*This content was translated by AI.
Recently joined by Ulsan Whales and having hit home runs, 35-year-old Choi Ji-man delivered a special gift for the team.
On the 14th, Ulsan Whales announced, "Choi Ji-man presented slippers to all players and coaching staff with the hope of cheering on a strong second-half start, conveying his gratitude and support toward his teammates," adding that "the gift received great response from players training during the hot summer."
According to the club, Choi Ji-man's special gift for the team created a warm atmosphere within the squad.
Choi Ji-man said, "I wanted to express my gratitude for being able to play with good teammates at Ulsan Whales, my first team in Korea," and added, "Although it is a small gift, I hope it helps players enjoy some comfort after training and games."
The players also expressed their thanks for the unexpected gift. Min Sung-woo said, "Thanks to Senior Choi Ji-man's warm heart, the team atmosphere has improved even more," conveying his gratitude.
A Ulsan Whales official stated, "Since joining the team, Player Choi Ji-man has consistently shown consideration for his teammates first," and added, "This gift also conveyed positive energy to the players and served as an opportunity to strengthen teamwork."
Choi Ji-man played 525 games over eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), recording a batting average of 0.238, 67 home runs, 238 RBIs, 190 runs scored, an on-base percentage of 0.334, a slugging percentage of 0.426, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.764. Notably, while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020, he stepped onto the World Series stage, setting a record as the first Korean position player to start in a World Series game.
After the 2024 season, Choi Ji-man explored returning to Korea; however, under Article 107, Section 1 of the KBO regulations, which prohibits players who went directly overseas after high school from signing contracts with KBO teams for two years, it was anticipated that he would participate in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held in the second half of this year. Choi Ji-man enlisted as a social service agent in May 2025 to fulfill his military obligation first. His condition worsened due to past knee surgery, leading to his discharge from reserve duty in August that year. After focusing solely on rehabilitation, he joined Ulsan Whales last April.
Since joining the team's training sessions recently, Choi Ji-man gifted coffee carts to players and club officials on his first day. Displaying powerful hitting and stable movement, he has been fine-tuning his skills by hitting home runs in games under the nickname "Bulkkot Baseball."
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*This content was translated by AI.
