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{{short description|Korean baseball player (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Eastern name order|Choi Hee-seop}}
{{Western name order|Choi Hee-seop}}
{{Family name hatnote|Choi|lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Hee-seop Choi
|name=Hee-seop Choi
|image=HeeSeopChoi 20050515.jpg
|image=HeeSeopChoi 20050515.jpg
|caption= Choi with the Los Angeles Dodgers
|caption= Choi with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005
|number=78
|position=[[First baseman]]
|position=[[First baseman]] / Coach
|team=Kia Tigers
|bats=Left
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|throws=Left
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|final2team = Kia Tigers
|final2team = Kia Tigers
| statleague = MLB
| statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.240
|stat1value=.240
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
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|highlights=
|highlights=
* [[Korean Series]] champion ([[2009 Korean Series|2009]])
* [[Korean Series]] champion ([[2009 Korean Series|2009]])
* KBO Golden Glove Award (2009)
* [[KBO League Golden Glove Award]] (2009)
}}
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
{{Infobox Korean name
|hangul={{linktext|최|희|섭}}
|hangul=최희섭
|hanja={{linktext|崔|熙|燮}}
|hanja={{linktext|崔|熙|燮}}
|rr=Choe Huiseop
|rr=Choe Huiseop
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}}
}}


'''Hee-seop Choi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|iː|_|ˌ|s|ɒ|p|_|ˈ|tʃ|ɔɪ}}; [[Hangul]]: 최희섭; [[Hanja]]: 崔熙燮; {{IPA-ko|tɕʰø.ɦi.sʌp̚|}}; born March 16, 1979) is a South Korean former professional baseball [[first baseman]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Florida Marlins]], and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and in the [[KBO League]] for the [[Kia Tigers]].
'''Hee-seop Choi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|iː|_|ˌ|s|ɒ|p|_|ˈ|tʃ|ɔɪ}}; {{Korean|hangul=최희섭|hanja=崔熙燮}}; {{IPA|ko|tɕʰø.ɦi.sʌp̚|}}; born March 16, 1979) is a South Korean former [[professional baseball]] [[first baseman]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Florida Marlins]], and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and in the [[KBO League]] for the [[Kia Tigers]]. He was the first Korean-born position player to play in the major leagues.


==Early life and amateur career==
==Early life and amateur career==
Choi was born in [[Yeongam County]], [[South Jeolla Province]], South Korea on March 19, 1979. He graduated from Gwangju Jaeil High School in [[Gwangju]], South Korea, in 1998. He attended [[Korea University]] in 1998 and was a member of the [[South Korea national baseball team]] that finished second in the [[1998 Baseball World Cup]]. He was scouted and signed by [[Leon Lee]], the father of former major league first baseman [[Derrek Lee]]. Coincidentally, he later was traded to the Marlins for Lee.
Choi was born in [[Yeongam County]], [[South Jeolla Province]], South Korea on March 19, 1979. He graduated from [[Gwangju Jeil High School]]<ref name=NYTimes>Keh, Andrew. [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/03/sports/baseball/for-south-korean-baseball-players-a-few-kinds-of-school-spirit.html?referringSource=articleShare "School Spirit May Be Metaphysical for South Korean Baseball Players,"] ''New York Times'' (Oct. 2, 2015).</ref> in [[Gwangju]], South Korea, in 1998. He attended [[Korea University]] in 1998 and was a member of the [[South Korea national baseball team]] that finished second in the [[1998 Baseball World Cup]]. He was scouted and signed by [[Leon Lee]], the father of former major league first baseman [[Derrek Lee]]. Coincidentally, he later was traded to the Marlins for Lee.


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
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Beginning in {{Baseball year|1999}}, Choi spent four seasons in the [[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]] [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] system and was considered to be one of the organization's top prospects. On September 3, 2002, Choi made his Major League debut against the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and became the first Korean-born [[position player]] to play in the Major Leagues.
Beginning in {{Baseball year|1999}}, Choi spent four seasons in the [[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]] [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] system and was considered to be one of the organization's top prospects. On September 3, 2002, Choi made his Major League debut against the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and became the first Korean-born [[position player]] to play in the Major Leagues.


