SSG Landers supervisor Lee Sung-yong, Oct. 11, 2025. Yonhap
The SSG Landers exceeded many pundits’ expectations final season to complete in third place within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO), and their supervisor Lee Sung-yong mentioned Monday he hopes his membership will probably be neglected once more in 2026.
“It is truly good for us when folks underestimate us. It fuels me and my gamers,” Lee informed reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul, earlier than departing for Florida to start spring coaching. “Final yr, our gamers overcame a lot adversity to win so many video games. The objective this season is to complete in a better place than final season.”
The Landers weren’t considered a postseason contender earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season, and accidents to key gamers within the early going threatened to derail their season. However the shutdown bullpen carried them all year long because the Landers superior to the postseason with room to spare.
“We wish to keep our edge in bullpen, and we’ll look to enhance our beginning pitching, hitting and protection throughout spring coaching,” Lee added.
A key part of the Landers’ plans for an improve in hitting will probably be veteran slugger Kim Jae-hwan, who signed with the Landers in December after contract talks with the Doosan Bears fell by.
“We are going to attempt to optimize his hitting through the use of him largely as designated hitter,” Lee mentioned of his plans for the brand new participant.
Kim, the 2018 regular-season MVP, mentioned he nonetheless felt a bit awkward in Landers gear and it’ll take some changes throughout spring coaching.
He declined to get into specifics of his contract talks with the Bears, the one KBO staff he’d performed for since his debut in 2008, however did acknowledge he selected to signal with a unique staff as a result of he did not wish to have regrets on the finish of his profession.
“It was actually powerful feeling the gaze of the followers who had been disenchanted with me,” Kim mentioned of his attempting 2025 season, wherein he was restricted to simply 13 homers and a .241 batting common in 103 video games. “Now that I’ve switched golf equipment, I’m not feeling any stress in any respect. I simply wish to get settled in with the brand new staff, and I do not actually have time to consider the rest.”
When wholesome, the 37-year-old Kim ought to be good for 20-plus house runs, particularly now that he will probably be enjoying his house video games at hitter-friendly Incheon SSG Landers Area.
“I’m curious myself to see how properly I’m going to hit in that stadium,” he mentioned. “But when I anticipate higher numbers simply because I’m transferring to a smaller ballpark, then issues can go sideways.”
On the pitching aspect, supervisor Lee mentioned starter Kim Kwang-hyun will transfer towards the again finish of the rotation and can get occasional rests all through the season.
The 37-year-old left-hander struggled to a career-worst 5.00 ERA in 28 outings final season whereas coping with shoulder issues.
Lee mentioned he’ll assist the franchise icon have an injury-free season, and Kim himself mentioned he’ll associate with the supervisor’s plans and never attempt to do an excessive amount of.
“Up to now, I all the time put stress on myself to be able to pitch on Opening Day or at the least throughout the first weekend of the season,” Kim mentioned. “This yr, I’ll take my time, even when I fall behind others in my preparation. If we wish to go deep into the postseason, all of us need to care for our our bodies.”
