▲ This photo shows Choi Ji-man preparing for the big leagues.[AP=Yonhap News] 

 

SEOUL, May 5 (Yonhap) -- Choi Ji-man (30, Tampa Bay Rays), who had surgery on his right knee and rehabilitated, played in the opening game of the 2021 minor league season in the U.S. professional baseball ahead of his return to the big leagues.

 

Choi Ji-man, as a minor league Triple-A Durham Bulls player under Tampa Bay, started playing against Memphis Redbirds under the St. Louis Cardinals at Auto Zone Park in Memphis on the 5th (KST), and posted no hits and one RBI in two at-bats.

 

It is the first time in 54 days that he has played an actual game since the pre-season game against the Atlanta Braves on March 12 this year.

 

Choi Ji-man, who has been a full-time major league player since 2019, had played in minor league games for three years.

 

He suffered knee pain during the spring camp and underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove cartilage fragments and anti-wall plate necrosis tissue in his knee just before the opening of the Major League Baseball on April 2nd.

 

At that time, the Tampa Bay Rays expected him to return in early or mid May.

 

Choi Ji-man has faithfully trained in rehabilitation and is speeding up his return to the big leagues by playing in the minor leagues.

 

Tampa Bay requires at least 30 at-bats in the minor leagues to return to the big leagues.

 

 

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