In {{Baseball year|2003}}, Choi played in 80 games, hitting .218 with eight [[home run]]s and 28 [[run batted in|RBI]]. He was the [[Opening Day]] starter for the Cubs, but suffered a [[concussion]] following a collision with teammate [[pitcher]] [[Kerry Wood]] on June 7, 2003.<ref name="collision">{{cite web | title = Choi in fair condition with concussion | agency=Associated Press | url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0607/1564700.html | accessdate = March 6, 2009 }}</ref> Choi went on the [[disabled list]], and never reclaimed his starting role. After the season, he was traded to the [[Florida Marlins]] for [[Derrek Lee]].
In {{Baseball year|2003}}, Choi played in 80 games, hitting .218 with eight [[home run]]s and 28 [[run batted in|RBI]]. He was the [[Opening Day]] starter for the Cubs, but suffered a [[concussion]] following a collision with teammate [[pitcher]] [[Kerry Wood]] on June 7, 2003.<ref name="collision">{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2003 |title=MLB - Cubs' Choi hurt in violent collision with Wood |url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0607/1564700.html |access-date=2021-06-03 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Choi went on the [[disabled list]], and never reclaimed his starting role. After the season, he was traded to the [[Florida Marlins]] for [[Derrek Lee]].


===Florida Marlins===
===Florida Marlins===
With his new team, Choi began the {{Baseball year|2004}} season impressively batting .295 with nine [[home run]]s and 18 RBIs in April. But his stay with the Marlins was a brief one. On July 30, he was traded to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] along with [[Brad Penny]] and minor league pitcher Bill Murphy for [[Paul Lo Duca]], [[Guillermo Mota]], and [[Juan Encarnación]].
With his new team, Choi began the {{Baseball year|2004}} season impressively batting .295 with nine [[home run]]s and 18 RBIs in April. But his stay with the Marlins was a brief one. On July 30, he was traded to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] along with [[Brad Penny]] and minor league pitcher [[Bill Murphy (pitcher)|Bill Murphy]] for [[Paul Lo Duca]], [[Guillermo Mota]], and [[Juan Encarnación]].


===Los Angeles Dodgers===
===Los Angeles Dodgers===
Choi went on to bat only .161 for the remainder of the 2004 season with the Dodgers, leading many to criticize the Dodgers' [[sabermetric]]ian general manager [[Paul DePodesta]] for acquiring him. [[Sabermetric]] baseball analysts claimed that Choi did not get enough playing time because of bias from the Dodgers' old school managerial style, which kept rookies on the bench for extended periods of time. Jim Tracy reportedly said that he did not start Choi on one particular day because Adam Eaton was pitching, and Eaton has a unique arm angle in his pitching delivery.
Choi went on to bat only .161 for the remainder of the 2004 season with the Dodgers, leading many to criticize the Dodgers' [[sabermetric]]ian general manager [[Paul DePodesta]] for acquiring him. [[Sabermetric]] baseball analysts claimed that Choi did not get enough playing time because of bias from the Dodgers' old school managerial style, which kept rookies on the bench for extended periods of time. [[Jim Tracy (baseball)|Jim Tracy]] reportedly said that he did not start Choi on one particular day because [[Adam Eaton (pitcher)|Adam Eaton]] was pitching and Eaton has a unique arm angle in his pitching delivery.


Choi's production picked up during the 2005 season as he played in 133 games that season and posted a .253 batting average, while hitting 15 home runs and driving in 42 runs. The highlight of Choi's season came during a weekend series against the [[Minnesota Twins]] from June 10–12, when he accomplished the rare feat of hitting [http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/notes-from-the-weekend/ six home runs in a three-game series].
Choi's production picked up during the 2005 season as he played in 133 games that season and posted a .253 batting average, while hitting 15 home runs and driving in 42 runs. The highlight of Choi's season came during a weekend series against the [[Minnesota Twins]] from June 10–12, when he accomplished the rare feat of hitting [http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/notes-from-the-weekend/ six home runs in a three-game series].


