Will Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung Lions), who is about to retire, be able to play on the last day.
Samsung, led by head coach Park Jin-man, will play the home game of the 2025 professional baseball KBO League against manager Lee Bum-ho’s KIA Tigers at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 30th.
This game is drawing a lot of attention as Oh Seung-hwan’s retirement game. Oh Seung-hwan, who was called by Samsung as No. 5 overall in the second round in 2005, was a closer representing Korean baseball in name and reality. In a total of 737 games (803.1 innings) in the KBO League, he recorded 44 wins, 33 losses, 427 saves and an ERA of 2.32.
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan is about to retire. Photo = Reporter Kim Young-gu 
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan and Park Jin-man. Photo = Reporter Chun Jung-hwan
He also made a big presence on the international stage. He played in 127 games (136 innings) wearing the Hanshin Tigers uniform of the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2014 to 2015, recording 4 wins, 7 losses, 12 holds, 80 saves, and an ERA of 2.25. From 2016 to 2019, he played in 232 MLB games (225.2 innings) in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies, posting 16 wins, 13 losses, 45 holds, 42 saves and an ERA of 3.31. The total number of saves in Korea, the U.S., and Japan is 549.
Since then, Oh Seung-hwan has announced his retirement at the end of this season and had a retirement tour at nine stadiums, and is set to retire on the same day. Naturally, much attention is paid to whether Oh Seung-hwan will take the mound.
In response, coach Park Jin-man said, “We have to watch the game situation. If I go out, shouldn’t I go out in the 9th episode. That’s how I plan to do it. It is the last home game of this season and a game that greatly affects the ranking. We have to wait and see the situation, but if we go out, I think we’ll go out in the ninth inning,” he said.
He continued, “I’ve been making my body well. However, I’m a little worried about that because I’m a little less familiar with the actual game. My body seems to be better than it was a month ago. Originally a player with good muscles, but he’s much better than he was in the season. He explained, “I’m in good physical condition, but I’m not feeling well in practice.”
사진 확대 How will Oh look in the retirement game. Photo = Reporter Chun Jung-hwan
After this game, Samsung will end the regular league through the match against KIA in Gwangju on October 3. The head coach also opened up the possibility of Oh Seung-hwan taking the mound after his retirement game.
Coach Park said, “We do not rule out the possibility of taking the mound on October 3rd.” We don’t know what our ranking will be depending on today’s game, he said. “Today is a special entry, but we don’t know what will happen again in the last game. We have no game today and no game for two days. We also have to watch other teams’ situations. “Depending on that situation, I will decide whether to enter the last entry or not,” he said.
As for the postseason appearance, he said, “I don’t think I’m at the stage to talk about it, but Seung-hwan has been a great help to the team and he is a legend. Wouldn’t it be better to retire in a good situation. The season is not over yet, but we have to think about various things. It’s a retirement ceremony, but it’s also a big day for the team. I’m going to think about that after the game today,” he said.
It’s an important match, but he didn’t talk to the players. Coach Park Jin-man said, “I didn’t talk much to the players. It can be burdensome. All players are aware that today’s game is important, and that Oh Seung-hwan is retiring. He nodded, “Even if I don’t tell you, the players will know the importance.”
Meanwhile, Samsung, along with pitcher Ariel Furado, set up a starting list of Lee Jae-hyun (striker), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), Kim Ji-chan (middle fielder), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), and Lee Sung-kyu (left fielder).
사진 확대 Director Park Jin-man, who leads Samsung. Photo = Reporter Chun Jung-hwan
[Daegu = Lee Han-joo, MK Sports Reporter]