Shin-Soo Choo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shin-Soo Choo
Choo with the Texas Rangers in 2017
Outfielder
Born: (1982-07-13) July 13, 1982 (age 42) Busan, South Korea
Batted: Left Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: April 21, 2005, for the Seattle Mariners
KBO: April 4, 2021, for the SSG Landers
Last appearance
MLB: September 27, 2020, for the Texas Rangers
KBO: October 1, 2024, for the SSG Landers
MLB statistics
Batting average	.275
Home runs	218
Runs batted in	782
KBO statistics
Batting average	.263
Home runs	54
Runs batted in	205
Teams
Seattle Mariners (2005–2006) Cleveland Indians (2006–2012) Cincinnati Reds (2013) Texas Rangers (2014–2020) SSG Landers (2021–2024)
Career highlights and awards
MLB All-Star (2018) Korean Series champion (2022)
Medals Men's baseball Representing KOR World Baseball Classic Silver 2009 Los Angeles Team Asian Games Gold 2010 Guangzhou Team

Shin-Soo Choo (born July 13, 1982) is a South Korean former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder known for his strong hitting and ability to get on base. Choo played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams included the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers. Later, he finished his career playing in the KBO League for the SSG Landers.

Choo was once the Asian-born player with the most career home runs (218) in MLB history. This record was later broken by Shohei Ohtani. Early in his career, Choo was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Pitcher at the World Junior Baseball Championship. This was when South Korea won the event. He signed a big contract with the Mariners and became an outfielder.

With the Cleveland Indians, Choo had two seasons where he hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases. This is a special achievement called the "20-20 club." In 2014, he signed a large contract with the Texas Rangers. In 2015, Choo made history again. He became the first Asian-born player to hit for the cycle in MLB. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game.

In 2018, Choo was chosen for his first Major League Baseball All-Star Game. That season, he reached base safely in 52 games in a row. This was the longest streak in Texas Rangers history. He also got hit by a pitch 152 times in his career, which is one of the highest totals in MLB. In 2021, Choo went back to South Korea to play in the KBO League. He retired from baseball at the end of the 2024 KBO League season.

Shin-Soo Choo's Professional Baseball Journey

Starting with the Seattle Mariners

On August 14, 2000, the Seattle Mariners signed Choo to a contract. He received a large signing bonus, estimated between $1.2 million and $1.5 million. He was first considered both an outfielder and a left-handed pitcher. The Mariners' scouting director, Roger Jongewaard, said Choo was "the best kid in Asia." They planned for him to play center field.

Choo started his professional career in 2001 with the Rookie-level AZL Mariners. He batted .302 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 51 games. He led his team in stolen bases (12) and walks (34). His good play led to a promotion to the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. There, he hit .462 with 3 RBI in three games.

In 2002, Choo played most of the season with Wisconsin. He hit .302 with six home runs, 48 RBI, and 34 stolen bases. He was promoted to the Single-A San Bernardino Stampede later that year. The Mariners named Choo the Most Valuable Player for Single-A Wisconsin after the season. His 37 stolen bases were second-best in the team's minor league system.

Choo spent all of 2003 with the Single-A Inland Empire 66ers. He batted .286 with nine home runs and 55 RBI in 110 games. He helped his team win the California League championship.

Moving up to Double-A in 2004, Choo had his best minor league season. He hit .315 with 15 home runs, 84 RBI, and 40 stolen bases. He was among the top players in the Texas League for several stats. After the season, Choo was named Seattle's Minor League Player of the Year.

Choo started 2005 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He was called up to the major leagues for the first time on April 20. Choo made his MLB debut on April 21, pinch hitting. On May 3, he got his first career hit and RBI. He was sent back to Tacoma but recalled again in September. With Tacoma, Choo batted .282 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI.

In the first half of 2006, Choo played for Tacoma again. He hit .323 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 94 games. On July 3, he was called up by the Mariners. He played in 17 games for Seattle, getting two hits in 29 at bats.

Time with the Cleveland Indians

On July 26, 2006, Choo was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He made his debut with the Indians two days later against his old team. He hit his first major league home run against Mariners pitcher Félix Hernández. In 45 games with the Indians, he batted .295 with three home runs and 22 RBI.

Choo spent the start of the 2007 season with the Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland's Triple-A team. He was called up on April 23 but sent back to Buffalo on May 3. Choo missed several months of 2007 due to injury. He had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in September 2007.

Choo began the 2008 season on the injured list while recovering. After playing some rehab games, Choo joined the Indians on May 31. He finished the season with a .309 batting average, 14 home runs, and 66 RBI in 94 games. These were new records for a South Korean-born player in MLB. He had a great September, hitting .400, and was named the American League Player of the Month.

In February 2009, Choo signed a one-year contract with the Indians. That season, he broke his own records for home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and hits. On July 3, Choo hit two home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs. On October 3, 2009, Choo hit his 20th home run. This made him the first Asian player to join the 20-20 club (20 home runs, 20 stolen bases) in MLB. He finished the season batting .300 with 20 home runs, 21 steals, and 86 RBI.

On September 17, 2010, Choo hit three home runs and had 7 RBI in a game against the Kansas City Royals. He hit a two-run homer, a grand slam, and a solo homer. On September 19, 2010, Choo reached the 20-20 club for the second year in a row. He batted .300 with 22 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He also led all AL right fielders with 14 assists.

