A Final Farewell from the 215-Home Run Slugger... Oh Jae-il Concludes His 21-Year Baseball Career

[Financial News] Veteran KT Wiz infielder Oh Jae-il (38) has finally chosen to retire. On the 17th, the club announced that he would be putting an end to his 21-year professional career. It marked the final farewell of a slugging first baseman who defined an era.
Oh Jae-il began his professional journey in 2005 with the Hyundai Unicorns. He later played for the Seoul Heroes (now Kiwoom), Doosan Bears, and Samsung Lions, before joining KT Wiz last May in a one-for-one trade with Byung-ho Park. Despite moving between several teams, his powerful bat remained a constant.
His prime years came during his time with the Doosan Bears (2016–2020), when he established himself as a leading power hitter in the league. In 2019, he posted a .293 batting average, 21 home runs, and 102 RBIs, helping his team to a championship and earning the Korean Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. His clutch home runs in critical moments left a lasting impression on fans.
Over his career, he played in 1,491 games, recording a .273 batting average, 215 home runs, and 873 RBIs. These numbers more than justified his reputation as a premier slugging first baseman.
Last season with KT Wiz, he appeared in 105 games, batting .243 with 11 home runs. Although he earned Free Agent (FA) eligibility, he did not file for free agency, hoping for a comeback. However, as fate would have it, he did not make a single first-team appearance this season. His once-hot bat ultimately bowed to the cold reality.
Ultimately, Oh Jae-il decided to hang up his uniform and shared his thoughts through the club. "I always did my best quietly throughout my playing career," he said. "I hope to be remembered as a reliable and diligent first baseman." He wrapped up his 21-year journey by expressing gratitude to his coaches, teammates, and the fans who supported him.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter