Shin-Soo Choo

Shin-Soo Choo…he and his wife Won Mi Ha have 3 children, sons Alan (3/13/05) and Aiden (9/4/09), and daughter Abigail (8/22/11)…favorite player growing up was Ken Griffey, Jr…favorite activity away from the park is spending time with his kids, and his top vacation spot is Hawaii…was the Reds' recipient of the 2013 Heart & Hustle Award presented by the MLB Players Alumni Association.

2019

Made 141 total starts at DH (61), RF (41) and LF (39), with 80 starts in the outfield being his most since 2015 (144)… led Texas in games (151), his most since 2012 (154 with CIN), runs (93) and doubles (31), was 2nd in at-bats (563), hits (149), OPS (.826) and multi-hit games (43), and had 3rd-most HR (24).

2018

Hit .293/.405/.506/.911 over 90 G in the 1st 'half' to earn his 1st career All-Star selection, then batted .217/.329/.316/.645 in 56 G after the break...led all Rangers in hits (148), walks (92), OPS (.810), and runs (83), finishing 2nd on club in doubles (30) and total bases (243) ranked among A.L. leaders in BB (4th, 92), OBP (7th, .377), and times on base (T8th, 250)…the 92 BB were the 14th-highest single-season total in club history, most since Rafael Palmeiro had 104 BB in 2002, and 2nd-highest total of his career (112 BB in 2013 w/ CIN)…marked Choo's highest OBP since 2013 (career-high .423) and was highest by a Ranger since 2015 (Prince Fielder-.378)…hit 21 HR, one shy of his career high (22 HR in 2010/2015/2017)…no HR in his last 27 G beg. 8/24, and hit one HR in his final 45 contests…hit his 4th career grand slam on 5/18 at CWS… his 3rd career walk-off HR on 5/26 vs. KC was also career HR no. 176, passing Japan's Hideki Matsui (175) for most HR by Asia-born player in ML history…selected Rangers Player of Month for June (.347/.466/.621/1.087), his 2nd career selection (also Sept./Oct. 2015)…finished with 2 of 3 longest hit streaks by Rangers in '18 (12 G, 5/23-6/5 and 6/16-29)…made 144 starts at DH (team-high 85), RF (33), and LF (26)…had 26 starts in LF after not appearing there since 8/20/14 at MIA…his .964 (4 E/111 TC) fielding pct. in 59 G in the outfield was 5th-lowest among all MLB OF with 100+ chances…did not hit cleanup, but had starts in 5 of the top 6 slots in the lineup, batting leadoff (team-high 100), 2nd (40), 3rd (1), 5th (1), and 6th (2)…had .827 OPS in the leadoff slot, hitting 17 of his 21 HR while batting at the top of the order.

2017

Returned from an injury-riddled 2016 to post 2nd-highest batting average (.261) and OPS (.780) among his 4 seasons with the Rangers…team-high 77 walks, T10th in A.L… also finished among team leaders in hits (2nd, 142), runs (2nd, 96), games (3rd, 149), and TB (5th, 230)…the 149 games matched his most for Texas (also 2015)…made 140 total starts, team-high 65 GS as DH and 75 starts in RF…made 22 of his 1st 26 starts as DH, but 71 of final 114 starts in RF…starts in 5 different slots in batting order (1/2/7/8/9).

BATTING // Had a .250 average at the break, but hit .273/.349/.438/.787 (70-256) in the second 'half' to finish at .261…after 8/1, his batting average hovered between .250 and .265 for the rest of the year…only month with an average above .275 was August (.314), but had an OPS above .800 in 3 months: April (.829), June (.814), and August (.817)…his 49 BB at the break ranked 5th in A.L., but he had just 28 BB after the break to finish with 77 BB…reached safely 4+ times in a teamhigh 9 games, T8th-most in A.L. and most by a Ranger since Choo had 9 instances in 2014…his 5 G with 3+ BB were most by a Ranger since 2008 (Milton Bradley-5)…batted .315 (34-108) with RISP, 2nd-highest among club regulars (Andrus-.331) and 2nd-best of his career in a full season (.386 in 2008)…his pct. of pitches taken (57.9%) was lowest in a season since 2012 (57.2%)…career-high 18 GIDP's.

2016

In a season shortened by 4 separate disabled list stints, Choo batted .242 (43-178) with 7 HR and 17 RBI over 48 games in his 3rd year with Texas, his fewest games since an injury-ridden 2007 (6 games)…still had the most starts in the leadoff slot of any Ranger (40) and ranked 2nd on the club with 42 starts in RF…his 4.02 pitches per plate appearance ranked 3rd among Rangers with at least 200 plate appearances…had best PA/BB ratio (8.40) among any Ranger with 50+ PA's… reached safely via H/BB/HBP in 41 of the 48 games in which he appeared…had 42 starts in RF and 4 as DH…was 6-for-9 in steal attempts.

