Retiring pitcher Oh Seung-hwan wants to go out with bang

Samsung Lions pitcher Oh Seung-hwan speaks at a press conference announcing his plan to retire after the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization season in Incheon, Thursday. Yonhap

A day after announcing his plan to retire after this season, Samsung Lions reliever Oh Seung-hwan, widely considered the greatest closer in Korean baseball history, said Thursday he will try to go out with a bang, not a whimper.

Oh, 43, said Wednesday he will retire after the end of the 2025 season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). He has spent his entire 15-year career in the KBO with the Lions and notched 427 saves, more than any pitcher in the league's 43-year history.

Oh also collected 80 saves in two seasons with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and 42 saves in four seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Colorado Rockies in Major League Baseball (MLB). Oh remains the only Korean pitcher to record a save in the KBO, NPB and MLB.

The Lions will retire Oh's No. 21. He will be the fourth player in Lions history — and their first pitcher — to have his number retired, joining club legends Lee Man-soo (No. 22), Yang Joon-hyuk (No. 10) and Lee Seung-yuop (No. 36).

"This retirement thing hasn't hit me yet. The word 'final' doesn't even sound real," Oh said at a press conference in Incheon, just west of Seoul, where the Lions are visiting for a three-game series against the SSG Landers. "I've been wearing No. 21 and this happens to be my 21st season in professional baseball. I've been able to make it this far all because of the tremendous support from my fans. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for what they've meant to me."

Oh will travel with the Lions for the rest of the season but will not be placed on their active roster. The Lions plan to give Oh one last chance to pitch toward the end of the season. He has only made 11 appearances this year and has not pitched since July 8, while spending most of the time in the minors due to injuries and ineffectiveness — as attested by an un-Oh-like 8.31 ERA.

And if the Lions remain in the thick of a battle for a postseason berth, they won't be able to afford a ceremonial outing for Oh. But Oh himself said Thursday he wants to pitch in a meaningful game because he still has more to give.

"I just pitched in a minor league game last week, and I've improved quite a bit physically," Oh said. "I still want to take the mound if I have the chance. Even if it's just one more game, I will try everything I can to show the best version of myself in front of fans."

Oh is sitting at 549 professional saves. He said it doesn't matter whether he will take the ball in a save situation or in a losing situation, but added with a smile, "550 sounds better than 549."

Oh Seung-hwan, center, retiring pitcher for the Samsung Lions, pose with his teammates Won Tae-in, Kim Jae-yoon, Kang Min-ho and Koo Ja-wook, left to right, during a press conference in Incheon, Thursday. Yonhap

Oh built his reputation on his hard fastball. In his heyday, Oh had such high spin rates on his four-seam fastballs that they gave hitters the illusion of defying gravity and rising near the plate.

Asked what type of pitch he will throw last on the mound, Oh said he will have to keep that to himself.

"When I returned from the majors (in 2020), I said in interviews that my first pitch back here would be a fastball. And then I gave up a double to the first guy I faced," Oh said, laughing at the memory. He poked more fun at himself and added, "I've been getting hit hard since last year. So I'm not going to say what I'll throw with my last pitch."

Oh said losing his mother in March this year influenced his decision to call it quits this year.

"She was always the first person to call me after every game," Oh said, choking back on tears. "I've had coaches who helped me along the way but my mother was my biggest supporter. It was really tough when she passed away. I am really sad that she is not here to see me here today."

Oh said he has not decided what he wants to do for his career after pitching but hinted that he will remain in the game in some capacity.

"We're still in the middle of the season and I will be discussing my options with the ownership and management group here," Oh said. "The team has offered to help me in my new chapter. But if I want to help out younger players going forward, I will have to be prepared for that role. I will take my time before making that decision."

Oh also indicated that he can see himself in a coaching role at some point.

"I've been fortunate enough to have pitched in many different leagues, and I want to share my experience with younger players if I think it can help them," the pitcher said. "But it won't happen right away. I'll have to learn a lot more. There will come a time when I feel I am ready."

In addition to holding the KBO's career saves record, Oh owns the single-season mark with 47, set in 2006 and matched by himself in 2011.

Oh helped the Lions win Korean Series titles in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Oh earned the first of his two Korean Series MVP awards in 2005 as a rookie, when he recorded a win and a save in three appearances while striking out 11 batters in seven scoreless innings.

He was also voted the Korean Series MVP in 2011 thanks to 5 2/3 scoreless innings and three saves over four outings.

Oh was the fifth overall pick at the 2004 KBO draft out of college and made his debut in 2005.

He won the Rookie of the Year award after putting up a 10-1 record, 11 holds, 16 saves and a 1.18 ERA. He took over as closer in the middle of that year.

As the closer from the start of his sophomore season, Oh set the new saves record with 47 while pitching to a 1.59 ERA over 79 1/3 innings.

Oh hit a speed bump in 2010 when he underwent elbow surgery but came back just as strong in 2011, matching his own single-season saves record with 47.

Oh, who earned the monikers "Final Boss" and "Stone Buddha" for his stoic presence on the mound, said he was proud of his legacy and records.

"Even after a long time, I hope that people will remember the pitcher I was when they think of closers in baseball," Oh said. "Also, I'd like to see more pitchers who try to break my records."

Oh said he will "absolutely" play baseball if he were born again — just not as a closer.

"I'd rather be a starting pitcher or a hitter. Closers face so much scrutiny every game," Oh said. He then added with a wry smile, "No matter what I do in baseball, it'd be better than being a closer."