Seoul: With his club set to finish in last place in South Korean baseball for the third consecutive season in 2025, Kiwoom Heroes manager Seol Jong-jin expressed his determination to guide the team back to the postseason within two years. The announcement came after the Heroes removed the interim tag from Seol and signed him to a two-year, 600 million-won (approximately US$428,660) contract as their new manager.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Seol addressed his ambitions at the inauguration ceremony held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. He emphasized the need for sacrifice from his players, stating, "The goal is to play a winning brand of baseball. I will try to get back inside the top four within two years. I will ask the players to sacrifice themselves for the team and for our fans."
As of Sunday, the Heroes were positioned at the bottom of the 10-team Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) standings with a record of 47-92-4 (wins-losses-ties). The team's struggles this season began with a 27-61-3 record under previous management. Seol stepped in as interim manager, leading the team to a 20-31-1 record, the eighth-best in the league during his tenure.
Seol outlined his strategy for the team, focusing on resilience and strategic play. "We will have to keep battling hard, putting down bunts and stealing bases, just as we've been doing in the second half of this season," he said. "Resilience will be our identity."
The Heroes have not reached the postseason since their runner-up finish to the SSG Landers in the 2022 Korean Series. They have remained at the bottom of the standings for the past two seasons and were on track to record the worst performance in the league this year even before the All-Star break.
Having been with the Heroes organization since its inception in 2008, Seol has served in various capacities, including as a minor league pitching coach and head of baseball operations. He managed the Heroes' minor league team for five years before assuming his current role at the KBO level. "I've been with the Heroes since Day 1, and I've seen firsthand how dedicated this organization is to baseball," Seol remarked. "And I will try to make sure such dedication and drive will translate to more wins on the field."