Choo signed a one-year, $3.975 million deal after the 2010 season. In 2011, he hit eight home runs with a .259 batting average. On June 24, Choo was hit by a pitch on his left thumb, causing a fracture. This kept him out for six weeks. On August 23, he hit his first walk-off home run, winning the game for the Indians. On September 1, Choo got another injury, ending his season.

Choo signs autographs for fans before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays

On April 14, 2012, Choo was hit by a pitch on his right knee. This was from the same pitcher who hit him in 2011. Choo finished the game and won it for the Indians with a two-run double. On April 24, he left a game with a mild hamstring strain. Choo returned on May 2. On May 24, he hit his first career lead-off home run. He ended the season batting .283 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.

Playing for the Cincinnati Reds

Choo with the Cincinnati Reds in 2013

On December 11, 2012, Choo was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. This was part of a big trade involving three teams and nine players. On February 11, 2013, Choo agreed to a one-year, $7.375 million deal with the Reds.

On May 8, 2013, Choo hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. This was his second walk-off home run in Major League Baseball. On August 27, Choo hit his 100th career home run. On September 9, 2013, Choo set a Reds team record for being hit by pitches in a season. For the season, he batted .285 with 21 home runs, 54 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. This was his third career 20–20 season. Choo also led the major leagues in being hit by pitches (26). He was among the top players in the National League for runs (107), on-base percentage (.423), and walks (112).

On October 1, 2013, Choo hit a home run in the 2013 National League Wild Card Game. He was the first South Korean batter to hit a home run in the Major League Baseball postseason.

Years with the Texas Rangers

On December 21, 2013, Choo agreed to a seven-year, $130 million contract with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers officially welcomed him on December 27. In his first season with the team, he dealt with ankle injuries. He played in only 123 games, batting .242 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI. This was his toughest season.

On July 21, 2015, Choo hit for the cycle against the Colorado Rockies. He became the ninth player in Rangers history and the first Asian player in MLB to do this. He improved a lot in 2015 compared to his injured 2014 season. He hit .276 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI in 149 games.

During a key playoff game in 2015, Choo was involved in a strange play. A throw from the catcher hit his bat, allowing a runner to score. Since Choo was in the batter's box, he was not ruled to have interfered. This play was part of a very dramatic inning in playoff history. The Rangers lost that game and the series.

On April 10, 2016, Choo was placed on the injured list with a calf muscle strain. He returned on May 20 but left his first game back with a hamstring issue. He was activated again on June 13 and hit his first home run of the season. On July 20, Choo was injured again, this time with back pain. He returned on August 4. On August 16, it was announced that Choo would miss the rest of the season. He had a broken left forearm. He played in only 42 games in 2016, hitting .242 with seven home runs.

Choo stayed healthy in 2017. He finished the season batting .261 with 22 home runs and 78 RBI in 149 games.

Choo with the Texas Rangers in 2018

On May 26, 2018, Choo hit a walk-off home run against the Kansas City Royals. With 176 career home runs, Choo passed Hideki Matsui for the most career home runs by an Asian-born player. Choo was named to his first All-Star Game in July. He had set a club record by reaching base in 47 consecutive games. On July 20, Choo extended his on-base streak to 52 games. This was the longest single-season streak in Rangers history. He ended the year batting .264 with 21 home runs and 62 RBI. After the season, Choo was named the 2018 Texas Rangers Player of the Year.

On April 4, 2019, Choo got his 1,500th career major league hit. In 2019, he hit a career-high 24 home runs and 61 RBI in 151 games. After the 2019 season, Choo had surgery on his left shoulder.

During the shorter 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Choo hit .236 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 33 games.

Return to South Korea with SSG Landers

On February 21, 2021, Choo agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the SSG Landers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Choo played in 136 games for the team in 2021. He batted .263 with 21 home runs and 69 RBI. On November 16, 2021, Choo re-signed with the Landers for another year.

On December 14, 2023, Choo announced that he would retire from baseball after the 2024 KBO season.

World Baseball Classic Appearances

Choo was on the 2009 World Baseball Classic South Korean team. His MLB team, Cleveland, allowed him to play with some rules at first. Choo helped South Korea win 10–2 against Venezuela with a three-run home run. He also hit a solo home run in the finals against Japan. South Korea lost that final game 5–3.

About Shin-Soo Choo's Life

Choo and his wife, Won-mi Ha, have two sons (born in 2004 and 2010) and a daughter (born in 2011). When he was a minor league player in the U.S., he earned little money. He sometimes skipped meals to save money for diapers for his son. Choo's uncle, Park Jeong-Tae, was a former second baseman for the Lotte Giants. Choo has been close friends with Lee Dae-Ho since they went to the same elementary school.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Choo showed great generosity. He donated $1,000 to each of the 190 players in the Texas Rangers’ minor league system. These players could not work because MLB had shut down. He also gave $200,000 to a nonprofit group in Korea. This money helped the city of Daegu, which was hit hard by the pandemic.

Walk Up Songs

Baseball players often choose songs to play when they walk up to bat. Here are some songs Choo used:

• Gangnam Style – Psy (April 2014)
• International Love – Pitbull (April 2014)
• Turn Down for What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon (April 2014)
• Regulate – Warren G (June 2016)
• Despacito – Remix by Luis Fonsi (July 2017)
• Fire – BTS (April 2018)

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players who hit for the cycle