[Official Announcement] 'KBO's First 40 Holds' → 700 Career Games... Lotte's Kim Tae-hyeok (formerly Kim Sang-soo) Ends 17-Year Playing Career! Retirement Ceremony Ahead of Kiwoom Game on the 29th

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants veteran reliever Kim Tae-hyeok (38, formerly Kim Sang-soo) is leaving the field at the end of this season.

Lotte officially announced on the 15th that a ceremony to honor Kim Tae-hyeok's 700 career games and announce his retirement will be held ahead of their home game against Kiwoom Heroes at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 29th.

Ahead of this season, Kim Sang-soo changed his name to Kim Tae-hyeok but was not registered with the first division team even once during the 2026 season. His 700th career appearance, recorded in a game against SSG Landers on September 29 last year, became his final first-division game as an active player. He pitched one scoreless inning that day.

Over 17 seasons in the KBO League, Kim Tae-hyeok appeared in exactly 700 games, recording 37 wins, 46 losses, 140 holds, 50 saves, a 4.96 ERA, 785 innings pitched, and 703 strikeouts.

The season most vividly etched into KBO history for his name was 2019. Playing for Kiwoom at the time, Kim Tae-hyeok recorded 3 wins, 5 losses, 40 holds, and a 3.02 ERA in 67 games, achieving the first-ever single-season 40 holds record in KBO League history. He surpassed the previous record of 37 holds held by Ahn Ji-man, setting a new single-season record for most holds that remains unbroken to this day.

He spent the latter part of his playing career with Lotte. Wearing the Lotte uniform from 2023 through the 2025 season, he appeared in 186 games over three years, pitching 162⅓ innings with a 4.32 ERA, 12 wins, 7 losses, 38 holds, and 5 saves.

After last season, he became a free agent again, but it took time to finalize a contract. On January 8 this year, after the new year began, he re-signed with Lotte for one year at a total value of 300 million won. At the time, Kim Tae-hyeok stated, "I am very happy to be able to pitch on the mound at Sajik Stadium again. While individual performance is important, I feel this is a time when dedication to the team is needed." He added, "With strong motivation, I will do my best to contribute to the team's success in the 2026 season."

However, his final season did not go as planned. He was never called up to the first division and ultimately ended his playing career at the meaningful milestone of 700 games.

Lotte stated that ahead of the game on the 29th, they will present an award for Kim Tae-hyeok's 700 career games, deliver bouquets from both teams' rosters, play a highlight video of his career, and read out his retirement statement together.

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*This content was translated by AI.