| Shin-Soo Choo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Choo with the Texas Rangers in 2017 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1982-07-13)July 13, 1982 (age 42) Busan, South Korea | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 21, 2005, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| KBO: April 4, 2021, for the SSG Landers | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: September 27, 2020, for the Texas Rangers | |
| KBO: October 1, 2024, for the SSG Landers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .275 |
| Home runs | 218 |
| Runs batted in | 782 |
| KBO statistics | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 54 |
| Runs batted in | 205 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Medals | |
Shin-Soo Choo (Korean: 추신수;Hanja: 秋信守;RR: Chu Sinsu;Korean pronunciation:[tɕʰu.ɕin.su]; born July 13, 1982) is a South Korean former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSeattle Mariners,Cleveland Indians,Cincinnati Reds, andTexas Rangers, before ending his career in theKBO League with theSSG Landers. Choo left MLB as the record holder for most career home runs (218) hit by an Asian-born player in the league,[1] which was later passed byShohei Ohtani.[2]
Choo was selected as theMost Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Pitcher of theWBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup asSouth Korea won the event. Choo signed a $1.35 million contract with the Mariners after the championship and converted to the outfield. With the Cleveland Indians, Choo recorded two consecutive seasons of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Before the 2014 season, he signed a $130 million contract with the Texas Rangers. In 2015, Choo became the first Asian-born player tohit for the cycle in MLB.[3]
In 2018, Choo earned a selection to his first careerMajor League Baseball All-Star Game. During that season, he safely reached base in 52 consecutive games, the longest such single-season streak in Texas Rangers history. He also ranks 24th among all major leaguers in careerhit by pitch, with 152.[4] In 2021, Choo returned to South Korea to play in theKBO League, before retiring at the end of the2024 KBO League season.[5]
On August 14,2000, theSeattle Mariners signed Choo to a contract with asigning bonus estimated to be worth "between $1.2 million and $1.5 million".[6] He was initially listed as both an outfielder and left-handed pitcher. Mariners scouting director Roger Jongewaard remarked that Choo was "the best kid in Asia that we've seen" and noted that they initially planned to play him incenter field.[6]
Choo made his professional debut in2001 with the Rookie-levelAZL Mariners, batting .302 with fourhome runs and 35RBI in 51 games.[7] He led the team instolen bases (12),bases on balls (34), andstrikeouts (49).[8] His performance led to a late-season promotion to theSingle-AWisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he hit .462 with 3 RBI in three games.[7]
In2002, Choo spent most of the season with Wisconsin, batting .302 with six home runs, 48 RBI, and 34 stolen bases (in 55 attempts) in 119 games.[7] On August 22, he was promoted to the Single-ASan Bernardino Stampede.[9] In 11 games, Choo hit .308 with a home run and 9 RBI.[7] After the season, the Mariners named Choo as the Most Valuable Player for Single-A Wisconsin. His 37 total stolen bases ranked second in the organization, and his .303 average was tied for the fourth-best among Mariners farmhands.[7]
Choo spent the entire2003 season with the newly named Single-AInland Empire 66ers, batting .286 with nine home runs and 55 RBI in 110 games, helping the team to aCalifornia League championship.[7][9]
Making the leap toDouble-A in2004, Choo posted his best minor league season up to that point. He batted .315 with seven triples, 15 home runs, 84 RBI and 40 stolen bases in 132 games for theSan Antonio Missions.[7] He ranked among theTexas League leaders in several categories including triples (tied for second), RBI (third), stolen bases (third) and batting average (fifth).[9] After the season, Choo was named Seattle's Minor League Player of the Year.[9]
Choo began2005 with theTriple-ATacoma Rainiers. He was recalled to the majors for the first time on April 20 whenScott Spiezio was placed on thedisabled list.[10] Choo made his Major League Baseball debut on April 21,pinch hitting forMiguel Olivo and grounding out for the final out of the game.[11] On May 3, he recorded his first career hit and RBI with a pinch hit single offScot Shields of theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[12] After the game, Choo was optioned back to Tacoma.[13] He was recalled again in September,[14] and played out the remainder of the season with the Mariners.[15] With Tacoma, Choo batted .282 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI in 115 games.[7]
The first half of the2006 season saw Choo return to Tacoma. In 94 games with the Rainiers, he batted .323 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI.[7] On July 3, he was recalled by the Mariners.[16] During his time in Seattle, Choo appeared in 17 total games, finishing with two hits in 29at bats (.069 batting average) and one RBI.[17]
On July 26, 2006, Choo was traded to theCleveland Indians along with minor leaguer Shawn Nottingham in exchange forfirst basemanBen Broussard.[18] Choo made his debut with the Indians two days later against his former team, and hit his first major league home run against Mariners pitcherFélix Hernández in a 1–0 Indians victory.[19] In 45 games with the Indians, he batted .295 (43-for-146) with three home runs and 22 RBI.[17]
Choo spent the first few weeks of the2007 season with theBuffalo Bisons, Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate in theInternational League. He was called up on April 23, 2007, to take the place of the injured third basemanAndy Marte.[20] He was optioned back to Buffalo on May 3.[21] Choo missed several months of the 2007 season due to injury, and underwentTommy John surgery on his left elbow in September 2007.[22]
Choo began the2008 season on the disabled list as he continued to recover from surgery.[23] After a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo, Choo was activated on May 31 and spent the rest of the season with the Indians.[24] He finished the season (after 317 at-bats) with a .309 batting average, 98 hits, 14 home runs, and 66 RBI in 94 games.[17] His hit and RBI totals were also a new record by a South Korean-born player in MLB. Thanks to a hot September where he put up a .400 batting average, 34 hits, five home runs, and 24 RBI, Choo was named theAmerican LeaguePlayer of the Month.[9]
In February 2009, Choo signed a one-year contract with the Indians.[25] During that season, he broke his own records for home runs, RBI, stolen bases and hits. On July 3, Choo hit two home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs in a 15–3 victory over theOakland Athletics.[26] On October 3, 2009, Choo hit his 20th home run of the season againstPaul Byrd of theBoston Red Sox, thus making him a member of the 20-20 club. He became the first Asian to accomplish this feat in the Major Leagues.[27] He was also the only player in the AL to have a .300 average, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases at the same time. He finished the season with a .300 batting average, 20 home runs, 21 steals, and 86 RBI in 156 games.[17]
In a road game against theKansas City Royals on September 17, 2010, Choo hit three home runs and recorded 7 RBI in an 11–4 win.[28] He first hit a two-run homer 420 feet to right in the top of the fourth inning. In his next at bat he hit a towering grand slam to deep center. In the top of the eighth, Choo hit a 405-foot solo homer over the right field wall.[29] Choo finished the game a three-run homer away from the elusive "home run cycle". On September 19, 2010, Choo again reached the 20-20 club of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases for the second straight year.[30] In 144 games, he batted .300 with 22 home runs, and set career-highs with 90 RBI and 22 stolen bases.[17] He also led all AL right fielders inassists with 14.[31]
Choo became eligible forarbitration after the 2010 season, and agreed to a one-year, $3.975 million deal.[32] Choo finished the 2011 season with eight home runs, a .259 batting average, 12 stolen bases, and 36 RBI while accumulating 78 strikeouts and 36walks in 313 at-bats.[17] On June 24, Choo was hit bySan Francisco Giants pitcherJonathan Sánchez on his left thumb. The resulting fracture kept him out for six weeks.[33] On August 23, during the first game of a double header against his former club, the Seattle Mariners, Choo hit a double in the third inning as an earthquake occurred. In the ninth inning of the same game, he hit his first walk-off home run, giving the Indians a 7–5 win.[34] On September 1, Choo pulled a side muscle and was placed on the disabled list again, ending his season.[35]
On April 14, 2012, in a game against the Kansas City Royals which would see bench clearings by both teams, Choo was hit by Royals starter Jonathan Sánchez on his right knee. It was a pitch from Sánchez that hit Choo in 2011, resulting in a broken thumb and nearly two months on the disabled list. Choo would finish the game and win it for the Indians in the tenth inning when he hit a two-run double.[36] On April 24, Choo left in the eighth inning in a game against the Royals after suffering a mild hamstring strain.[37] Choo would return on May 2 in a 6–3 Indians win versus theChicago White Sox.[38] On May 24, in the series finale against theDetroit Tigers, Choo hit a second-deck home run off of Tigers starterJustin Verlander in the first inning. That was Choo's first career lead-off home run. The Indians won that game 2–1, finishing the sweep against the Tigers.[39] Choo ended the season batting .283 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 155 games.[17]
On December 11, 2012, Choo was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along withJason Donald in a three team, nine player deal also involving theArizona Diamondbacks. The trade broughtTrevor Bauer,Matt Albers,Bryan Shaw, andDrew Stubbs to theCleveland Indians.[40] On February 11, 2013, Choo avoided arbitration with his new team, the Reds, by agreeing to a one-year, $7.375 million deal, the exact midpoint between both sides.[41]
On May 8, 2013, Choo hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game with theAtlanta Braves. It was his second walk-off home run inMajor League Baseball.[42] On August 27 in a game against theSt. Louis Cardinals, Choo hit his 100th career home run.[43] On September 9, 2013, Choo set the Reds' team record for hit by pitches in a season.[44] For the season, he batted .285 with 21 home runs, 54 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 154 games, marking his third career 20–20 season.[17] Choo also led the major leagues inhit by pitch (26),[17] and ranked among theNational League leaders in several categories, includingruns (107, second),on-base percentage (.423, second), walks (112, second), andon-base plus slugging (.885, eighth).[45]
On October 1, 2013, Choo homered in the top of the eighth inning in the2013 National League Wild Card Game against thePittsburgh Pirates. He is the first South Korean batter to hit a home run inMajor League Baseball postseason.[46]
On December 21, 2013, it was reported that Choo had agreed to a seven-year, $130 million contract with the Texas Rangers, pending a physical examination.[47] The Rangers officially introduced Choo on December 27.[48] In his first season with the team, he battled ankle injuries and played in only 123 games while putting up a slash line of .242/.340/.374 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI; making 2014 the worst season of his career.[17] It was a major blow to the Rangers as they heavily invested that he and newly acquiredPrince Fielder would contribute to help the team win a division title. Instead, Choo was added unto the long list of injuries that kept the Rangers out of contention along with Fielder,Mitch Moreland,Matt Harrison,Derek Holland, and many others.[48]
On July 21, 2015, Choohit for the cycle against theColorado Rockies atCoors Field. In doing so, he became the ninth player inRangers history to hit for the cycle as well as the first Asian player in MLB to accomplish this feat.[3] He vastly improved in 2015 compared to his injury-riddled 2014. In a crucial role, he hit .276 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI to go along with a .375 OBP in 149 games.[17] Brandon Warne ofFanGraphs noted that Choo's on-base percentage in 2015 was higher than his slugging percentage in 2014.[49]
During the seventh inning of the deciding Game 5 of the2015 American League Divisional Series, Choo was involved in a bizarre play which saw a routine throw back to the mound byToronto Blue Jays catcherRussell Martin deflect off Choo's bat, resulting in an errant ball which then led to the runner on third base score a run. Since Choo was inside the batter's box, he was ruled to have not interfered on the play, thereby allowing the run to stand. This play was one of several notable plays in the seventh inning, which is considered to be among the most dramatic innings in playoff history. The Rangers went on to lose the game and series in five games.[50] Choo hit .238 with four runs scored, a home run, two RBI and a walk in the series.[17]
