Lee Ji-young (37) said, “It’s amazing that I can finish my active duty in my hometown, Incheon.”SSG Landers, a professional baseball team based in Incheon, announced on the 12th, “We gave 250 million won in cash and a 2025 third-round rookie pick to Kiwoom Heroes and acquired catcher Ji-young Lee through a trade.”It was a ‘sign and trade’ type of recruitment in which Kiwoom Heroes, the original club, signed Lee Ji-young as a free agent (FA) for a total of 400 million won for two years, and then traded Lee Ji-young to SSG.The actual negotiations were with SSG. Lee Ji-young said in a phone call with Yonhap News on the 12th after completing the free agent contract and trade, “The SSG club judged me as a ‘useable player.’ During the negotiation process, ‘I can give good energy to our team. A good guide for young players.’ “He said, ‘Please become a .’” He said, “I was really grateful. I want to finish my career as a player well at SSG.”I haven’t decided on a ‘retirement point’ yet.

However, Lee Ji-young said, “I am in my late 30s, so I can’t think about the next few years. I know that I don’t have much time left to play as a player,” and added, “At least during the two-year contract period, I am a player who will definitely be of help to SSG who gave me the opportunity. “It will be possible. I’m not thinking about two years from now, but even two years from now, I want to be evaluated as a player that SSG needs,” he said.He continued, “I’m in really good shape,” and repeatedly pledged, “During training, I will be helpful to junior catchers and pitchers, and during games, I will become a player who helps the team win.” Lee Ji-young was considered a ‘top catcher’ during her time at Jemulpo High School and Kyungsung University, but was ignored by the pros and struggled to enter the professional stage as a reported player for the Samsung Lions in 2008.Lee Ji-young, who debuted in the first team in 2009 and played in 23 games, became Samsung’s starting catcher in 2013 and played for Samsung until 2018.Lee Ji-young, who wore the Kiwoom uniform through a triangle trade in December 2018, signed a three-year free agent contract with Kiwoom for up to 1.8 billion won in November 2019.Ji-young Lee obtained free agency status again after the end of the 2023 season and settled in SSG.Kim Min-sik, SSG’s starting catcher last year, is on the free agent market.Veteran catcher Lee Jae-won signed a contract with the Hanwha Eagles after requesting his release from SSG.

Currently, Jiyoung Lee is the catcher with the most first-team experience at SSG.SSG even asked the sincere and experienced Lee Ji-young to ‘nurture juniors.’Lee Ji-young said, “SSG has seniors Choo Shin-soo, Ko Hyo-jun, and Noh Gyeong-eun, but among catchers, I am the most senior. I know very well what I have to do,” and added, “I will do my best to complete the ‘stable generational change’ that SSG wants.” “I will do my best,” he promised.He did not forget to say thank you, saying, “I really enjoyed playing baseball at Kiwoom for 5 years. I am grateful to all the Kiwoom fans, colleagues, and club. I am sad to leave Kiwoom like this. I will not forget the love I received during this time.”Although the uniform color has changed, SSG plans to continue the ‘volunteer work and donations for abandoned dogs’ that began when signing the FA contract with Kiwoom.Even when the free agent contract was not progressed, Lee Ji-young visited an abandoned dog shelter.Lee Ji-young laughed and said, “There are some things that should not change,” and “I will be doing volunteer work this 온라인카지노 Sunday (the 14th) as well.”