카지노NC outfielder Park Gun-woo has been sent to the second team on a ‘reprimand’. Park had been excluded from the first team for similar reasons during his time with Doosan.
On the last three days, Park was removed from the first team roster. It wasn’t due to poor performance or injury. In 69 games this season, Park hit .286 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs and was an integral part of the batting order.
The next day, on the 4th, NC manager Kang In-hwa explained the reasoning behind Park’s move to the second team ahead of the game against Kiwoom. “It’s true that Park Gun-woo complained of discomfort here and there during last week’s game. However, as a senior player, I think he should have the virtues that he should have, not just the skills,” he said, adding, “I always hoped that he would not act out of character, and I was very disappointed in that aspect.”
Kang also said, “I hope you don’t read too much into it. “It’s not a decision to tame or discipline the players,” he said, “It’s just to give them a message that they shouldn’t deviate from their principles. It’s just to send a message that you can’t deviate from your principles.”
Kang, who hasn’t met Park in person, said, “Park is also a player who represents Korea. I have friends who play baseball while watching him,” he said, adding, “I felt it was necessary for him to have time to think and mature on his own.”
Although the background of the situation is not clearly stated, it is believed that Park complained about his uncomfortable physical condition and was removed from the first team because Kang felt that his behaviour was disrupting the team atmosphere.Park went through a similar situation with his former club Doosan. He was dropped from the first team roster on 22 June 2021. He was batting .333 with two home runs and an OPS of .835.
At the time, Doosan head coach Kim Tae-hyung said, “He was tired and wanted to rest, so I told him to go to the second team and get some rest,” adding, “Baseball is a team sport, so if the atmosphere is not right with one player, you have to make a decision. That’s the role of a manager, and that’s what we need right now.”
“The starters shouldn’t think and say that they’re going to play. If a starter says he’s tired, it’s not going to be understood by the backups who can’t play.”