However, during the {{Baseball year|2005}}–{{Baseball year|2006}} off-season, DePodesta was fired by Dodgers owner [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] and new general manager [[Ned Colletti]] signed [[Nomar Garciaparra]] to be the everyday first baseman. Rather than keep Choi on the bench or blocking prospect [[James Loney (baseball)|James Loney]]'s path to the big leagues, Colleti decided to waive Choi during [[spring training]]; he was subsequently claimed by the [[Boston Red Sox]].
However, during the {{Baseball year|2005}}–{{Baseball year|2006}} off-season, DePodesta was fired by Dodgers owner [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]], and new general manager [[Ned Colletti]] signed [[Nomar Garciaparra]] to be the everyday first baseman. Rather than keep Choi on the bench or blocking prospect [[James Loney (baseball)|James Loney]]'s path to the big leagues, Colletti decided to waive Choi during [[spring training]]; he was subsequently claimed by the [[Boston Red Sox]].


===Post-Dodgers===
===Post-Dodgers===
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===Kia Tigers===
===Kia Tigers===
On May 14, {{Baseball year|2007}}, Choi signed with the [[Kia Tigers]] in the [[Korea Baseball Organization]]. In his KBO debut game, He went 0-for-5 against the [[Doosan Bears]].<ref name="korea">{{cite web | title = Choi debuts in Korean baseball league | work = Yonhap News | url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2007/05/19/0702000000AEN20070519001800325.HTML | accessdate = March 2, 2008 }}</ref> Choi finished his first KBO season with a .337 [[batting average]], 7 [[home run]]s and 45 [[RBI]], playing in 52 games.
On May 14, {{Baseball year|2007}}, Choi signed with the [[Kia Tigers]] in the [[Korea Baseball Organization]]. In his KBO debut game, He went 0-for-5 against the [[Doosan Bears]].<ref name="korea">{{cite web | title = Choi debuts in Korean baseball league | work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] | url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2007/05/19/0702000000AEN20070519001800325.HTML | access-date = March 2, 2008 }}</ref> Choi finished his first KBO season with a .337 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], 7 [[home run]]s and 45 [[Run batted in|RBI]], playing in 52 games.


Choi began the {{Baseball year|2008}} season in a slump due to a waist injury, finishing the month of April with a batting average of just .208 and going 25-for-120 to close out the month, and was then demoted to the Korean minor league affiliate of the Kia Tigers. In July, he returned to the 26-man first-team roster, but finished the season with horrendous offensive stats. His [[batting average]] was a disappointing .229, and he had only 6 [[home run]]s and 22 [[RBI]].
Choi began the {{Baseball year|2008}} season in a slump due to a waist injury, finishing the month of April with a batting average of just .208 and going 25-for-120 to close out the month, and was then demoted to the Korean minor league affiliate of the Kia Tigers. In July, he returned to the 26-man first-team roster, but finished the season with disappointing offensive numbers, batting .229 with only 6 [[home run]]s and 22 [[Run batted in|RBI]].


In {{Baseball year|2009}}, Choi broke out offensively and became a star, rebounding from the slump. He helped the Tigers into title contention immediately, batting .308, blasting a pro career-best 33 [[home run]]s, leading the KBO league in [[run (baseball)|run]]s with 98 and helping them win the 2009 KBO regular season. Choi was runner-up in [[home run]]s (33), [[RBI]] (100), and [[walk (baseball)|walk]]s (103), 4th in [[slugging percentage]] (.589), 6th in [[on-base percentage]] (.435), and 11th in [[batting average]] (.308). Choi and [[Kim Sang-hyeon (baseball)|Kim Sang-hyeon]] hit 69 home runs, and the two together are called the "CK Cannon".<ref>{{ko icon}} [https://archive.is/20120716021155/http://news.naver.com/sports/new/gameCenter/gameCenter.nhn?gameID=20090828HTOB0&date=20090828 'CK포 11타점 합작' KIA, 두산 격파…두산 3위 추락] – OSEN</ref>
In {{Baseball year|2009}}, Choi broke out offensively and became a star, rebounding from his subpar year. He helped lift the Tigers into title contention, batting .308, blasting a pro career-best 33 [[home run]]s, leading the KBO league in [[run (baseball)|run]]s with 98 and helping them win the 2009 KBO regular season. Choi was the runner-up in [[home run]]s (33), [[Run batted in|RBI]] (100), and [[walk (baseball)|walk]]s (103), 4th in [[slugging percentage]] (.589), 6th in [[on-base percentage]] (.435), and 11th in [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (.308). Choi and [[Kim Sang-hyeon (baseball)|Kim Sang-hyeon]] hit 69 home runs, and the two together were called the "CK Cannon".<ref>{{in lang|ko}} [https://archive.today/20120716021155/http://news.naver.com/sports/new/gameCenter/gameCenter.nhn?gameID=20090828HTOB0&date=20090828 'CK포 11타점 합작' KIA, 두산 격파…두산 3위 추락] – OSEN</ref>


