When Kim Ha-sung became a team through a trade, he received a lot of attention from baseball fans. However, he does not have many business trip opportunities, and he is not able to show results. An ordeal befell Choi Ji-man.
While San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong energized the team’s offense with the first hitter, Choi Ji-man did not hit a single hit after the transfer. He is 0-for-11 in his San Diego uniform.먹튀검증
San Diego traded with Pittsburgh on the trade deadline on the 2nd (hereinafter Korean time). They recruited Choi Ji-man, who was playing as Pittsburgh first baseman, and right-hander Rich Hill, a veteran starting agent. Instead, he sent three prospects to Pittsburgh: hand pitcher Jack Wolf, outfielder Estuar Suero, and first baseman Alfonso Rivas.
For Choi Ji-man, San Diego is the 6th team while living in the big leagues. He made his debut last year with the Los Angeles Angels, then went on to San Diego via the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh.
In April of this year, he injured his left Achilles tendon and was absent for nearly three months, but after returning to the big leagues on the 8th of last month, he had a batting average of 2.68 with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs in July until he returned to San Diego.
San Diego needed a left-handed cannon, so they chose Choi Ji-man. However, Ji-man Choi spent more time on the bench after the transfer. He is silent at the plate, going 0-for-11. He doesn’t have many chances, but he can’t find the feeling of hitting.
In addition, the heel recruited with Choi Ji-man is not good. Hill climbed the mound as a starting pitcher in an away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 major league held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on the 13th, and was demolished after not being able to survive even in the 4th inning. Hill suffered his 12th loss (7 wins) of the season with 3 runs in 3⅓ innings.
After the transfer, he became a losing pitcher in both games. In the last 7 days against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he gave up 4 hits (2 homers) and 6 runs in 3 innings. Although it is Choi, neither heel has been able to show an impact. If this continues, the San Diego trade will be a failure.
Choi Ji-man posted a batting average of .245, 52 home runs and 203 RBIs during his five seasons in Tampa Bay. He has slugging power and also plays first base well. He was evaluated as an alternative to only Choi if there is a team that needs a left-handed gun. Not much time has passed since the transfer, but Choi Ji-man is experiencing trials at odd opportunities.
Hill is a pitcher who won double-digit wins in three consecutive seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2016 to 2108. Since then, he has gone through Minnesota, Tampa Bay, New York Mets, Boston, and Pittsburgh, and has not won 10 more. It remains to be seen if Hill can find the feeling of his prime once again.