Choi Ji-man, a 35-year-old veteran and former Major League Baseball player now with the Ulsan Whales, has become a wild card in South Korea's professional baseball rookie draft, which is just over a month away.
Choi will take part in the 2027 rookie draft scheduled for September 21, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said on the 17th. He wrapped up his career in the United States and returned home, joining the citizen-owned club Ulsan Whales in June this year.
Because Choi went straight to the United States after graduating from Dongsan High School and never entered a domestic rookie draft, KBO rules require him to enter the 2027 draft. He proved his ability in the major leagues, appearing in 525 games and hitting 67 home runs.
After struggling for a stretch following his arrival at Ulsan, his hitting has recently begun to pick up. His batting average has climbed to .292, approaching the .300 mark. On the 15th of this month, he hit his first home run in a game against the Hanwha Eagles' second-string squad.
As Choi's form has recovered, talk of a first-round selection has quickly gained traction. The buzz reflects a shortage of infielders combined with a string of departures to the United States by top prospects such as Eom Jun-sang of Deoksu High School and Park Chan-min of Gwangju Jeil High School. Still, there is genuine unease over Choi taking a slot in a draft meant to select student players who are the game's future hopefuls.
Choi himself expressed mixed feelings. "I feel sorry, because I think the draft should be a more important opportunity for student players," he said recently through the club. "I have to do well next year, so I'm not overexerting myself and am checking my condition while continuing to play."
