Samsung Legend Yang Joon-hyeok Will Ride Off Into the Sunset

After Saturday's All-star game, Samsung DH Yang Joon-hyeok has decided to end his career at the end of the 2010 season. The 18-year veteran is currently his the KBO career leader in homers(351), RBI(1,389), runs scored(1,299), games played(2,131), hits(2,318) and walks(1,380). He never really enjoyed the ridiculous single seasons that sluggers like Lee Seung-yeop or Shim Chang-su did, but he did put together a lot of really, really solid seasons. The Daegu native was lucky enough to spend most of his career with the Samsung Lions. Yang was traded to Haitai in 1999 and signed as a free agent with LG in 2000, but he came back home in 2002. He helped Samsung to three championships during his second tour of duty.

He never won an MVP award, but he did pocket the 1993 Rookie of the Year award and seven gold glove awards. Yang had one of the signature swings in the KBO. He's slashing style had to be intimidating for the opposition. No matter where he hit the baseball, he hit it hard.



Here's to you, Joon-hyeok. Happy trails. You'll be missed, big guy.