By Andrew Jo
It was at this time one season ago that a little known Korean outfielder in Cleveland began his steady climb towards baseball relevance. Vying for playing time amongst five players, 27-year-old outfielder Shin-Soo Choo stood at the cruel crossroads presented to all athletes at their respective highest levels.
Essentially, it was now or never.
Like anyone striving for a new position, Choo started off slow, but soon made the most of his opportunity. With fewer than 100 at bats throughout the first half of the season, by August 2008, he was given consistent playing time and became one of the Indians’ most consistent players.
If Major League Baseball serves as the pantheon to all things baseball, Choo backpedaled in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. While the power was evident with his two homeruns in 19 total plate appearances, Choo’s sore left elbow cut into his playing time and hampered his ability, managing only three total hits for the tournament.
With increased playing time and popularity this season, Choo has picked up where he left off after the 2008 season. Impressing fans with his combination of average, power, and a disciplined eye at the plate, Choo is also 13 for 13 in stolen base attempts this season, the only player with more than 10 stolen bases to remain perfect.
But Choo is not so popular with the birds. In June, he hit a line drive single up the middle that coincidently struck one of a flock of seagulls nestled in shallow centerfield, ball and bird ricocheting in opposite directions for a game-winning hit.
“PETA is just glad the bird is OK,” said Dan Shannon, assistant director of PETA youth outreach and campaigns. “Talk about having to take one for the team. But if Shin-Soo Choo wants to make amends, he could drop by his local animal shelter for a few hours to make it up to the animal kingdom.”
Noted mostly for their success on the mound, Choo is one of 12 South Korean born players signed by a Major League Baseball team, and is quickly being hailed as one of the most gifted all around players of Korean heritage. An undrafted free agent from Pusan, South Korea, Choo was signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2000, but was stationed on minor league teams until the Cleveland Indians acquired him via trade midway through the 2006 season.
Choo, who turns 28 on July 13, 2010 is awaiting word from the South Korean Government as to whether his mandatory two years of South Korean military service, prior to the age of 30, will be waived.
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[...] local chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America has selected Shin-Soo Choo as the Tribe’s Man of the Year. He is a first-time winner of the honor. In his first full big [...]