Lotte Giants name title-winning skipper as new manager

DAEGU — The Lotte Giants announced a former championship-winning skipper as their new manager Monday. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Lee Dong-wook will take the reins on a three-year contract worth 2 billion won ($1.5 million). The 52-year-old received a signing bonus of 500 million won and will make 500 million won each year in annual salary. Born and raised in the Giants' home city of Busan, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Lee spent his entire six-year playing career with the Giants from 1997 to 2003. After coaching stints with the LG Twins and the NC Dinos, Lee was named the Dinos' manager in 2019. He then led the Dinos to their first and so far only Korean Series title in 2020. During his championship season, Lee was lauded for his use of advanced data and communication skills. Lee was let go by the Dinos during the 2022 season and has since served on the coaching staff for the national team. The Giants finished in seventh place in the 10-team KBO in each of the past three seasons under manager Kim Tae-hyoung, who was not brought back after his three-year de