Yeom Kyung-yeop, who unleashed Song Chan-ui, now targets Kim Beom-seok! "I will not easily give up on players → I will also thoroughly focus on their development"

*This content was translated by AI.

Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), manager of the LG Twins, revealed his long-term plan for Kim Beom-seok (22) while mentioning key prospects responsible for the team's future. Following his success in unleashing the potential of outfielder Song Chan-ui (27) this season, he conveyed his determination to nurture Kim Beom-seok through a systematic process.

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop met with on-site reporters ahead of the Samsung Lions game held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd, where he mentioned future resources who will lead the team's core lineup in three years. In this process, the name of Kim Beom-seok, a promising power hitter currently serving in the military, was also brought up.

Manager Yeom explained the team's long-term generational replacement plan and identified Kim Beom-seok as a key pillar of the future core lineup alongside Moon Bo-kyung (26), Song Chan-ui, Lee Jae-won (27), and Moon Jeong-bin (23). Regarding Kim Beom-seok, who is currently serving in the military, he stated, "The club, including myself as the first-division manager, is continuously monitoring him and paying close attention," demonstrating sustained expectations.

A graduate of Gyeongnam High School, Kim Beom-seok was drafted by LG as the 7th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 rookie draft. He played in 70 games during the 2024 season, posting a .241 batting average (39 hits in 162 at-bats), 6 home runs, and 24 RBIs, slightly showcasing his potential to become a top-tier hitter in the league. However, due to failed weight management in the 2025 season, he chose to enlist in the military.

Kim Beom-seok, who enlisted as an active-duty soldier in October 2025 and is currently serving, is scheduled to be discharged in April 2027. Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop wittily proposed a "top-tier management" plan to help the player's growth even in limited environments. Regarding Kim Beom-seok, Yeom said, "We will begin intensive management from about a year before his discharge," and added, "If it comes to that, I will even pay out of my own pocket to buy him Mounjaro (a weight-loss drug)." He also added a pointed remark, "However, I have received reports that he has lost a significant amount of weight recently. The plan to replace Oh Ji-hwan, Park Hae-min, and Park Dong-won, whom fans are worried about, is already fully calculated in my mind."

Manager Yeom cited "a clear plan" and "selection and focus" as the most important virtues in player development. His philosophy is that a system that merely gives opportunities vaguely is highly likely to fail. In fact, despite surrounding concerns last season, Manager Yeom gave Song Chan-ui as many as 66 first-division opportunities. This season, he has successfully transformed him into a starter-level resource by utilizing him based on a plan. Song Chan-ui is currently posting solid statistics this season with a .313 batting average (45 hits in 144 at-bats), 8 home runs, 30 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.011. He has now established himself in the first division, going beyond the "experience of success" that Manager Yeom has consistently emphasized.

Manager Yeom stated, "I judge the player development standard to be exactly four years. For four years, I emphasize to the coaching staff not to evaluate players recklessly." He explained, "Even if fans may have given up on Song Chan-ui last season, I did not give up. I worked desperately with the thought that this season was his last chance, and eventually, his potential exploded."

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop, known as "Yeom Gal-ryang" for unleashing Song Chan-ui's potential and proving his development philosophy, has now selected Kim Beom-seok as his next target under his meticulous calculations. It remains to be seen whether Kim Beom-seok will stand tall as a core power hitter for LG in three years.

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*This content was translated by AI.