Park Seok-min, A Tearful Farewell... “I Leave with a Sorry and Grateful Heart”
Recalling the violation of quarantine rules, "I feel sorry for the rest of my life to those who left the club because of me"
Loved for top-level skills in the KBO league and donations
Park Seok-min (38, NC Dinos), who calmly explained the background to his decision to retire, paused for a moment.
I could hear Park Seok-min crying through the receiver.
“There are people who left the team because of me.
I am leaving with a feeling of apology to them and the baseball fans.
I will live with that feeling of apology for the rest of my life."
Park Seok-min ended his 20-year career as a professional baseball player. 카지노사이트
On the 29th, Park Seok-min's decision became known to the outside world, and the NC club officially announced Park Seok-min's retirement on the 30th.
In a phone call with Yonhap News on the 29th, Park Seok-min said, "In July, “After being left out of the first team lineup due to injury, I decided to retire,” he said.
“I told Coach Kang In-kwon and the club about it at the end of the season.”
He said, “As I watched Lee Seung-yeop (Doosan Bears coach) and Park Yong-taek (KBSN Sports commentator) retire while maintaining top-level skills, I thought, ‘I want to end my career like that, too.'
So I trained really hard.
"I got injured during the season.
It's not easy to stay competitive even when I'm at 100% fitness, but I kept getting injured, so I decided, 'I really have to give it up now.'"
Park Seok-min was a top third baseman in the KBO League.
His career first-team records are 1,697 games, a batting average of 0.287, 269 home runs, and 1,041 RBI.
He showed off his versatile ability, recording an on-base percentage of 0.402 and a slugging percentage of 0.491.
He won the Third Base Golden Glove Award in 2014 and 2015, and also enjoyed the pleasure of reaching the top of the Korean Series a total of six times, including five times with the Samsung Lions (2005, 2011-2014) and once with NC (2020).
Park Seok-min, who started his professional career by joining Samsung as a first-round pick in 2004, has been playing as Samsung's starting infielder since 2008 after completing his military service.
Ahead of the 2016 season, Park Seok-min signed a free agent (FA) contract with NC for up to 9.6 billion won over four years, the highest amount in the KBO League at the time.
In 2020, he again qualified as a free agent and signed a 2+1 year contract with NC worth up to 3.4 billion won.
Park Seok-min, who played a leading role in NC's first integrated championship since its founding in 2020, has since stepped down from his starting position.
In 2021, he was also disciplined for violating new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) quarantine rules.
Park Seok-min, who suffered from injuries and poor performance this season and had a batting average of only 0.193 in 30 games, eventually decided to bid farewell to the field.
Park Seok-min said, “There are times when everyone has to leave, so I don't regret it.”
However, he shed tears as he recalled the time when he was suspended for 122 games (72 games for KBO, 50 games for his team NC) for violating COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Park Seok-min said, "Former CEO Soon-hyun Hwang gave me a goal, saying, 'Until I retire, I will make sure to maintain an on-base percentage of 0.400 and a slugging percentage of 0.500.'
However, I was unable to maintain a slugging percentage of 0.500." "The general manager left the club because of me.
I also disappointed the fans.
I have always lived with a feeling of regret, and I will continue to do so in the future."
NC disciplined Park Seok-min in August 2021, and the club's leadership left the team.
Park Seok-min was a pleasant player.
His bright personality earned him the love of his colleagues and fans, and in December 2020, he was selected as the ‘Love Golden Gloves Award Winner' for donating ‘a total of 800 million won over 5 years'.
The actual amount donated by Park Seok-min is more.
The places where Park Seok-min extended a helping hand were diverse, including youth baseball teams including his alma mater, the bereaved family of someone who fell from a rope fall in Yangsan, Gangwon-do, which was damaged by a forest fire, and Daegu, which was struggling with COVID-19.
Park Seok-min lost a lot due to violation of COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Afterwards, his performance deteriorated and he did not even get a chance to apologize.
Park Seok-min said, "Still, I was a lucky player.
I met great leaders and seniors and juniors at NC and Samsung, good teams. I made a big mistake and had time to reflect on myself.
I felt sorry and realized how much I was loved. " “I realized how human he was.
I leave with both a sorry and grateful heart,” he said.
He said through the club, "I can't show the player Park Seok-min wearing the number 18 uniform, but I will work hard to become a respected person," and added, "I am grateful to my parents who have not spared any support so that I can play baseball."
“I am also grateful to my beloved wife and two sons (Junhyun and Seojun) who endured the difficult times and supported me as a player's wife.
I love you,” he said.
Park Seok-min, who has decided to retire from active duty with a complicated mind, carefully prepares for his second life.
Park Seok-min said, "I want to become a good leader.
I haven't decided yet, but I'm looking into overseas baseball training," and added, "I want to be a good leader.
Also, becoming a 'really good person' is an important goal for the rest of my life."
The NC club said, “As the team is currently in the postseason, we decided to discuss plans such as Park Seok-min's retirement ceremony at a later date.”
