Kang Ri-ho (formerly known as Kang Yoon-gu), who was trying to make a comeback in the independent league as an unsigned free agent, has announced his retirement from active play.
카지노“After much consideration, I have decided to retire,” Kang announced on his personal social media account on August 8. “It seems like just yesterday when I made my professional debut with Kiwoom at the age of 20 in 2009, but now that I am writing this retirement post 14 years later, I am reminded of the many highs and lows during my playing career,” he continued.
He continued, “I played for Kiwoom for 8 years, NC for 4.5 years, and Lotte for 1.5 years, and during my career, I was always thinking about my hometown team, Kiwoom, which I loved the most. Even when I was in other teams, I think I always missed Kiwoom in the back of my mind. When I think of the managers, coaches, seniors, and teammates I played with during those years, I always feel pain and apology. The team gave me a lot of unconditional love,” he said, revealing his affection for his hometown team. “I also think about the managers, coaches, and seniors I played with at NC and Lotte. I’m grateful for all of them,” he said, adding that he is grateful for the teams he has played for during his professional career.
“I’m really grateful to the fans who gave me a lot of attention and support just because I’m a professional baseball player, and there are some people who were my biggest fans, and I won’t forget the time, attention, and heart they spent on me until I die,” he said.
“It seems that a player named Kang Yoon-koo has been in the first team for 14 years through hard work rather than talent,” he said. “I want to try the immersion that I have been doing only in baseball in my second life.” Finally, he expressed his gratitude once again, saying, “I have always been grateful and thankful to everyone I have known because of baseball.”
Kang entered the KBO as the first pick of the 2009 Draft Heroes and played for Nexen (now Kiwoom) until 2016. In 2017, he donned an NC uniform via trade, and during the 2021 season, he moved to Lotte again via trade. After the 2022 season, he became eligible for free agency, but was unable to sign with any of the KBO’s 10 teams. Eventually, after playing for independent baseball team Gapyeong Wales, Kang decided to retire from active play. In total, Kang played 13 seasons in the KBO’s first division, compiling a career record of 31 wins, 29 losses, two saves, 48 holds, and a 5.07 ERA in 402 games.