"I still exercise every day." Kim Sung-hyun to start at second base on his retirement ceremony on the 5th! A final look at the 'wire-to-wire' championship keystone pair

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers one-club man Kim Sung-hyun (39), who will serve as first-division infield defense coach, is set to start at second base during his retirement ceremony. As a result, SSG fans will be able to see the Park Sung-han (28)-Kim Sung-hyun keystone combination that won the 2022 'wire-to-wire' championship together one last time.

SSG announced on the 28th that it will hold Kim Sung-hyun's playing-coach retirement ceremony during a home game against Doosan Bears at IncheonSSG Landers Field on September 5.

On this day, SSG fans will see Coach Kim Sung-hyun standing at second base for the first time in about a year. Registered as a special entry, Kim Sung-hyun will take the field directly as the starting second baseman during the retirement ceremony. An SSG club official told StarNews, "Coach Kim Sung-hyun still exercises every day. He has been taking good care of his body."

Park Sung-han, currently the cornerstone of SSG's infield, is highly likely to take over the shortstop position. If that happens, the keystone combination that symbolized an era for SSG will be completed once again. After the game concludes, a final double-play defensive performance symbolizing Kim Sung-hyun is also scheduled.

Kim Sung-hyun, who graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School, was selected by SK Wyverns (now SSG) in the second round of the 2006 KBO Rookie Draft as the 20th overall pick. He remains a one-club man who has never left the team until this day. Wearing an SSG uniform, he recorded a .268 batting average, 1,149 hits, 46 home runs, 456 RBIs, 559 runs scored, and 55 stolen bases in 1,622 career games.

During his 21-year playing career, he quietly held down various infield positions, moving between second base and third base as a utility player before eventually establishing himself as the starting shortstop. He contributed to SSG's Korean Series championships in both 2018 and 2022. In particular, 2022 was a season that clearly demonstrated Kim Sung-hyun's value. As a full-time second baseman in his second year, he formed a keystone combination with Park Sung-han, anchoring SSG's infield. That year, SSG achieved the first 'wire-to-wire' championship in KBO history by never relinquishing first place from opening day until the final day of the regular season, and went on to win the Korean Series as well.

The retirement ceremony adopts "CUTIE SIX, THE GLOW GOES ON" as its main concept, inspired by Kim Sung-hyun's nickname used by fans, "Cutie Six," and the lyrics of his signature cheer song, "A hit that becomes light to the world." It commemorates Kim Sung-hyun's dedication in quietly shining for the team for 21 years and carries the meaning that this light will be passed on to younger players. All members of the team will wear special uniforms featuring Kim Sung-hyun's jersey number 6 on this day.

The commemorative uniforms will go on official sale through the 'Landers Flagship Store' and 'SSG.com' on the day of the retirement ceremony. The pre-game ceremony will feature a joint family pitch, hit, and throw event with Coach Kim Sung-hyun and his children.

The main retirement ceremony held after the game will be broadcast live on the club's official YouTube channel, 'Ssuk Tube,' for fans who cannot attend in person. The event will begin with all spectators singing the cheer song as playing-coach Kim Sung-hyun makes his appearance, followed by events highlighting the value of utility players who have selflessly performed at various infield positions.

The finale will be marked by a final double-play defensive performance that puts an end to his active career and a team henga-rae (cheer). The event will conclude with a fireworks display lighting up the night sky over IncheonSSG Landers Field.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.