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NC Dinos hire ex-captain Lee Ho-joon as new manager

Published: 22 Oct. 2024, 19:17

Then-LG Twins hitting coach Lee Ho-joon speaks during an interview at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul on Nov. 7, 2023. [YONHAP]

The NC Dinos announced their former captain and hitting coach Lee Ho-joon as new manager Tuesday.

Lee, 48, signed a three-year deal worth up to 1.4 billion won ($1.01 million). He received a signing bonus of 300 million won, and will make 300 million won in salary in each of the first two seasons. For the third season, Lee will make 350 million won, and he can earn an additional 150 million won in incentives.

Lee spent the final five seasons of his 22-year KBO career with the Dinos, from 2013 to 2017. Then from 2019 to 2021, Lee worked as the Dinos' hitting coach, helping them win their first Korean Series title in 2020.

He later worked as the hitting coach for the LG Twins from 2022 to May 2024, before serving as the bench coach over the final five months of this season.

Lee replaces Kang In-kwon, who was fired on Sept. 20 after the Dinos failed to qualify for the postseason. The Dinos were in second place on May 16 at 25-17-1 (wins-losses-ties), just one game behind the league-leading Kia Tigers. But they ended the season in ninth place at 61-81-2.

In a statement, the Dinos said they valued Lee's ability to engage in open communication, proven leadership and his experience as hitting coach and bench coach.

"He has an intimate understanding of the league and players, and he is well-versed in advanced data," the Dinos said. "We felt he was the right man to turn our club into a contender for the long term."

Lee said he was happy to be reunited with the Dinos.

"The Dinos have been a special team in my heart, because I played in the team's inaugural game in 2013 and I had the privilege of having the first retirement ceremony in franchise history," Lee said. "I'm honored to be the manager of such a special team. We have a lot of youth and promise in this club. The development of young players will lay the foundation for our success going forward, and my job is to turn their promise into reality."

The Dinos said Lee will take the helm on Thursday and run their end-of-season training camp.

Yonhap