There is a person who felt a special emotion at KT Wiz's "Forever Captain" Park Kyung-soo's announcement of his retirement from active duty.

He is Woo Kyu-min, a pitcher who joined the team and made long-term memories with Park Kyung-soo since he was a member of the LG Twins. Coincidentally, Woo spent the moment of his retirement season wearing the KT uniform in the last year of Park's active career. 메이저사이트

Woo and Park joined the pro league in 2003. Park Kyung-soo was the first designated player and Woo Gyu-min was the 19th overall designated player in the second round and wore the LG uniform together. 

The two players, who have been wearing LG uniforms together for more than a decade since then, parted ways when Park Kyung-soo chose to transfer to KT Wiz ahead of the 2015 season. Woo Kyu-min also chose to transfer to the Samsung Lions before the 2017 season, so both players will leave LG. 

The relationship between the two players was likely to end, but a dramatic reunion took place when Woo Kyu-min moved from Samsung to KT through the second KBO draft, which was revived last winter. Park Kyung-soo and Woo Kyu-min spent time together wearing KT uniforms for the first time in the 2024 season. 

Starting with the game to rank fifth in the 2024 regular season, KT made it the first wild card game in the KBO. However, KT met LG in the semi-playoff and finished the fall baseball season with two wins and three losses overall. 

The KT club announced on the 18th that "Park Kyung-soo will retire after completing his 22-year professional career."

"Thanks to the fans who cheered me on passionately, I was able to play professional for 22 years. I am so proud to finish the game with loud cheers from fans," Park said. "Thanks to the team, coaches and coaches, I was able to have the best moments of winning my first championship and winning the MVP award of the Korean Series. Thank you so much to my juniors."

From 2003 to 2024, Park played in a total of 2,043 games, posting a batting average of 0.249, 1,396 hits, 161 homers, 719 RBIs, and 727 runs. Park won the series MVP by leading the team to its first championship in the Korean Series in 2021. Park, who injured his ankle while playing defense during the series, was impressed by his victory ceremony on crutches. 

Woo Kyu-min also watched Park Kyung-soo's retirement with a special emotion while joining the team.

"I still can't believe (Park) is retiring. I felt like I was coaching playing from the middle of the season," said Woo Kyu-min, who recently contacted the Expots News. "I feel weird that I won't be a player from next year," he said. "I've been close to him since I was a member of the youth national team. I made a lot of fun memories while sharing a room with him in the Guri 2nd tier. Even now, I still remember the past while having dinner together. Fortunately, I am glad to be with him at first and last. Who knew I would come to KT?" 

Woo also delivered a message related to his retirement to Park. "He really struggled during his active career. It was a very difficult time, but he made a turning point by himself and had the best moment," Woo said. "I felt this when I joined KT, but when Kyung-soo was the captain, I felt that he created the team's atmosphere and color really well. Kyung-soo, you did a great job, and I will play baseball a little more (laughs)." 

Since moving to KT in the 2024 season, Woo has pitched in 45 games, displaying four wins, one loss, four saves, four holds, a 2.49 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and four outs. In this year's semi-playoff, Woo pitched in two games, and managed his part well by allowing no runs in 2.1 innings. 

"Coming to KT, I really learned a lot by looking back on myself," Woo Kyu-min said. "Maybe it was a time for me to retire, but I rebounded by enduring difficult times in the beginning. Personally, I had a positive season by adapting quickly to the introduction of ABS zone. The coaches and coaches helped me create a comfortable atmosphere and believed in me as well." 

"I want to continue my active career in the 2025 season." The most important goal is to play in the Korean Series for the first time as an individual in 23 years since joining the pro league. 

"(Kang) Minho has played in the Korean Series for the longest time in terms of the number of games he played, and I think next year is my 23rd year (laughs). I've been watching the Korean Series on TV for 22 years now, and I really want to play in the Korean Series next year. I am confident in my physical condition. Recently, (Small) Hyeong-jun said that he will make sure to play in the Korean Series next year, and I was really grateful. I have to believe that," Woo said with a smile.