Rangers’ Choo Shin-soo to ask club to let him play at World Baseball Classic

SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Yonhap) — Texas Rangers’ outfielder Choo Shin-soo will ask his club to allow him to play at next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), the player’s representative said Tuesday.

Song Jae-woo, a cable TV commentator who handles Choo’s South Korean businesses, told Yonhap News Agency that Choo has asked the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to contact the Rangers regarding his status for the tournament next March.

An official at the KBO confirmed that the South Korean league office will ask the Rangers and other big league clubs with South Koreans for the players’ release.

The U.S. media reported last week that the Rangers planned to ask the WBC organizers to keep Choo out of the tournament because of his recent injury history. The Rangers’ request falls under the WBC’s “chronic condition” provision.

If the WBC organizers reject the Rangers’ appeal, then the player can decide if he wants to compete.

Texas Rangers’ outfielder Choo Shin-soo speaks at a charity event in Seoul on Nov. 25, 2016.

Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul will host the first round games, with South Korea facing the Netherlands, Israel and Chinese Taipei at home.

“Choo Shin-soo has a strong desire to play for the country on home soil,” Song said. “He also wants his family to see him in the national team uniform.”

Song added that Choo understands the Rangers’ misgivings about his WBC participation.

“He knows he can’t just be forcing the issue,” Song added. “Right now, we just have to wait for the decision (by the WBC organizers).”

Choo, 34, had four trips to the disabled list in 2016 and missed 114 games with injuries to his arm, calf, back and hamstring.

He signed a seven-year deal worth US$130 million with the Rangers prior to the 2014 season, but he has missed 166 games total — an equivalent of a little more than a full season — in his first three seasons there.

The Rangers won the American League West division titles in each of the past two seasons, but bowed out to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series in both years.

The 2017 tournament will be the fourth WBC. The tournament is typically played in early March, at a time when major league clubs are in spring training ahead of new seasons.

Teams have been reluctant to make their star players available because of injury concerns.

Choo played at the 2009 WBC while he was a member of the Cleveland Indians, but didn’t compete at the 2013 tournament.

In this file photo taken on March 23, 2009, Choo Shin-soo of South Korea watches his game-tying solo home run against Japan in the fifth inning of the World Baseball Classic final at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

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