Incheon: After 16 seasons in the majors and four more in South Korea, former big league All-Star Choo Shin-soo officially called it a career on Thursday. Choo, 42, held his retirement press conference in Incheon, the home city of his final professional club, the SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), lying just west of Seoul.According to Yonhap News Agency, Choo had announced his plans to hang up his spikes after the 2024 season in December 2023. He played for the Landers from 2021 to 2024, winning a Korean Series title in 2022 and becoming the oldest position player in KBO history in July this year."This is former baseball player Choo Shin-soo," Choo introduced himself with a smile at the start of the event, with his right arm in a sling following a shoulder injury from two weeks ago. "I truly enjoyed my time in Korea, and I won't trade memories here with anything else."Choo's four-year stint in Korea came after a 16-year career with four clubs in Major League Baseball (MLB), during whic h he became one of the most successful Asian-born players in the big leagues. Choo signed with the Seattle Mariners out of high school in 2000 and made his big league debut with them in 2005. He went on to play for the Cleveland Indians (currently Guardians), the Cincinnati Reds, and the Texas Rangers. In 2018 with the Rangers, Choo earned his first and only All-Star nod.In 2009 with Cleveland, Choo put up 20 home runs and 21 steals, becoming the first Asian-born player with a 20-20 campaign in MLB history. He also had 20-20 seasons in 2010 and 2013. He finished his big league career with 218 home runs, which stood as the record for an Asian-born player in MLB before Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers topped the mark in September. He still leads all Asian players with 782 career RBIs.Choo signed with the Landers before the 2021 season and made an immediate impact, posting 21 home runs along with 25 steals to become the oldest player to join the 20-20 club in the KBO. In 2022, Choo helped the Landers win the Korean Series title. He was plagued by injuries in recent years. Choo played only 78 of the Landers' 144 games this year while dealing with shoulder problems, and batted .281 with five homers and 37 RBIs. For his KBO career, Choo had a .263/.388/.424 line with 54 home runs, 205 RBIs, and 51 steals.Asked how he'd like to be remembered, Choo said he wants to be known for his love of the game. "Objectively speaking, I don't think I had special talent in any particular aspect of the game, but I always considered myself a versatile player," Choo said. "But if people remember me as a player who was completely dedicated to baseball and serious about the craft, then I think it will make all the years I put in this sport worth it."Choo served as the Landers' captain in 2024 and played on the league minimum salary of 30 million won (US$21,480) -- all of which he donated to charities. Known for his philanthropy dating to his big-league days, Choo has donated more than 1.4 billion won to charities during his time in the KBO.
- October 12, 2026
