{
  "id": 15579328,
  "title": "Veteran hitter released by KBO club",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/veteran-hitter-released-by-kbo-club-15579328",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T08:12:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20261019/veteran-hitter-released-by-kbo-club"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Veteran hitter Son Ah-seop, once the leader in career hits in Korean baseball, was recently released by his team, the Doosan Bears, according to the Korea Baseball Organization. The 38-year-old outfielder, who has made 2,655 hits throughout his 20-season career, has now reached a critical juncture as he remains on track to be surpassed in the all-time hits record. Son currently trails behind Choi Hyoung-woo, with 2,734 hits, and Kim Hyun-soo, who has amassed 2,691 hits. Park Yong-taik used to hold the record with 2,504 hits before Son surpassed it in June 2024. Despite remaining the career leader in hits entering this season, Son has not been able to maintain his earlier productivity levels, as he has struggled in recent years following his first batting title in 2023. Son's career in the KBO began in 2007 when he played for the Lotte Giants, before joining the NC Dinos as a free agent.",
  "summary": "Son Ah-seop, third on the career hits list in Korean baseball, was released by his club Monday. The Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Son was among 11 players that they had chosen not to bring back next season. The 38-year-old outfielder has now reached the crossroads after spending 20 seasons in the KBO, during which he has collected 2,655 hits. Son currently sits…",
  "key_points": [
    "Son Ah-seop, career hits leader, released by Doosan Bears",
    "38-year-old outfielder trails behind Choi and Kim in hits",
    "Surpassed Park Yong-taik's record in June 2024"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The release of the league's all-time hit leader signals the end of a dominant era as declining productivity forces a transition away from one of the game's most decorated veterans.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Veteran hitter released by KBO club",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/veteran-hitter-released-by-kbo-club",
        "published": "2026-10-19T07:24:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Veteran hitter released by KBO club",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/veteran-hitter-released-by-kbo-club-15582924",
        "published": "2026-10-19T08:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}