KBO's Eagles decide not to re-sign manager Kim Kyung-moon

The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) have decided not to re-sign their manager, Kim Kyung-moon, following the expiration of his three-year contract at the end of the season. Kim took over the Eagles in June 2024 and led them to their first Korean Series title in 2019, although they lost the championship to the LG Twins in five games.

This year, the Eagles secured a ninth-place finish in the 10-team league, with a 57-82-4 record heading into their final regular-season game on Saturday. Kim informed reporters during a pregame media availability at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark that this will be his last game with the team. He expressed regret that he left the team without improving their performance, thanking the players, coaches, and front office staff for their support throughout his tenure.

At 67 years old, Kim is the oldest manager in the KBO this year and has yet to win a Korean Series title after over 20 years in the role. With 1,078 regular-season wins, he holds the distinction of being one of three managers in league history with more than 1,000 wins. This season, the Eagles were poised to win the pennant, posting the second-best record in the regular season with an 83-57-4 record.

Their powerful rotation, led by American pitchers Cody Ponce and Ryan Weiss, contributed to their strong performance, with Ponce winning the league MVP award for the first time in his career. However, the loss of both Ponce and Weiss to Major League Baseball has left a gap in the pitching staff, as their replacements have struggled to maintain the same level of success.

The Eagles' offense, bolstered by free agent Kang Baek-ho's career-high 34 home runs, has been a bright spot, as they lead the KBO in home runs and runs scored this season. Nonetheless, the team's ERA remains the second-worst in the league at 5.27 compared to their league-best mark of 3.55 in 2025.