"The successor general manager is looking for an external person."
Former SSG Landers general manager Kim Seong-yong (53), who was recently moved to the position of head of the R&D center, is leaving the team completely.
According to Star News coverage on the 29th, former general manager Kim Seong-yong recently announced his intention to voluntarily resign from the club. This means that he will take responsibility for a series of events that occurred this off-season, including the transfer of franchise star Kim Kang-min (41) to the Hanwha Eagles.
After SSG was eliminated from the semi-playoffs against NC Dinos this year with all 3 losses, there was quite a bit of noise in the process of reorganizing the team. Citing the need for a generational change, coach Kim Won-hyung (51), who led the team to last year's regular season wire-to-wire victory (without missing first place from the start of the season to the end of the season) and domination of the Korean Series, was replaced one year after renewing his contract.
At the time, SSG said, "We believed that change and innovation were necessary for a team that continues to develop. We decided that it would be better to make a decision sooner rather than later, so we took action. At first, players and players were involved in the composition of the team, generational changes, team management, and overall game management. He explained the reason, saying, “We decided to organize the coaching staff, but we ended up replacing the manager.”
Controversy also arose during the process of appointing a new head coach. While selecting candidates for the next manager in various fields, including the field, front desk, and commentators, interviewees including LG Twins coach Lee Ho-jun (47) were exposed during the postseason. Moreover, the controversy grew as LG, where this coach belongs, was about to enter the Korean Series. In the end, it seemed to be resolved with the appointment of coach Lee Soong-yong (52), who was one of the candidates, but another awkward situation arose during the process of selecting the coaching staff.
Son Si-heon is the new Futures coach. /Photo=SSG Landers
Unlike the first-team coaching staff, which usually reflects the manager's intentions, the second-team coaching staff can be appointed according to the direction the club wants. Former general manager Kim selected former NC coach Son Si-heon (43), who was training in the United States, as the future team coach. The problem is that Future Team coach Son Si-heon left for training in the United States with support from NC and was planning to return to NC upon completion. However, after the training ended and the team moved to SSG, things started to look strange. According to SSG officials, it ended with Director Son returning the training grant to NC and joining, but it was inevitable that he would be criticized for taking away the leader he had worked so hard to cultivate.
The final blow was Kim Kang-min's transfer to Hanwha through the KBO second round draft. Kim Kang-min is a franchise star who joined SK Wyverns (currently SSG Landers) with the 18th pick in the second round of the 2001 rookie draft and has played for only one club for 23 years. He has won five Korean Series championships, and most recently last year, he was named Korean Series MVP for his decisive performance. However, his performance was poor this year with a batting average of 0.226 in 70 games and an OPS of 0.627 with 2 home runs, and considering his age, he discussed retirement and extension of his active career with the club.
However, SSG could not reach a conclusion regarding Kim Kang-min and his retirement until the 35-man list of protected players for the second draft was drawn up. It was true that we talked about his retirement game and future career, but Kim Kang-min had a stronger will to extend his active career. He would have had to put together a 35-man roster of protected players with the possibility of being selected by another club if no firm agreement was reached, but he chose to protect at least one young prospect. In the process, there was not enough communication between the player and the club, and eventually Kim Kang-min left after being drafted in the fourth round by Hanwha.
Finally, on the 25th, the SSG club announced, "To take responsibility for the controversy that arose during the recent selection of managers and coaches and the second draft, we will change the position of General Manager Kim Seong-yong to the head of the R&D Center (formerly the training team)." According to an official familiar with SSG's internal situation, former general manager Kim felt responsible for putting a burden on the team and announced his intention to resign directly to the club on the 28th.
Former general manager Kim was highly regarded for his extensive knowledge and understanding of sports science, as well as his field leadership experience, having served as the head coach of the Yatap High School baseball team for 24 years. He was appointed as head of the R&D center ahead of the 2022 season and rose to general manager in December of last year, but left SSG after two years.
Meanwhile, it is known that SSG is looking for candidates for the new general manager from outside rather than from within. Most of the coaching staff appointments have been completed and an official announcement will be made soon.
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