 

2015

After a total of five hits in April, Choo rebounded with strong efforts in both May and the second half, when he was among MLB leaders in batting average and on-base percentage…ranked among A.L. leaders in on-base pct. (sixth, .375), walks (ninth, 76),and hit by pitches (tied for second, 15, tied for second-most in club history)…was one of 14 MLB players (seven in A.L.) with minimums of 20 HR, 90 R, 70 RBI, and 70 BB…topped the Rangers in runs (94, second most of career), extra base hits (57), and walks and was among the leaders in OBP (secnd), doubles (tied for second, 32), total bases (tied for second,257), games (third, 149), homers (third, 22, tying career best), at bats (fourth, 555), hits (fourth, 153), and RBI (fourth, 82)…was 10th in the A.L. in strikeouts (147)…ranked among the A.L. leaders in batting average vs. RHP (eighth, .299) and at home (10th, .317)…started 144 games in right and one as the DH.

2014

Slowed by an injured ankle throughout his first season with Texas, Choo was shut down in late August and would eventually have surgeries on both his left elbow and left ankle...still had a .714 OPS figure that ranked 2nd among Texas qualifiers (Beltre-.879)...ranked 4th on team in doubles (19) and extra-base hits (33), and was 5th among Rangers in games (123), runs (58), hits (110), total bases (170), and RBI (tied-40)...made 119 starts: 63 in left field, 44 as DH, and 12 in right field.

2013

Won the Ernie Lombardi Award as Cincinnati's MVP in his lone season with the Reds…led the majors with a club record 26 hit by pitches and ranked 2nd in ML with 112 walks and a .423 on-base percentage, placing behind teammate Joey Votto in both categories (135 BB, .435 OBP)…was also among the N.L. leaders in runs (2nd, 107), multi-hit games (T5th, 52), and OPS (8th, .885)…was the toughest player in the N.L. to double up with a GIDP every 189.7 AB…topped the Reds in runs, walks (112), and stolen bases (20), was 2nd in batting (.285), doubles (34), and on-base percentage, and placed 3rd in games (154), hits (162), homers (21), extra base hits (57), and total bases (263)…set career bests for runs, walks, and on-base percentage…started 150 games in center and 3 in left…finished 12th in BBWAA N.L. MVP voting.

2012

Was the Indians' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award after leading his team in runs (88), doubles (43), extra-base hits (61) and HR (16) ... established career highs in both runs and doubles and with 155 apps fell 1 shy of his career high ... ranked among the American League leaders in runs (T14th), hits (T16th), doubles (5th), on-base percentage (.373, 10th) and multi-hit games (50, 15th) ... his .327 BA vs RHP was the seventh-best mark in the AL ... his .389 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot ranked third in the league ... joined Ian Kinsler of the Rangers as the only players in the Major Leagues in 2012 with at least 40 2B, 15hr and 20 steals ... Choo joined Roberto Alomar and Grady Sizemore as the only players in Indians history to reach each of those statistical marks in a single season ... hit the first 5 leadoff HR of his career, a list of victims that includes Cin's Mat Latos and Mike Leake ... finished the season with a career-high 13-game hitting streak (.364).

2011

Spent several stints on the disabled list and got better at the plate as the season went along around his stints on the DL..Season got off to a slow start, hitting as low as .221 on May 12 and .231 on June 14...From June 15 thru the end of the season he hit .347 (26-75) with 2 2B, 3HR & 13 RBI in 22 games (.990OPS)...Was on the 15-day DL from June 25-August 11 with a broken left thumb that required surgery after being hit by a Jonathan Sanchez pitch on June 24 at San Francisco...Was activated off the DL on August 11 after a short rehab at Class A Lake County and hit .348 (16-46) upon his return with a 2B, 3B, 3HR & 8RBI in 12 games in August before suffering a strained left oblique on August 27 and was subsequently placed on the 15-day DL for the second time on September 1 (retroactive to August 28) until being activated on Sept. 15 at Texas...Second stint off the DL lasted just 1 at bat and was removed from the game at Texas on Sept 15 after a ground out to first base and a re-aggravated left oblique strain...Did not play the rest of the season. (60-day DL 9/24. 3rd time in 2011)...Made 84 starts in right field (85G) and posted a fielding % of .978 (185TC, 2E) and finished tied for 9th in the AL in outfield assists despite missing 77 games...Was successful on 12 of 17 stolen base attempts (71%)...Hit .348 (16-46) w/a 2B, 3B, 3HR, 8RBI (1.020OPS) in August after first stint on the DL...Hit .220 (27-123) with runners on base and .205 (17-83) with RISP.

