*This content was translated by AI.
As Yomiuri Giants manager Abe Shinnosuke (47) voluntarily resigned amid an unprecedented incident, Japanese media immediately turned their criticism toward Lee Seung-yeop (50), the team's batting coach. The criticism blames the batting coach for the team's poor performance, ranking 11th in batting average among the 12th NPB clubs.
On the 26th, Yomiuri lost 3-8 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in a home game at Tokyo Dome as part of the 2026 NPB Interleague series. Despite trailing 0-7 and attempting a comeback, they were unable to turn the game around. This defeat plunged Yomiuri into a five-game losing streak, widening the gap with Central League leader Hanshin Tigers to four games.
The game on the 26th drew immense attention. This was because manager Abe had stepped down prior to the match. On the 25th, when no game was scheduled, police were dispatched following a report from Abe's 18-year-old eldest daughter, leading to his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. Abe stated, "I have tarnished the name of the Yomiuri organization," and announced his intention to resign voluntarily.
Immediately after the incident, the Yomiuri organization accepted the manager's resignation. This marks the first time in Yomiuri's history that a manager has stepped down mid-season. Senior coach Hashigami Hideki (61) will serve as interim manager. With the team thrown into chaos after the commanding officer stepped down amid shocking scandal, Japanese media arrows are now pointed squarely at the batting department led by coach Lee Seung-yeop. In particular, local outlets are sharply criticizing the "foreign batting coach system," linking it to the severe slump in Yomiuri's offense. Yomiuri's team batting average stands at 0.229, ranking 11th overall in the NPB. The only team with a lower average is Hiroshima at 0.215.
On the 26th, Weekly Women wrote, "The most significant criticism raised both inside and outside the organization concerns the batting department composed of foreign coaches. The foreign batting coaches, Lee Seung-yeop and Zellers Wheeler (39), tend to merely observe players. In fact, correcting batting mechanics or offering mental advice relies heavily on conveying subtle nuances. Even if Lee Seung-yeop possessed exceptional skills during his playing days, the sharpness of the message inevitably dulls when passed through a translator. Ultimately, the limitations of the 'foreign batting coach' system have been exposed at critical moments."
According to the report, there are voices among Yomiuri fans calling for the return of former senior and chief batting coach Nioka Tomohiro (50), who led the team's batting department until last season. Manager Abe had decisively let Nioka go ahead of the 2026 season to give new batting coaches a chance.
However, the results were not favorable. During the losing streak, an unprecedented situation unfolded as manager Abe departed amid an unpleasant incident. At the same time, for coach Lee Seung-yeop, the 'best friend' commanding officer who had fully trusted him and served as his shield suddenly disappeared, leaving him to bear the pressure of poor performance alone amidst an unprecedented team-wide crisis. While no news has yet emerged regarding changes to the Yomiuri coaching staff, escaping the losing streak is urgently needed.
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*This content was translated by AI.
