revealed."
If former manager Lee Seung-yeop emphasized the values of trust and patience over three years, interim manager Jo Sung-hwan is a figure who has displayed strong leadership since his active playing days. He was the captain who unified the uniquely talented players at Lotte Giants into one team. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho assessed, "Interim manager Jo has a very strong desire to win, and I often felt his composure in decisive moments during his active days. He was someone who played the leader role extremely well in a good team like Lotte, so I think he will enhance the team's performance this season."
One of the factors contributing to the prestigious Doosan team wandering in 9th place is the lack of a clear leader to establish order within the team. Under the faith in manager Lee Seung-yeop's baseball philosophy, there was no leader to solidify the team. Interim manager Jo expressed his regret, saying, "We lack a core within the team. If there were players fulfilling the role of balancing between the veterans and younger players, the team would not have been so shaken as it is now."
From now on, the interim manager intends to carry out that role. Right from day one, he decisively sent veterans with low contributions to Icheon, and he made a big effort to incorporate newcomers and backups like Kim Dae-han, Lim Jong-seong, Kim Min-hyeok, Kim Jun-sang, and Park Jun-soon into the starting lineup, aiming to capture both the present and the future. How will Jo Sung-hwan's charisma change the ninth-place Doosan?
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