Former All-Star to Retire From Professional Baseball After 2024 Season

Shin Soo-Choo, a former All-Star who began his career with the Seattle Mariners and later played for the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers, has disclosed his decision to retire after the 2024 baseball season in the KBO, where he has been competing in his native South Korea.

https://twitter.com/Jeeho_1/status/1735102814572212613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1735102814572212613%7Ctwgr%5E9dfe0332b46e59bdee7cfc9055ce9897264147ad%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Ffannation%2Fmlb%2Ffastball%2Fnews%2Fformer-seattle-mariners-cleveland-indians-texas-rangers-and-cincinnati-reds-outfielder-shin-soo-choo-to-retire-after-2024-season-in-kbo

According to Jeeho Yoo, a KBO expert, Shin-Soo Choo of the SSG Landers (formerly with CLE, CIN, TEX) shared the news on social media. He has been part of the Landers since 2021, and in the 2023 season at the age of 41, Choo recorded a batting average of .254/.379/.398 with 12 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases.

Choo’s impressive 16-year tenure in the major leagues saw him play for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners. Starting with the Mariners in 2005, he became a source of frustration for Mariners fans who witnessed the team letting go of a talented player prematurely.

His journey continued with Cleveland, where he emerged as a highly productive player, achieving 20 home runs and 86 RBIs in 2009, followed by a 22-homer, 90-RBI performance in 2010. A brief stint with the Reds in 2013 showcased his skills with a .285 batting average and a .423 on-base percentage. Choo concluded his MLB career with the Rangers, earning an All-Star Game appearance in 2018 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Choo wraps up his major league career with a .275 batting average, a .377 on-base percentage, 218 home runs, and 782 RBIs. In addition to his contributions in the KBO, he represented South Korea in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and earned MVP honors in the U-18 Baseball World Cup, a pivotal moment that fueled his professional career in the United States.