If you stay in fifth place, I'll go and make you number one."

Koo Chang-mo of the NC Dinos, the "military ace," expressed his confident ambition to coach Lee Ho-joon.

The NC Dinosaurs held their New Year's Day party in 2025 at the Olympic Memorial Hall of Masan Baseball Center on Sunday afternoon. Lee Jin-man, CEO Lim Sun-nam, club executives and employees, coaching staff including Lee Ho-joon and the team attended the event.메이저놀이터

Coach Lee Ho-joon, who met with reporters after the New Year's meeting, revealed the contents of the phone call with Koo Chang-mo.

Koo is currently serving in the military with the Sangmu Baseball Team. He is scheduled to be discharged from the military in June this year. After being confirmed to join the military, Koo was diagnosed with a fractured left ulna, and went on to the operating table. And Koo, who joined the military in December 2023, continued his rehabilitation.

Then in the 2024 season, Koo Chang-mo took the mound at the last minute. He took the mound as bullpen pitcher in two games at the end of the Futures League season to check his physical condition. During two innings, he gave up three hits and one walk, and had one strikeout. His ERA was zero without allowing any runs. He seems to have given a green light to his return to the mound after a long period of rehabilitation.

Now, the first half of the 2025 season has become important. If he takes the mound normally in the Futures League, he will be able to contribute a lot to the NC mound after being discharged from the military.

There is a person waiting for a healthy Koo Chang-mo more than anyone else. It is the new coach Lee Ho-joon.

Lee said, "I talked to (former) Changmo on the phone while greeting him for the New Year on Jan. 1, and he said to me, 'I'll go and make him the No. 1 player if he stays in the 5th place until I get there. I'll trust him."

What he was briefed on Koo's condition is also good. "I heard that Koo's physical condition is nothing special right now and he is in good condition. I took two years off, so if he says he feels more pain, he should kill him," coach Lee Ho-joon said with a chuckle.

He said, "I'm at an age where I'm not sick anymore. Given the various situations, the timing is just right," and he couldn't hide his expectations for his return.