NC Dinos’ Park Gun-woo (33) has been removed from the first team roster for damaging teamwork.
NC Dinos head coach Kang Myung-ho revealed in an interview before the team’s game against the Kiwoom Heroes of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 4 why he removed Park Gun-woo from the first team roster on March 3.
NC, which is in third place in the league, had lost three straight games as of the third day and was in urgent need of breaking the losing streak, but made the decision to drop Park Gun-woo, the main hitter, to the second team. It is unusual for the team to demote a hitter who signed a six-year, 10 billion won contract last season and is batting 2-for-8 (73 for 255) with seven home runs, 41 RBIs and an .816 OPS in 69 games this season to the second team despite no slump or injury.
“I know you’re all wondering, but I hope you don’t read too much into it. It’s true that Park Gun-woo complained of discomfort here and there during last week’s match. However, as a senior player, I think there are other qualities that he should have in addition to his skills. As I said when I became a coach, I have a direction that I don’t want him to do anything that would take him away from the original team. I was very disappointed with Park Gun-woo in that regard,” he said, explaining the reason for Park’s expulsion from the first team.
The decisive moment for Park’s demotion to the second team was the game against KT on the 2nd. At the time, Park had a good performance with two hits in four at-bats. However, he was replaced by Choi Jung-won in the eighth inning when the team was losing 0-1 and finished the game that day, and NC lost 0-5 with four runs in the eighth inning without Park Gun-woo. Coach Kang said, “Sunday’s game was decisive. It’s not about taming the players, it’s not about discipline. As I’ve always said, I sent a message that we shouldn’t deviate from my principles,” said Kang.
Regarding players who manage their personal performance to the point of being called ‘stat managers’, Kang said, “I don’t think players should voice their opinions to be replaced. It’s the coaching staff’s decision to play a player, and at the end of the day, it’s the coach’s decision. If you’re always in good shape, you can keep playing, and if you’re not in good shape, you shouldn’t always be out or on the bench. It’s important to have the same principles,” he said.스포츠토토
For Park to get back into the first team, he’ll have to show that his approach to the game has changed. “It’s not up to me to judge whether Park Gun-woo can go straight to the first team. The C-team coaches will give me a report after watching him train and play, and I will make a judgment after listening to what my teammates are thinking,” Kang said of the conditions for Park’s return.
“I want him to be a little more mature,” Kang said, adding, “He is a player who represents Korea. I also have friends who play baseball because of him. So I want him to do a little better,” he said, adding that he hopes Park will come back with a different look.