"(Kim) Kwang-sam is the first in the national team. I'll take a private jet." It doesn't matter if you join LG late! Director Yeom Kyung-yup's Strong Encouragement [Okinawa Station]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58) saw off Kim Yong-il (60), a first-team senior training coach who will leave Okinawa as a member of the Korean national baseball team, and Kim Kwang-sam (46), a first-team pitching coach.

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop encountered LG's first-team senior training coach Kim Yong-il and first-team pitching coach Kim Kwang-sam, who were summoned to the national team at Kadena Stadium in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan on the 27th. A practice match between the national team and KT Wiz was scheduled to take place at Kadena Stadium on that day. However, the game was canceled due to rain in Okinawa this morning, and the national team, which will depart on the morning of the 28th, was quickly removed from the Kadena Stadium.

At the same time, a meeting between the national team and LG happened. LG was using Ishikawa Stadium, a 20-minute drive from Kadena Stadium, the national team's main stadium, as its base camp. As the national team canceled the training, LG was able to use the Cadena Stadium in the afternoon for about two hours.

Training coach Kim Yong-il, pitching coach Kim Kwang-sam and manager Yeom Kyung-yeop, who were assigned to the national team, also met at the time. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop strongly encouraged the two coaches who visited the dugout, saying, "Good luck, I'm going to ride a private jet." Coach Kim Kwang-sam joked, "Isn't it good if I come quickly?"

Coach Kim Kwang-sam and coach Kim Yong-il are considered one of the key figures for LG, which is trying to win its second consecutive Korean Series title this year. Currently, outfielder Park Hae-min, infielder Moon Bo-kyung, pitchers Son Joo-young, Song Seung-ki and Yoo Young-chan have to be dispatched to the national team to find resources to fill their gaps during the exhibition games. Although necessary for LG, he joined the national team as a replacement for Kim Won-hyung, the national pitching coach for the Doosan Bears, who was appointed as the head coach of the Doosan Bears after the 2025 season. It was the first time for the national flag, including when he was a player.

Coach Yeom's words that followed turned the dugout into a sea of laughter. If the national team performs well, it doesn't matter if LG's joining is delayed. Coach Yeom said, "Coach Kim Kwang-sam is my first national team member, so I have to get a good result and ride a private jet. Coach Kim Yong-il said, "I'm used to going to the national team every time, but coach Kim Kwang-sam should try it." Coach Kim Kwang-sam responded, "I'll go to the U.S. and make a video call," as if he was awkward, and the short greeting ended.

Meanwhile, the Korean national baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), left for Osaka, Japan, on the morning of the 28th. The national team will play Group C in the first round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) finals at Tokyo Dome in Japan from the 5th. Starting with the Czech Republic, they will meet Japan, Taiwan, and Australia in turn to advance to the quarterfinals (the second round of the main tournament). Korea's off-season training in Okinawa, Japan, was smooth from Tuesday.

Starting with the Samsung Lions on the 20th, he played five practice games against the Hanwha Eagles on the 21st and 23rd, the KIA Tigers on the 24th, and the Samsung on the 26th, recording 4 wins and 1 loss. In the first game against Samsung, Yang Woo-hyun faced a come-from-behind shot and lost. However, Kim Joo-won (NC Dinos) came from behind to win against Hanwha on the 21st and won four consecutive games.

It was encouraging that hitters gradually increased their batting sense, with Kim Joo-won and Park Hae-min (LG Twins) swinging hard hits and Ahn Hyun-min and Kim Do-young reporting home runs. On the other hand, he did not show his best condition on the mound except for Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears), who threw a fastball of up to 155km/h, and Jung Woo-joo (Hanwha Eagles), who was perfect in three innings. The reason was the change of roles and the routine of the players who suddenly joined due to a series of injuries to the main players.

In that respect, it was regrettable that the match against KT on the 27th could not be held due to rain and ground maintenance. On this day, the national team was scheduled to start with left-hander Song Seung-ki to check his condition. However, the game was recently canceled because Kim Joo-won, the only shortstop in the national team, was in danger of safety, including a finger injury during a practice game.

Fortunately, there are two real games left. The national team will train for adaptation at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on March 1, play the Hanshin Tigers on March 2 and the Orix Buffaloes on March 3, before moving to Tokyo Dome in Japan.

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*This content was translated by AI.