Incheon: A day after announcing his retirement plans, Samsung Lions' renowned reliever Oh Seung-hwan, often hailed as the greatest closer in South Korean baseball history, expressed his determination to leave the sport with a memorable finish. Oh, who is 43, revealed his intention to retire following the 2025 season of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Throughout his illustrious 15-year career in the KBO with the Lions, Oh has achieved a record-breaking 427 saves, more than any other pitcher in the league's 43-year history.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Oh has also accumulated 80 saves during his two seasons with Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Hanshin Tigers and 42 saves over four seasons with Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies. Oh remains the only South Korean pitcher to have recorded saves in the KBO, NPB, and MLB.
The Lions plan to retire Oh's No. 21 jersey, making him the fourth player in the team's history-and their first pitcher-to receive this honor. He joins the ranks of club legends Lee Man-soo (No. 22), Yang Joon-hyuk (No. 10), and Lee Seung-yuop (No. 36). At a press conference in Incheon, Oh expressed his gratitude to fans, saying, "I've been wearing No. 21, and this happens to be my 21st season in professional baseball. I've made it this far all because of the tremendous support from my fans."
Despite injuries and a challenging season, Oh hopes to make one final appearance before retiring. Although he has only made 11 appearances this year and hasn't pitched since July 8, Oh remains optimistic about his chances. "I just pitched in a minor league game last week, and I've improved quite a bit physically," he said, emphasizing his desire to participate in a meaningful game.
Oh stands at 549 professional saves and is eager to reach 550, stating, "550 sounds better than 549." Known for his formidable fastball, Oh built his reputation on high spin rates that challenged hitters. When asked about his final pitch, he humorously recalled past experiences, choosing to keep his plans a secret.
The passing of Oh's mother in March significantly influenced his decision to retire. "She was always the first person to call me after every game," he shared emotionally, highlighting her role as his biggest supporter.
Looking ahead, Oh has not finalized his post-retirement plans but hinted at remaining involved in baseball, potentially in a coaching capacity. "I've been fortunate enough to have pitched in many different leagues, and I want to share my experience with younger players," he said.
Oh's legacy includes holding the KBO's career and single-season saves records. He played a crucial role in securing Korean Series titles for the Lions in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, and 2013, earning two Korean Series MVP awards. Drafted as the fifth overall pick in 2004, Oh made an immediate impact, winning Rookie of the Year and setting a new saves record in his sophomore year.
Despite undergoing elbow surgery in 2010, Oh returned to match his single-season saves record in 2011. Known for his stoic presence on the mound, he hopes his legacy inspires future pitchers. Reflecting on his career, Oh stated, "Even after a long time, I hope that people will remember the pitcher I was when they think of closers in baseball."
If given another chance, Oh humorously suggested he would choose a different position in baseball, saying, "No matter what I do in baseball, it'd be better than being a closer."