Ex-MLBer Choi Ji-man hopes to inspire others in return home with Ulsan Whales

Choi Ji-man, once a fan favorite manning first base for the Tampa Bay Rays, has chosen an unlikely place to extend his career in his mid-30s: the minor league in his native Korea.

Choi recently signed with the Ulsan Whales of the Futures League, the feeder circuit for the KBO. When he makes his debut, Choi will be the most high-profile player in the Futures League, having appeared in 525 regular-season games in MLB, along with a World Series appearance with the Rays in 2020.

Choi, who will turn 35 on May 19, is still trying to work his way back from his chronic knee issues, which he claims date back to his middle school days in his hometown of Incheon, just west of Seoul. As he eyes a July debut with the Whales, Choi is also trying not to put too much of a burden on himself.

“Honestly, I don't think I will be feeling that much pressure to put up big numbers. I once was a major league player, but I am not one at the moment," Choi said in a wide-ranging interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on Monday. "But of course, I will have to adopt a confident mindset and tell myself I can do this. At the end of the day, though, if I don't put in enough work, then it will show on the field."

Choi has been in touch with other former MLB players who finished their careers in Korea, including retired pitcher Kim Sun-woo and ex-slugger Lee Dae-ho, and said he will try to heed their advice.

“They said if I keep thinking that I have to play well and live up to expectations, it will only make things difficult for me," Choi said. "Sun-woo said he wanted to dominate Korean baseball as a former major league pitcher, and it backfired. He told me to just stick to my usual routine."

There is no exact timeline for Choi's debut. It could be anywhere between early July and late July, and Choi said he'd rather not set a precise target date and then open himself to criticism in case he isn't able to meet it.

For now, Choi is focused on getting his body right, not having played a competitive game since May 2024. He starts his typical day with an early morning swimming session for low-impact exercise. After a lunch break, Choi hits the gym in the afternoon and does his baseball work at an indoor facility in the evening.

Choi, who underwent an operation on his right knee meniscus in 2021, said the pain in the surgically repaired knee still comes and goes. He has mornings when it can be tough getting out of bed and even quipped that he has "a knee of a 60-something."

“My doctor has told me it must hurt just walking, given the condition of my knee, but I've been playing through it because I have that much passion for baseball," Choi said. "It hurts more on some days than others."

Choi said he was appreciative of the Whales for giving him the opportunity despite his lingering physical issues and for being patient with his rehab.

“Manager Jang Won-jin said he is not necessarily counting on me to play a ton of games. He wants me to come in and set a good example for the team's younger players," Choi said. "I will probably struggle in July because I won't be able to play in any rehab games beforehand, and I will have to jump right into action at that level. But the Whales still gave me this opportunity, and I am really thankful."

Choi wants to reward the club by making an immediate impact.

"I'm told we haven't hit a home run at our home stadium yet. I hope we will end that drought before I start playing, but if that isn't the case, then I would love to hit a home run in my first game there," Choi said. Then he added with a mischievous grin, "But then again, I've not done well in the first games of my other seasons. So we will see."

Choi also said he hoped his presence on the team alone will send a message to the Whales.

“I've had nine surgeries, and I am still here," Choi said. "When other guys see me, I want them to think, 'If that guy can do it, I can do it too.' I want to motivate them.

“Whether it's pros or amateurs, athletes who get injured can't get over the mental hump and just quit," Choi added. "These young players represent the future of Korean baseball. If they can overcome their injuries, they may become the next superstars. I just want to be a little bit of help to such players."

Choi said he would also love to help the national team at an international competition before the end of his career. He has never once donned a national team uniform, though he came close for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Choi was initially named to the Korean roster, but the Pittsburgh Pirates, Choi's MLB club at the time, won a "medical objection" to keep Choi out of the tournament, citing his elbow surgery from November 2022.

Choi said he asked a KBO staffer for his national team jersey that year, though he can't bear to look at it now because it brings back memories of disappointment and frustration he felt then. That's why Choi put it inside a bag when he moved last year — the only jersey of his career that isn't hanging in his closet.

“People say reaching MLB is difficult, but for me, making the national team has been harder," Choi said. "I have a strong desire to play for the country."

The missed opportunity at the 2023 WBC also robbed Choi of a chance to play with future MLB players like Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-seong, who were teammates with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO then and are now playing for the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.

Choi spoke glowingly of both Lee and Kim, though he jokingly pointed out he was far more proud of Kim because they graduated from the same high school in Incheon.

“The players that are in MLB now have the responsibility to play well," Choi said. "That way, they will pave the way for younger players. I hope they all make an impact."

Yonhap