"I'd like to give him even more vacation time" — Manager Park Chi-wang captivated by Lotte's promising prospect Lee Tae-kyung: "He may look rough around the edges, but his focus is top-notch," he praised

*This content was translated by AI.

"I want to give him more vacation time. Isn't that the best gift for a player?"

A satisfied smile spread across the face of Manager Park Chi-wang (57) of the Sangmu Army team, which reclaimed the throne of the Futures League. When asked about rewarding the star player during the post-game official interview, he named infielder Lee Tae-kyung (24) without hesitation.

Sangmu lifted the championship trophy after defeating the Ulsan Whales 8-3 in the "2026 Medihil Futures League Championship" held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 28th.

Starting as the No. 8 hitter and third baseman, Lee Tae-kyung swung a powerful bat with two hits and three RBIs in four at-bats, fully fulfilling his role as the go-to player for Sangmu's lineup.

In particular, his performance in the bottom of the fourth inning was decisive in instantly shifting the momentum of the tightly contested game. Sangmu loaded the bases with no outs after leadoff hitter Park Han-gyeol drew a hit by pitch and Lee Seung-hyun and Park Gwan-woo collected consecutive walks. They then took a 3-2 lead on Park Ji-hwan's sacrifice fly to right field, building their momentum.

Lee Tae-kyung, who came to the plate next, drove in the winning runs. He smashed a two-run double down the left-field line with an aggressive swing, extending the score to 5-2. He continued to add crucial RBIs on every opportunity, racking up three RBIs by himself and completely crushing the opponent's will to chase. Park Ji-hwan, who hit the go-ahead run, received the Outstanding Player award, but Lee Tae-kyung did not receive an award.

Nevertheless, Manager Park Chi-wang showered Lee Tae-kyung with unreserved praise. At the post-game official press conference, Manager Park stated, "Player Lee Tae-kyung hit the decisive RBIs and the go-ahead run that solidified our lead. I felt personally sorry for him because he didn't receive an award," adding, "Even as a manager on a personal level, I want to make sure he gets more vacation time."

The true charm that captivated the skipper in Lee Tae-kyung is his formidable focus and stability on the field. Manager Park candidly admitted, "When I first saw him, he looked a bit rough around the edges, so I had some doubts," but then gave a thumbs up, saying, "However, when you watch him play in games, his concentration is extraordinary. His defense is also incredibly stable."

He continued, "Sangmu has all the top prospects from various teams gathered together. The fact that he ultimately secured his spot among them means he is a player with immense charm and skill," repeatedly praising him without holding back, adding, "Every aspect of how he adapts and throws is very stable; he is a good player."

Lee Tae-kyung, who wore the Lotte Giants uniform as a developmental player in the 2025 season, enlisted in Sangmu last April. This season, his overall performance was somewhat average with a .257 batting average (39 hits in 152 at-bats), one home run, and 13 RBIs in 45 Futures League games. However, he marked a monthly batting average of .282 in September and swung a hot bat with a .306 average in the final 10 games of the regular season, drawing a clear upward curve. His blazing hitting form exploded exactly as it should have on the most important stage.

Sangmu, which finally reclaimed the top spot after shaking off the regret of finishing as runner-up a year ago. Although he missed out on official individual awards, the value of No. 8 hitter Lee Tae-kyung, who put the final period on the game with a "three-RBI one-man show" under Manager Park Chi-wang's deep trust, shone brighter than anything else.

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*This content was translated by AI.