`Big Man` Choi Hee-Sup Steps Closer yo Be `Big Leaguer`

`Korean Big Man` Choi Hee-Sup (23. Chicago Cubs) is slugging everyday in the U.S. professional baseball exhibition games. How far has the man, who is dreaming of becoming the first Korean batter in the Major League (ML), come so far?

Speaking of conclusion first, analysts say that Choi has come much closer to ML than last year, when he started gaining public attention.

Last year, Cubs’ manager Don Baylor said, “Choi would have been on the entry definitely, if he wasn’t injured.” This, however, is only a ` publicity utterance`. The team’s inner assessment of Choi was, then, the fourth on the first base. Ron Coomer and Matt Stairs, whose batting average was at least .280 and for whom over 20 home runs were guaranteed, were taking turns in keeping the first base, and a gigantic black player, Julio Zuleta, was running as a back-up agent.

However, situations are different this year. Cubs traded Stairs and Coomer last year and brought in 39 year-old Fred McGriff. Playing for 17 years in ML, McGriff is a strong batter with a total of 448 home runs and 1400 batting points. He hit average .306, 31 home runs, and 102 points last year.

McGriff’s age, however, is beginning to be a burden. As Cubs signed a short-term option contract rather than the regular contract, the team is being half in doubt of his plays.

Along with this, Choi Hee-Sup is being fortunate that even Zuleta, who hit 6 home runs and 24 points last year as a back up, is almost confirmed on transferring to Japan’s Yomiuri Giants but was injured in thigh on the 2nd.

Nonetheless, general opinions say that it is still difficult for Choi to be enlisted in the entry this year. The reason is, ironically, that he is doing too well.

Choi’s agent Lee Chi-Hoon predicted, “In ML, they don’t put rookies as back-ups to make them half of what they are. Therefore, there is more chance for Choi to run as a starting player when McGriff is hurt or something, rather than at the opening match.”

Meanwhile, Choi Hee-Sup participated in all of the 5 exhibition games until the 3rd, and made hits in all of them recording the team’s best score of 6 hits (.667), 4 batting points, and 2 points. In last year’s 13 exhibitions matches, he scored 5 hits, 3 batting points, 1 home run, and a two-base hit.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com