2010

Became the first Indians batter in franchise history to hit .300 with 20HR and 20 stolen bases in consecutive seasons as he eclipsed the .400 mark in on-base % for the first time and led the team in virtually every offensive category for the second straight year. ...Was one of 7 players in MLB this season to hit 20HR with 20 SB and one of just three (H Ramirez, C Gonzalez) players to hit .300 with 20HR/20SB...Choo and Hanley Ramirez are the only players to do it the last two years in MLB...Only the 4th Indians hitter in club history to go 20HR and 20SB on multiple occasions (R Alomar, Sizemore, J Carter)...Finished 14th in the AL MVP voting today with 9 points (1 6th, 1 9th, 2 10th place votes). ...Finished 4th in the American League in on-base % (.401), 1st in outfield assists (14), 8th in walks (83), 6th in home batting average (.335) and 9th in OPS at .885...Was also 12th in the AL in avg (.300), T19th in TB (266), 8th in times on base (259), 2nd w/a .433 on-base % vs. RHP, 6th in BA vs. RHP (.319), 12th w/a .302 average after the 6th inning, 17th in slugging % (.484) and T18th in SB (22)...Became the first Indians OF since Manny Ramirez in 2000 to post a .400 on-base % and the first Indians hitter overall to eclipse that mark since Travis Hafner in 2006...Won AL Player of the Week twice, in April (11-18) and September (13-19)...His .317 avg in the 2nd half was 6th in the AL. ...Had a career-night on September 17 at Kansas City, hitting 3 home runs in a game for the first time in his career while equaling a career-high 7RBI for a single game...It marked the 31st time in club history a batter hit at least 3HR in a game and the first since TRAVIS HAFNER in 2004 and only the 5th Indians hitter since 2001 to do it...Hit 3HR off 3 different Royal pitchers...Hit his 3rd career grand slam in that game (2nd of the season)...Also hit 2HR in a game on 3 occasions (5/21 vCIN, 6/23 @PHI & 6/27 @CIN) and now has five 2HR games for his career. ...Reached base safely in 126 of 144 games via hit or walk...Made 142 starts in RF and 2 starts at DH...Ended the year w/a 67 game errorless streak & compiled a fielding % of .986 (4E, 285TC, 14A)...His MLB-high 14 assists were the most by an Indians OF since Kenny Lofton had 19 in 1998...Enjoyed a season-high 11 game hitting streak from June 3-13. ...Was on the 15-day DL from July 3-22 with a right thumb sprain suffered diving for a ball vs. Oakland on July 2...After his activation from the DL he went on to hit .317 (79-249) with 17 2B, 9HR & 47 RBI and hit in 47 of the 66 games... Was on fire in September/October to finish the season, hitting .340 (36-106) with 6HR & 27 RBI in 29 games (2nd in the AL in September RBI) to finish at .300 in the second to last game of the regular season on October 2...From Sept 15 thru remainder of the year he hit .417 (25-60) with 3 2B, 6HR & 19RBI over his last 17 games...Was 14 for 29 over his last 8 games (2HR, 8RBI). ...Had an OPS of .908 in the second half...Hit .306 (121-395) when batting 3rd with 13 HR & 68 RBI in 105 games...Also appeared in the 2nd slot in the order 39 times...Hit .310 (74-239) with runners on base .317 (19-60) with RISP-2outs... Was 6 for 12 w/the bases loaded w/2HR & 18RBI...In November won the gold medal with Team Korea in the Asian Games (.571, 8-for-14, 3HR, 11RBI, 2 steals, 5 walks, 5G).

