Choo Shin-soo, who entered baseball at Suyeong Elementary School in Busan, is having an "offseason without next season" for the first time in about 30 years.메이저놀이터
"Players are under stress for the next season even though they have a good season," said Choo Shin-soo, who held a retirement press conference at the Gyeongwon-jae Ambassador Hotel in Incheon on Sunday. "It's really good that we don't have to think about the next season anymore. When I wake up in the morning, I've never felt so refreshed. I sleep comfortably and don't control my meals."
"When I look back on my old days, I can smile," Choo said. "I have no regrets. I will be happy this winter. I will tell myself that I did a good job and lived a good life."
Choo Shin-soo, who ended his professional career in the U.S. in 2001 in 2024, said, "I decided to retire before the start of this season, but my regret about extending my active career has completely disappeared as I couldn't play this year due to injuries," adding, "In the past, I was engulfed in my desire to play when I was on the bench, but I didn't even have such greed because it was too hard because of the injury."
He is not expected to be on the ground as a coach for the time being. "I am physically and mentally tired right now. I am receiving various suggestions, but I will not start unless I am ready for the position," Choo said. "I have played as a player for a long time, but I have never prepared as a coach. I will not do anything when I am not ready."
"My two sons play baseball in college and high school, respectively. I will watch his games for a year and play the role of another father," he added.
Choo is the most successful Korean batter in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB). After graduating from Busan High School, Choo moved to the U.S. by signing a contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2001, and made his big league debut in 2005 after enduring a tough minor league career.
Since then, he has played in the big leagues until 2020, with 1,652 games, a batting average of 0.275 (1,671 hits in 6,87 times at bat), 218 homers, 782 RBIs, and 157 steals. Business games, hits, home runs, RBIs and stolen bases are all "Korean big leaguers' records." He also set MLB's first records in Asia, including 20 homers and 20 steals (2009) and the cycling hit (2015).
Choo Shin-soo, who was offered a recruitment by MLB clubs after the end of the 2020 season, chose to go to SSG in the Korean professional baseball league in 2021.
The KBO Secretariat and professional clubs revised the protocol that players who entered overseas before 1999 must go through the rookie draft to make their debut in the Korean professional baseball league and held a special selection meeting for overseas players in 2007.
At that time, the SK Wyverns (SSG predecessor) acquired the right to appoint Choo Shin-soo. SSG, which re-founded the team by acquiring SK in 2022, even owner Chung Yong-jin worked hard to recruit Choo Shin-soo, who surprised everyone and took the batter's box in the KBO League.
Choo Shin-soo failed to set a cumulative record (0.263, 396 hits, 54 home runs, 205 RBIs, 51 steals) that stood out for only four seasons in the KBO League.
However, he changed all the records for the oldest batter in the batter category. As soon as he arrived in Korea, he recorded 21 home runs and 25 steals in 2021, setting the record for the oldest batter with 20 home runs and 20 steals.
At the time of achieving 20 home runs-20 steals, Choo Shin-soo was 39 years old, 2 months and 22 days, nearly a year above the 38 years, 4 months and 9 days that Yang Jun-hyuk wrote for the Samsung Lions in 2007.
In the 2024 season, which began with the announcement of retirement, Felix Jose (former Lotte Giants) changed all the KBO league's oldest batter's business trip, hits, home runs, and RBI records.
Choo Shin-soo is the new owner of the record of the oldest KBO hitter (42 years, 2 months and 17 days), a hit (42 years, 1 month and 26 days), and a home run (2204 years, 42 years and 22 days).
Off the field, Choo also served as a "leader." With active donations, Choo changed the culture of the KBO League and improved the locker room at Jamsil Baseball Stadium by criticizing the environment of the stadium.
Choo Shin-soo, who made a great deal of money when he played in the Big Leaguer, donated more than 3 billion won during his four years in Korea.
Even after his retirement, he continues his donation activities. Choo entered the batter's box with no runners on one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, when his team led the Kiwoom Heroes 7-1 on Sept. 30, and grounded out to second base. It was Choo's last at-bat during the regular season.
"I held back my tears because I didn't want to express it during the game," Choo Shin-soo said. "It might be a short time, but I played in the KBO League for four years. I really wanted to say hello to baseball fans, especially Incheon home fans, but I'm glad I got the opportunity."
Choo was struck out in the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter in the fifth-place match against the KT Wiz on Oct. 1. It was baseball player Choo's last at-bat. As of the regular season, Choo has played 12,145th at-bat in Korea and the U.S.
Choo Shin-soo, who has suffered joys and sorrows in both Korea and the United States, cited "2022 Wire to Wire" as the best moment of his life.
"The goal of every professional player is to win a championship. I will never forget the memory of winning the top place in 2022 with my SSG teammates," Choo said.
The SSG will hold a retirement ceremony for Choo Shin-soo next year. Choo said, "I will not be registered as a special entry at the retirement ceremony." As such, he has no regrets about his active career.
His love for baseball has not diminished at all. Choo, who once said he was happy that his next season's burden has disappeared, also said, "I want to play as a baseball player even in my next life." Those words were from the bottom of his heart.