Accra:Doosan Bears Son Ah-seop, a prominent figure in South Korean baseball and third on the career hits list, has been released by the Doosan Bears. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club announced that Son is among 11 players who will not be returning next season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 38-year-old outfielder has spent 20 seasons in the KBO, amassing 2,655 hits. Son trails only Choi Hyoung-woo of the Samsung Lions, with 2,734 hits, and Kim Hyun-soo of the KT Wiz, who has 2,691 hits, on the all-time list. Son became the first player to surpass the previous hits record of 2,504, set by former LG Twins player Park Yong-taik, in June 2024.
Son began this season leading in career hits but was overtaken by Choi in May and Kim in August. While both Choi and Kim continue to perform well into their late 30s and early 40s, Son has experienced a decline since winning his first batting title in 2023.
Son's career began with the Lotte Giants, where he played from 2007 to 2021. He then signed with the NC Dinos as a free agent before the 2022 season. The Dinos traded him to the Hanwha Eagles in July 2025, and after a brief stint, he was traded to the Bears in April this year. This season, Son played in only 54 games, posting a .236 batting average, his lowest since 2009.
Known for his weak defensive abilities in the outfield, Son's declining bat-to-ball skills may pose challenges in securing a new contract as he navigates this phase of his career.