'MLB 67 Home Runs → Likely 1st Round Pick at Age 35' Choi Ji-man Finally Coming to KBO "I Must Perform Well So That Foreign-Based Players in the Future Are Also Recognized" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

A 35-year veteran who hit 67 home runs in Major League Baseball will become a 'rookie' for the first time in his life. Choi Ji-man (35, Ulsan Whales), who is knocking on the door of the KBO League for the first time in 17 years, shared his thoughts ahead of the tryout and rookie draft.

Choi Ji-man will participate in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft Tryout to be held on September 1 at the Goyang National Representative Baseball Training Center in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. This serves as the final test before the rookie draft on September 21 for his entry into the KBO League.

For him, everything from the tryout to the rookie draft is unfamiliar. Choi Ji-man attended Incheon Seoseung Elementary School, Dongsan Middle School, and Dongsan High School before joining the Seattle Mariners in 2009 as an international amateur free agent. He chose to go directly to the United States instead of participating in the KBO rookie draft.

After enduring a long minor league career, he made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. Since then, he has played for seven teams: New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets. His MLB career statistics include 525 games, a .234 batting average, 67 home runs, 238 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.764. In 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays, he hit 19 home runs in 127 games.

Under regulations that prohibit players who went directly overseas after high school from signing with KBO teams for two years after returning to Korea, Choi Ji-man finally gained eligibility to participate in the 2027 rookie draft after a long wait. Even for him, who has experienced all kinds of trials and tribulations in Major League Baseball, this is his first time participating in a rookie draft.

Meeting Choi Ji-man at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium on the 27th for an interview with StarNews, he said, "It's strange. It feels like such a happy thing. Even when I was in Major League Baseball, I often thought about playing in Korea. I told many senior players (other foreign-based players) the same thing," expressing his excitement.

The key issue is competitiveness. Evaluations of Choi Ji-man by KBO teams vary. Some raise questions about his defensive utility due to his mid-30s age, recent years of game inactivity, and injury history. On the other hand, there are views that if he stays healthy, his batting ability and experience—having hit double-digit home runs in MLB—are rare immediate-ready assets not easily found in a rookie draft.

A KBO scout A told StarNews around the time of Choi Ji-man's potential signing with Ulsan: "It's easy to think of Choi Ji-man as an overseas hitter with injury history. He is a player who has hit double-digit home runs in Major League Baseball. If you are looking for immediate-ready talent in the rookie draft, he could be selected not only in the first round but also within the second round."

Choi Ji-man is demonstrating his value through performance rather than words. This season, while playing for Ulsan Whales in the KBO Futures League, he recorded a .308 batting average (39 at-bats, 12 hits), 1 home run, 7 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.847 through August 29 across 20 games. Regarding realistic defensive positions, he is considering first base and designated hitter. After joining Ulsan, he played on artificial turf but experienced knee discomfort, so currently, under the team's consideration, he is primarily playing as a designated hitter. While he has drawn a line on outfield defense possibilities, he continues to prepare for first base.

Choi Ji-man himself is aware of the reality that questions follow his physical condition. He stated, "Games are not played continuously, and training volume differs from actual game volume, so it seems my physical condition goes up and down. However, when I step into a game and take my place at the plate, I think, 'I'm still okay.' Compared to resting for two years, I think I am still in good shape."

Recently, talk even emerged that he could be a first-round candidate. As high school seniors expected to grow this year have not shown significant development, some evaluations suggest that thinking Choi Ji-man will be selected in the second round is overly optimistic. Confirmations indicate that at least four teams are interested in selecting Choi Ji-man within the first or second rounds. KBO scout B, who observed training for the South Korean U-18 National Youth Team, remarked, "We see him as a designated hitter. He will definitely be among the top 10 picks in the first round."

In fact, Choi Ji-man has previously shown slight concern over this attention. Earlier, he said, "Honestly, it feels quite burdensome, and I wish these stories hadn't come up. I am getting older, and the draft stage should be a much more important opportunity for student-athletes. I also feel sorry to young players that things have turned out this way."

Nevertheless, he maintains his stance to do his best if selected. The reason is for future juniors who will follow in his footsteps by challenging overseas and returning home. Choi Ji-man frankly stated, "I think if I perform well, players who played in the minor leagues and return to Korea will also be recognized. So while the team is important, my personal performance also carries a burden."

What KBO teams expect is not just the bat that hit 67 home runs in the Big Leagues. They are also interested in how he will integrate his accumulated experiences into the team. Having played for various teams, Choi Ji-man was well-regarded locally in the U.S. as a clubhouse atmosphere-maker who helped create a positive environment.

In response, Choi Ji-man said, "If I end up on a team with many juniors, I think I should support them greatly as a senior. However, I cannot just talk about experience. As a player, I must also work hard and achieve personal results. But fundamentally, team performance is most important, so I will try to blend in well."

He further emphasized, "I think some who are cautious about signing me believe I might not get along well with the existing team leaders. However, I am naturally a style that fits into teams well. I am not the type to take the lead; rather, I am the type to cheer from behind. If there is a captain, I will support that captain and help from the side."

Ahead of his challenge in the KBO League, he received much advice from those around him. Through Ulsan, he also gained many indirect experiences of the KBO League. Choi Ji-man said, "I had many conversations with senior Choo Shin-soo and (Ha) Jae-hoon. I heard a lot that the environment would be very different. Now that I am here, I can definitely feel there are distinct differences. Still, I am extremely satisfied with my life at Ulsan. The manager and coaches have worked very hard." He expressed his gratitude.

He continued, "Given that, my role in the KBO League will be somewhat different from that in Major League Baseball. In the majors, all players were already fairly complete athletes. There, I played a lot of roles in creating atmosphere. Here, since there are still some players who are somewhat lacking, I not only help create atmosphere but also talk more about baseball. For example, telling seniors how to handle situations after two strikes in actual games."

When asked about his goals, he surprisingly returned an unexpected answer. He mentioned the KBO rookie award regulations, which do not consider foreign-based players who return via draft or special selection as pure rookies if they have not played for a domestic professional team.

Choi Ji-man laughed and said, "Originally, my goal was the Rookie of the Year award, but I was told I am not eligible." He added, "Nevertheless, I will approach this with the attitude of a rookie and work very hard. I want to become a player who contributes to the team, and naturally, I also want to win the championship," sharing his new goal.

Although anyone can see that his career is far from that of a typical rookie, stepping into the KBO for the first time is like being an 18-year-old high school senior. Already, baseball fans' attention is focused on which pick number the 35th-year-old rookie Choi Ji-man will hear his name called at the September 21 rookie draft after going through the tryout on September 1.

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*This content was translated by AI.