A 67-homer hitter in ML will be in the KBO rookie draft at the age of 36 two years later? Then which one will it be?
Feb 20, 2025
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There's a major leaguer that doesn't have a nest yet. It is Choi Ji-man (34). No team has signed yet since coming out of the New York Mets last year. Choi Ji-man is looking for a new team by conducting personal training in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, where the LG Twins are currently training. In order not to interfere with LG's training, he is visiting the training site and conducting individual training after LG's training is over. Still, he kindly informs LG players of his know-how before and after training.
Since LG is scheduled to return to Korea soon and go to Okinawa, Japan for the second training camp, Choi Ji-man is on the verge of finding a new training site soon if he fails to find a new team.
Choi Ji-man, a Dongsan High School native, signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2009 and left for the U.S. to achieve his American dream. Choi Ji-man, who continued his dream while living in a minor league for a long time, became a major leaguer with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. Since then, Choi Ji-man, who played for the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers, has established a solid position in Tampa Bay. 2019 was at its peak. He played 127 games with a batting average of 261 and 19 home runs and 63 RBIs.
In 2023, they moved to Pittsburgh, San Diego, and New York Mets one after another, but failed to establish themselves. Choi Ji-man, who left the Mets in June last year, is unbeatable because he has not found a new team.
In eight seasons in the Major League, he played in 525 games and recorded a batting average of 234, 67 homers and 238 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.764.
Since there is still no team calling him, it is not easy to return to the Major League. Choi Ji-man is known to be thinking about Japan and Korea in reality.
In an interview with a local Korean reporter, he expressed his desire to play in the KBO League and become a leader after retirement.
However, Choi Ji-man cannot play in the KBO League immediately. Since he signed with the U.S. team immediately after graduating from high school, he needs a two-year grace period to play in the KBO League. In other words, he should not play in any other league until next year and participate in the 2027 rookie draft.
Since Choi Ji-man has not yet resolved his military service, he should go to the military during this period.
However, Choi Ji-man, who was born in 1991, will turn 36 in 2027 when he plays in the KBO League. Even if he played in the Major League, he is entering his twilight years. Since he has to participate in the rookie draft, the club that wants to select Choi Ji-man eventually has to write one nomination right.
Since he is a player who has played in the Major League as a main player, he has an immediate sense of power, so a team that needs performance right away can be selected in the top order and taken, but it will not be easy for Choi Ji-man to use the team's ace or the first-round pick, which has to be selected as the fourth batter. In the end, it seems that there will be a fierce battle between the senses.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
