KIA Tigers outfielder Choi Won-joon (27) got to work at Narrabunda Ball Park in Canberra, Australia on the 13th (Korea time) and saw hitting coach Lee Bum-ho, which felt strange. "I saw him in the morning, but something was different," Choi said when we met at the same venue on the 14th. "He seemed very nervous."
Of course, that's what happened. The training was nothing different than usual on Wednesday. Choi said, "I didn't know. The manager told me that he was going to have a meeting at the third base, so I thought, 'Oh, that's it.' Catcher Kim Tae-gun also said, "I really didn't know. I just found out 10 minutes before the meeting at the indoor practice range." Choi also said, "I don't think I know that much."
The players looked surprised and all welcomed him. Of course, the two welcomed Lee. Choi's feelings were a little strange, however. "Actually, it is awkward to call him a coach," Choi said. It is understandable. Choi was serving in the military at Sangmu in 2022 and 2023, when he served as the batting coach for the first team. After being discharged from the military in June last year, he returned to the military and was getting used to the term "Coach Lee Beom-ho."
Choi Won-joon said, "The coach is awkward, but I still know the word Lee Bum-ho the most." In fact, he served as a player from 2016 to 2019 when he joined the team. To Choi Won-joon, coach Lee Bum-ho still has a strong image as a senior.
Choi Won-joon said, "The coach had a meeting for the first time yesterday, and when I told the players, 'Do as you want,' I suddenly got emotional." In fact, it is said that coach Lee Bum-ho has given a lot of encouragement to Choi Won-joon and other juniors since he was a player. Choi Won-joon had no choice but to think of his feelings for manager Lee Bum-ho, who took good care of him from the early days of joining the team, but when I heard that again, I couldn't help but cry.
Choi said, "Coach Choi is a superstar. But even young players like me took good care of him. He texted me like my father. Actually, I don't think it's easy. Older seniors told me, "You're the future of our team. You can do it." He was the only one who said that. I felt weird because such a person suddenly became a coach."
Now Choi Won-joon has to run for KIA's championship with his respected coach Lee Bum-ho. He also had a poor batting performance last season, and he needs to recover his pride this year as he ended the season early due to a calf injury. Choi Won-joon said, "We were preparing well together when the coach coached until yesterday."
BY: 스포츠토토