Big Choi Dreams of Major League All Star Game

On April 22, Choi Hee-seop, 25, of the Florida Marlins had his name listed as a first baseman candidate on the roster for the 75th Major League All Star game scheduled to be held on July 14 at Houston. Choi beat his Chicago Cubs’ counterpart Eric Karros in last year’s competition for All Star League candidacy, and has advanced to the candidate roster for the past two consecutive years.

Although it currently seems that it may be difficult for Big Choi to occupy the top spot among prominent big shooters, the chance still remains for Choi to become the first Korean All Star batter. Since Jack McKeon, who led Florida to World Series victory last season, is likely to be the manager for the National League’s All Star team this season, Choi may be recommended and selected as a player.

Today, Big Choi knocked an infield triple in the eighth inning with one out while his team led 6-5 against the Philadelphia Phillies, but failed to score a run. In the tenth and twelfth innings, when the teams were tied at 7-7, Choi left the field with a fly out and a strike out, respectively. Florida ultimately claimed victory, ending the 12-inning game at 8-7.

25-year-old Kim Byung-hyun was on the Boston Red Sox’s schedule as the starting pitcher for a minor league game after being sent to the Triple A Minor Leagues to rehabilitate, and has been confirmed to be pitching for the April 25 game. Boston’s internet homepage stated that Kim would increase his total amount of pitches to 60, pointing toward Kim’s impending return. Local baseball experts anticipate that the match against Texas Rangers on May 1 (where another Korean pitcher, Park Chan-ho, plays) will be Kim’s comeback game.

40-year-old Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants ended his record seven consecutive game home run streak when he managed to obtain two walks but failed to hit more homers in this high-pressure game under extreme check by the opposing pitchers, ending the game 0-for-1. San Diego took an overwhelming victory, 11-0.

Hwan Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com