Hee-Seop Choi

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #1 prospect in 2003
  Choi became the first Korean position player to sign with a major league team when he agreed to a $1.2 million bonus. He homered in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 1998 World Championships in Italy--as a 19-year-old--and hasn't stopped hitting since arriving in the United States. He led the Arizona Fall League in homers in 2000 but was waylaid in 2001 by severe inflammation in his right hand. Healthy again last year, he was one of the most dangerous hitters in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and made his major league debut in September. He played only sporadically because manager Bruce Kimm was more concerned with Fred McGriff becoming the first big leaguer to reach 30 homers with five different teams. Choi did hit his first two big league homers, then starred in the AFL again after the season. The top power hitter in the system, Choi launches balls to all fields. He shortened his swing last year without sacrificing any pop. Even better, he's more than just a one-dimensional slugger. He hits for average because he combines the ability to make adjustments with patience at the plate. Choi led the PCL in walks last year. He initially struggled against lefthanders but conquered them in Triple-A. For his size, Choi moves well. He should be a solidaverage to plus defender at first base. Because he's big and has some uppercut to his swing, some questioned Choi's ability to hit inside fastballs, and whether he'd do damage against quality pitching rather than just feast on mistakes. Others pointed to his approach and ability to use the entire ballpark and weren't concerned. At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Choi will have to watch his body. He still has work to do defensively, particularly with his footwork and receiving skills. Though McGriff wasn't re-signed, the Cubs traded for Eric Karros (and Mark Grudzielanek) in the offseason. That deal was more about exchanging bad contracts (Chicago dumped Todd Hundley) than consigning Choi to the bench. Choi and Bobby Hill should man the right side of Chicago's infield for years to come. They'll ease into starting roles in 2003, with Karros and Grudzielanek serving as insurance.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #3 prospect in 2002
  Signed to a $1.2 million bonus in 1999, Choi slugged his way through the minors in his first two years and led the Arizona Fall League in homers in 2000. Sent to Triple-A Iowa last spring to work on hitting lefthanders, he lost much of the season to an injury in the back of his right hand. He had severe inflammation rather than a tear, but the hand was slow to heal. Choi is one of the top power hitters in the minors, and he still cranked out homers on a regular basis despite his painful hand problem. He drives the ball to all fields and is more than a slugger. He's an above-average first baseman who runs well for his size. In half a season Choi batted .286 with a .557 slugging percentage against lefties, so he may have solved that problem. His hand should be fine by spring training. His focus now is to watch his strikeouts and his weight. Chicago's trade for Fred McGriff pushed the timetable for making Choi the everyday first baseman back a year. He'll begin 2002 in Iowa and could be pushing for a promotion after the all-star break.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #3 prospect in 2001
  As a 19-year-old, Choi homered in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 1998 World Championships in Italy. The following March, he became the first Korean position-player prospect to sign with a major league club when he accepted a $1.2 million bonus from the Cubs. He has done nothing but hit ever since, and he led the Arizona Fall League in homers (six) and slugging percentage (.577) after the 2000 season. Choi is a more advanced hitter than Corey Patterson at this point, thanks to his short stroke and understanding of the strike zone. Choi has tremendous power to all fields and he's a better athlete than Chicago thought he would be. He was the high Class A Florida State League's best defensive first baseman and runs well for his size and position. He has learned English so quickly that he turned down the team's offer to pay for an interpreter for the 2000 season. Choi has fanned 184 times in 211 pro games, though he also draws plenty of walks and his extra-base production more than offsets his strikeouts. A big man, he'll have to watch his weight in the future. He has had no problems staying in shape thus far. The Cubs have let Mark Grace go, but scouts who saw Choi in the AFL believe he needs Triple-A time. He could take over the first-base job toward the end of the season, and he won't let it go for a while.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #8 prospect in 2002
  Hampered a year ago by a painful injury to his right hand, Choi returned to Iowa and was much more effective. He boosted his average 58 points, showed as much raw pop as anyone and led the league with 95 walks. "He has unbelievable power," said Cron, who managed him in the Arizona Fall League. "He can look so silly on the same pitch twice in a row, then the third time he'll hit it nine miles. He can do that with any pitch. There's talent oozing out of all parts of his body. It's just a matter of time." His time has come, as the Cubs are going to let Fred McGriff walk as a free agent. Choi has learned to solve lefthanders and has become a solid first baseman, but several observers questioned whether he can handle inside heat. Two scouts say his uppercut stroke makes that difficult and wonder if he's more of a mistake hitter.
• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #14 prospect in 2001
  Unfortunately, Choi's 2001 season will be more remembered for what happened off the field than on it. He was dragged into a story that got national attention when a Nashville Sounds employee played the song "Kung Fu Fighting" when Choi, who is Korean, came to bat. The employee was fired. More important, Choi got in just 266 at-bats this season because of a hand injury. He played for the first two months of the season with the pain but finally went on the disabled list at the end of May--after a game in which he hit two home runs. The injury was diagnosed as tendinitis in his left hand and just required rest. Choi showed flashes of his true talent when he returned to action in August, with immense power potential and an advanced feel for hitting. Managers expect to see him back in the league to start next season, though, unless he shows tremendous progress in the Arizona Fall League.
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  Ranked Florida State League #7 prospect in 2000
  Choi is part of the contingent of talented young players that gives Cubs fans reason for hope. His progress apparently has Chicago leaning toward not re-signing Mark Grace after the 2000 season. Choi is an imposing specimen who should hit for both average and power, though both areas are still developing. He can crush the ball out of any part of the ballpark. He also should be a strong defensive first baseman. "He's going to be a very consistent hitter," Zisk said. "When he realizes what people are trying to do with him at the plate, he will take the next step in his development."
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  Ranked Midwest League #10 prospect in 1999
  Choi, one of the growing number of Koreans in professional baseball, arrived from extended spring training after the season started. That didn't keep him from impressing managers with his plate discipline (50 walks) and power (.610 slugging percentage). Big and physical, Choi displayed his awesome power with several tape-measure shots. He hit several homers in excess of 400 feet. "Choi has a great understanding of the strike zone," McFarland said. "He has the knack of not making a mistake against pitchers the second time around. He has great balance at the plate and probably is farther along than anyone I've ever coached at this level."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #22 prospect in 2003
• Ranked Baseball America's #40 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #22 prospect in 2001
• Ranked Baseball America's #77 prospect in 2000

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Choi is part of the contingent of talented young players that gives Cubs fans reason for hope. His progress apparently has Chicago leaning toward not re-signing Mark Grace after the 2000 season. Choi is an imposing specimen who should hit for both average and power, though both areas are still developing. He can crush the ball out of any part of the ballpark. He also should be a strong defensive first baseman. "He's going to be a very consistent hitter," Zisk said. "When he realizes what people are trying to do with him at the plate, he will take the next step in his development."