SEOUL - Choo Shin-soo, designated hitter for the SSG Landers, has sustained a rotator cuff injury and will undergo a re-evaluation in four weeks, the team announced on Wednesday. Choo, 41, the oldest player in the Korea Baseball Organization this season, had previously announced that this year would be his last in professional baseball.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choo has participated in only 20 of the Landers' 37 games this season due to various injuries. He was initially injured by a pickoff throw that hit his hand on the season's opening day and returned to play on April 11 after recovering. However, he was removed from the active roster again due to shoulder issues that were later diagnosed as rotator cuff damage. Choo will require approximately four weeks of rehabilitation before further assessment. His performance has declined since his peak in 2021, and this season, Choo has managed only one home run and three stolen bases with a batting average of .228. The Landers are also dealing with the absence of Han Yoo-seom, another key player, due to an adductor injury.