Coach Lee Kwang-gil candidly shared the reasons for joining ‘Flame Baseball’ and the feelings he experienced while participating in the program.
On the 16th, Coach Lee appeared on the YouTube show ‘Jung Geun-woo's Baseball Life’ and said, “I received a call from Director Kim Sung-keun. He said, ‘Come and hit some fungos.’ Producer Jang Si-won also said, ‘Please endure for just a month.’ That’s how I ended up here.” He continued, “Actually, my shoulder ligaments are torn, and if I undergo surgery, the director would have to hit fungos alone for 2-3 months, so I can’t do it,” revealing his genuine feelings about ‘Flame Baseball’.
Coach Lee honestly admitted, “At first, I thought, ‘Why are these legendary players joining the team and not sharing their know-how with the juniors but doing a variety show instead?’” He added, “Although this program is entertainment, it helps young players realize how legends become legends and how they should follow in their footsteps. I realized it is a program that serves as a great example for amateur and young players, and my perspective changed.”
He further explained, “Professional players play six games a week, so they might think, ‘If I don’t do well today, I can do better tomorrow,’ but ‘Flame Baseball’ has only one game a week. The players know that if they make a mistake, there’s no turning back, so they are playing baseball more sincerely.”
Coach Lee Kwang-gil joined the Sammi Superstars in 1983 and played as a professional player for nine years until retiring with the Lotte Giants in 1992. Since 1996, he has served as a coach for professional teams such as the Ssangbangwool Raiders, Hanwha Eagles, SK Wyverns, NC Dinos, and KT Wiz, and has been working as a baseball commentator since 2005. He has a career that is more than enough to dream of being a manager.
Regarding this, Coach Lee evaluated himself, saying, “I believe the positions of the person managing and the person supporting should be different.” He expressed his confidence, stating, “My dream was to be a coach who earns more than the manager. If needed, wouldn’t they use me as a coach even if I earn more than the manager?” Jung Geun-woo also added, “I think he is the number one third base coach. His instantaneous judgment and ability to communicate with the manager are top-notch, and he has actually produced many results.”
In conclusion, Coach Lee Kwang-gil said, “I hope Director Kim Sung-keun stays healthy, and I wish that older players do not get injured and can show good performances to fans for a long time. Above all, I hope young players can find their own paths as soon as possible.”
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
