Changwon: Lee Ho-joon, recently appointed as the new manager of the NC Dinos, emphasized a dynamic and forceful style of play as his guiding principle. Drawing from his own 22-year career, Lee outlined his vision of a baseball team that thrives on energy, home runs, and relentless competition during his inaugural press conference at Changwon NC Park on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee, renowned for his charismatic leadership, has signed a three-year contract valued at up to 1.4 billion won (approximately US$1.01 million). The agreement includes a signing bonus of 300 million won and an annual salary of 300 million won for the first two years, with a salary increase and additional incentives in the third year. Lee, who concluded his professional playing career with the Dinos and later served as their hitting coach, played a seminal role in the team’s 2020 Korean Series victory.
Lee succeeds Kang In-kwon, who was dismissed following the Dinos’ failure to secure a postseason berth. Despite a prom
ising start to the season, the team fell to ninth place, a disappointing finish after being just a game behind the Kia Tigers in May. Lee, known for his no-nonsense approach, intends to instill discipline and demand accountability from his players, emphasizing the importance of effort and hustle.
The new manager aims to cultivate a culture where veteran players set a standard for younger teammates, leveraging the team’s blend of emerging talent and experienced athletes. Lee also plans to maintain continuity within the coaching staff, making minimal changes to foster player development and capitalize on existing relationships within the organization.
In his quest to revitalize the Dinos, Lee has brought in Seo Jae-weong, a former major league pitcher, as his bench coach, while retaining the support of minor league managers familiar with the team’s young prospects. Lee’s approach is grounded in the belief that early identification of issues, supported by data and staff insights, is crucial to preventing exten
ded slumps and enhancing overall team performance.