'Choo was the one who hit it' — The legend acknowledged by CLE, Choo Shin-soo, to throw out the first pitch in ALCS on the 19th: "It is a great honor that you thought of me during the postseason"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Choo Shin-soo (44), who serves as an assistant to the chairman and head of player development for SSG Landers, has been given a chance to revive past glory. He will take the mound as a special guest first-pitch thrower at the autumn baseball games of his former team, the Cleveland Guardians, during his Major League Baseball days.

The Cleveland Guardians invited Choo Shin-soo to throw out the first pitch for Game 5 of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Tampa Bay Rays, scheduled to be held at Progressive Field on the 19th (Korean time).

Choo Shin-soo's first pitch was dramatically secured after Game 4, originally scheduled for the 17th, was postponed due to rain.

The Cleveland organization had selected Choo Shin-soo as the first-pitch thrower for the game on the 16th and proceeded with the invitation, but Choo Shin-soo had no choice but to politely decline due to a pre-arranged university preview trip for his second son that had been planned long in advance.

However, heaven helped. Game 4 was postponed due to rain for the first time in seven years in U.S. postseason history and rescheduled for the 18th. As Choo Shin-soo's schedule aligned with the new date, he readily accepted the organization's request, leading to a welcome reunion with Cleveland fans.

Choo Shin-soo shared his heartfelt impressions, stating, "When I first received the invitation to throw the first pitch, I was very grateful that people continued to remember 'me.' Even though a considerable amount of time has passed since I left the team, it is a great honor in itself that you thought of me among so many players for an important postseason stage rather than the regular season."

He added, "I was initially very disappointed that I could not attend due to family commitments, but I am happy that I can make the trip thanks to the rain postponement."

Furthermore, Choo Shin-soo expressed his unwavering affection for his former team by saying, "There are still many familiar faces in the organization's front office. I am grateful for the opportunity to greet my former teammates and fans after a long time, and since it is a meaningful day, I hope my former team wins."

The connection between Cleveland and Choo Shin-soo is special. After a long stint in the minor leagues, Choo Shin-soo began his full major league career by leaving the Seattle Mariners for the Cleveland uniform in 2006, reaching his prime. Over seven seasons until 2012, he served as a key hitter for the team, recording impressive career statistics of 685 games, a .292 batting average, 83 home runs, 372 RBIs, 85 stolen bases, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.853. In particular, in 2009 and 2010, he became the first Asian-born player to join the 20th-home run-20-stolen base club for two consecutive years, firmly establishing his reputation as a five-tool player with power and speed in Major League Baseball.

The Cleveland organization also showed special consideration when Choo Shin-soo announced his retirement from active duty in 2024, posting on its official social media (SNS) account, "Choo Shin-soo played his final game. We send our heartfelt congratulations to Choo Shin-soo for a wonderful journey."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original