On December 11, 2009, he obtained his first Golden Glove Award in first baseman nomination.<ref>{{ko icon}}[http://joynews.inews24.com/php/news_view.php?g_menu=702120&g_serial=463255 1루수 수상 최희섭, "山과 술 한 잔 하고 싶다"]</ref><ref>{{ko icon}} [http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=109&aid=0002069860 KIA, GG 수상자 4명 배출…최다득표 김현수(종합)]</ref>
On December 11, 2009, he obtained his first [[KBO League Golden Glove Award]] nomination for his play at 1st base.<ref>{{in lang|ko}}[http://joynews.inews24.com/php/news_view.php?g_menu=702120&g_serial=463255 1루수 수상 최희섭, "山과 술 한 잔 하고 싶다"]</ref><ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=109&aid=0002069860 KIA, GG 수상자 4명 배출…최다득표 김현수(종합)]</ref>


In {{Baseball year|2010}}, Choi had a .286 batting average, with 21 [[home run]]s, 84 [[RBI]]s, and drew 81 [[walk (baseball)|walk]]s. Choi received an all-star selection and also participated in the home run derby, where he set the record for longest home run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.news.naver.com/sports/index.nhn?category=baseball&ctg=news&mod=read&office_id=109&article_id=0002124333|title=[2010 올스타전]최희섭, 예비신부 가족 앞서 '130m 최장거리포 작렬'|publisher=}}</ref>
In {{Baseball year|2010}}, Choi had a .286 batting average, with 21 [[home run]]s, 84 [[Run batted in|RBI]]s, and drew 81 [[walk (baseball)|walk]]s. Choi received an all-star selection and also participated in the home run derby, where he set the record for longest home run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.news.naver.com/sports/index.nhn?category=baseball&ctg=news&mod=read&office_id=109&article_id=0002124333|title=[2010 올스타전]최희섭, 예비신부 가족 앞서 '130m 최장거리포 작렬'}}</ref>


In {{Baseball year|2011}}, Choi was limited to 70 games due to injury. Choi hit .281, with 9 home runs and 37 RBI.
In {{Baseball year|2011}}, Choi was limited to 70 games due to injury. He hit .281, with 9 home runs and 37 RBI.


In {{Baseball year|2012}}, Choi hit .252, with 7 home runs and 42 RBI in another injury-plagued season.
In {{Baseball year|2012}}, Choi hit .252, with 7 home runs and 42 RBI in another injury-plagued season.
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*2009 Runs Leader (KBO)
*2009 Runs Leader (KBO)
*2009 Golden Glove Award (First baseman)
*2009 Golden Glove Award (First baseman)
*Guards the 38th Parallel


==All-Star appearances==
==All-Star appearances==
*Choi was one of eight representatives in the 2005 [[Home Run Derby]], representing South Korea.<ref name="home run derby">{{cite web | last = Schlegel | first = John | title = Choi takes his cuts in Home Run Derby | work = MLB.com | url = http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050711&content_id=1127374&vkey=allstar2005&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | accessdate = March 2, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Although he lasted only one round, he matched The Netherlands' representative, [[Andruw Jones]], with a total of five home runs. He did not feature in the All-Star game.
*Choi was one of eight representatives in the 2005 [[Home Run Derby]], representing South Korea.<ref name="home run derby">{{cite web | last = Schlegel | first = John | title = Choi takes his cuts in Home Run Derby | work = MLB.com | url = http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050711&content_id=1127374&vkey=allstar2005&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | access-date = March 2, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Although he lasted only one round, he matched The Netherlands' representative, [[Andruw Jones]], with a total of five home runs. He did not feature in the All-Star game.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{Baseball stats |mlb=400292 |espn=4595 | br=c/choihe01 | fangraphs=270 | cube=4193 |brm=choi--001hee }}
{{baseballstats|mlb=400292|espn=4595|br=c/choihe01|fangraphs=270|brm=choi--001hee}}
*[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/Playerinfohitter/summary.aspx?pcode=77623 Career statistics and player information] from [[Korea Baseball Organization]]
*[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/Playerinfohitter/summary.aspx?pcode=77623 Career statistics and player information] from [[Korea Baseball Organization]]


