Former managers join forces as coaches... Heo Mun-hoe as bench coach, Cho Won-woo in charge of defense in Lotte’s bold coaching staff overhaul

[Financial News]  The new setup at Sajik is anything but ordinary. The Lotte Giants, now under newly appointed manager Lee Dong-wook and new general manager Lee Taek-geun, have made an unprecedented and bold move, bringing former managers into key coaching roles.
The Lotte club officially announced on the 28th that it had appointed former manager Heo Mun-hoe as first-team bench coach and hitting adviser, and former pitching coach Park Seung-min as Futures (second-team) manager, among other moves to build the core of its coaching staff for the 2027 season.
The most striking move is bench coach Heo Mun-hoe’s return to Sajik. After taking charge of Lotte’s first team in 2020 and leaving the club in 2021, he is returning to his former team after a full five years—not as manager, but as bench coach. Heo is a coach known for his expertise in detailed analysis of each player’s swing mechanics tailored to their physical attributes, as well as mental conditioning. He will support manager Lee Dong-wook from the bench and take on the key task of drawing out the full lineup’s potential through his distinctive communication skills in the hitting department.
Park Seung-min was selected to lead the Futures team at Sangdong Baseball Stadium, tasked with developing future talent. Having left a significant mark on pitcher development during stints with the Kiwoom Heroes, kt wiz and Hanwha Eagles, Park is renowned for his meticulous, data-driven coaching. He is a key piece in the ‘tailored depth-building’ approach championed by Lotte’s front office.



Lotte’s determination to address its glaring weaknesses is also evident in its appointments to the key first-team coaching positions. Coach Cho Won-woo, a former Lotte manager, has joined the staff and will focus exclusively on defense, a longstanding area of weakness. Lee Byung-kyu and Lee Seong-gon will oversee hitting, while Lim Kyung-wan and Lee Jae-yul will lead the pitching staff. Battery coach Yong Deok-han and strategy coach Jo Jae-young have also joined, completing the first-team bench.
Manager Lee Dong-wook, after reviewing the new coaching staff lineup, expressed confidence, saying, “We have completed a coaching staff setup that aligns with the club’s clear direction of making use of data and strengthening defense,” and, “We will build the profile of a strong team capable of competing near the top.”
General manager Lee Taek-geun added, “Together with the new coaching staff, we will put in place a systematic development system to deepen the roster,” and, “We will also quickly finalize the remaining coaching appointments and step up preparations for the 2027 season.”
The baseball world is watching closely to see what kind of storm Lotte’s bold coaching staff overhaul—marked by former managers setting aside their pride to join the staff and an emphasis on data and defense—will bring to the Sajik grounds next year.


[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter