By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
When former Major Leaguers Choi Hee-seop and Seo Jae-weong returned to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to join the Kia Tigers in 2007 and 2008, respectively, the Tigers backers put heavy expectations on the duo. They were expected to be major cogs in rebuilding the Tigers ― a nine-time league champion that had fallen from grace.
The resurgent Gwangju-based team is now leading in the pennant race this season, but the two players are going in different directions. Choi has put up solid numbers at the plate, while Seo is still having trouble finding his rhythm on the hill.
After batting .337, with seven home runs and 46 RBIs in 52 games in his first season with the Tigers, Choi, a former Chicago Cubs prospect, was plagued by injury last season and limited to six home runs and 22 RBIs with a batting average of .229.
A determined Choi, who had a .240 average, 40 homers and 120 RBIs in three seasons in the big leagues, focused on fixing his swing and recovering from injury during the offseason and is now regaining his form, which helped him become the first Korean position player in the Majors.
As of Wednesday, the 1.96-meter, 96-kilogram slugging first baseman, nicknamed "Big Choi," is ranked second in home runs with 24 behind teammate Kim Sang-hyun, who has 28, and ninth in RBIs at 71.
In addition, his good eye at the plate has helped him draw 75 walks, the third best in the league.
Choi, who has been walked intentionally league-high 13 times, lost his touch in June, batting just .164, but he is now back on track, wielding a red-hot bat this month - a .391 average, seven dingers and 24 RBIs with a 768 slugging percentage.
After signing a 1.3 billion won ($1 million) deal last year, Seo joined the Tigers, which last won a title in 1997, in a highly-hyped move that was expected to form the league's best 1-2 punch with right-handed ace Yoon Suk-min in the league.
But thigh and elbow injuries slowed the right-hander and he fell short of expectations, going 5-5 with 4.08 ERA in 16 outings in the 2008 season.
Seo, who played for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays during six seasons, worked on his pitching mechanics and breaking balls during the winter, and he was off to a good start to the season, allowing three runs over 19 2/3 innings, before a recurring elbow injury struck again.
After being placed on the disabled list for more than a month, he rejoined the team but has not been consistent. He was sent to the bullpen where he also failed to impress, but did return to the rotation on Tuesday and won as a starter for the first time since June 11 after giving up one run in six innings. He is 4-3 with 5.51 ERA in 17 appearances in 2009.