Top Prospect
Alert - Shin-Soo Choo
Shin-Soo Choo: Despite not playing in the
Minors at all during the 2000 season this young lefthanded bat entered the
2001 season as one of the most highly regarded prospects in the Mariners
farm system. Choo, 18, was signed as a free agent out of South Korea in
2000 and is currently tearing the cover off the ball in the Rookie-level
Arizona League. Through 177 ABs his numbers stand as follows: .311 BA with
47 Rs, 30 RBIs, 4 HRs and 11 SBs. Very Impressive. What catches my eye are
his peripherals, such as the .436 OBP and .531 SLG, very impressive indeed
for an 18 year old getting his first taste of American ball against the
best the states have to offer. This young phenom could end up giving the
Mariners one heck of a South Pacific punch in the OF with Ichiro in right
and Choo manning center.
However, don’t expect those two to be playing
together anytime soon. At best, Choo could get a cup of coffee in 3
years…. we’re talking late in the 2004 season and a lot of things can
happen between now and then, not all of them good. Choo not only needs to
adjust to the rigors of playing professional ball but he must also deal
with the cultural adjustments that come with moving half way across the
globe. That said, he’s not totally alone in this new environment. Byung
Kim, the current closer for the Diamondbacks, is also a Korean native and
has been a supportive ear for the youngster Choo to call on.
So what lies in store for the youngster Choo?
I’d like to see the Mariners push him because I think he could be very
special player. He could skip a level and go directly from Rookie-level
ball this year and open up at high-A in 2002. It’s still going to be a few
years before Mariner fans will see this talented young OFer in Seattle but
don’t forget about him because as I said, he could be a very special
player.
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