Right-handed pitcher Lim Jeong-woo (32), who served as LG closer, has decided to retire from active baseball.
Lim, who was removed from LG’s disabled list on March 25, announced his retirement on his social media accounts on March 27. His last first-team appearance was on March 27, 2018, against Gochuk Nexen, and he hasn’t pitched on a first-team mound in the last five years due to injuries, so he chose to retire at the young age of 32.
“First of all, I was very happy to receive so much attention, support, and love for 13 years, and I am grateful to all the baseball fans who supported me,” Lim said to the fans, “I came to LG as a free agent compensation player for Jo In-sung in 2011, and I will keep the good memories I had with many senior and junior players who went through the Twins with me in the back of my mind. I have decided that I will no longer be a professional baseball player. I’m going to retire.”
Lim continued, “The thought of not being able to stand on the mound as a professional baseball player again is very painful and makes me feel regretful. Lim still can’t forget the victory shouts of the LG Twins fans at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. I think the LG Twins fans are the most passionate, loving, and best fans I have ever seen, and I am grateful and honored to have received their support and love. Lim will keep them in my memory for the rest of my life and never forget them.”
Lim continued,
“I think my time with the LG Twins was really special for me. I think it’s a great honor to have played for the LG Twins during the long journey from the dark days to the first unified championship in 29 years.” “Personally, I thought this time would come beforehand, but now the time has come to take off the TWINS that shone in front of my heart, the stone of my name on my back, and the number 20 that I loved so much. 카지노사이트가이드 I am so grateful and thankful to the fans who have believed in me and supported me for so many years. I would also like to thank everyone at the LG Twins Sports Front Office.”
Selected by SK in the fourth round (26th overall) of the 2011 KBO Draft out of Seoul High School, Lim appeared in four games (one save) for the first team in his first year before moving to LG. He was selected as compensation for veteran catcher Jo In-sung, who was a free agent transfer from LG to SK. LG immediately chose Lim for his future value over his power.
It was a successful move. After going through the developmental process at LG, Lim emerged as a first-team regular in 2013, splitting time between starts and saves. In 2014, he went 2-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 25 games (10 starts-73⅓ innings), and in 2015, he went 6-9 with a 5.04 ERA in 54 games (11 starts-109 innings), with five saves and three holds.
In 2016, he was the closer.
In 67 games and 70⅔ innings pitched that year, he went 3-8 with 28 saves and a 3.82 ERA, helping LG reach the postseason. He earned a save in Game 2 of the wild-card deciding game and shut the back door in big games with two saves in the semifinals. His fastball touched 150 mph on soft form and his curveball had a big drop.
In March 2017, he was named to the national team for the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Unfortunately, it was the beginning of a downward spiral. He suffered a shoulder injury during the national team’s camp in Okinawa, Japan, and missed the first half of the season rehabbing. After returning in late August, Lim went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 17 games (16⅔ innings), but that was effectively his last spark. After two appearances in March 2018, Lim was lost for the season after undergoing elbow ligament reconstruction and bone chip removal surgery.
He enlisted in the National Guard in January 2019 and returned from military service in November 2020, but the injuries continued. In 2021, he didn’t pitch in either the first or second team. Last year, he appeared in three games for the second team, and this year, he hasn’t taken the mound for either team. He retired at the young age of 32 after a string of injuries. In eight seasons and 229 games (28 starts, 368 innings), he has a 14-25 record, 34 saves, seven shutouts, a 4.50 ERA, and 327 strikeouts.
