[Official Announcement] Drawing the Sword After Three Consecutive 7th-Place Finishes! Manager Lee Dong-wook’s Lotte, Major Overhaul of Coaching Staff for 2027... Kim Min-sung Joins as First Division Defensive Coach, Chae Tae-in as Futures League Hitting Coach

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Lotte Giants have finalized their coaching staff composition ahead of the 2027 season. Active veteran infielder Kim Min-sung (38) is transitioning to a first division defensive coach role, while Chae Tae-in (44), who previously played for Lotte, returns as the Futures team hitting coach. The addition of Sanehara Kazunari (45), formerly the first division battery coach for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), brings changes to the player development system.

Lotte officially announced on the 11th, "We have completed the coaching staff composition for the first division, Futures team, and Dream team for the 2027 season."

The most notable figure is Kim Min-sung. Drafted by Lotte in the second round, 13th overall pick of the second draft in 2007, Kim Min-sung played for the Heroes and LG Twins before returning to his original team in 2024. Having played for Lotte until 2009, this marked his return after 15 years. Kim Min-sung is a veteran infielder with career KBO League statistics of 1,844 games, a .266 batting average, 1,476 hits, 137 home runs, and 772 RBIs. In 2023, he contributed to LG’s first integrated championship in 29 years.

This year, Kim Min-sung recorded a .138 batting average with one home run and four RBIs in 17 first division games for Lotte. He performed well in the Futures League with a .313 batting average in 33 games but did not secure sufficient playing time in the first division, leading to his decision to retire after the season. A full month later, he is guiding his juniors while wearing the same uniform. Kim Min-sung will serve as the first division defensive coach, working alongside Coach Jo Won-woo (55) to help improve the fielding skills of the position players. He will utilize his infield defensive experience gained from starting his professional career with Lotte and playing for several other teams in a coaching capacity.

Chae Tae-in joins the Futures team. A graduate of Busan Commercial High School, Chae Tae-in began his professional career by joining the Boston Red Sox in 2003. He later returned to Korea and played for the Samsung Lions, Nexen Heroes, Lotte, and SK Wyverns. With Samsung, he experienced four consecutive integrated championships from 2011 to 2014. In particular, in 2014, he served as a key hitter, recording a .317 batting average with 14 home runs and 99 RBIs in 124 games.

Chae Tae-in, who transferred to Lotte in 2018 and played until 2019, left behind career KBO League statistics of 1,241 games, a .298 batting average, 1,162 hits, 127 home runs, and 678 RBIs. This time, he will guide players as the hitting coach for the Futures team.

The background of Sanehara, who joined from Japan, also draws attention. Sanehara is a former catcher who was drafted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters in the first round of the 1998 draft. He transferred to Yomiuri in 2006 and served as a backup catcher for a long period. In 2018, he returned to Nippon-Ham, concurrently serving as a player and Futures development coach.

After retiring from active duty in 2019, Sanehara held various positions at Yomiuri, including first and second division battery coach and scout. He served as the Yomiuri first division battery coach until this year before leaving the team last month. Having appeared in 516 career NPB games, Sanehara is a catcher development expert with experience as a player, coach, and front office staff member. Lotte has signed him as the Futures team battery coach to strengthen the fundamentals and game management skills of young catchers.

These changes are part of the strengthened player development initiative being pursued under new Manager Lee Dong-wook (52). Lotte finished in 7th place for the third consecutive year this season with a record of 64 wins, 3 draws, and 77 losses. After failing to advance to the postseason for nine consecutive years since 2017, the team parted ways with former Manager Kim Tae-hyung and appointed Lee Dong-wook as manager and Lee Tak-geun (46) as new general manager.

Manager Lee Dong-wook, who led the NC Dinos to an integrated championship in 2020, presented defensive strengthening, data utilization, and individualized player development as new operational directions. For the 2027 season first division, Manager Lee Dong-wook and Chief Coach Heo Moon-hoe (54) will lead the team alongside pitching coaches Im Kyung-wan and Lee Jae-yul, hitting coaches Lee Byung-gyu and Lee Seong-gon, battery coach Yong Deok-han, defensive coaches Kim Min-sung and Jo Won-woo, and strategy coach Jo Jae-young.

The Futures team will be commanded by Manager Park Seung-min (49), working in coordination with pitching coaches Kang Young-sik and Lee Jung-ho, hitting coach Chae Tae-in, battery coach Sanehara, and others. The Dream team has been assigned pitching coach Jin Hae-su, hitting coach Lee Hyun-gon, battery coach Kim Sa-hun, defensive coach Hwang Jin-su, and others. Lee Jae-geun and Park Jeong-hyun will serve as performance coaches.

Lotte is currently conducting a final camp in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, to strengthen defensive capabilities for the 2027 season. The camp will continue until the 24th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original