Ji-Man Choi, Infield, Pittsburgh Pirates

Date of Birth: 5/19/1991
Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea

Ji-Man Choi, infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was first signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2009. He played in the Mariners' minor league system in 2010 but he spent the entire 2011 season on the DL with a strained back muscle. He then continued in the minors until April 17, 2015, when he was suspended for 50 games for steroid use.

As a minor league player in 2010 and from 2012 through 2015, Choi batted .302 in 335 games. He had 351 hits, 79 doubles, 211 RBIs, and 222 strikeouts to 180 walks. Defensively, he played 223 games at first base and he made 128 assists, 166 double plays, 1,748 putouts, and 19 errors.

Choi signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on November 24, 2015. A few weeks later, on December 10th, he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels. He finished the 2016 season with a .170 batting average in 54 games with the Angels. He also played in 53 games in the minors.

The Angels designated Choi for assignment on December 23, 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on January 14, 2017. He spent most of the 2017 season in the minors, playing in just 6 games with the Yankees.

Choi became a free agent on October 13, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 15, 2018. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on June 10, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with a .263 batting average in 12 games with the Brewers and 49 games with the Rays. He also played in 62 games in the minors.

Choi spent time on the DL in 2019 with an ankle sprain. He finished the season with 107 hits, 20 doubles, 19 home runs, 63 RBIs, 108 strikeouts to 64 walks, and a .261 batting average in 127 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 103 games, he made 36 assists, 66 double plays, 748 putouts, and 6 errors. In the postseason, he had 3 hits, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 10 strikeouts to 7 walks, and a .188 batting average in 16 at-bats in 6 games.

Choi played in 42 games in 2020. He finished the season with 28 hits, 13 doubles, 16 RBIs, 36 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a .230 batting average. Defensively, he played 38 games at first base. In the postseason, he batted .250 with 10 hits, 1 double, 2 home runs, and 4 RBIs in 40 at-bats in 18 games.

Choi spent time on the IL in 2021. He finished the season with 59 hits, 14 doubles, 45 RBIs, 87 strikeouts to 45 walks, and a .229 batting average in 83 games. In the postseason, he had 2 hits, 1 home run, and 1 RBI in 7 at-bats in 3 games.

The Rays traded Choi to the Pirates on November 10, 2022.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ji-Man Choi
Baseball Reference - Ji-Man Choi