Perrotto: Jovial Ji Man Choi in Wrong Place at Wrong Time (+)
PITTSBURGH — Ji Man Choi has developed the reputation of being a good teammate and cheerful clubhouse presence during his eight seasons in the major league.
The first baseman has certainly lived up to that billing in his first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Choi always has a smile on his face. Even in a season during which the native of South Korea has had little to smile about so far.
There was Choi sitting in front of his locker in the clubhouse prior to Thursday night’s 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Even though the Pirates had announced a day earlier that he would likely miss two months with a left Achilles strain, Choi was upbeat as he chatted with a reporter.
“I think it’s only going to be one month,” Choi said. “I don’t think the injury is that bad.”
Time will tell just how badly Choi’s leg is injured. However, it is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events for Choi since the Pirates acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays on Nov. 10 in a trade.
Choi figured to be the Pirates’ everyday first baseman at the time of the trade.
Then the Pirates signed first baseman Carlos Santana in free agency later in November. However, at the time it seemed there would be room for both in the Pirates’ lineup as one could be the designated hitter of the day the other played first base.
Things got a little more complicated when the Pirates traded for the Colorado Rockies first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe in December.
That was a precursor to a logjam when Andrew McCutchen returned to the Pirates via free agency following a five-season absence in January. The 36-year-old McCutchen also needs DH at-bats as he is at an age where he can no longer play the outfield daily.
The way things have shaken out, Choi has been reduced to being a part-time starter. He was in the lineup for just eight of the season’s first 13 games before being hurt.
Furthermore, the 31-year-old got off to a bad start, hitting .125/.125/.344 with two home runs and 15 strikeouts in 32 plate appearances.
Oh, by the way, Choi lost his salary arbitration case with the Pirates just hours after reporting to spring training. That was a day after his translator failed to make it to Bradenton on time because of travel visa issues in South Korea.
The Pirates, one of the major leagues’ biggest surprises with a 13-7 record, are well-positioned to keep moving on without Choi, though.
“First base depth was something really important to us coming into the year,” manager Derek Shelton said. “We felt that was a place we needed to improve over the last couple years. We built it with Ji-Man and Carlos. Connor can go over there and has done a good job defensively and his at-bats have been really consistent. That is reassuring because it’s an important position.”
Ten different players saw action at first base for the Pirates last season with Michael Chavis getting the majority of starts. Though Chavis was a wonderful young man, he hit just .229/.265/.389 with 14 home runs in 129 games while striking out 126 times in 426 trips to the plate.
Santana has cooled a bit following a hot start but is batting .254/.346/.423 with two homers in 19 games. Shelton knows he must be careful not to overuse the 37-year-old switch hitter, though.
“I’m very aware, especially with him and (McCutchen), just being mindful,” Shelton said. “I know everyone wants them to play every day, and I want them to play as many days as possible, but I also have to be very thoughtful about when the days off are, when they come, how their bodies are feeling. The great thing about both of them is, if you ask them every day, they want to play. It’s just being thoughtful of not only what matchups are, but where their bodies are at, what stretch we’re in, how we’re traveling – those things.
“The one thing I will say about Carlos that he does as well as any player in my career that’s 36 or 37 is how he takes care of his body. I think his body is in better shape now than it was 10 years ago. He’s very deliberate about how he takes care of his body, how he eats, how he sleeps – all those things. I really came to appreciate that when I was in Minnesota with Nelson Cruz, see it firsthand with (him). But Carlos is the same way in terms of how thoughtful he is, and I think that’s how he’s able to play as much as he is.”
Choi would like to play a lot, too, but now he can’t because of the balky Achilles. Nevertheless, he plans to keep on smiling.