How many times did you dissuade Kia from retiring as a 154km fireballer, why did you have a firm will when you were only 25 years old
Sep 24, 2025
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I couldn't help it even if it was too bad. The player's will was so firm. KIA Tigers stopped right-hander fireballer Hong Won-bin when he expressed his intention to retire to the club several times, but he could no longer hold it. The player's willingness to change his career by studying rehabilitation was too strong.
An official from KIA said in a phone call with Sports Chosun on the 24th, `Hong Won-bin is right to retire. I've decided recently. He said, "He is such a sincere player that the club has dissuaded him several times, and both the player and the player's parents wanted to study rehabilitation."
Hong Won-bin was born in 2000 and is only 25 years old this year. He was a top prospect who graduated from Deoksu High School and joined KIA as the 10th overall pick in the second round of the rookie draft in 2019. With a height of 195 centimeters and a weight of 101 kilograms, his physical condition was outstanding, and his maximum fastball speed was 154 kilometers, so the club had high expectations.
The problem was control. The ball was fast, but it was difficult to give a chance in the first team because it was not zeroed. From 2019 to this year, he pitched in 59 games in the Futures League and recorded 145 four pitches. There were 64 strikeouts. As a result, my grades naturally fell. The second-tier career ERA was very high at 10.86 (115 earned runs in 95 ⅓ innings).
Of course, there was no opportunity to raise the salary because he did not get a chance in the first team. This year is his seventh year as a professional, and he is still receiving the lowest annual salary of 30 million won according to league regulations. You can be motivated by continuing to increase your value, but Hong Won-bin couldn't.
Hong Won-bin makes a big decision ahead of this season. During the off-season, he spent his own money to go to the U.S. for short-term training. The cost is about 15 million won, which is half of the annual salary. In fact, Hong Won-bin would have risked his career to fly to the U.S. at this time.
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However, the first-team mound, which had been waiting for as long as six years, was not easy. Hong Won-bin scored one run in one inning against the Doosan Bears on June 3 and was given another chance against the Samsung Lions on June 10, collapsing with one hit, three walks and four runs in ⅔ innings. This game became Hong Won-bin's last game in the first division.
Until last month, Hong Won-bin continued to throw the ball in the Futures League. His performance this season was 28 games, 3 wins, 3 losses, 6 saves, 1 hold, 23 ⅔ innings, and an ERA of 5.70. He still recorded four pitches in every game he pitched, and was not called back by the first team.
After much consideration, Hong decided to end his career and live a second baseball life. I don't want to let go of baseball. After studying rehabilitation, I aim to work in baseball again.
KIA held back several times when it was such a waste of prospects, but in the end, it had no choice but to cheer for the player's future.
An official from KIA said, `The club did not say that they would support the study. Hong Won-bin seems to be interested in rehabilitation. I wanted to catch him as a sincere player, but we decided to respect (the decision to retire) because it was something we could not do about it. "I cheered for Hong Won-bin's new future.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
