“Honestly, I want to step on the mound at Cheongdom.”
Noh Kyung-eun (40), the “KBO oldest hold king” who remains in SSG Landers as an FA, has virtually declared his life.
At the KBO award ceremony last month, Noh expressed his honest feelings about staying at SSG even though he was qualified as an FA. On March 22, Noh signed a free agent contract with a contract period of 2+1 years and a total of 2.5 billion won (down payment of 300 million won, annual salary of 1.3 billion won, and option of 900 million won).
Analysts say he has fully recognized his contributions so far. Noh Kyung-eun, who was released by the Lotte Giants after the end of the 2021 season, joined SSG through a tryout. He played 41 games in 2022 with 12 wins, 5 losses, 7 holds, 1 save, an earned run average of 3.05 and 55 strikeouts in 79 ⅔ innings, contributing to SSG’s first win in the regular season and winning the Korean Series.
Since last year, he has established himself as a must-win group. With his dedication to making even three consecutive throws, he set a new record of 30 holds for the first time in the KBO history for two consecutive years. Notably, this year, when he became a free agent, he recorded eight wins and five losses with an earned run average of 38 holds, an earned run average of 2.90 and 71 strikeouts in 83 ⅔ innings, to rank No. 1 in hold overall in 77 games, and to achieve his first career title as an individual player at an age of 40. This is the record for most holds held by an SSG team in a single season, and also the record for the oldest individual title holder aged 40 or older in the KBO. 토토사이트
Noh Kyung-eun showed interest in multiple teams, including one from a provincial club, but he chose to stay at SSG. SSG had no better environment for him, who was even talking about retirement with a 7.35 ERA in 14 games in 2021.
Noh Kyung-eun said, “I didn’t want to move my nest anymore. Personally, I think Incheon has a good site. That’s the first reason,” adding, “And no other team cares so much about the player. I couldn’t come to the stadium many times this year because I was busy, but he always watches baseball and sends me congratulatory messages.”
“I’m not good at this team, so I want to play until I get fired. Winning the title here has given me a desire to play one more game and retire. SSG is a team that plays baseball every fall. I want to finish my career here and work as a coach,” he said.