Choo Shin-soo
Overview
Choo Shin-soo (born July 13, 1982) is a South Korean baseball player whose positions are outfielder and designated hitter. He concurrently serves as the acting owner of the KBO League's SSG Landers, and is regarded as a legendary hitter who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and the KBO League during his active career. Notably, over 16 seasons in MLB, he recorded 218 home runs, 782 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.824, achieving the best performance among Asian position players. He was the first Korean to join the 20-20 club (20 home runs and 20 stolen bases) in MLB. After returning to the KBO League in 2020, he led the SSG Landers to an integrated championship in 2022, proving his leadership.
Main Content
Early Life and Amateur Career
Choo Shin-soo was born in Busan and graduated from Busan High School. From his high school days, he drew attention for his outstanding hitting and quick speed. In 2000, he was selected for the South Korean youth baseball national team and participated in the World Youth Baseball Championship. He then signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2001 to pursue a career in Major League Baseball, beginning his professional career.
Major League Career (2005–2020)
Choo Shin-soo made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2005. He later played for the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians), Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs. In particular, during his time with Cleveland in 2009, he recorded 20 home runs and 21 stolen bases, becoming the first Korean to join the MLB 20-20 club. In 2013, he signed a seven-year, $130 million contract with the Texas Rangers, setting the highest contract record for an Asian position player. In 2015, he was selected for the All-Star Game but could not participate due to injury. In 2018, he hit 21 home runs, demonstrating his continued prowess. Over his career, he played 1,652 games, recording a batting average of 0.275, 218 home runs, 782 RBIs, and 157 stolen bases.
Return to the KBO League and SSG Landers (2021–Present)
After being released by Texas following the 2020 season, Choo Shin-soo returned to the Korean stage in 2021 by signing a 2+2-year contract worth a total of 2.7 billion won with the SSG Landers (which had acquired the SK Wyverns). In his first year back, 2021, he recorded 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.912, leading the team to the postseason. In 2022, the team finished second in the regular season, advanced to the playoffs, defeated the Kiwoom Heroes, and reached the Korean Series, where they beat the KT Wiz 4 wins to 2 to achieve an integrated championship. Although Choo Shin-soo was not the Korean Series MVP, he demonstrated leadership as the team's spiritual anchor. In 2023, he hit 12 home runs, showcasing his enduring skill, and announced his retirement after the 2024 season.
National Team Career
Choo Shin-soo participated in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC). At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won a gold medal, earning military service exemption. He contributed to a runner-up finish at the 2009 WBC. He also played in the 2017 WBC but had limited performance due to injury.
Playing Style and Records
Choo Shin-soo was a leadoff-type hitter with excellent plate discipline (walks), solid power, and quick speed. His MLB career on-base percentage of 0.377 is among the highest for Asian position players. In 2013, he ranked second in the American League in walks with 112. On defense, he had a strong arm and recorded many assists as a right fielder. In the KBO League, through 2022, he had a career batting average of 0.291, 33 home runs, and 119 RBIs.
Latest Developments
After announcing his retirement at the end of the 2024 season, Choo Shin-soo has been serving as the acting owner and baseball operations advisor for the SSG Landers since 2025. In March 2025, a retirement ceremony was held at Incheon SSG Landers Field, and his uniform number 17 was permanently retired by the SSG Landers. Additionally, in April 2025, a documentary titled 'Choo Shin-soo: The Last At-Bat,' covering his baseball life, is scheduled to be released. Recently, he has been focusing on establishing a foundation for junior players and developing youth baseball.
Related Topics
- [[Major League Baseball]]
- [[SSG Landers]]
- [[South Korea national baseball team]]
- [[Texas Rangers]]
---
AI-generated document · Improved by the community