Veteran left-handed pitcher Jung Woo-ram, 38, of the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), will start a new career as a pitching coach in 2024.
“Considering his sincerity and steadiness, his reputation within the team, and his relationship with the juniors, we judged his leadership qualities to be sufficient,” Hanwha said on Thursday, adding, “We have appointed him as a playing coach for next season so that he can maintain his player status and focus on the development of juniors.”
Jung, who made his professional debut in 2004 with the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers), has appeared in 1,400 KBO games, the most in the league and the most in Asian professional leagues such as Japan and Taiwan.
In his career, Jung has pitched 977⅓ innings with a record of 64 wins, 47 losses, 197 saves, 145 holds, and a 3.18 ERA.
According to Hanwha, Jung accepted the club’s offer to become a pitching coach after careful consideration.
Jeong will first serve as a pitching coach for the reserve team and later join the first team mound as a player.
Through the club, Jung said, “I am grateful that the club made me a good offer at a time when I am preparing for a good finish as a player, so I can have a meaningful season.” “As this is a chance to share the end of my career as a player and the beginning of my career as a coach, I will first communicate with my heart so that the juniors can get more opportunities,” he said.
“I calmly decided that I was not a priority in the direction the team should go,” he said, adding, “I accepted the club’s offer because I thought that if I took on the role of playing coach, I would be able to maintain the tension as a player, do exercises for myself, and learn more as a coach.”
“As a player, I will keep my shoulder as good as possible so that when the first-team players are tired, I will be ready to take the mound if I can help the team,” he said, adding that he plans to be closer to the players this winter.
“I will clearly communicate the perception of the residual group to the players so that they can quickly identify their deficiencies in mental, technical, and physical fitness and help them through customized communication,” he said. 스포츠토토사이트