‘Oldest Hold King’ Noh Kyung-eun remains at SSG for 2.5 billion won for 2+1 years
Noh Kyung-eun (40), who won the oldest hold title this season, signed a free agent contract with his original team, SSG Landers.
The SSG club announced in a press release on the 22nd, “We signed a free agent contract with Noh Kyung-eun for a contract period of 2+1 years and a total of 2.5 billion won (300 million won in down payment, 1.3 billion won in annual salary, 900 million won in options).” The club said, “We expect this contract to have a positive impact on the team in that Noh Kyung-eun is serving as a role model for the team by maintaining thorough self-management and providing a lot of advice and examples to younger players as a veteran of the team.” The background to the contract was explained.
Noh Kyung-eun joined the Doosan Bears as a first-round pick in 2003 and was traded to the Lotte Giants in May 2016. He qualified as a free agent after the 2018 season, but failed to sign a contract and took the entire 2019 season off. Noh Kyung-eun, who returned to Lotte in 2020, was released after the 2021 season and wore the SSG uniform through a tryout. As a starter in 2022, he contributed to SSG’s wire-to-wire victory with a record of 12 wins, 5 losses, 1 save, 7 holds, and an ERA of 3.05. Starting in the 2023 season, he played as a bullpen winning team, recording 30 holds for two consecutive years for the first time in KBO League history, and this year, he won the title of oldest hold king at the age of 40. Season results include 77 appearances (83⅔ innings pitched), 8 wins, 5 losses, 38 holds, and an ERA of 2.90.
Noh Kyung-eun said through the club, “I understand that fans have been waiting a long time for news of the contract. “I would like to first say I am sorry to the fans who have been waiting for a long time during the negotiation period,” he said. “I am happy to remain at a club with good memories as a player.” “I will prepare well for next season so that I can always show a good performance on the mound,” he said.
Reporter Kim Yang-hee whizzer4@hani.co.kr
