'Retirement ceremony restaurant' KT Wiz has decided to hold a retirement ceremony for former player Cho Yong-ho.

Professional baseball team KT Wiz announced on the 6th that "the retirement ceremony for Cho Yong-ho, a member of the '2021 integrated championship team,' will be held during the home game against the SSG Landers at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 8th."

Before the game, a retirement commemorative signing event will be held for 100 fans at the central Wiz Hall of Suwon KT Wiz Park. A history video showcasing Cho Yong-ho's achievements during his player days will be screened on the ground, followed by a gift presentation ceremony prepared by the club. Afterwards, there will be a time for Cho Yong-ho to read a retirement speech. On that day, his son Cho Ha-on will throw the first pitch, and the ceremonial pitch will be handled by Cho Yong-ho.

Cho Yong-ho, a graduate of Yatap High School and Dankook University, entered professional baseball in 2014 as a training player for the SK Wyverns and transferred to KT through a trade in 2018. He was a lead-off hitter with good contact ability and plate discipline, contributing to the first integrated championship at the founding of the team in 2021. Cho Yong-ho's KBO career records over eight seasons include 696 games, a batting average of .275, 553 hits, 173 RBIs, and 286 runs.

Last year, Cho Yong-ho recorded a batting average of .248 with 37 hits, 13 RBIs, and 17 runs in 60 games, failing to be included in the plans of manager Lee Kang-cheol. He then endured the pain of being released on October 10, but KT has not forgotten Cho Yong-ho's contributions to the integrated championship.

Typically, retirement ceremonies are a privilege granted to players who have made significant contributions to the club or KBO league history, or who have been franchise stars for a long time at a club. However, the concept of KT's retirement ceremony is somewhat different.

A KT official explained, "Although the club has a short history, we want to hold retirement ceremonies for all players who have contributed to making the youngest club rise as the champion within that short history. To us, each player is both the present of the club and a new part of history."

KT held retirement ceremonies for Shin Bon-ki on May 11 and coach Park Kyung-soo on June 1 this season.

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