by JAMES S. KIM | @james_s_kim
editor@charactermedia.com
It must feel good to get the first one out of the way for Shin-soo Choo. The Texas Ranger outfielder isn’t known particularly for his power, but he hadn’t hit a home run in a major league game since August 23, 2014—just days before his decision to undergo surgeries for his worsening shoulder and ankle put an early end to his injury-plagued season.
The South Korean clubbed a three-run home run against the Oakland A’s Thursday that put the Rangers up 8-0 in the fourth inning and ended the evening early for A’s starter Kendall Graveman. Choo finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored, helping the Rangers cruise to an easy 10-1 victory. Choo was 1 for 7 coming into the game with a double.
Choo batted second in the lineup Thursday as Rangers manager Jeff Banister continues to find a slot for him in the lineup. During spring training, the Rangers had him batting third, but he opened the season batting fifth. Last year, Choo was primarily batting leadoff until injuries to the team had him shifted around the lineup.
“I don’t think anybody wants to come to the park and change where they hit every single day,” Choo told Dallas News on Monday. “I know that I will have the same approach that I had last year wherever I hit. I’m going to swing at my pitch. Nothing is going to change.”
Choo, 32, had the worst year of his career in 2014 as he struggled to play through injuries before prematurely ending his season. It was a very sour note for the Rangers and their fans, as they invested their hopes and a lot of money ($130 million over seven years) into the outfielder who was best known for his patient at-bats and ability to get on base. The Rangers finished at the bottom of the American League with a record of 67-95.
Choo began preparing for the 2015 season earlier than he ever had before in his career, vowing to make it a turning point in his career. “I’m sure the efforts I’m making now will pay off,” he said in December. “I no longer want to take any more criticism. At the end of the day, I’m sure all of the struggles I’ve been through [in 2014] will be remembered as times I feel thankful for after I overcome. I’ll regain the faith from fans who became frustrated from watching me struggle this year.”
The 2015 season is young, so Choo and the Rangers will have plenty of time figure things out. There’s not much reason to doubt his abilities and resilience that he has displayed throughout his career—be sure to check out KoreAm‘s August/September 2014 cover story for a detailed look at the professional athlete who first came to the U.S. as an 18-year-old prospect from South Korea.
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Feature image via CBS Sacramento