{{Kia Tigers roster navbox}}
{{South Korea roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{South Korea roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}


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[[Category:Daytona Cubs players]]
[[Category:Daytona Cubs players]]
[[Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players]]
[[Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Lansing Lugnuts players]]
[[Category:Lansing Lugnuts players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Florida Marlins players]]
[[Category:Florida Marlins players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:All-Star Futures Game players]]
[[Category:KBO League first basemen]]
[[Category:KBO League first basemen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from South Korea]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from South Korea]]
[[Category:South Korean baseball players]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Korea University alumni]]
[[Category:Korea University alumni]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from South Jeolla Province]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from South Jeolla Province]]
[[Category:Jeonju Choe clan|Hee-seop]]

Latest revision as of 22:43, 3 October 2024

The native form of this personal name is Choi Hee-seop. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.
Hee-seop Choi
Choi with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005
Kia Tigers – No. 78
First baseman / Coach
Born: (1979-03-16) March 16, 1979 (age 45)
Yeongam, South Korea
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 3, 2002, for the Chicago Cubs
KBO: May 19, 2007, for the Kia Tigers
Last appearance
MLB: October 2, 2005, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
KBO: 2015, for the Kia Tigers
MLB statistics
Batting average.240
Home runs40
Runs batted in120
KBO statistics
Batting average.291
Home runs100
Runs batted in393
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Hee-seop Choi
Hangul
최희섭
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe Huiseop
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Hŭisŏp

Hee-seop Choi (/ˌhiː ˌsɒp ˈtʃɔɪ/; Korean: 최희섭; Hanja: 崔熙燮; [tɕʰø.ɦi.sʌp̚]; born March 16, 1979) is a South Korean former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, and Los Angeles Dodgers and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. He was the first Korean-born position player to play in the major leagues.

Early life and amateur career

[edit]

Choi was born in Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea on March 19, 1979. He graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School[1] in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1998. He attended Korea University in 1998 and was a member of the South Korea national baseball team that finished second in the 1998 Baseball World Cup. He was scouted and signed by Leon Lee, the father of former major league first baseman Derrek Lee. Coincidentally, he later was traded to the Marlins for Lee.

Professional career

[edit]

Chicago Cubs

[edit]

Beginning in 1999, Choi spent four seasons in the Cubs minor league system and was considered to be one of the organization's top prospects. On September 3, 2002, Choi made his Major League debut against the Milwaukee Brewers and became the first Korean-born position player to play in the Major Leagues.

In 2003, Choi played in 80 games, hitting .218 with eight home runs and 28 RBI. He was the Opening Day starter for the Cubs, but suffered a concussion following a collision with teammate pitcher Kerry Wood on June 7, 2003.[2] Choi went on the disabled list, and never reclaimed his starting role. After the season, he was traded to the Florida Marlins for Derrek Lee.

Florida Marlins

[edit]

With his new team, Choi began the 2004 season impressively batting .295 with nine home runs and 18 RBIs in April. But his stay with the Marlins was a brief one. On July 30, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Brad Penny and minor league pitcher Bill Murphy for Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota, and Juan Encarnación.

Los Angeles Dodgers

[edit]

Choi went on to bat only .161 for the remainder of the 2004 season with the Dodgers, leading many to criticize the Dodgers' sabermetrician general manager Paul DePodesta for acquiring him. Sabermetric baseball analysts claimed that Choi did not get enough playing time because of bias from the Dodgers' old school managerial style, which kept rookies on the bench for extended periods of time. Jim Tracy reportedly said that he did not start Choi on one particular day because Adam Eaton was pitching and Eaton has a unique arm angle in his pitching delivery.

