[Official Announcement] "7th, 7th, 7th": Manager Kim Tae-hyung's Three-Year Tenure with Lotte Ends; "We Have Decided Not to Renew the Contract... The Process of Appointing the Next Manager Is Underway"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Manager Kim Tae-hyung (59), a competitive strategist who led the Doosan Bears to consecutive Korea Series appearances for seven years and three championships, will ultimately part ways with the Lotte Giants. He took the helm on a three-year contract worth 2.4 billion won in total, but his tenure ended without ever experiencing the postseason.

A Lotte club official stated on the morning of the 24th, "Manager Kim Tae-hyung's three-year contract with the Lotte Giants has expired, and we have decided not to renew it. The process of appointing the next manager is underway, and we plan to announce the decision as soon as it is made."

With this, Manager Kim's time with Lotte, which began in October 2023, came to a close after three years. At that time, Lotte offered Manager Kim, who had led Doosan to consecutive Korea Series appearances and three championships from 2015 to 2021, a three-year contract worth 2.4 billion won in total, hoping for a return to the postseason. His bold game management, player discovery, and development skills were expected to bring change to Lotte, which had been stuck in the lower ranks for a long time.

However, his record was 7th place for all three years. In his first year, 2024, he posted a record of 66 wins, 4 draws, and 74 losses (winning percentage .471), followed by 66 wins, 6 draws, and 72 losses (.478) last year, and this year he remained in 7th place with 64 wins, 3 draws, and 77 losses (.454). His cumulative record over the three seasons is 196 wins, 13 draws, and 223 losses, for a winning percentage of .468. Lotte has failed to qualify for the postseason for nine consecutive years since 2017.

The most disappointing moment was last year. Lotte finished the first half of the 2025 season in 3rd place with a record of 47 wins, 3 draws, and 39 losses, raising expectations for the postseason. However, they suffered a sharp decline, including a 12-game losing streak in the second half, and failed to rebound this year, ultimately missing the postseason stage.

Manager Kim also bowed his head ahead of the final regular season game against Doosan on the 12th, stating, "If I couldn't produce results within three years, it is the manager's responsibility," and adding, "I am most disappointed that we could not show you the postseason for three years, and I am truly sorry to the fans." At the time, Manager Kim stated that he had not engaged in specific contract renewal discussions with the club.

It was not entirely without results. Since Manager Kim's arrival, Go Seung-min has established himself as the starting second baseman, and Jeon Min-jae and Son Seong-bin, who joined via trade, have grown into their roles as shortstop and catcher, respectively, outlining the shape of the center line. This year, they also set a KBO League record for the 10th-team system by having all five starting pitchers, including domestic pitchers Park Se-woong, Na Gyun-an, and Kim Jin-wook, complete the qualifying innings (144 innings). However, these changes did not translate into an improvement in ranking.

Even after the end of the regular season, Manager Kim's future was not easily resolved. Lotte had been carefully reviewing candidates for the next manager, including Manager Kim. During this time, various possibilities were discussed, such as external hires and internal promotions. However, Lotte ultimately concluded that it would not renew its contract with Manager Kim.

The remaining task now is appointing the next manager. The Lotte player roster has already begun preparations for the 2027 season. Key players, including captain Jeon Jun-woo and Kim Won-jung, are undergoing final training at Sajik Baseball Stadium, while some players have been dispatched to a specialized development institution in the United States.

Lotte is scheduled to hold its final camp in Miyazaki, Japan, starting November 4. With about ten days remaining until the start of the camp, the composition of the coaching staff and the direction of training may change depending on the appointment of the new manager.

Lotte stated that it is proceeding with the process of appointing the next manager and will announce the decision as soon as it is made. Attention is focused on who Lotte will choose as its new manager after concluding its three-year partnership with Manager Kim.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original