On the 5th, Lotte announced that first-team head coach Saburo Omura will become the new manager from next season. Manager Masahito Yoshii, who has been in charge since 2011, will step down at the end of this season.
Mr. Saburo said through the club, "In my speech at the 2016 retirement game, I told Japan Japan that I have a dream to make The Marines the best team, and I will work hard to realize my big dream of making this beloved team the . And the number "86" that I am wearing is the number of director Koji Yamamoto, who coached me during my active career. I hope to lead passionately like Mr. Koji." An inaugural conference is scheduled to be held soon.
Saburo, who joined Lotte from PL Gakuen as the first draft pick in 1994, retired from active play in 2016, served as farm director for Rakuten in 2020, and returned to Lotte as manager of the second team in 2023. He was transferred to the position of first team head coach in early June this year. He demonstrated his leadership skills by helping his students from his time with the second team, such as Terachi and Yamamoto, and first draft pick Nishikawa, grow into first team assets. Although the team was unable to rise from last place, he worked hard to understand the team's current situation under manager Yoshii.
Among pitcher, Kimura and Tanaka Haru have shown great growth, and they will be leading the young players who are showing great growth in both pitching and batting to try to make a comeback next season.
◆ Saburo (Omura Saburo) Born June 1, 1976 in Okayama Prefecture. 49 years old. Joined Lotte as the first pick in the 1994 draft from PL Gakuen. His registered name was Saburo when he joined the team. He contributed to two Japan Series championships and won the Golden Glove Award for outfielder in 2005 and 2007. He made a surprise transfer to The Giants in June 2011, but declared free agency in 2012 and returned to Lotte. After retiring in 2016, he served as farm manager for Rakuten, before becoming manager of Lotte's second team in 2013. His career stats include a batting average of .265, 127 Home Run, and 655 RBIs in 1,782 games. He is 181 cm tall and RBI 90 kg. He bats and throws right-handed. His wife is the talent Nakajima Michiyo.
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