"Notice of Cancellation Just Before Departure for Japan" Testimony Emerges.. Shocking Behind-the-Scenes of 'Strongest Baseball' [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Former Doosan Bears pitcher Lee Hyun-seung directly shared the behind-the-scenes story regarding the cancellation of JTBC's 'Strongest Baseball'.

On the 25th, Lee appeared in a video titled "Sunny's Pitcher Brothers Who Get Excited Just by Seeing Each Other's Faces," released via the YouTube channel 'Stocking', where he revealed the behind-the-scenes details of 'Strongest Baseball' being cancelled.

In the video, Lee said, "I joined 'Strongest Baseball' while running a meat restaurant." When asked by MC Kim Gura about his regrets, he replied, "The biggest issue was that I received notice that 'Strongest Baseball' would continue next year, so I had already prepared to build my own body at my own expense and even made preparations to go to Japan."

He continued, "My friends and even the kids were going to Japan, so I thought we should all go together and 'I really need to try this once.' I wanted to do well." He added, "After completing all preparations, the day before I was scheduled to board the flight to Japan, I received a call from a producer. The producer said, 'We are very sorry, but it seems our program will be cancelled.'"

Lee stated, "I had already canceled my flights and booked hotels, so I was completely shaken up when I heard that news."

'Strongest Baseball' has maintained a solid fan base since its first broadcast in June 2022 and continued airing for over two years. However, the external production company Studio C1, which was responsible for production, eventually stepped away from 'Strongest Baseball' following conflicts with JTBC. They launched a new program called 'Bulkkot Baseball' by bringing along existing cast members including Lee Dae-ho, Park Yong-taek, and Jung Geun-woo, marking a turning point.

JTBC returned for a new season in September 2025 after restructuring the program with a new cast and production team. As part of the team reorganization, they appointed Lee Jong-beom, then a coach for KT Wiz, as the new manager and changed the team name to 'Breakers', attempting various changes. However, the show experienced fluctuations in viewership ratings.

JTBC decided to put an end to the season with its February 2nd broadcast, separate from any legal disputes with Studio C1, and internally resolved to conclude the season with the remaining episodes. At the time, a JTBC official told StarNews, "The 2025 season was originally scheduled to end earlier this year. While it is not a formal cancellation process, decisions regarding restructuring and future continuation have not yet been made." The official added, "We had already shared with the players that if we proceed with restructuring, we may not be able to follow the scheduled timeline as the duration of such work is uncertain."

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*This content was translated by AI.