Incheon: Eight months after concluding his professional baseball career, Choo Shin-soo was honored with a retirement ceremony at Incheon SSG Landers Field. Choo, who played his final Major League Baseball (MLB) game in 2020 with the Texas Rangers, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to bid farewell to fans at a stadium he called home for four years.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Choo reflected on the significance of the event during a press conference held prior to the SSG Landers' game against the Lotte Giants. He acknowledged the efforts of the Landers in organizing the ceremony, despite his relatively short tenure with the team. The ceremony, attended by a sellout crowd of 23,000, marked the Landers' 10th sellout of the season, a new franchise record.

Choo's baseball journey began when he signed with the Seattle Mariners out of Busan High School in 2000. Over the years, he played for the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers, earning an All-Star nod in 2018. Notably, Choo became the first Asian-born player with a 20-20 season in 2009 and repeated this feat in subsequent years.

Choo concluded his MLB career with 218 home runs, a record for an Asian-born player that stood until 2022. After transitioning to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2021, he continued to make an impact, joining the 20-20 club and contributing to the Landers' Korean Series title in 2022.

Despite declining a one-day contract to play one last game, Choo expressed no regrets about his career. His former Rangers teammates, Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels, attended the ceremony, supporting Choo in his continued involvement with the Landers as an adviser.

Choo also shared that he has been invited by the Rangers to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in an upcoming game, highlighting the enduring respect and admiration for his contributions to the sport.