Pro Baseball SSG Landers owner and development general manager Choo Shin-soo concluded all his schedules as a player with his retirement ceremony.
Choo Shin-soo held his retirement ceremony after the SSG Landers and Lotte Giants game of the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' on the 14th at Incheon SSG Landers Field.
After graduating from Busan High School and signing a contract with the Seattle Mariners, Choo Shin-soo moved to the United States right away, playing in 1,652 major league games with a batting average of .275 (6,087 at-bats and 1,671 hits), 218 home runs, 782 RBIs, 961 runs scored, and 157 stolen bases, with an OPS of .824. In February 2021, he returned to Korea by signing a contract worth 2.7 billion won with SSG, and recorded KBO league career stats of 439 games, a batting average of .263 (1,505 at-bats and 396 hits), 54 home runs, 205 RBIs, 266 runs scored, 51 stolen bases, and an OPS of .812. In 2022, he contributed to SSG's wire-to-wire championship, leaving his mark over four years before retiring after last season.
On the day of the retirement ceremony, videos of congratulations from colleagues and juniors poured in to celebrate Choo Shin-soo's last moments. Team members including Kim Kwang-hyun, Choi Jeong, Noh Kyung-eun, Han Yoo-seom, Choi Ji-hoon, Oh Tae-gon, Park Seong-han, and Lee Ji-young—with contemporaries Lee Dae-ho and Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung), as well as Son Ah-seop (NC), Kim Tae-kwon (KIA), Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha), Kang Min-ho (Samsung), Lee Yong-kyu (Kiwoom), Ko Young-pyo (KT), and Jeon Jun-woo (Lotte)—sent congratulatory videos.
Not only in Korea but also former teammates from major league baseball enhanced the retirement ceremony. Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels, who played with him during his time with the Texas Rangers, visited Korea and gave various advice to SSG Futures players while also attending the game and retirement ceremony.
Beltre said, "Thank you for inviting me to this retirement ceremony. I want to express my gratitude to my best friend, Choo Shin-soo. It has been an honor to have our bond from the first time I was called up to the major leagues until now. From the moment I first saw him, I believed Choo Shin-soo was a hardworking and passionate player who would surely succeed. We were teammates and separated in between, but in the end, we played together. It was an honor for me. Every moment I spent with Choo Shin-soo was happy."
Hamels said, "First of all, it is an honor to be here today. I have immense respect for the way he has lived as a player in Major League Baseball away from his homeland. Choo Shin-soo has proven to be an amazing player and shown that he is a great teammate. Additionally, being able to see the love for family and teammates in his eyes was a blessing. I believe that returning to his beloved country to continue his career in Korea for the last few years shows his love for baseball. I believe that all the fans and staff present here can illuminate the future of Korean baseball. Thank you very much," as he congratulated Choo Shin-soo's retirement.
Choo Shin-soo said, "I never imagined this day would come. I thought I would be able to play baseball, the sport I love, for my entire life. Watching my friend Dae-ho retire in 2023 made me think that my moment would soon come as well. While thinking about my retirement speech, I started to write but decided to speak from my heart in front of the fans and threw the paper into the trash. I want to convey my honest feelings. Thank you for staying and celebrating after the game," as he began his retirement speech.
For Choo Shin-soo, who is from Busan, Lotte fans hold deep significance. He said, "What I want to convey to Lotte fans is that I watched many Lotte games since I was a child. I was a kid who saw baseball at Sajik Stadium. In a way, the starting point of a person named Choo Shin-soo was Sajik Stadium. Although I couldn't play in a Lotte uniform when I returned to Korea, I believe the support of Lotte fans is unmatched by any other team. I ask that you cheer for the Lotte players so they can do well," expressing his gratitude.
Choo Shin-soo commented, "I want to sincerely thank the Landers fans. I was an outsider who lived in the U.S. for 21 years. I was someone who was not welcomed anywhere. I worried whether this would be the case when I returned to Korea as well. However, they welcomed me like family. I am grateful for all the support I received. Ending my career as a baseball player was a good experience. And I want to say that I am not who I am just because of my abilities. I had many good people around me. I was happy as a person and as a player. I met great teammates and coaches. There were also trainers who helped me play at 100% health on the field. I want to express my gratitude once again to everyone around me."
Choo Shin-soo looked back at the colleagues who traveled to Korea, saying, "Beltre and Hamels also came to Korea," and added, "It was not an easy decision. They agreed to my request without a moment's hesitation. Thank you. The reason I brought these players as mentors was to see if they could have a good influence on the players. I hope the players become better players."
Continuing to speak to his family, Choo Shin-soo said, "And to my family. My original goal was not to cry, but that's not easy. I want to thank my children, who have grown healthy and wonderfully without their father. To my wife, thank you for always being there for me, giving me strength, and being by my side. I believe that I am what I am today because of her. Now that my career as a baseball player has ended, I hope we can all be happy together."
Choo Shin-soo said, "Although there is not even a trace left of my passion as a baseball player, another passion is blooming now. I will support our Landers players from behind. I don’t know how I can be of help, but I will strive for our players and colleagues to play in a better environment and a more advanced baseball culture. I want to ask one thing from the players: don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet and when you step on the field, think that you are the best. Thank you to everyone who attended my retirement ceremony. I will continue to contribute to the Landers and Korean baseball in the future," making a pledge to dedicate himself to SSG.
Choo Shin-soo, who had been holding back tears even before the retirement ceremony, became emotional as he read his retirement speech. After finishing it, the SSG leading group gathered on the mound for a victory lap, and the retirement ceremony concluded with a spectacular fireworks display.
[OSEN]