Former Tigers star to coach Hanwha Eagles

Lee Jong-beom, once Korea’s most complete baseball player, yesterday became a coach for the Hanwha Eagles in the nation’s top league.

The Eagles of the KBO said Lee, 42, signed a one-year deal worth 50 million won ($44,900) to be their base-running coach.

Lee, who ended his 16-year career with the Kia Tigers earlier this year, will work under his former Tigers manager, Kim Eung-ryong. The Eagles named Kim their new manager on Monday.

Lee and Kim won the Korean Series championships in 1993, 1996 and 1997.

The Eagles finished last among eight KBO teams this season with 53 wins, 77 losses and three ties. They fired Han Dae-hwa as their manager in August and Han Yong-deok, their bench coach, served as the interim manager to finish the season last week.

Yonhap