2009

Choo was the club's most consistent and productive offensive player while playing a solid right field in his first full season played entirely at the big league level...Was one of just 4 players in Major Leagues (and only American Leaguer) to hit .300 with 20 home runs and 20 steals (Ryan Braun, Justin Upton, Hanley Ramirez)...Hit his 20th home run on Oct. 3 at Boston (Byrd) and became the first Asian-born player in MLB history to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases within the same season...He was one of just 4 players in the American League this year (Kinsler, Granderson, N Cruz) to hit 20 HR/20 steals and was the 14th big leaguer to do it...He is the 8th Cleveland Indian ever to do it (done 14 times in club history, Sizemore went 30/30 last year)...Was 21st in the league in average (.300, one of just 23 in the AL to hit at least.300) while his team-high on-base+slugging % of .883 ranked 15th in the AL...Also finished 8th in the American League in on-base % (.394), 14th in doubles (38), 20th in steals (21), t2nd in hit by pitch (17) and 12th walks...Stole 21 bases in 23 attempts (91%, 2nd best in AL) and had a pair of 2 steal games...Had a career night on July 3 vs. Oakland, going 4-for-5 with 4 runs, a double, 2 HR and 7RBI, his 2nd career 2HR game and a career-high 4 runs and 7RBI, becoming the first Indian in over 57 years to record 7-or-more RBIs and 4-or-more runs scored in the same game (Al Rosen 1952)...Was just the 3rd player since 1945 to record 4 runs, 7RBI and a steal in the same game (Willie Stargell 5/22/68 @CHC; Ted Williams vs. STL June 1949)...Had three 4-hit games of the year to equal a career-high (last on 7/27)...Made 121 starts in right field, 20 starts in left field and 1 start in center (11GS at DH)...Was T4th among AL outfielders in assists (11) and compiled a fielding % of .979 (335TC, 7E, 30th best among AL OFs)...From July 25 on he hit .325 (78-240) w/a .927 OPS...Was t15th in the league in total bases (285), t9th in SF (7), 5th in times on base (270), t19th in extra bases hits (64), 18th in pitches seen per PA (4.05), 20th w/21 steals, 13th with a .309 batting avg vs. RHP and 7th with a .328 average after the 6th inning.

2008

Had a monster second half to position him into a prominent role for the upcoming campaign... Hit .343 (72-210) in the second half with 50 runs, 20 doubles, 2 triples, 11 home runs and 48 RBI in 58 games...Among players with at least 225 second half plate appearances, he was 2nd in the AL in on-base+slugging % (OPS) at 1.038 and finished 3rd with a .343 batting average...He also finished T6th in the 2nd half in doubles & runs among AL hitters and T9th in RBI... His 98 hits are the most ever in a single Major League season by a Korean born player (previous record was 86 by Hee Seop Choi for FLA/LA in 2004...Was on the 15-day disabled list to start the season as he rehabbed from last year's left elbow surgery and DH'd in minor league games at the end of spring training and began a rehab assignment at AAA Buffalo on May 15...Hit .262 (11-42) w/2 2B, a HR & 3RBI in 12 games at Buffalo before being activated on May 30...Spent the remainder of the season with the Tribe...began a rehab assignment at AAA Buffalo on May 15...Hit .262 (11-42) w/2 2B, a HR & 3RBI in 12 games at Buffalo before being activated on May 30...Spent the remainder of the season with the Tribe...Enjoyed his first 2 HR game on Sept. 19 vs. Detroit and equaled his career-high w/4RBI in that contest...Had 7 three-hit games to equal a career-best and had a career-high 3 doubles on August 10 @TOR....Appeared in 26 games in LF (25GS), 61 games in RF (45GS) and made 11 starts at DH.... Was 3 for 8 w/6RBI as a PH and was 4 for 7 (57%) in SB attempts...Hit .400 (34-85) in September w/5 2B, 5HR & 24RBI and recorded the highest on-base % (.464) and 3rd highest September average (75PA)...Was named the Sharp American League Player of the Month for September by MLB... Was also 2nd in RBI (24) & T3rd in runs (21) in Sept...First career monthly award...Had .992 OPS (.579SLG, 413OB%) vs. RHP...Recorded an OPS over 1.000 in August (1.037, .402OB%) and Sept. (1.123, .464OB%)...Hit .343 (24-70, .420OB%) when batting 3rd...Hit .276 w/bases empty (.363OB) vs. .347 (51-147, .435OB) with runners on base (9th highest AVG in the AL)...Hit .405 (15-37) with RISP-2 outs....His .386 avg with RISP was the 4th best mark in the AL.

