Ji Man Choi Landing Spots: 3 potential destinations for former Padres' infielder despite 2024 injury absence

For Ji Man Choi, the 2024 season is likely one that the South Korean first baseman wants to forget. After inking a minor league deal with the Mets, Choi hit a mere .191 in Triple-A before being released in May. He did not play again after that.

Formerly, Choi has shown an ability to perform at the top level and hit a career-high 19 home runs in the 2019 season. As the 33-year-old eyes a return to the big leagues, here are some clubs who might want to think about extending the olive branch to Ji Man Choi.

Top 3 Landing Spots for Ji Man Choi

3. New York Yankees

Ever since Anthony Rizzo collided with Fernando Tatis of the San Diego Padres in May 2023, Yankees first basemen have slugged .602, ranking 29th out of 30 teams in that span.

"RAYS WALK-OFF!! JI-MAN CHOI WITH THE SOLO SHOT! #RaysUp 2-1 over Yankees" - Fanduel Sports Network Florida & Sun

Fans need look no farther than the numbers to see that Rizzo is not the player he once was. The multiple-time 30-homer hitter has just twenty bombs since the beginning of 2023. Ji Man Choi will not be the starting first basemen for the Yankees, but the team suffered notably when they had nobody to relieve Rizzo in times of struggle. For Choi, a spot on the pinstripes could give him some much-needed exposure to get back into the swing of things.

2. San Diego Padres

Ever since his trade from the Miami Marlins to the Padres in May 2023, three-time batting champ Luiz Arraez has been playing first base alongside Jake Cronenworth. For Ji Man Choi, who has played on the Friars before, an opportunity exists.

Oversaturated in the middle infield, the Padres have reached the stage of filling first base with non-first basemen. Additionally, Choi has been known to start the odd game in the outfield, which could add a voice of experience for up-and-coming names within the organization like Brandon Lockridge.

1. San Francisco Giants

In 2024, San Francisco Giants first basemen hit just 14 homers - second lowest in MLB. Although Ji Man Choi may not quite be a power hitter anymore, he has hit more than that himself in multiple seasons before.

"Ji Man is THE man. Second AB of the rehab in Triple-A, cranked this one 109.8 MPH and 442 FT." - Indianapolis Indians

Moreover, Choi's countryman Jung-hoo Lee will be back in the lineup after missing most of the 2024 season. With this, there is an opportunity in San Francisco to build a Korean nucleus, giving them a leg up on any future possible KBO signings - in a similar way that the Los Angeles Dodgers have ostensibly cornered the market for Japanese talent coming to MLB.