Longtime Doosan Bears shortstop Kim Jae-ho announced his retirement from the KBO on Wednesday. In a 21-year career spent entirely with the Bears, the 39-year-old Kim posted a .272/.356/.366 line and set a franchise record in games played with 1,793. He was also a stalwart on the defensive side of the ball, earning back-to-back Golden Glove awards in 2015 and 2016.
Though he was a solid regular season player and posted a batting average above .300 five times, Kim will be most remembered as a critical member of the 2015, 2016, and 2019 championship teams. The shortstop often saved his best performances for the biggest stage, as he batted .342 in 13 Korean Series games over those three years.
Kim remained a productive player until the end, turning in a .302 average as a part-time player in 2024. Upon his retirement, Kim expressed gratitude to the team he represented for over two decades.
“I’d like to thank Doosan for giving me a chance to retire after having played for just this one team,” Kim said. “It took me a long time to blossom as a player, and fans of the Doosan Bears have stuck with me all along. That’s why I was able to play as long as I did. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Although I am taking off this uniform, my heart will always be with the Doosan Bears.”
Though the official date is unknown, the Doosan Bears will hold Kim’s retirement ceremony sometime during the 2025 season.
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