Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
April 15, 2002

Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Cubs' first base prospect just one short step from Wrigley Field
April 15, 2002

The Republic of South Korea is projected to be the next great source of professional baseball players, perhaps someday rivaling the fertile breeding grounds of the Dominican Republic. Existing major leaguers Chan Ho Park and Byung-Hyun Kim have already made their mark in North America. But to date, a position player from Korea has yet to make it to a big league roster.

Chicago Cubs' first base prospect Hee Seop Choi might already be an everyday fixture in the major league lineup if not for a wrist injury that disabled the 23-year-old slugger for much of the 2001 season. Instead of being able to recall Choi to fill a need in the starting lineup last year, the Cubs instead traded for veteran Fred McGriff to take over at first base.

Based on his performance to date in the Cubs' farm system, there's little doubt that Choi will eventually be thrilling the Wrigley Field faithful with his prodigious power. The 6-5, 235 pound left-handed hitter has hit 56 homeruns in 288 minor league games over three seasons, with a composite batting average is .286. Choi has also shown good plate discipline, walking 146 times.

After his injury-plagued season, Choi remained in the United States during the off-season, working with the Cubs' minor league hitting coordinator John Pierson. "He (was) teaching me every day," said Choi about his work with Pierson, adding that they worked on his handling of inside pitches.

But Choi is more than just a good hitter. The southpaw is a decent defensive first baseman and has surprising speed for his size.

Hee Seop Choi Choi's goal for the 2002 season is very simple ... to stay healthy. "I want to play this year," he said. "I played 70, 80 games last year. I hope this year (to play) 140 games."

After getting a late start to the 2002 season due to a hamstring injury and spending an extra week at the Cubs' minor league facility in Mesa, Arizona, Choi joined the AAA affiliate in Iowa and proceeded to hit a homerun in his first game. He is now hitting .250 while slowing rounding into playing condition.

Even more importantly, Choi is making the adjustment to life in the United States. It helps that fellow countrymen Yoon-Min Kweon and Jae-Kuk Ryu are also part of the Cubs' farm system.

While many facets of American life appeal to Choi, he very confidently and enthusiastically answers the question as to what he likes best about the United States by saying, "Baseball!"

That's just the kind of enthusiasm and love for the game that will endear Choi to loyal Cubs' rooters.

With McGriff in the last year of his contract, it's not unreasonable to expect the Chicago organization to give Choi every opportunity to move into the starting lineup next season.

--- Bill Mitchell