Choi's production picked up during the 2005 season as he played in 133 games that season and posted a .253 batting average, while hitting 15 home runs and driving in 42 runs. The highlight of Choi's season came during a weekend series against the Minnesota Twins from June 10–12, when he accomplished the rare feat of hitting six home runs in a three-game series.

However, during the 2005–2006 off-season, DePodesta was fired by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, and new general manager Ned Colletti signed Nomar Garciaparra to be the everyday first baseman. Rather than keep Choi on the bench or blocking prospect James Loney's path to the big leagues, Colletti decided to waive Choi during spring training; he was subsequently claimed by the Boston Red Sox.

Post-Dodgers

[edit]

Choi represented South Korea in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, in which his most significant contribution was hitting a three-run pinch-hit home run against Team USA.

Choi spent the entire 2006 season with Pawtucket. He was designated for assignment August 1, 2006, while on Pawtucket's disabled list and removed from Boston's 40-man roster. Choi cleared waivers on August 11, 2006, and was outrighted to Pawtucket.

On December 1, 2006, Choi signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays where he was given a shot to be Tampa Bay's everyday first baseman. Choi decided to return home after failing to make Tampa Bay's 40-man roster after 2007 spring training.

Kia Tigers

[edit]

On May 14, 2007, Choi signed with the Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization. In his KBO debut game, He went 0-for-5 against the Doosan Bears.[3] Choi finished his first KBO season with a .337 batting average, 7 home runs and 45 RBI, playing in 52 games.

Choi began the 2008 season in a slump due to a waist injury, finishing the month of April with a batting average of just .208 and going 25-for-120 to close out the month, and was then demoted to the Korean minor league affiliate of the Kia Tigers. In July, he returned to the 26-man first-team roster, but finished the season with disappointing offensive numbers, batting .229 with only 6 home runs and 22 RBI.

In 2009, Choi broke out offensively and became a star, rebounding from his subpar year. He helped lift the Tigers into title contention, batting .308, blasting a pro career-best 33 home runs, leading the KBO league in runs with 98 and helping them win the 2009 KBO regular season. Choi was the runner-up in home runs (33), RBI (100), and walks (103), 4th in slugging percentage (.589), 6th in on-base percentage (.435), and 11th in batting average (.308). Choi and Kim Sang-hyeon hit 69 home runs, and the two together were called the "CK Cannon".[4]

On December 11, 2009, he obtained his first KBO League Golden Glove Award nomination for his play at 1st base.[5][6]

In 2010, Choi had a .286 batting average, with 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, and drew 81 walks. Choi received an all-star selection and also participated in the home run derby, where he set the record for longest home run.[7]

In 2011, Choi was limited to 70 games due to injury. He hit .281, with 9 home runs and 37 RBI.

In 2012, Choi hit .252, with 7 home runs and 42 RBI in another injury-plagued season.

In 2013, Choi hit .258, with 11 home runs and 42 RBI. After the season, he underwent knee surgery.

Achievements

[edit]
  • 2009 Runs Leader (KBO)
  • 2009 Golden Glove Award (First baseman)

All-Star appearances

[edit]
  • Choi was one of eight representatives in the 2005 Home Run Derby, representing South Korea.[8] Although he lasted only one round, he matched The Netherlands' representative, Andruw Jones, with a total of five home runs. He did not feature in the All-Star game.

References

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  1. ^ Keh, Andrew. "School Spirit May Be Metaphysical for South Korean Baseball Players," New York Times (Oct. 2, 2015).
  2. ^ "MLB - Cubs' Choi hurt in violent collision with Wood". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 7, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Choi debuts in Korean baseball league". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  4. ^ (in Korean) 'CK포 11타점 합작' KIA, 두산 격파…두산 3위 추락 – OSEN
  5. ^ (in Korean)1루수 수상 최희섭, "山과 술 한 잔 하고 싶다"
  6. ^ (in Korean) KIA, GG 수상자 4명 배출…최다득표 김현수(종합)
  7. ^ "[2010 올스타전]최희섭, 예비신부 가족 앞서 '130m 최장거리포 작렬'".
  8. ^ Schlegel, John. "Choi takes his cuts in Home Run Derby". MLB.com. Retrieved March 2, 2008.[dead link‍]
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