2006

Spent the last 2 months of the season in Cleveland after being acquired from Seattle at the end of July...Spent most of his final half season in the Seattle organization at AAA Tacoma where he hit .323 (121-375) with 21 doubles, 3 triples, 13 HR and 48 RBI in 94 games and represented the Pacific Coast League in the Triple A All-Star team...He also scored 71 runs and has stolen 26 bases in 30 attempts (87%)...Choo appeared in 51 games in LF, 30 games in RF, 12 games in CF for the Rainiers...At the time of the trade he ranked 9th in the PCL in average (.323), 2nd in hits (121), 2nd in stolen bases (26) and 5th in runs scored (70)...Had four 4-hit games at Triple A Tacoma...At AAA he hit .383 (44-115) in June (11 2B, 4HR, 18RBI, 27G) and .354 (23-65) in July...Hit .361 (106-294, 13HR, 43RBI) and .185 (15-81, 0HR, 5RBI) off LHP in Triple A...Hit .316 (25-79) with RISP and .388 (52-134) with runners on...He also appeared in 4 games in CF with the Mariners from July 3-13 batting .091 (1-11) with a double after being recalled on July 3 optioned back Tacoma on July 13...Reported to Cleveland and promptly hit his first career homer in his Indians debut on July 28 vs. his former team, Seattle, off Felix Hernandez that provided the game-winning 1-0 margin...Hit his 2nd homer and his first career grand slam on August 3 at Boston (J. Beckett), giving him a career-high 4 RBI in the contest...Had career-high 3 hits on August 9 & Aug. 10 vs. LAA (1 of 2 rookies, BAL Markakis, with consecutive 3-hit games in 2006)...Made 29 starts in RF and 9G/GS in LF for Eric Wedge...Over his last 42 games with the Tribe he hit .298 (42- 141) w/2 HR & 21 RBI (August 1st on)... Did not record an RBI from August 22-Sept. 22 (16G)...Hit .278 (5-18) off LHP and .281 (39-139) off RHP with 3HR & 21 RBI...Hit .283 (15-53) with RISP...Was 2 for 7 as a PH...Hit .293 (27-92) in the 5th spot in the order and .407 (11-27) batting 6th...Hit .296 (24-81) w/runners on base and .500 (11-22) on the first pitch.

2005

Played in 10 games over two stints with the Mariners...Recalled from AAA Tacoma on April 20, making his Major League debut as a pinch-hitter on April 21...Tallied his first Major League hit May 3 vs. Angels, an RBI single as pinchhitter...optioned to Tacoma after the game...Recalled again Sept. 17, starting in center field that night...finished the season with Seattle...Batted .282 (121x429) with 21 doubles, 11 HR & 54 RBI in 115 games at Tacoma...played 111 games in left field...batted .295 (70x237) at home, .260 (50x192) on the road...Batted .330 in 27 August games (35x106)...hit .304 (14x46) in 13 April contests...hit .341 combined for August and September (43x126/.400)...Lifted his season average from .249 to .282 from Aug. 13-Sept. 5, batting .379 (39x103)...Had a season-high 11-game hitting streak from Aug. 25-Sept. 4 other eight-game streaks from July 16-23 and Aug. 13-19.

2004

Spent season with San Antonio setting career highs in nearly every offensive category...Finished 2nd in the Texas League in hits (163) and runs (89), tied for 2nd in triples (7), 3rd in RBI (84) and stolen bases (40) and 5th in average (.315)...Recorded eight hitting streaks of six or more games...Had a season-high 10-game hit streak, hitting .349 (15x43), from April 13-22..Had 54 multi-hit games, including a 4-hit game (June 19) and eight 3-hit games...Had eight games with at least two stolen bases, including a season-high three stolen bases on June 28 at Frisco...Hit over .313 in each of the final three months of the season, including .348 (39x112) in the month of July...Hit .390 (57x146) with RISP and .353 (89x252) with runners on base...Member of the World team in the 2004 All-Star Futures Game...Named Mariners Minor League Player of the Year by the Seattle organization...Participated in the 2004 Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas.

2003

Spent full season with Inland Empire...set new career highs in triples (13), home runs (9) and RBI (55)...the 13 triples led the Cal League...helped 66ers claim Cal League title.

2002

Named Wisconsin's Most Valuable Player by Mariners organization...his 37 stolen bases was second-most among Mariners farm hands while his .303 batting average was tied for fourth-best....417 slugging percentage ranked third in the league...reached base safely in 98 of 119 games...collected 9 RBI over 4 games from April 6-10, including 5 RBI April 10 at Burlington...hit .475 (19x40) in 11 games May 4-16...selected as a starter on the Midwest League West All-Star Team in June...batted .556 (10x18) over 5 games from July 26-30...transferred to San Bernardino from Wisconsin Aug. 22...named to SportsTicker's All-Teen Team at the end of the season.

2001

Hit .302 (60x199) in 51 games, all in center field, with Peoria...had 13 hits and 9 RBI in first 4 games played...drove in 5 runs while going 5x5 with a double and 2 home runs June 26 vs. Athletics...had 8-game hit streak July 3-13, going 12x33 (.367) during the streak...promoted to Wisconsin in early Sept., and hit in all 3 games played...participated in the Mariners Arizona Instructional League.