By Jonathan Sanfilippo
Staff Reporter
Choo Shin-soo waited patiently for an opportunity to become an everyday Major League Baseball (MLB) player.
The outfielder from South Korea spent most of his professional career in the minor leagues and usually served as a utility player on the rare occasions he was called up to the majors. He was traded from the team he originally signed with. And to make things worse, he was unable to play for several months after having major surgery on his left elbow.
Now, after all that waiting and overcoming setbacks, Choo is finally getting a chance to be a regular starter with the Cleveland Indians. And boy, is he taking advantage of it.
The 26-year-old lefty is one of the team's hottest hitters, with 29 hits in his last 76 at-bats ― a .382 average during that span ― including a 3-for-4 performance in a 5-0 win against the Chicago White Sox Monday. He's tallied five home runs, 17 RBIs and scored 20 runs during his hot streak.
``I'll work hard every day,'' Choo said on MLB's Web site. ``Some days it will be good, and some it will be bad. But I don't want to worry about anything. You bust your butt, and someday good things will come.''
With Choo providing a spark, the Indians, who struggled during the early part of the season, have won 17 of their last 23 games. They're in third place in the American League (AL) Central division with a 66-70 record.
``We didn't know what to expect from him,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said of Choo on the team's Web site. ``Considering what he's had to deal with, he's come a long way.
``He's been very consistent. He has shown ability to square up the ball and has put together good at-bats.''
Born and raised in Busan, Choo enjoyed a stellar high school career, earning Most Valuable Player (MVP) and best pitcher awards in 1999 and 2000 at the President's Cup, Korea's top high school tournament.
After starring on the South Korean team that won the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship, Choo signed with the Seattle Mariners and gave up pitching to become an outfielder. He spent the early part of his professional career in the minor leagues, before making his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2005.
Choo, however, struggled to earn playing time with Seattle and was traded to the Indians in 2006. Upset about the trade, he got revenge on his former team two days later by hitting a solo home run in a 1-0 Indians victory against Seattle.
But Choo would face more setbacks. After moving back and forth between the Indians and the minor leagues, he suffered a left elbow injury in 2007 that required Tommy John surgery, a procedure in which a ligament in the elbow is replaced with a tendon from somewhere else in the body.
Choo spent several months recovering from the surgery and then played in the minor leagues, before returning to the Indians earlier this year. He eventually earned a starting role and is batting .284 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs this season.
``This guy didn't play baseball for a long time,'' Wedge said on the Indians' Web site. ``He had to fight through surgery and rehab. What he's done this year is outstanding.''
After overcoming surgery and earning a starting spot with the Indians, Choo is preparing to face another obstacle in his baseball career.
As an able-bodied male citizen of South Korea, Choo is required to serve between 24 and 28 months in his country's military before he turns 30.
``I'm not thinking about it right now,'' Choo said on MLB's Web site. ``But it would be tough. For two years to not play baseball, then come back, it's really tough. Pitchers? Maybe. But hitters? It's tough.''
There are ways to receive military exemptions, such as earning a medal for Korea in the Olympics or winning a championship at the Asian Games.
Unfortunately for Choo, MLB does not allow its players to compete in the Olympics, so he was unable to play for the Korean baseball team that recently won the gold medal in Beijing.
Choo might be able to play for South Korea in the 2010 Asian Games, which would give him a chance to compete for a gold and a military exemption. But there's nothing guaranteeing he will win an Asian Games title.
``Five or seven years ago, it was easier to win a gold medal,'' Choo said on MLB's Web site. ``But not anymore. Taiwan and Japan have a lot of good baseball players now.''
Another possibility for Choo to avoid military service would be to become an American citizen. He resides in Olympia, Wash., in addition to owning a home in Busan. But Choo said he's never seriously thought about giving up his Korean citizenship.
In contrast, Choo said he would like to represent South Korea in the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC), even though the country no longer awards military exceptions for placing in that tournament.
Choo knows he may have to serve in the military eventually. But right now, he's focused more on playing in the big leagues, and the Indians are pleased with the way he's performing.
``I like the way he plays,'' Wedge said on MLB's Web site. ``He puts up good at-bats, and he can play well in right field or left field. He's a nice all-around player. He's still young and still has a lot to learn, but he's going to be OK.''