Doosan Bears supervisor Kim Gained-hyong speaks to reporters at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Jan. 15. Yonhap
As he takes over a crew coming off a disappointing season, new Doosan Bears supervisor Kim Gained-hyong on Thursday promised to ship “many victories” in 2026.
“Skilled sports activities groups must carry pleasure to followers,” Kim informed reporters after attending a ceremony marking the Bears’ founding anniversary at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. “And we will achieve this with many victories.”
The Bears completed the 2025 Korea Baseball Group season in ninth place amongst 10 groups with a win-loss-tie file of 61-77-6. Supervisor Lee Seung-yuop resigned in June, in the midst of the ultimate yr of his three-year deal, and interim boss Cho Sung-hwan was not introduced again.
Kim, who led the SSG Landers to a Korean Sequence title in 2022, is again with the Bears after serving as their pitching coach from 2019 to 2020.
“The stadium and the clubhouse are all very acquainted,” Kim mentioned. “Throughout my enjoying profession, I at all times wished to win as a lot as doable. The necessary factor for us within the new season is how properly we will carry out and what number of video games we will win.”
The Bears have been busy this offseason. They made an enormous splash in free company by signing veteran shortstop Park Chan-ho, who brings confirmed defensive chops with pace and call capability.
“Clearly, he will probably be our beginning shortstop and he should be ready to deal with quite a lot of video games,” the supervisor mentioned. “We can have some competitors at different infield positions, and that is nice for the crew. I can already image a couple of gamers battling laborious for his or her alternative throughout spring coaching.”
Park, who donned the total Bears uniform for the primary time Thursday, mentioned he’ll attempt to put up higher numbers on the plate this yr than the final, when he batted .287 with 18 doubles and 148 hits in 134 video games.
In the identical variety of video games in 2024, Park set profession highs with a .307 common, 24 doubles and 158 hits.
“I simply must hit higher. I’ve to be extra productive offensively to dwell as much as my contract,” mentioned Park, who inked a four-year deal value 8 billion received (US$5.45 million). “And protection is a given.”
Captain Yang Eui-ji welcomed Park to the crew, saying a high quality shortstop like him can stabilize all the infield.
Yang additionally mentioned he will probably be able to do extra soiled work for the crew within the new yr.
“I’ve to get my arms soiled at instances and assist youthful guys alongside the best way,” the 38-year-old mentioned. “That is how we will get higher as a crew. I feel I’ve possibly three or 4 extra years as a participant. I wish to play laborious and have enjoyable, and as an alternative of worrying about particular person numbers, I wish to assist the crew as a lot as I can.”
Yang admitted the vibe within the dugout wasn’t at all times ideally suited at factors final yr and he desires to vary that this yr.
“I wish to create a enjoyable setting for our youthful gamers in order that they will go on the market and play with confidence,” Yang added.
