"Please, Teach Us Just One Secret"—Why Taiwan's Champion Team Reached Out to Dae-ho Lee for Help

[Financial News] Dae-ho Lee (44), known as Korea's cleanup hitter, is now set to share his expertise with Taiwan's baseball scene after his stints in Korea, Japan, and the United States.
On the 3rd, CTBC Brothers, a prestigious club in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), officially announced through its channels that "Dae-ho Lee, a living legend of Korean baseball, will join as a guest batting coach during the upcoming spring camp." The news that Lee, who had been active in broadcasting and on YouTube after retirement, is returning to the field as a coach has drawn attention from the Asian baseball community.
Lee's move to Taiwan was prompted by his close relationship with CTBC Brothers manager Keiichi Hirano.
The two built a strong bond of trust when Lee played for the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2012 to 2013, sharing the same team.
Explaining the background of Lee's recruitment, the CTBC Brothers stated, "We believe there is no one better than Dae-ho Lee to maximize the hitting efficiency of our power hitters and to help them develop mental strength and coping skills in crucial moments."
The practical theories of this 'hitting machine,' who has recorded over 2,800 hits across Korea, the United States, and Japan, are expected to be applied to Taiwanese batters.

An intriguing storyline has emerged: Lee will wear the CTBC Brothers uniform and face his former team, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. According to the CTBC Brothers, Lee will sit on the bench as a coach during the exchange game against the SoftBank Hawks scheduled for February 25.
For Lee, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are a special team, as he enjoyed his prime there from 2014 to 2015 and became the first Korean to be named Japan Series MVP in 2015.
Debuting with the Lotte Giants in 2001, Lee built a remarkable career in the KBO League, retiring in 2022 with a career batting average of .309, 374 home runs, and 1,425 RBIs.
Notably, in 2010, he made history by winning seven batting titles, excluding stolen bases, an unprecedented feat in world baseball. He later proved his world-class talent in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Seattle Mariners.
After retirement, Lee embarked on a second career as a commentator and YouTuber. Now, all eyes are on whether his coaching stint in Taiwan will reveal new possibilities for him as a leader.

jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter