Tampa Bay Rays' Choi Ji-man returns to the big league stage after a short break.
If Hyun-Jin Ryu recovers from injury and returns to the major leagues, the first two-hit match of the season could be held on the 14th and 16th of Dongsan High School.
MLB.com and the Tampa Bay Times reported today that "Choi Ji-man is highly likely to return from his visit to the Seattle Mariners on the 9th."
Choi Ji-man was placed on the 2-day 10-day Injured List (IL) after a bone fragment was found on his right elbow.
He retroactively applied the IL listing date to April 29th.
MLB.com said, "Choi Ji-man played first base in the minor league camp practice game on the 7th and finished the game without problems. The name is expected to be raised,” he said.
Choi Ji-man played with a batting average of 0.357 (15 hits in 42 at-bats), 2 home runs, 10 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of 0.491 this season.
He took a break from his elbow pain, but the break didn't last long.
The Tampa Bay team is also using Choi Ji-man, who is scheduled to return, for 'publicity'.
Tampa Bay used Ji-man Choi as a model on its website to guide the sale of tickets for the three consecutive home matches against Toronto on the 14th and 16th.
Tampa Bay will play an away game for 10 days from the 3rd to the 12th, take a day off on the 13th, and then play a home game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida from the 14th.
The fact that there is a Korean pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu in Toronto can also be a factor in the box office success.
Ryu Hyun-jin is also in the IL and is recovering.
If Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is starting rehabilitation in the minor league on the 8th, successfully completes the final course, he can start the game against Tampa Bay on the 14th and 16th and play a duel with Choi Ji-man.
Hyun-jin Ryu and Ji-man Choi met for the first time on May 24, 2021.
At that time, Choi Ji-man hit Ryu Hyun-jin with one hit (double) in three at-bats.
(Photo = MLB.com Tampa Bay page capture, Yonhap News)