Shin-soo Choo (42-SSG Landers) thanked teammate Choi Jung-jeong and SSG manager Lee Sung-yong for giving him the opportunity to bat for the last time.
“When I played my last game for the Texas Rangers (Major League Baseball), it was unfortunate that the game was held without a crowd (due to the spread of the novel coronavirus),” Choo said after the final game of the 2024 baseball regular season against the Kiwoom Heroes at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Tuesday, adding, ”I missed this situation where I was able to make my last at-bat with the support of the crowd.”
“I tried not to play if the game was close,” he said, adding, ”I’m grateful to coach Lee Sung-yong for giving me this opportunity, and I’m grateful to Choi Jung for hitting two home runs to widen the gap.”
Choo Shin-soo, who announced his retirement after the 2024 season, was forced to withdraw from the game after the Hanwha Eagles game on Oct. 10 due to severe shoulder pain.
His team, SSG, was in a fierce battle for fifth place and needed to win the final game of the regular season against the Kiwoom Heroes on Nov. 30 to advance to the fifth place decider.
Coach Lee “Sung-yong” Lee wanted to give Choo “Shin-soo” Choo one last chance to play, but it was too much to ask of him in such a desperate situation.
Luckily, SSG took a 7-1 lead into the eighth inning and brought in Shin-soo as a pinch hitter for Ha Jae-hoon in the bottom of the eighth.
When Choo’s name appeared on the scoreboard, the fans gave him a standing ovation. His wife, Ha Won-mi, and daughter, Choo So-hee, were in tears as they watched from the stands.
Choo hit a grounder to second base and high-fived his juniors as they lined up in front of the dugout.
Coach Lee gave him a bouquet of flowers and encouraged him.
“I was surprised that the juniors suddenly came to the dugout,” Choo said. ”They helped me a lot after living abroad for a long time and gave me motivation to continue playing baseball. I am very grateful.”
When asked about his family, he said, “I talked to my wife before today’s game, and she was crying.” He added, “My wife and children suffered a lot when I was living in the United States. I feel very sorry for them,” he said.
SSG will play the KT Wiz for fifth place in a best-of-five series at Katwiz Park in Suwon on October 1, and if they win that game, they will play the Doosan Bears for the wild card on October 2.
Shin-Soo Choo’s chances of playing are slim. His shoulder is still in bad shape.
The team can’t afford to waste an extra roster spot for Shin-soo, who can’t even play as a pinch-hitter.
“We have to see the situation, but it’s difficult for Shin-soo Choo to play in the postseason,” Lee said before the game.
Choo Shin-soo has no desire to play in the postseason.
“It’s difficult to play fall baseball,” he said, ”I want to take a break for now, and if I get the chance, I plan to support my teammates from behind.”
Meanwhile, SSG has decided to hold Choo’s retirement ceremony in 2025. 카지노사이트 추천