LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb was fined 2 million won (US$1,400) on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, after a heated argument with an umpire during a recent game against the Doosan Bears. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) issued the penalty four days after the incident, which took place at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on April 11, 2025.
During the game, with one out and a runner on first base in the bottom of the fifth inning, Lee Ju-heon of the Twins hit a line drive towards third baseman Kang Seung-ho. In an attempt to make a diving catch, Kang dropped the ball but quickly recovered to throw to second base for a force out. Meanwhile, Moon Sung-ju, the runner at first, hesitated and returned to the bag, mistakenly believing the ball had been caught.
As Lee sprinted to first base, Bears first baseman Yang Suk-hwan tagged both Twins players who were on the bag. However, Lee was ruled safe at first, with Moon being the only out on the play. At the conclusion of the play, second base umpire Kwon Young-choul raised his arms to call time, and the rest of the umpire crew followed suit.
According to the Twins, Youm misinterpreted the call made by third base umpire Kim Kab-soo as an overturning of the earlier fair call. When informed that it was merely a call for time, Youm initiated a heated debate with first base umpire Lee Young-jae, arguing that the umpires should not have called the play dead while it was still in progress.
The situation escalated, and crew chief Bae Byeong-du ultimately ejected Youm from the game after he began swearing at the umpires. In the heat of the moment, Youm bumped into Lee before being restrained by his players and coaches.
Umpires maintained that the time was called correctly after the runners had been tagged out, a stance confirmed by the KBO following a video review of the incident. After the game, Youm expressed regret for his actions, stating he felt remorseful for acting recklessly in front of a large crowd.
The penalty imposed on Youm aligns with previous fines given to other managers for similar infractions involving contact with umpires during games. As of Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the LG Twins entered their match against the Samsung Lions leading the KBO standings with an impressive record of 14 wins, 3 losses, and no ties.
As the season progresses, the Twins will look to maintain their position at the top of the league while managing the aftermath of Youm's controversial ejection. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this incident affects the team dynamics moving forward.
