Rays' Choi Ji-man nears return from injury with rehab game on horizon

All News 11:06 May 06, 2022

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- Sidelined with an elbow injury, the Tampa Bay Rays' South Korean first baseman Choi Ji-man is nearing a return with a minor league rehab game in the offing.

Choi is scheduled to play first base in the Rays' minor league camp Friday (U.S. local time), MLB.com reported. Choi returned to game action Thursday as the designated hitter.

If all goes well, Choi could rejoin the Rays during their West Coast road trip. It began Monday in Oakland and will conclude next Wednesday in Anaheim.

In this USA Today Sports file photo via Reuters from April 24, 2022, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a two-run double against the Boston Red Sox during the bottom of the fifth inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Yonhap)

Choi was placed on the 10-day injured list (IL) Sunday, but it was retroactive to April 28. He had missed four consecutive days before the Rays placed him on the IL with what they called "loose bodies in the right elbow."

Choi had been swinging the bat well before hitting the sidelines, showing off a .357/.491/.595 line in 15 games with a pair of home runs and 10 RBIs.

Choi is one of two South Korean players in the majors on the IL, along with the Toronto Blue Jays' left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin (left forearm inflammation). With the Pittsburgh Pirates' utility player Park Hoy-jun having been shipped to the minors, Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres is currently the only South Korean active in the big leagues.