"Lotte: I never once thought of it as someone else's team" Kim Min-sung, who returned after 14 years and departed from Busan, conveyed his final heartfelt message [On-site in Busan]

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Kim Min-seong (38, Lotte Giants), who has spent nearly 20 years on the field, has hung up his beloved uniform. He expressed gratitude to fans for remembering not just his impressive statistics, but also his attitude toward baseball.

Kim Min-seong shared his thoughts on retirement ahead of the home game against the LG Twins in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 9th. Speaking to reporters, he said, "I had always thought that I would eventually have to quit, but it didn't really feel real. However, after news of my retirement was published, it suddenly hit me hard. Since that day, I haven't been able to sleep well, and my mind has been unsettled as I experience emotions I have never felt before."

The decision to retire came after he was last removed from the first division roster. This year, Kim Min-seong posted a .138 batting average (4 hits in 29 at-bats), one home run, and four RBIs across 17 games in the first division. After going hitless with two strikeouts in two at-bats against KT on the 10th of last month, he was sent to the minor league and never returned to the first division stage. Thus, Kim Min-seong's career KBO record concluded with a .266 batting average (1,476 hits in 5,546 at-bats), 137 home runs, 772 RBIs, and 697 runs scored over 1,844 games, along with an on-base percentage of .339 and a slugging percentage of .398.

Kim Min-seong explained, "I told my wife and family that I felt there was nothing left for me to show them. After consulting with my family and as time passed, I met with the club and made my decision."

It was not an easy decision. Kim Min-seong said, "Honestly, the reason I have stayed this long is because of my affection for the Lotte Giants. If I had only been thinking about myself, I would have met with the club and made a decision in the early to mid-season. But since it is currently mid-season and I did not want to make a decision on my own, I waited." He added, "I wanted to spend good time with the players and finish with good results before announcing my retirement, but I was unable to do so, which makes me feel bad."

Lotte is a special team for Kim Min-seong. A graduate of Gomyeong Elementary School, Jamsin Middle School, and Deoksu Information High School, he began his professional career after being selected by Lotte in the second round, 13th overall pick, of the 2007 KBO Rookie Draft.

He appeared in only 24 games in the first division during his first two seasons. However, he seized an opportunity to fill the infield vacancy created by Jo Sung-hwan's injury in 2009. That year, he played in 114 games and demonstrated his potential with a .248 batting average, four home runs, 37 RBIs, and 51 runs scored. In 2010, he also took on the shortstop position due to Park Ki-hyuk's injury. As he was gradually establishing himself as a regular starter, he was included in a trade that brought Hwang Jae-gyun to Lotte in July of that year, and transferred to the Nexen Heroes (now the Kiwoom Heroes).

But in Kim Min-seong's heart, Lotte had never left. He reflected, "Lotte was my first team. They recognized me for my skills and chose me to take my first step as a professional player. Even though I left via trade, I have never once considered Lotte someone else's team. Even when visiting Busan on the road, I always felt in my heart that it was my team."

Kim Min-seong grew into a top-tier infielder in the league while with Nexen. In 2013, he recorded his first double-digit home run total (15). In 2015, he achieved a career-high .303 batting average, marking his first time hitting above .300. The following year, he posted a .306 batting average with 17 home runs and 90 RBIs in 141 games, setting personal single-season records for both home runs and RBIs. In 2019, he transferred to LG via an FA (free agent) contract. Although his role gradually changed after serving as the starting third baseman, he contributed to the team as a veteran capable of playing all infield positions.

In particular, after reuniting with manager Yeom Kyung-yeop in 2023, he appeared in 112 games, posting a .249 batting average with eight home runs and 41 RBIs. He filled in at shortstop to cover for Oh Ji-hwan's injury absence and took on responsibilities across various infield positions, contributing to LG's first combined championship in 29 years. For Kim Min-sung personally, it was his first Korea Series title in his career.

He then donned the Lotte uniform again in January 2024. After signing a free agent contract with LG worth up to 900 million won over three years, he returned to his former team for the first time in 14 years via a sign-and-trade deal that involved swapping players with Kim Min-soo. At the time, Lotte was facing gaps in its infield lineup due to Ahn Chi-hong's transfer and Han Dong-hee's military service. The club placed its expectations not only on Kim Min-seong's ability to handle various defensive positions but also on his leadership, which could serve as a model for younger players.

