The Pittsburgh Pirates today acquired first baseman Ji-Man Choi (GEE-man CHOY) from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league pitcher Jack Hartman.
Choi finished seventh among all first basemen in Major League Baseball in 2022 in Outs Above Average (+2) according to Baseball Savant, which placed in the 77th percentile at that position. Since breaking into the big leagues in 2016 with the Los Angeles Angels, he has also posted a .994 fielding percentage in 348 games at first base.
The native of Incheon, South Korea, also posted a Weighted Runs Created Plus of 115 (league average is 100) during the 2022 campaign while hitting .233 with 22 doubles, 11 home runs, 52 RBI, 58 walks and a .341 on-base percentage in 113 games with the Rays.
Choi was a member of an Opening Day roster for the fifth time in his career in 2022. He reached base safely in a career-high 20 straight games from May 28 to June 22, which was also the longest on-base streak by a member of the Rays during the 2022 season.
Choi has recorded a .239 career average (350-for-1463) with 88 doubles, three triples, 61 home runs and 225 RBI in 486 games between the Los Angeles Angels (2016), New York Yankees (2017), Milwaukee (2018) and Tampa Bay (2018-22). His 61 home runs are the second-most all-time among Korean-born players in Major League Baseball behind Shin-Soo Choo (218).
The Pirates also reinstated Canaan Smith-Njigba, Colin Holderman, Yerry De Los Santos, Blake Cederlind and Max Kranick from the 60-day injured list today.
In addition, Peter Solomon, Beau Sulser, Jason Delay, Blake Cederlind, Eric Stout and Zack Collins have been removed from the 40-man roster, cleared waivers and outrighted to Triple-A. Stout and Collins have become free agents.
The 40-man roster is now full.