Posted at 7:07 a.m., Monday, November 26, 2007
Baseball: Ex-Brewer manager Royster hired in S. Korea
Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's Lotte Giants named former Milwaukee Brewers manager Jerry Royster as their new manager today, making him the first foreigner to oversee one of the country's professional baseball teams.Royster, 55, who also served as manager of the Dodgers' Triple-A team in Las Vegas, signed a two-year contract worth US$750,000 (A505,000) with an option for 2010, Lotte said on its Web site.
Royster decided to join Lotte after being advised by Bobby Valentine, the manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, and taking into account South Korea's strong performances in international competitions, according to the Lotte Giants.
Royster spent 16 seasons in the North American major leagues, playing mostly for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. He managed the Brewers in 2002.
The Busan-based team, affiliated with South Korea's Lotte Group, finished seventh in the country's eight-team professional league this year.
Lotte Group is South Korea's fifth-largest business group, which includes Lotte Shopping Co., operator of the country's largest department store chain.
