Was this Choo Shin-soo's last at-bat in his 24-year baseball career "I was exhausted." I think PS is going to be hard"

Sep 30, 2024

The game between SSG Landers and Kiwoom Heroes at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 30th. SSG Choo Shin-soo, a pinch hitter with one out, greets the batter at the bottom of the eighth inning. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.30/

"My body and mind are very tired. I think the postseason is going to be tough."

SSG Landers Choo Shin-soo effectively ended his splendid active career.

SSG won the final game of the season against the Kiwoom Heroes 7-2 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 30th. With the victory, the team tied for fifth place with KT Wiz will play a tiebreaker on the 1st. If he wins this game, he will advance to the postseason in fifth place.

SSG widened the gap by hitting two-run shots and grand slam consecutively in the third and fourth innings, and won relatively leisurely. So what was meaningful was that Choo Shin-soo was able to come to the plate.

Choo Shin-soo chose to go to Korea with the founding of SSG after commanding the U.S. Major League Baseball stage. He announced his retirement at the end of this season. And recently, he was unable to play due to shoulder pain. He was in a shoulder condition where he couldn't throw the ball properly.

The game between SSG Landers and Kiwoom Heroes at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 30th. SSG Choo Shin-soo is stepping down with an infield grounder in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.30/

The problem is that if the team was in desperate moments, it was difficult for Choo Shin-soo, who was not 100% in physical condition, to play. It's the final match at home, but Choo Shin-soo told coach Lee Sung-yong "If it's a tight game, I won't go to the game."," he said before the game. Choo Shin-soo's retirement ceremony was postponed until next year, as if it would be a nuisance to the fierce fight for fifth place.

Fortunately, the score difference in the eighth inning was six points, and manager Lee put Choo Shin-soo as a pinch hitter. Kim Jung-guk deliberately stepped back so that Choo Shin-soo could greet his fans. Choo Shin-soo, who greeted home fans and away Kiwoom, entered the batter's box and hit a ground ball to second base against Kim Yeon-joo. As Choo Shin-soo headed to the dugout on the first base side, all the players came out of the dugout to welcome him, and manager Lee Soo-yong gave him a bouquet of flowers. In this way, Choo Shin-soo's last at-bat in his career has actually ended.

The game between SSG Landers and Kiwoom Heroes at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 30th. SSG Choo Shin-soo, a pinch hitter with one out, is talking with Choi Jung after stepping down with an infield grounder in the bottom of the eighth inning. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.30/

After the game, Choo Shin-soo said, `I've experienced Korean baseball firsthand, which I've only encountered in articles for the past four years. There were many better things than I thought," he said, looking back on his life at SSG.

Choo Shin-soo then said of his last at-bat "I didn't know the players would greet me like that."," he said with emotion.

Choo Shin-soo said of his future "I'm very tired of my body and mind. In fact, I'm not in a good condition to play. Even if I go up to the postseason, I don't think it will be easy for me. It is right for the players who made them come to this place to play. I think I should play the role of cheering behind the scenes"He admitted that this was actually his last at-bat in his career. That's how Choo Shin-soo's 24-year baseball life ended.

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Was this Choo Shin-soo's last at-bat in his 24-year baseball career "I was exhausted." I think PS is going to be hard"

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