Lotte's Kim Tae-hyuk, Who Set Single-Season KBO Record of 40 Holds, Retires... Retirement Ceremony on the 29th

Lotte Giants veteran pitcher Kim Tae-hyuk (38) is bringing his 17-year professional career to a close.

The Lotte club announced today (the 15th) that it will hold an awards ceremony for Kim's 700 career appearances and a retirement event ahead of their home game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 29th.

Kim, who performed under the name Kim Sang-soo before changing his name after the conclusion of the 2025 season, recorded 37 wins, 46 losses, 50 saves, 140 holds, 703 strikeouts, and a 4.96 ERA across 700 career appearances over 17 seasons in the KBO League.

Notably, in 2019, he collected 40 holds to set the KBO League record for the most holds in a single season, and remained a core pillar of the bullpen after transferring to Lotte in 2023.

This season, he pitched in 21 games exclusively in the Futures (minor) league and has no appearances in the first team.

Prior to the retirement ceremony, an award ceremony commemorating Kim's 700th appearance will take place first.

Following this, players from both teams will present flower bouquets to pay tribute to the veteran's dedication in guarding the mound.

In addition, a special video capturing Kim's active playing days will be screened on the scoreboard, and a time is arranged for him to personally read a retirement speech and bid farewell to the fans.

(Photo courtesy of Lotte Giants, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.