After 8th-place finish post-2023 title, Lee Beom-ho vows changes to address injuries and rebuild

[OSEN=Gwangju, Reporter Lee Sun-ho] "I'm sorry. I will change next year."

Lee Beom-ho, manager of the KIA Tigers, apologized for failing to reach the postseason. KIA's elimination from the top five was confirmed on the 26th after the KT Wiz secured a victory. Despite achieving their 12th championship last year and confidently aiming for a two-peat, they suffered a dismal 8th-place finish -- the worst slump in Tigers history following a championship. Fans' reactions were also harsh.

The infield struggled with injuries and slumps among key hitters like Kim Do-young, Kim Sun-bin, and Na Sung-bum. The pitching staff was also hit by injuries. Kwak Do-gyu, a key reliever from last year's championship run, underwent Tommy John surgery and ended his season early, while swingman Hwang Dong-ha was involved in a traffic accident. Despite rising to 2nd place at one point led by players from Hampyeong's minor league, they failed to break through. In particular, ahead of the summer showdown, injuries to Adam Oller and Yoon Young-cheol's elbow injury weakened the starting rotation. Even the bullpen faced overload, causing a sharp decline to the bottom of the standings in the second half.

Before the game against the NC Dinos on the 27th, Manager Lee apologized and expressed his determination to restore the team's honor: "I am most sorry to the fans. I will use this year's failure as a stepping stone and show a completely different performance next year. The difficulties we faced this year will make next season even more crucial. With a new mindset, we will prepare for next year more perfectly."

He added, "Last year everything went smoothly, but this year, every time we thought we could push forward, we were held back. It was a season where I realized what truly matters. Bullpen management was the most critical point. Depending on how we prepare our pitching and defense rather than offensive power, there will be changes. I will focus on preparing thoroughly from the final training camp."

He pointed to Adam Oller's absence, not Kim Do-young's injury, as the most regrettable factor: "Oller's injury was the biggest issue. With Yoon Young-cheol also out, we entered many games already trailing in the starting rotation battle. There were many situations where we had to rely on the bullpen, leading to a tough season. When one position player was out, others stepped up to fill the gap. We thought Oller's absence would last ten days, but it stretched to six weeks," he lamented.

He continued, "If we had managed to overcome that period, we could have fought much better. Missing Oller caused us to lose nine games against the top three teams during the late first half and early second half. Last year, when foreign pitchers were injured, replacements held their ground. This year, the bullpen collapsed, becoming a key reason for our failure. We must research how to keep the starting rotation fully operational without injuries during the season," he stated as a task.

He also highlighted meaningful gains: the youth who briefly led the team to a solo 2nd place in the late first half. "In the middle of the season, we fought with young players from Hampyeong's minor league. Rather than offensive power, we relied on defense and fighting spirit. If the pitchers held their ground, the games were winnable. I saw that if young players step up, there is potential. It was a significant harvest. We will train rigorously during the final and spring camps to ensure more active performances next year," he vowed. /sunny@osen.co.kr

KIA Tigers Manager Apologizes for Postseason Miss, Cites Injuries