[Official] "Oh, the passing of time" — Son Ah-seop, who reached 2,655 career hits, is also "finally" released after just six months... Doosan Bears notify 11 players, including Kim Myeong-sin, that they will not be re-signed

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Son Ah-seop (38), who set a new KBO League all-time record for career hits, is parting ways with the Doosan Bears. It has been only six months since he donned the Doosan uniform via a trade during this season.

On the 19th, Doosan announced, "We have notified a total of 11 players that they will not be re-signed: pitchers Kim Myeong-sin (33), Kim Ji-yoon (22), Park Kang-min (29), Jang Woo-jin (22), Lee Gi-seok (24), and Baek Seung-woo (26); infielders Kim Min-hyuk (30), Lee Jong-hyuk (26), and Ji Gang-hyuk (26); and outfielders Son Ah-seop and Yang Hyeon-jin (24)."

The most notable name is undoubtedly Son Ah-seop. Son, who made his professional debut with the Lotte Giants in 2007, passed through the NC Dinos and Hanwha Eagles before joining Doosan via a trade on April 14 last month. At the time, Doosan sent pitcher Lee Gyo-hoon (26) and 150 million won in cash to Hanwha to acquire the veteran hitter.

Son Ah-seop is a representative contact hitter in Korean baseball who surpassed Park Yong-taek in 2024 to set a new KBO League all-time record for career hits. He held the all-time hit record until Choi Hyeong-woo broke it again this year, and he has accumulated a total of 2,655 career hits through this season.

However, the 2026 season with Doosan was not easy. In 54 games in the first division, he posted a .236 batting average (37 hits in 157 at-bats), one home run, 15 RBIs, and 17 runs scored, along with an on-base percentage of .301, a slugging percentage of .280, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .581. He was removed from the first division roster multiple times during the season and moved back and forth to the Futures League. In the Futures League, he recorded a .265 batting average, two home runs, and 16 RBIs in 29 games.

Immediately after the trade, he showed signs of a turnaround. After being readjusted in the minor leagues, he returned to the first division and went on a multi-hit streak, even hitting a go-ahead hit against NC. At the time, Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung emphasized Son Ah-seop's experience and role, stating that the team could not play the season with only young players. However, he ultimately failed to change the overall flow of the season, and Doosan chose to part ways.

Kim Myeong-sin, who has long guarded the Doosan bullpen, is also leaving the team. Kim, who entered the league as the 20th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 rookie draft, posted a career-high performance in 2023, throwing 79 innings across 70 games for three wins, three losses, one save, and 24 holds with an ERA of 3.65. At the time, he was responsible for the most games and innings among Doosan's bullpen pitchers.

However, this year he managed only three games and two-thirds of an inning in the first division, recording one win and an ERA of 3.38. In the Futures League, he pitched 45 two-thirds innings across 31 games, finishing with no wins, two losses, four holds, one save, and an ERA of 3.35.

Most of the remaining pitchers spent the season in the Futures League. Kim Ji-yoon went 2-5 with a 7.38 ERA in 57 one-third innings across 15 games, while Park Kang-min recorded four wins, three losses, three saves, and one hold with a 3.93 ERA in 36 two-thirds innings across 25 games. Jang Woo-jin posted a 12.71 ERA with two holds in five two-thirds innings across six games, and Lee Gi-seok left four wins, no losses, and one hold with a 6.52 ERA in 29 innings across 19 games. Baek Seung-woo threw one third of an inning in four games, recording two losses and an ERA of 54.00.

Among the position players, Kim Min-hyuk did not appear in the first division this year, posting a .255 batting average (54 hits in 212 at-bats), two home runs, and 30 RBIs in 81 Futures League games. Ji Gang-hyuk also managed only a .245 batting average (53 hits in 216 at-bats), one home run, 13 RBIs, and five stolen bases in 77 Futures League games. Lee Jong-hyuk recorded one hit and one RBI in two at-bats across three Futures League games, while Yang Hyeon-jin left a .080 batting average (two hits in 25 at-bats) and three RBIs in 13 games.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original