Active home run leader in S. Korean baseball announces retirement
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- The active leader in home runs in South Korean baseball announced his retirement Tuesday.
In a statement released by his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club, Kia Tigers, former All-Star third baseman Lee Bum-ho said he wants to turn his focus to coaching.
"I've thought long and hard about my future, and I decided to put an end to my playing career for the future of young, developing players," Lee said. "I'd like to be back with these young guys in the future as their coach."
The Tigers said they'll speak to him about a possible position on the team. They will hold a retirement ceremony for Lee before a home game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on July 13.
Lee is hanging up his spikes after hitting 329 home runs with 1,125 RBIs in 1,995 games over 19 seasons in the KBO. Lee led all current players in career home runs before his abrupt retirement, and he's ranked fifth all-time in that category.
Lee spent the first 10 seasons of his 20-year professional career with the Hanwha Eagles. After one unsuccessful season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2010, Lee returned to the KBO in 2011 to sign with the Tigers.
Lee earned two Golden Gloves at third base in 2005 and 2006, and he won his own Korean Series title in 2017.
Lee had 20 home runs in just 101 games last year for his fourth consecutive 20-homer season. But in 2019, he's been limited to just one home run in 13 games.
Internationally, Lee is best known for delivering a game-tying single in the bottom of the ninth off future major leaguer Yu Darvish in the 2009 World Baseball Classic final. South Korea ended up losing to Japan in the game, but Lee, who batted 8-for-20 with three home runs and seven RBIs in six games, was named to the tournament All-Star team at third base.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Police officer admits to leaking investigation report into late actor Lee Sun-kyun
-
'Parasyte: The Grey' adapts Japanese alien invasion manga to Korean setting
-
S. Korea, U.S. launch task force to block N. Korea's nuclear, missile programs
-
N. Korean leader sends condolences to Putin over Russian concert hall shooting
-
Defense chief calls for defending NLL on anniversary of 2010 warship sinking
-
'Parasyte: The Grey' adapts Japanese alien invasion manga to Korean setting
-
Police officer admits to leaking investigation report into late actor Lee Sun-kyun
-
Congenital diseases of children born from mothers working at Samsung recognized as industrial accidents
-
N. Korean leader sends condolences to Putin over Russian concert hall shooting
-
N.K. leader's sister says Japan's PM proposed summit with Kim
-
Yellow dust advisories issued for parts of S. Korea
-
(5th LD) UNSC fails to extend mandate of expert panel monitoring N.K. sanctions enforcement
-
Yellow dust storm blankets S. Korea; fine dust advisory issued
-
Japan's PM voices willingness to push for summit with N. Korea
-
Super Junior's Ryeowook to marry former Tahiti member Ari