LG Twins manager hails youngsters' progress amid improving team culture

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- To start a highly anticipated early-season showdown against the defending champions Kia Tigers on Friday, LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb decided to rest four regulars.

Youm can afford that, with the Twins having won eight of their first nine games, but he is also taking the big-picture outlook as he tries to keep developing young players.

Among those stepping in Friday are a couple of 20-somethings with a combined 14 games of experience in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO): catcher Lee Ju-heon and utility man Moon Jeong-bin.

Youm said he wasn't concerned about their lack of experience, knowing how hard they had worked since last winter to get ready for moments like this.

"Our backups have been working really hard since our year-end training camp last year, and I think they are prepared to go out and battle," Youm told reporters at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. "Last year, they weren't quite as ready to capitalize on opportunities when I tried to give them some. I didn't want them to experience failure too much too early in their careers."

Captain and center fielder Park Hae-min is among those getting a breather Friday, joined by shortstop Oh Ji-hwan and catcher Park Dong-won.

Youm credited those three players, plus former captain Kim Hyun-soo, with helping out youngsters during the offseason.

"When we had optional training days in December, those veterans showed up and helped with our player development program. And that was huge for the ball club," Youm said. "They recognized that those young players had to take the next step in order for the team to get better in the future. The veteran guys didn't see their younger teammates as threats for their own playing time."

Youm said the clubhouse culture has also improved along the way.

"When our young players get hits, those veterans cheer for them harder than anyone in the dugout," the manager said. "I think that kind of culture can help turn us into an even stronger team, and that's a major positive that I see as manager."

Another positive for Youm on Friday is the return of reliever Jang Hyun-sik, who had been sidelined with a sprained ankle he'd suffered during spring training in Arizona. Jang was a key free agent signing for the Twins in November as they sought to bolster a bullpen that held them back in their title defense in 2024.

"We want to have him out in a low-leverage situation first and then determine his specific role in the bullpen," Youm said, when asked if Jang would take over as closer right away.

The Twins are still without their closer from last year, You Young-chan, who is recovering from an offseason elbow surgery.

"Young-chan won't be back for another couple of months, and Hyun-sik will probably have to be our closer until then," Youm added.

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