Choo Shin-soo (41) of the SSG Landers, who boasts a brilliant career of 17 major league seasons, is the oldest player in the KBO League this season. His birthday is earlier than that of his classmates Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung) and Kim Kang-min (SSG). Choo Shin-soo has plans for his retirement. “There will come a time when we can talk about retirement,” he said.
In the third year of the KBO League, Choo Shin-soo is preparing for the season with a healthy body from spring camp for the first time. His first year, he signed a contract at the end of February and joined the exhibition game, and last year, his elbow surgery rehabilitation carried over to camp.
After finishing the first camp in Florida, USA, and before leaving for the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, Choo Shin-soo said, “I definitely started off a bit relaxed바카라사이트, so mentally and physically, it was not too difficult to raise my condition, and the throwing is going well as scheduled. Unlike before, I don’t force myself to pull it up, and I can afford to take a break when things go wrong.”
He said that he can play defense since the exhibition game, currently he throws and the condition of the shoulder and elbow is 70% condition. Last year, due to an elbow problem, the defense only played 17 innings in two games in right field.
Choo Shin-soo said, “I told the director that I wanted to go out half-and-half with (Han) Yu-seom. 3 games a week. Yu Seom-i is not small for an outfielder, but rather big, so the weather in Korea makes me sweat a lot. I have to take a break in the summer, but last year (Yoo Seom-ie) couldn’t. So I think that kind of thing (mistake) happened in the last Korean series.”
He added, “I also want to take care of him from the good times, and in order to do that, I think it will help the team if I don’t get sick and steadily go out in the outfield defense.”
Season 3, you can start the season in the best shape. Can we expect better results than the last two years?
In 2021, in 137 games, he recorded a batting average of .265, 21 homers, 69 RBIs, 84 points, 103 walks, an on-base percentage of .409, and an OPS.860. .382 and .813 OPS.
Choo Shin-soo said, “It started well, but now I am one year older (laughs). My mind thinks it’s not yet, but my body feels it now. After doing it this time, I felt that the fatigue came a little faster, and the recovery wasn’t as good as it used to be,” he said honestly.
Besides winning the Korean Series, I asked about personal goals. He said, “I want to spend a neat year without major injuries. I want the team to win and I want to finish the season with good results.”
Choo Shin-soo said, “Because I’m a little older, my joints hurt more than my muscles. When the weather is a little bad, I feel it little by little,” he said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, mentioning the weight of the years. Last year, while sliding, she injured her fingers (August) and side (September).
In October 2021, after achieving the oldest 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the KBO League, Choo Shin-soo once said, “If you can’t come home when you hit after being a second base runner, I think it’s time to think about retirement.”
He asked if he had any plans for retirement. Choo Shin-soo said, “I will tell you later. There is that, there are other stories, and there are many things to say. But I guess I need to give it some time. I will tell you everything gradually.”
I plan to reveal my retirement plan over time along with clarification on my beliefs related to the WBC national team and Ahn Woo-jin. He gained wealth and fame in the major leagues, and returned to the KBO league to lift the Korean Series championship trophy last year. During the season, I live alone in Incheon, away from my family living in the United States. It wouldn’t be strange if he retired at the end of this season.
Choo Shin-soo’s best friend, Lee Dae-ho, retired last year after receiving congratulations from fans for a splendid finale season. Shin-soo Choo’s retirement is also slowly approaching.