A wind of change is blowing in the professional baseball league in 2024. The rules of the league will change drastically, including the introduction of the automatic ball determination system (ABS). Clubs that failed to produce satisfactory results last year are committed to showing a different side in the new season. New “captain” who will lead the team at the starting point of change are clearly out. What kind of “leadership” will those who are highly anticipated by players, clubs and fans show in the 2024 season.
The SSG, which will make a gradual “generational change” from this year, has appointed Choo Shin-soo (42), one of the “veterans” who announced his retirement after the 2024 season, as the new captain. He will receive a “low minimum annual salary” of 30 million won this year, his final season as a player. He receives a small amount of compensation from his club, but on the contrary, he has a great sense of responsibility. In fact, he has set an example as a clubhouse leader since he finished his career in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2021 and joined the SSG team.
“I learned a lot about my attitude and attitude, including what I have in mind, even though I have some technical skills,” said Ha Jae-hoon, an outfielder like Choo Shin-soo. “I want to create a culture where anyone, regardless of age or annual leave, can freely express their opinions,” Choo said at the SSG Landers Field in Incheon early this month. “Players need to be really comfortable in terms of their relationship so that they can display great performances even when they go to the baseball stadium. I hope they don’t have fear and don’t have any qualms about it.” 라바카지노도메인
Yang Seok-hwan (33), who signed a free agent (FA) contract with Doosan for up to 7.8 billion won for 4+2 years after the end of the 2023 season, will also take his first step as captain this year. “The team should have a clear sense of goal this year,” Yang Seok-hwan, who faced reporters at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 15th, said, “Now, you shouldn’t think you did well,” and emphasized, “That’s how you can not be swayed during the season.” Lee Seung-yeop expressed his expectation for new captain Yang Seok-hwan, saying, “He is an exemplary player who can show his juniors what he has to do as a professional player.” Starting pitcher Kwak Bin also said, “I’ve always had a strong sense of responsibility to the extent that I think what I do and what I think is what I’m doing.”
Chae Eun-seong (34), an “exemplary FA student,” has taken the heavy responsibility of the Hanwha Eagles, who dreams of becoming an “autumn baseball player” this year. He played as a central hitter for his team in the 2023 season, his first year since moving to Daejeon, and has proactively helped young batters grow in his team, including Noh Si-hwan, Lee Jin-young and Moon Hyun-bin, by example. This is why he became the captain in recognition of his value just one year after moving to Daejeon. “I will prepare well to show better performance than this year,” Chae said late last year. Although the role is inevitably burdensome, Hanwha’s players are already gathering around him. “I want to give as much strength as possible to captain Chae,” catcher Lee Jae-won who moved from SSG to Hanwha said recently. “I will help him a lot if anything happens.”
