Korean-American baseballer hits 1st homer in US majors

Korean-American baseballer Hank Conger of the Los Angeles has hit his first homer in the majors.

Born Choi Hyun, Conger, 23, was the first ethnic Korean to be selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft (25th overall) in 2006.

Starting as a catcher with the number 8 in an away game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Wednesday, Choi hit first in the second inning with the Angels leading, 3-1. With the count 0-1, he hit a homer off a changeup by starting pitcher Jeffery Niemann that went over the right-hand side fence.

The homer was on his first at-bat this season and his first in 30 at-bats overall since debuting in the majors as a pinch hitter for Hideki Matsui in a game against the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 12 last year. Conger grounded out in his second at-bat, had a liner to right field, and a strikeout.

Los Angeles won the game, 5-3, as Angeles pitcher Jered Weaver allowed three hits and one run in six and two thirds innings.

Conger remained on the bench in four consecutive games starting with the season opener. When his team started 1-3, however, Angeles manager Mike Scioscia started him in place of the team’s ace catcher Jeff Mathis.

In a Web posting, Scioscia said Conger had good harmony with pitcher Weaver, adding that if he continues to perform well, he will surely have more chances to play.

Choi said he accurately struck Niemann’s ball and felt thrilled to run along the bases after hitting the home run.

Born in Parallel Way, Washington, Conger went pro after graduating from Huntington High School in California. A switch hitter, he played in the minors before playing 13 games as backup catcher and pinch hitter last season to record a batting average of .172 (5-29) and five runs.

His American name Hank was given by his grandfather, a first-generation Korean immigrant, named after Hall-of-Fame slugger Hank Aaron.

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