Kim Jae-hyun (48), who laid the foundation stone of the dynasty as the captain of the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers), returned to Incheon as the “leader.”

“It feels fresh to return to Incheon after 13 years (retired from SK in 2010),” SSG new general manager Kim Jae-hyun told Yonhap News on the 15th. “It is an honor to be appointed as the general manager. We will work together with front desk, coaching staff and players so that SSG can stably complete generational change and establish itself as a prestigious club.”

“Kim Jae-hyun, former LG Twins’ power reinforcement coordinator, was appointed as the new general manager,” SSG said. “Kim Jae-hyun, the new general manager who worked on the field as a coach and had experience at the front as a power reinforcement coordinator, presented an impressive vision for the direction the club should go in preparation for the Cheongdom era.”

SSG, which won the wire-to-wire championship, which held the lead from the opening day to the end of the regular season for the first time in Korean professional baseball in 2022, and also won the Korean Series to complete the integrated championship, pressed the generational change button after finishing the regular season in third place this year.

He replaced Kim Won-hyung, the former coach who had two years left on his contract, and said goodbye to the existing coaching staff. In the second draft, he sent Kim Kang-min, the franchise star, to the Hanwha Eagles because he was not included in the 35-member protection list.

The radical move produced side effects, and the SSG was heavily criticized.

SSG announced on April 25 that it will change Kim Sung-yong’s position to head the R&D center by holding him responsible for the recent selection of coaches and controversies that arose during the second draft. Kim Sung-yong, the former head of the R&D center, soon expressed his gratitude and left the team.

SSG, which suffered serious internal strife and was strongly criticized by the outside world, formed a number of candidates and interviewed for the general manager, professing that “the new leader is chosen from the outside.”

The person who received the highest evaluation was Kim Jae-hyun, the new general manager.

The SSG club believes that general manager Kim Jae-hyun, a former star player, who experienced the field as a coach and also served as a frontman, can serve as a bridge between the club and the team and finish the generational change stably.

In an interview, general manager Kim said, “If you look at the composition and situation of the SSG team now, it is right to pursue a generational change, but a stable generational change that is not artificial is more suitable.” He said, “We cannot disclose it, but we have also presented a new vision necessary for SSG. We will listen to the voices of SSG members and fans and find a way for the team to reign as a strong team for a long time and practice it.”

Kim Jae-hyun started his professional career in 1994 when he joined LG.

Having established himself as a star player in his first year of joining the team, he became a free agent after the end of the 2004 season and moved to SK.

General manager Kim Jae-hyun, who won the Golden Glove as a designated hitter in 2005, led the team as captain in 2006, and was named the Korean Series MVP in the 2007 season.

He also brought the SK team together as the leader of the clubhouse.

General manager Kim Jae-hyun made a ‘retirement announcement’ in 2010 and won the Korean Series, ending his career splendidly.

General manager Kim Jae-hyun, who retired after the 2010 season, served as a coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the U.S. and the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, and returned to Korea to work as a batting coach for Hanwha and the Korean national team in the KBO League.

Since then, he has gained various experiences as a baseball commentator, KBO technical committee member, and LG power reinforcement coordinator.

“I watched baseball games in various places such as dugout and broadcast booths, and as a power analysis coordinator at LG this year, I had the experience of gathering in a big frame,” said Kim Jae-hyun, the team’s general manager. “SSG has the winning DNA. My experience will definitely help SSG establish itself as a prestigious team. I am also confident that I will make more efforts.”

“I started my professional career with the Pacific Dolphins (based in Incheon). It is very meaningful to return to Incheon and start my career as a coach,” SSG new coach Lee Sung-yong said at the inauguration ceremony. “I will seek remodeling to make stable changes rather than rebuilding the team rapidly.”

Emphasizing his return to Incheon and putting “stability” on the topic are the same as the inauguration of the new general manager Kim Jae-hyun.

“When Lee Sung-yong was in charge of KT Wiz training, I met him in Iksan (where the KT 2nd tier training site is located). At that time, Lee said to me, ‘I really want to play baseball together someday,'” said Kim Jae-hyun, the team’s general manager. “I talked about it while I was on the phone with Lee. I also had a conversation about ‘how I can meet the person I’m going to meet someday.'”

General manager Kim added, “Both coach Lee Sung-yong and I have a lavish side. I am confident that we can run together toward a common goal.”

Meeting with SSG means farewell to LG.

SSG General Manager Kim Jae-hyun returned to LG in January this year for the first time in 19 years.

The moment LG won for the first time in 29 years since 1994, when he was a rookie, he felt thrilling as a “LG member.”

As soon as he says goodbye to LG, general manager Kim feels sorry and grateful at the same time.

“I am very sorry to Chairman Koo Bon-n (who is acting as the team owner), General Manager Cha Myung-seok, members of LG, and fans. I learned and felt a lot watching LG win this year,” Kim said. “I think LG members and fans want me to become a good front desk player at SSG. I will be a good baseball player that fans look forward to.” 슬롯게이밍