Ji-Man Choi Expected to Begin Rehab Assignment Soon

PITTSBURGH — Ji-Man Choi is expected to begin a rehab assignment in the “coming days,” according to Pittsburgh Pirates’ Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk.

“He’s doing quite well… In the next day or two, I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him at Altoona or the Indianapolis lineup to get his games played and his at-bats to work his way back to the major leagues,” Tomczyk said.

Choi had appeared in only nine games with the Pirates this season before landing on the injured list with a strain of his left Achilles tendon.

In those nine games, Choi hit .125 (4 for 32) with a double, two home runs and a pair of runs driven in.

Choi was acquired from the Pirates in the offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league right-hander Jack Hartman.

Choi’s return will be welcomed for a Pirates’ offense that has been mired in a slump on offense, though no determination on the length of his rehab assignment has yet been made.

For his big league career, Choi has slashed .237/.341/.427 with 63 home run across 495 games with the Pirates, Rays, Yankees and Angels.