On April 10, 2016, the Rangers placed Choo on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf muscle. He was expected to miss 4–6 weeks.[51] He returned on May 20 after missing 35 games.[52] In his first game back, he left with hamstring tightness and was placed back on the DL.[52] He was activated on June 13, and hit his first home run of the season in his return to lineup that day against the Oakland Athletics.[53] On July 20, Choo was placed on the disabled list for third time in the season, this time for lower back inflammation. He returned on August 4 after a 13-game absence.[54] On August 16, it was announced that Choo would miss the rest of the season when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list (his fourth stint on the DL that season) with a fracture in his left forearm.[55] Limited to 42 games in 2016, he hit .242 with seven home runs and 17 RBI.[17]
Choo managed to stay healthy in 2017, and finished the season slashing .261/.357/.423 with 22 home runs and 78 RBI in 149 games.[17]
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On May 26, 2018, Choo hit a walk-off home run againstKevin McCarthy of the Kansas City Royals. With 176 career home runs, Choo surpassedHideki Matsui for the most career home runs by a player born in Asia.[56] Choo, having set a club record for reaching base in 47 consecutive games, was named to his first careerAll-Star Game in July.[57] On July 20, Choo extended his on-base streak to 52 games with a lead-off single against theCleveland Indians; the streak ended on July 21 in a second game against the Indians. Choo's 52-game on-base streak is the longest such single-season streak in Rangers franchise history.[58] He ended the year batting .264 with 21 home runs and 62 RBI in 146 games.[17] After the season, Choo was named the 2018 Texas Rangers Player of the Year by the DFW BBWAA chapter.[59]
On April 4, 2019, Choo recorded his 1,500th career major league hit with a single againstMatt Harvey of theLos Angeles Angels.[60] In 2019, he hit .265/.371/.455/.826 with a career-high 24 home runs and 61 RBI in 151 games.[17] He was the eighth-oldest player in the American League.[17] Following the 2019 season, Choo underwent arthroscopic AC joint debridement surgery on his left shoulder.[61]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic-shortened season, Choo hit .236/.323/.400 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 33 games.[17]
On February 21, 2021, Choo agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with theSSG Landers of theKorea Baseball Organization (KBO).[62] Choo played in 136 games for the team in 2021, slashing .263/.409/.450 with 21 home runs and 69 RBI in 137 games.[7] On November 16, 2021, Choo re-signed with the Landers on a one-year, $2.3 million contract.[63]
On December 14, 2023, Choo announced that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2024 KBO season.[64]
Choo was on the2009 World Baseball ClassicSouth Korean roster. Cleveland allowed Choo to play under the condition that he play only one game or less as an outfielder in the first round, and only in two non-consecutive games of the second round.[65] Cleveland lifted this restriction from the semifinals on, and Choo started as an outfielder in the semifinal match againstVenezuela. He helped South Korea win 10–2 against Venezuela with a three-run home run againstCarlos Silva in the first inning. He also contributed a solo home run in the fifth inning in the finals againstHisashi Iwakuma ofJapan, where South Korea lost to Japan 5–3.
Choo and his wife Won-mi Ha have two sons (b. 2004 and 2010) and a daughter (b. 2011).[66][67] While playing as a minor leaguer in the U.S. and making just $350 a week, Choo would skip meals to save money to buy diapers for his son.[68] Choo is the nephew of Park Jeong-Tae, a formersecond baseman for theLotte Giants.[69] Choo has been a close friend ofLee Dae-Ho, formerinfielder with theSeattle Mariners organization, since attending the same elementary school together.[70]
In the early morning of Monday, May 2, 2011, Choo was arrested and charged with drunk driving inSheffield Lake, Ohio.[71] He was pulled over by police around 2:25 a.m. because his vehicle was weaving, and Choo'sblood alcohol content (via Breathalyzer test) was reportedly .20%, more than twice the legal limit. He apologized to his team and fans for this incident.[72]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Choo donated $1,000 to each of the 190 players in the Texas Rangers’ minor league system who were unable to work due to MLB's shutdown. He also donated $200,000 to the nonprofitCommunity Chest of Korea to help the city ofDaegu, which was the hardest hit city in Korea during the pandemic.[68]
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle July 21, 2015 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