Kim Min-seong also had a clear dream when he returned to his former team. He wanted to help Lotte, which had been far from the postseason for a long time, leap back into the upper echelon of the standings. "When I came back to Lotte, I brought my dream with me," he said. "Even though our results have not been good and we have fallen short, I always believed that this team could definitely achieve a strong finish in the top four."

Things did not go as planned. In 2024, his first year back, he appeared in only 35 games. Last year, he posted a .243 batting average with three home runs and 35 RBIs in 96 games. This season, his playing time has decreased even further. Kim Min-seong said, "I have learned a lot over the past three years. It is not something that can be achieved by one person alone, nor can it be changed no matter how hard one tries individually. I was reminded once again that a good outcome can only be reached when all players and the organization work together."

Even so, he expressed his support for his junior teammates, saying, "It is regrettable that I am leaving, but the current players are doing their best until the very end. I have a positive mindset that Lotte will achieve better results than now and consistently maintain its position in the upper ranks of the standings, whether next year or the year after."

This season, Kim Min-seong did not hesitate to deliver tough words to the younger players on his team. Rather than simply being a senior who offers only pleasant words, he wanted to be the kind of veteran who speaks up about what is truly needed for the team's success. "If I had only said nice things and turned a blind eye to issues, I don't think we would have developed this level of relationship," he shared. "At first, the younger players may have felt burdened by my comments, but I believe that through living together, they came to understand what kind of senior I am. Since I could feel that they were genuinely taking in my tough words and advice when I offered them, that was enough for me."

When asked about the most memorable moment of his long career, he cited the game against the Busan Samsung Lions on May 14, 2009. At the time, Kim Min-seong delivered a standout performance, hitting a bases-loaded home run to finish with three hits in four at-bats, six runs batted in, and two runs scored. It was from that point that he began to truly make his name known in the first division.

Kim Min-seong said, "The moment I hit my first home run at Sajik Baseball Stadium is the one that remains most vivid in my memory. It was a bases-loaded home run, and I recorded six RBIs in that game." He added, "I wonder if I would still be playing baseball today without that kind of game. Many players want to make it to the first division but cannot. The impact of that single game was significant in my baseball career," he explained.

The time spent with the Heroes and LG was also indispensable. Kim Min-seong reflected, "When I was young, I was raw, but it seems that the trade helped me mature. With the Heroes, I fought fiercely, looking only forward, to secure my starting position. After moving to LG, I came to understand how individual ambition, as well as teamwork with teammates and the organization, must align in order to achieve good results."

Kim Min-seong is now preparing for a new chapter in his life. While he has no immediate plans to return as a leader, he is keeping multiple possibilities open. "There are so many things I want to do," he said. "I would like to try my best and challenge myself in new fields as well."

He did not forget to express his gratitude toward the fans until the very end. Kim Min-seong said, "I had so much I wanted to say to the fans that I couldn't sleep. It was a happy stress." He added, "It seems they understood how I think about baseball and how I view my team and younger teammates. I am leaving with a heart full of happiness and gratitude," confessing his trembling emotions.

Meanwhile, the retirement of Kim Min-seok also held special meaning for Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), manager of the LG Twins, who visited Sajik Stadium as the opposing team's manager that day. This was because Kim had been a player he had mentored since their time at Nexen, watching his growth firsthand. Manager Yeom did not hold back his encouragement, saying, "I received a call informing me that (Kim) Min-seok is retiring. He has always been extremely diligent as a player and has deeply contemplated his own baseball, so I believe he will do well in his second life."

A retirement ceremony was also held 30 minutes before the start of the game, amid cheers from a large crowd. After a tribute video was shown, players from Kim Min-seong's former team, Lotte, and players from LG, who had shared his first Korea Series championship with him, all took the field to celebrate his retirement. The game officially began as he received a ceremonial first pitch from his daughter, Kim Da-mi.

Kim Min-seong bowed his head as he addressed the fans, saying, "First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the Lotte team officials. Thanks to the support of the representative, the general manager, the manager, the coaching staff, and the entire player roster, I was able to conclude my playing career well. I also sincerely thank the LG Twins officials."

He also shared his heartfelt sentiments, saying, "I remember the first time I put on a Lotte uniform. It means even more to me because both my beginning and my end are with Lotte. From my rookie days, I have received tremendous love from Lotte fans, and I will never forget that support going forward. I believe without a doubt that Lotte is a team capable of achieving good results in the future. I will cheer for Lotte until the very end. Thank you for loving me as baseball player Kim Min-seong during this time. Even after leaving the field, I will strive to set an exemplary example. It has been a happiness to have been with you all."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original