Choi (elbow) will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth against the Yankees on Thursday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
The 31-year-old will be making his first start of the spring and his Pirates debut after undergoing surgery in November to remove a bone fragment from his right elbow. Choi was traded in the offseason after slashing .233/.341/.388 with 11 homers in 113 games with the Rays last season. Health permitting, he should start against most right-handed pitchers to begin 2023.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Taking things slow in spring
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The Pirates announced Wednesday that Choi will be on a modified program for spring training while he ramps up from the surgery he underwent in November to remove a bone fragment from his right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Though Choi has experienced no unexpected setbacks in his recovery from the elbow procedure, the Pirates seem content to slowly integrate him into drills to ensure he's in optimal health by the time Opening Day arrives. Because of his elbow surgery, however, the Korea Baseball Organization chose to remove Choi from its 30-man roster for the World Baseball Classic earlier this month, despite the 31-year-old expressing confidence that he was healthy enough to play. Choi should still be able to get in plenty of at-bats during the Pirates' Grapefruit League schedule, though he may not be ready to make his spring debut during the first week of games.
Choi (elbow) lost his arbitration hearing against the Pirates and will make $4.65 million in 2023, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Choi had filed at $5.4 million, but the arbiter has ruled in favor of the team. Acquired from the Rays in November, Choi posted a .729 OPS with 11 home runs over 113 games last season. He had minor elbow surgery shortly after the trade but is expected to be fine for Opening Day. Choi is slated to see the lion's share of playing time at first base for the Pirates this season.
Choi will undergo minor surgery on his right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The 31-year-old was acquired by Pittsburgh from Tampa Bay on Thursday, and his new team likely already knew about the procedure when it traded for him. Choi played through the elbow issue last season and finished the campaign with a .233/.341/.388 slash line, 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 113 games, and he's expected to be healthy in time for spring training in February.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Sent to Pittsburgh
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Choi was acquired by the Pirates from the Rays on Thursday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Jack Hartman.
Choi had a .233/.341/.388 slash line with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 113 games for Tampa Bay in 2022, and the team opted to move on as he enters his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 31-year-old should enter spring training as Pittsburgh's primary option at first base.
Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Three hits, including homer, in loss
Rotowire
Choi went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox.
Choi singled in the first inning before launching a two-run homer off Nick Pivetta in his next at-bat in the third frame. He later added another single and a walk in subsequent at-bats. The home run was the 31-year-old's 11th of the year and first since Sept. 13. Choi finished the year having produced at least one hit in four of his final six games, batting .421 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored over that stretch. The first baseman will end the 2022 regular season with a .233 average, 11 homers, 52 RBI and 36 runs scored over 356 at-bats in 113 games with the Rays.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Swats 10th homer
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Choi went 1-for-1 with two walks and a solo home run in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.
Choi wasn't in the lineup for the first game of the doubleheader, but he was one of the few sources of offense in the latter matchup. He slugged his 10th homer of the season in the third inning off Alek Manoah for his second round tripper in his last 26 at-bats. Choi has been losing grip on a regular role, as he has started only six of the Rays' last 12 games.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Loses hold of platoon role
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Choi is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The lefty-hitting Choi is sitting against a right-handed starting pitcher (Michael Wacha) for the third time in five matchups, signaling that he no longer has a hold on a strong-side platoon role. Harold Ramirez and Isaac Paredes should continue to cut into his opportunities to face right-handed pitching while Choi is holding down a lowly .391 OPS since the All-Star break.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Retreats to bench Saturday
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Choi isn't starting Saturday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Although right-hander Clarke Schmidt is starting for the Yankees on Saturday, Choi will be on the bench for the fifth time in the last six games. Harold Ramirez is taking over at first base and batting cleanup.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: On bench against lefty
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Choi is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The lefty-hitting Choi finds himself on the bench for the fifth time in six games, with four of his absences coming against left-handed pitchers. Harold Ramirez will fill in at first base and bat cleanup against Marlins southpaw Trevor Rogers.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Sits against southpaw
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Choi is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Choi is taking a seat against Marlins southpaw Jesus Luzardo, but the lefty-hitting first baseman could see his opportunities against right-handed pitching soon trend downward as well. Isaac Paredes has supplied an .819 OPS in August, 364 points above Choi's own mark on the month. It wouldn't be surprising if manager Kevin Cash elected to open up a full-time role for Paredes at Choi's expense.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Sitting against right-hander
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Choi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
For the seventh time in nine games, Choi finds himself on the bench. Though the lefty-hitting Choi has sat out against five lefties during that stretch, he'll take a seat against a righty (Nick Pivetta) in the series finale. With Choi supplying a lowly .419 OPS since the All-Star break, it's possible that the Rays will look to move him out of his strong-side platoon role at first base.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Sits against southpaw
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Choi isn't starting Saturday against Boston, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Choi went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and two strikeouts Friday, but he'll get a breather with left-hander Rich Hill on the mound Saturday. Harold Ramirez is starting at first base and batting cleanup.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Slugs ninth homer
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Choi went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Friday against the Red Sox.
Choi took Michael Wacha yard in the second inning to tally his ninth homer of the season. It was Choi's first home run since July 27, and in 18 games between long balls, he hit just .109 with a 35.9 percent strikeout rate. Despite his struggles, Choi continues to get regular at-bats against right-handed pitchers.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: On bench versus lefty
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Choi is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
With left-hander Patrick Sandoval on the mound Thursday, Choi will ride the pine for the fifth time in six games. Harold Ramirez will shift to first base while Jose Siri enters the lineup in center field after some shuffling versus Los Angeles.
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Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Sitting versus lefty
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Choi is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Choi will sit for the fourth straight game as the Rays take on the Angels and left-hander Jose Suarez. Harold Ramirez will start at first base and bat fourth Tuesday.
