“Every day since I entered the professional ranks as a rookie has been a war for me. I tried my best to survive, but it hurts to think that it took me until today, but I have no regrets because I did my best until now.”
Kim Jun-wan, an outfield prospect who received a release notice from the Kiwoom Heroes, has announced his retirement from active duty.
Kim joined the NC as a developmental player in 2013 after graduating from Jang Chung-go and Korea University, and in his 518 career games with the first team, Kim batted .222 with three home runs, 71 RBI, 171 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 1029 at-bats.
After impressing fans with a dramatic super-catch in the first round of the 2017 playoffs against Doosan, Kim didn’t do much after that and left NC for the last time in 2021.
After earning an extension with Kiwoom through a tryout, Kim played in 111 games last year, 먹튀검증토토사이트 batting .317 (61-for-317) with one home run, 28 RBI, 43 runs scored and one stolen base. In 76 games this season, he’s batting just 2-for-2 (189-for-42) with 14 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
Kiwoom released 14 players on Oct. 16 to reorganize its roster.
Kim Jun-wan was included in the list.
After being notified of his second release, Kim chose to retire instead of extending his contract. He said goodbye to his fans on Instagram on Oct. 3.
He wrote, “I’m ending my 11-year professional baseball career. Every day since I entered the pro ranks as a rookie has been a war for me. I’ve been trying to survive, but I feel like I’ve been trying until today, so it hurts, but I have no regrets because I’ve done my best until now,” he said.
He also said, “I will never forget and be grateful for the nine years in the NC Dinos that helped me start my professional life, and the last two years in the Kiwoom Heroes that gave me undeserved opportunities and love, and now I will try my best to live my life as a helper behind the scenes instead of a player. I am so grateful and happy that I was able to play baseball,” he said in his farewell speech.