“Maybe I’m meant to be at LG forever.”
The “Touches” are back. He wears the pinstripes again. Now he’s a coach, not a player. He is full of enthusiasm to grow as a leader step by step.
LG has won its first title in 29 years, but the celebration is short-lived. Preparations for the 2024 season are in full swing. It’s a season to build a dynasty.
The coaching staff has been busy reorganizing. Good coaches produce good players. There are many new faces, but one that stands out is Kim Yong-ui.
He’s skinny and tall. He’s a big guy. He was loved by LG fans for his resemblance to the character Doo-chi from the cartoon Doo-ri the Baby Dinosaur. He was drafted by the Doosan Bears in 2008, but was immediately traded to LG, so not many people know that Kim Yong-ui is from Doosan. It feels like he’s only played for LG.
He was the salt of the earth for the team with his ability to make contact and sensible baserunning. He was also an “atmosphere maker” who brightened the team’s mood. His surprise character costumes and quick wit made him a fan favorite. Did we mention baseball? In 2016, he made a strong impression with his performance in fall baseball. He was also a media day representative, and it was the “golden age” of baseball.
At the end, he signed a one-year,
200 million won free agent contract. It was a humble deal, but Kim Yong-ui was thrilled, saying, “It’s like a medal for me.” He took a commemorative photo with other star players.
He played until 2021 and then retired. He started a new life as a club scout. He found prospects, and it suited his aptitude. However, with dreams of commentary and broadcasting, I made a bold decision to leave LG after 15 years.
But he always missed the field. Then he received a call from Cha Myung-seok. 온라인카지노 It was an offer to coach. He didn’t have to think twice, and he put on the uniform again.
“I’m just grateful that LG called me back,” said Kim Yong-ui. LG is all I have. They became a championship team while I was gone. That’s why I’m even more honored.”
Kim Yong-ui continued, “Putting on the uniform again gives me a great sense of mission. I’m a coach now, not a player. When I was a player, I just had to work hard. But as a coach, you have to study a lot. I learned a lot in my scouting job. I’ve seen a lot of professionals, probably a lot of players, and I realized that success is hard. I have to do my part to help them succeed,” he emphasized.
Although it was only for a year, commentary and broadcasting activities also broadened his horizons.
“I know everything, and I want to explain everything, but I can’t deliver unless I’m prepared. I realized that I had to study baseball a lot to be good at commentary. It’s the same with coaching. I will study and research how to convey what I know to the juniors.”
Kim Yong-ui will be taking coaching classes starting with the second team. “I’m a beginner coach. I have to take the long view. For now, it’s likely to be at first base, where he was best. But he’s open to learning any role, regardless of the field. “I want to experience a lot of things, so I can grow as a coach,” Kim said. I won’t stick to my specialty, which is base running. If you entrust me with the defense part, I’ll do it with the determination that it’s okay if I tear my hand while receiving the ball. I want to be a person who can be useful to the LG baseball team in the future.”