Jeon Son-gang from Lotte is happy and sad, Jeon and Kang are active until the 2027 season → Hwang retired... Son Ah-seop, what will happen to you

*This content was translated by AI.

The joys and sorrows of the four batters who spent their best years at the Lotte Giants are mixed. While Jeon Joon-woo (40) and Kang Min-ho (41), who led the batting line along with "core batter" Lee Dae-ho (43) in the early 2010s, were finalized until the 2027 season at Lotte and Samsung Lions, respectively, Hwang Jae-gyun (39) chose to retire. Now, only Son Ah-seop (38)'s future remains.

The new year of 2026 has come. Although most KBO league clubs' work is suspended due to their work, Son Ah-seop's future as a free agent (FA) is emerging as an interest in the baseball world. On December 28, "Veteran Catcher" Kang Min-ho signed a two-year contract with his original team Samsung, and Son Ah-seop is now a hot topic of interest.

Coincidentally, three of Lotte's "total damage" who led its heyday in early 2010 acquired the FA right after the 2025 season and exercised it. Jeon Joon-woo became a "one-club man" by signing a four-year remaining contract worth a total of 4.7 billion won with Lotte ahead of the 2024 season. Kang Min-ho was also guaranteed to play for Samsung until the 2027 season.

However, some players have chosen to retire instead of extending their active careers ahead of the 2026 season. It's Hwang Jae-gyun. Although he was offered an FA contract by his original team KT, he refused to accept it and decided to retire without regret. The KT club said, "Hwang Jae-kyun's retirement ceremony is scheduled to take place at the beginning of the 2026 season."

Now, only Son Ah-seop is left. Son Ah-seop is a representative hitter who has hit the most hits in KBO league history. He has 2,618 hits, which is the highest number of hits in history. Son Ah-seop, who was traded from the NC Dinos to the Hanwha Eagles during this season, had a batting average of 0.288 (107 hits in 372 times at bat) and a home run and 50 RBIs (on-base plus slugging) of 0.723, in 111 regular league games in the 2025 season. He applied for his third FA.

However, the situation surrounding Son Ah-seop is cold at present. Hanwha, the original team, recruited Kang Baek-ho (27) instead of Son Ah-seop, and even brought in Jonathan Peraza (27), whose type is somewhat similar to Son Ah-seop's. In fact, he has not made Son Ah-seop's place.

The baseball community believes that Hanwha, the original club, also allowed Son Ah-seop to sign and trade, but no club has appeared that actually wants to recruit.

Therefore, it is unclear whether Son Ah-seop will play in the 2026 season. Son Ah-seop is ranked first in the number of hits, but he is only 32 behind Choi Hyung-woo (42, Samsung Lions), who is second in the number of hits. Since Choi Hyung-woo signed a two-year contract with Samsung, there is a growing possibility that the main character of the most hits will change depending on Son Ah-seop's performance. Most clubs will leave spring camp after the 20th. The remaining period is about three weeks. In which club will Son Ah-seop enter the 2026 season.

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*This content was translated by AI.