 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
 |
| Photo courtesy=ㄴㄶ fosejtm |
|
 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
SSG Landers Kim Kang-min said of his feelings at the retirement ceremony to end his 24-year baseball career, "'80% happiness, 20% tension.'"
Kim Kang-min will hold an official retirement ceremony after the second game of the weekend series between SSG and Hanwha Eagles at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 28th.
Since joining the SK Wyverns in 2001, Kim Kang-min has played for SK-SSG for as many as 23 seasons until 2023. In a different sense from Choi Jeong-Kim Kwang-hyun, he was the star of Incheon baseball and SK dynasties. In the course of winning five Korean Series (2007 2008 2010 2018 2022), he also shone in a decisive scene. He was also a more brilliant player in offense and defense in the clutch moment, such as a tiebreaking home run in Game 5 of the 2018 playoffs and a finishing three-run home run in Game 5 of the 2022 Korean Series.
Kim Kang-min is very happy in his retirement ceremony. I will never cry today. I worked hard on the image training. I hope this retirement ceremony will be a happy memory," he said with a big smile.
 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
On this day, Kim Kang-min registered as a special entry and was listed in the lineup as the first batter center fielder. Through the appearance, he said his final greetings as a player with fans and was replaced by Jihoon Choi immediately after the referee's declaration of the play ball.
Kim Kang-min said "I couldn't throw the ball because my arm hurt so much that I thought I was good to retire. "I can't lift my arm for three days because I threw a few balls. "Kim Kang-min, who can't even throw a ball, is not attractive. I turned down the special entry because I thought it was a nuisance to the team," he said with a smile.
Still, I accepted the special entry in the end. Thanks to his last game as an SSG player through a special entry on the day, Kim Kang-min will later remain as Kim Kang-min (SSG), not (Hanwha).
 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
Hanwha's team also conveys its heart with a patch to commemorate Kim Kang-min's retirement and a frame with the team's autographs. "It was a short time, but I built a very good bond with the Hanwha players," Kim said. I hope both teams finished the game safely without getting hurt," he stressed.
Kim Kang-min is famous for being a manly man and having a lot of tears. Looking back on his past career, he said, `It was a time when I got a lot of people I really deserved"I looked back.
"Will you be good?" was loved, and when I couldn't, I was criticized a lot, but I was friendly. When baseball really wasn't going well, I was eating outside, and he passed by saying, `Do well.' I hope you do well, but I think it's a pity that you can't do it. It's a memorable moment."
Regarding Choi Jung and Kim Kwang-hyun, he laughed, saying, `It seems like only yesterday that we met as rookies, but they are already at the age of retirement.' `What I want to say as a senior is to show good performance in my second life.'
 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
Director Kim Sung-geun was also chosen as the best teacher. "I was able to play baseball in the first team so far because manager Kim Sung-geun made me this much," Kim Kang-min said. You'll know even if I don't tell you."
Just one year of his 23-year one-club career and time at Hanwha have been added. Having been nominated by Hanwha in the second draft of 2023. Not only fans but also star players such as Kim Kwang-hyun were angry.
 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
Kim Kang-min "It's been a long time now. It's all right now. I wanted to add to my career and I had to choose from the team's point of view. Isn't he a professional. It's past, and now I've made a choice to extend my career anyway, and the team has made that choice as well. "I'm a professional. It's past, and it's all right now. I hope only happy memories remain today," he said calmly.
When asked if he would play baseball again in his next life, he said, `I don't think he would. I will live as a fan who likes baseball in the next life. I want to live a life where I admire and like someone"If I worked harder, would I have done better? There are times when it's such a waste. I want my juniors to be different from me," he said, urging further action.
 |
| photo courtesy of SSG Landers |
|
Kim Kang-min is living the life of a graduate student studying neurodynamics and sports psychology at Incheon National University. I'm also preparing a thesis.
Kim Kang-min said, `In school, I learned the scientific part and gained an objective view of baseball through commentary. As a member of the KBO's management committee, I'm seeing things I haven't seen before"The next course has not yet been clearly determined. But I think you need to study accordingly in any position", he also expressed his ambition for his second life.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
