Former professional baseball KIA Tigers pitcher Im Chang-yong candidly shared his views on Choi Hyung-woo's return to the Samsung Lions. He especially mentioned the custom of retirement ceremonies during his KIA days, leaving room for controversy.
Choi Hyung-woo, who played for KIA for nine years from 2017, gained free agent status for the third time after this season. Although KIA's retention was widely expected, he chose a return to Samsung under a two-year contract worth up to 2.6 billion won.
Choi Hyung-woo appeared in 2,314 career first‑division games, batting .310 (8,346 at‑bats, 2,586 hits) with 419 home runs, 1,737 RBIs, 1,365 runs and 30 stolen bases. This season he played in 133 games, batting .307 (469 at‑bats, 144 hits) with 24 home runs, 86 RBIs and 74 runs, showing he remains formidable.
Samsung said the addition of Choi Hyung-woo will maximize the destructive power of its left‑handed lineup and expects the veteran's experience and leadership to have an effect.
On the 7th, Im Chang-yong left a meaningful comment about Choi Hyung-woo's choice on his YouTube channel "Chang-yong Bupaek–Im Chang-yong." He said, "I've experienced a lot, but free agent contracts and things like that are not always as reported by clubs. It can be the exact opposite of what appears in the articles."
Im Chang-yong added, "KIA has many powerful left‑handed hitters, so they may have felt no need to keep him. Even if the amount offered by the club is not a small sum, the player can still feel hurt," describing the delicate emotions in free agent negotiations.
But the most attention‑grabbing point was the "retirement ceremony culture." Im Chang-yong said, "If conditions are the same, most players prefer to stay with their original team," and added, "But at KIA, almost no player had a proper retirement ceremony. I was the same. By contrast, Samsung properly held retirement ceremonies for legends such as Oh Seung-hwan. Seeing things like that might have moved his heart."
However, some fans have responded to Im Chang-yong's remarks by questioning whether he is qualified to voice such opinions given his own past controversies.
A graduate of Jinheung High School, Im Chang-yong recorded 760 KBO appearances with 130 wins, 86 losses, 258 saves, 19 holds and a 3.45 ERA. From 2008 to 2012 he pitched in 238 games for the Yakult Swallows in Japan, recording 11 wins, 13 losses, 128 saves, 21 holds and a 2.09 ERA. He also played for the Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs in 2013.
Im Chang-yong, who has extensive international experience, was selected in September 2022 for the "Legend 40" commemorating the 40th anniversary of the KBO League. Although he was a legend who dominated an era, he was at the center of various controversies such as habitual gambling and fraud.
Im Chang-yong's remarks, which have placed him at the center of controversy, are creating considerable ripples among fans, and the aftermath will be watched closely.
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