Busan: The Lotte Giants announced the hiring of Japanese pitching coach Satoru Kanemura as their new pitching coordinator. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club aims to strengthen its pitching lineup under Kanemura's guidance.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kanemura, 49, will be responsible for developing the Giants' pitchers. Known for his expertise in working with relievers and setting rotation strategies, Kanemura previously served as a pitching coach for the Hanshin Tigers in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Central League. His tenure at the Tigers, from 2016 to 2022 and again in 2025, saw him contribute to the team's recent league title victory. His coaching played a significant role in enhancing the performance of both starters and relievers.

During his time with the Tigers, pitchers like Hiroto Saiki and Shoki Murakami excelled, with Saiki leading the Central League with a 1.55 ERA and Murakami securing the fourth spot with a 2.10 ERA. Closer Suguru Iwazaki and setup man Masaki Oyokawa also had impressive seasons, with Iwazaki ranking third in saves and Oyokawa tying for the league lead in holds. Jeremy Beasley, the newly signed American pitcher for the Giants, also pitched for the Tigers in 2025.

The Giants' general manager, Park Jun-hyuk, expressed optimism about Kanemura's impact on the team's long-term development. The Giants finished eighth among the ten KBO teams this year, with an ERA of 4.75. The team underwent a series of changes with their foreign starting pitchers during the season, concluding with Alec Gamboa and Vince Velasquez. For the upcoming 2026 season, the addition of Beasley and former major league and NPB pitcher Elvin Rodriguez is expected to bolster their lineup.