Final elimination → PS elimination → controversy over protection player is the last player of the golden generation born in 1982. He started in 2025 as the oldest title player. Is it the end or the legendary update?
Dec 24, 2024
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The golden generation, born in 1982, is almost over. Choo Shin-soo, Lee Dae-ho, Kim Tae-kyun, Jung Geun-woo, and Oh Seung-hwan, who opened the heyday of the KBO League, hit the FA jackpot with their excellent skills, making it a big hit.
The time for retirement has come around the age of 40, and one by one, he will leave the ground. Jung Geun-woo and Kim Tae-kyun took off their uniforms after 2020, and Lee Dae-ho left after the 2022 season. The oldest players this season were born in 1982. As of February 1, Choo Shin-soo was listed as the oldest player this season at 41 years, 6 months, and 1 day. Kim Kang-min and Oh Seung-hwan also made the oldest player line.
Even before starting the 2024 season, Choo Shin-soo announced early that it was his last season. The SSG club announced on December 14, 2023 that Choo Shin-soo will retire after playing the 2024 season. We plan to renew our contract for the KBO League's lowest annual salary of 30 million won and donate the entire annual salary.
Choo played his final season with several injuries. And Kim Kang-min, who caused a big controversy, including the resignation of SSG's general manager after receiving the nomination by Hanwha Eagles in the second draft held after the 2023 season, also announced his retirement after the 2024 season.
Oh Seung-hwan is the only one who remained as a pro among the 1982 players who started together in the 2001 season.
Oh Seung-hwan signed a domestic FA contract for a total of 1.2 billion won for two years this year and marks his second year of contract next year. At the beginning of this season, he continued to be a closer by making saves, but he showed sluggish performance from the second half, giving up a place to finish and ending the season with pride that did not even make it to the playoff and Korean Series entries.
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The 2025 season, which will be the oldest player, is expected to be the biggest crisis in his career. As the FA contract is over, he has to prove that he can still play to renew his contract.
Oh Seung-hwan has never said 'Retirement' yet. In other words, it is true that Oh Seung-hwan also has 2026 seasons in his mind.
In order for Oh Seung-hwan to throw on the mound in the 2026 season, his ability must be supported. Oh Seung-hwan trains harder and builds up his body than anyone else, but as he showed this season, he failed to overcome the physical limitations of his age.
When Choi Won-tae signed an FA contract with Samsung, the possibility of being excluded from the protected list was also raised. Oh Seung-hwan would never have imagined it. Even among fans, it was an incident that suggested that Oh Seung-hwan may not be necessary in the team's power.
It is unclear whether Oh Seung-hwan, who made 549 saves in the Korean, U.S. and Japan with 427 saves in the KBO League, 80 saves in Japan, and 42 saves in the Major League, will continue to play as a closing pitcher next season. It is not known whether he will have a chance to make 600 saves in his career between Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and 73 saves left in the first KBO League 600 saves.
If Oh Seung-hwan, who is still in the position of a challenger, can throw in the 2026 season, he could surpass Song Jin-woo (42 years, 11 months and 15 days at the time in 2009), the oldest player in history.
When is the end of the last remaining year of '82. I'm curious about the 2025 season of KBO League Legend.
indyk@sportschosun.com
