SSG Landers owner and general manager Choo Shin-soo expressed his feelings about his retirement ceremony.
Choo Shin-soo said in a pre-retirement ceremony interview ahead of the game against the Lotte Giants in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 14th, "Watching (Lee) Dae-ho's retirement ceremony, I thought to myself that such a scene would come for me soon. I had been somewhat prepared. I do not feel nervous or regretful; I am just happy."
After graduating from Busan High School and signing with the Seattle Mariners, Choo Shin-soo immediately moved to the United States. He played a total of 1,652 games in Major League Baseball with a batting average of .275 (6,087 at-bats, 1,671 hits), hitting 218 home runs, 782 RBIs, 961 runs, 157 stolen bases, and an OPS of .824, establishing one of the most successful careers for a Korean player in Major League Baseball.
In February 2021, Choo Shin-soo returned to Korea after signing a contract with SSG for 2.7 billion won, having been selected in the overseas special draft. He contributed to SSG's wire-to-wire championship in 2022. His KBO League career statistics include 439 games, a batting average of .263 (1,505 at-bats, 396 hits), 54 home runs, 205 RBIs, 266 runs, 51 stolen bases, and an OPS of .812. Retiring from active play last season, Choo Shin-soo is now continuing his career with the SSG front office.
Choo Shin-soo said, "I think it is rare for a player to leave while receiving a lot of love, support, and applause while playing baseball. I feel like I have received a great gift in my 34 years of baseball life. Although I only played for SSG for four years, the team did not have to do this much for me. I am grateful for how well they treated me and took care of me during our short time together," expressing his thanks to the team and fans.
On the day of the game, all SSG players will wear special uniforms to commemorate Choo Shin-soo's retirement ceremony. Choo Shin-soo noted, "Wearing this uniform reminds me of my last game in Texas. When I entered the clubhouse and saw the uniform hanging in my locker, I felt it was the last one. Today has a slightly different meaning than that time. Back then, it felt like my last game in Major League Baseball, and today I feel blessed. It will be an honor to see many players wearing my uniform and playing."
Although Choo Shin-soo could have participated in the game as part of the special entry for his retirement game, he decided not to take the field. Choo Shin-soo said, "I never thought about the special entry," and added, "I saw (Kim) Kwang-hyun today, and he told me to get in the batter's box once. I did not pick up a bat since striking out in my last at-bat last year. I just did not want to. I would do it if needed, but I did not have the desire to."
Kim Kwang-hyun was removed from the first-team roster on the 4th for conditioning but returned for the game on this day. Choo Shin-soo said, "I asked if he timed his pitching day to match my retirement ceremony. He said, 'I just missed it, but today was the day I came back. In a way, it fit together like a puzzle.' He says he feels nervous, but it's Kim Kwang-hyun; how could he be nervous? He is a pitcher who has thrown in more important and bigger games. I believe he shines even more in situations like this. Regardless of the outcome, I think it is a special moment for me as well. Having a legendary KBO League pitcher pitch on the day I end my baseball career is special and meaningful to me. I am grateful to Kwang-hyun," expressing his appreciation for the day's starting pitcher, Kim Kwang-hyun.
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