Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Doing more baseball activities
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Choi (Achilles) fielded grounders from his knees Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Choi is easing back into baseball activities five weeks after being placed on the 10-day injured list because of a left Achilles strain. He was eventually transferred to the 60-day IL and probably won't be ready to return to the Pirates' active roster until late June or early July.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Cleared for light activities
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Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Choi (Achilles) has resumed light baseball activities, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Choi is about four weeks into an estimated eight-week recovery timetable until he's cleared to take part in full baseball activities, but he's able to do a little light hitting and throwing now. He may not be ready for game action until late June or early July while he works his way back from a left Achilles injury.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Pirates transferred Choi from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
It's a procedural move by the Pirates to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for utility man Drew Maggi, whose contract was selected from Double-A Altoona ahead of Sunday's game against the Reds. Choi, who is recovering from a left Achilles' tendon strain, is expected to return from the IL in late June or early July.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Sidelined at least eight weeks
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Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Choi (Achilles) is expected to be sidelined eight weeks before resuming baseball activities, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Choi originally tweaked his left Achilles during spring training and tried unsuccessfully to play through it, eventually landed on the injured list this past weekend after being diagnosed with a muscle strain. He won't need surgery at this time but will require plenty of rest and rehab. Even after he's cleared to resume baseball activities, Choi will likely need at least a couple weeks to get his timing back at the plate in minor-league rehab games.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Likely out beyond 10-day minimum
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Pirates vice president of baseball operations said Sunday that Choi (Achilles) is likely to require more than a 10-day stint on the injured list, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
The 31-year-old will be eligible to be activated April 25, but his absence is likely to extend into May. Choi suffered the Achilles strain during spring training and played through the issue during the first couple weeks of the season, but the Pirates opted to place him on the shelf after a 4-for-32 start to the campaign.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Placed on 10-day IL
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Choi was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to April 14, with a left Achilles strain.
It was originally labeled as posterior ankle discomfort, but further testing has revealed the Achilles strain. There is no timetable for Cjoi's return. Tucupita Marcano is up from Triple-A Indianapolis to provide the Pirates with some infield depth.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Scratched with sore ankle
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Choi was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Cardinals with left posterior ankle discomfort.
Connor Joe replaces Choi in the lineup at first base. It's unclear if Choi will require additional time to get his ankle right.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Homers and doubles in win
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Choi went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's victory over the Astros.
Choi gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead with a solo blast to right field off Cristian Javier. The former Tampa Bay first baseman has gone deep twice so far in his first season with the Pirates, but he's hitting just .148 with 12 strikeouts over his first 27 at-bats of the year.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Heads to bench Wednesday
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Choi is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Choi will take a seat for the matinee contest after starting each of the past four games while going 3-for-15 with a pair of solo home runs and a double. Andrew McCutchen replaces Choi as the Pirates' designated hitter.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Sitting Friday
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Choi is not in the starting lineup Friday against the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Choi will remain on the bench for a second game in a row as the Pirates start their series with Chicago. Andrew McCutchen will handle the designated hitter role while Jack Suwinski enters the lineup in center field and bats sixth versus the White Sox.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: On bench Wednesday
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Choi will sit Wednesday versus the Red Sox.
Choi will get a breather after he started the first two games of the series in Boston, going 1-for-7 with a run scored and two strikeouts in those contests. Andrew McCutchen will take over as the designated hitter while Jack Suwinski starts in right field and bats sixth in the series finale.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Ready to DH
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Choi (elbow) will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth against the Yankees on Thursday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
The 31-year-old will be making his first start of the spring and his Pirates debut after undergoing surgery in November to remove a bone fragment from his right elbow. Choi was traded in the offseason after slashing .233/.341/.388 with 11 homers in 113 games with the Rays last season. Health permitting, he should start against most right-handed pitchers to begin 2023.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Taking things slow in spring
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The Pirates announced Wednesday that Choi will be on a modified program for spring training while he ramps up from the surgery he underwent in November to remove a bone fragment from his right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Though Choi has experienced no unexpected setbacks in his recovery from the elbow procedure, the Pirates seem content to slowly integrate him into drills to ensure he's in optimal health by the time Opening Day arrives. Because of his elbow surgery, however, the Korea Baseball Organization chose to remove Choi from its 30-man roster for the World Baseball Classic earlier this month, despite the 31-year-old expressing confidence that he was healthy enough to play. Choi should still be able to get in plenty of at-bats during the Pirates' Grapefruit League schedule, though he may not be ready to make his spring debut during the first week of games.
Choi (elbow) lost his arbitration hearing against the Pirates and will make $4.65 million in 2023, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Choi had filed at $5.4 million, but the arbiter has ruled in favor of the team. Acquired from the Rays in November, Choi posted a .729 OPS with 11 home runs over 113 games last season. He had minor elbow surgery shortly after the trade but is expected to be fine for Opening Day. Choi is slated to see the lion's share of playing time at first base for the Pirates this season.
Choi will undergo minor surgery on his right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The 31-year-old was acquired by Pittsburgh from Tampa Bay on Thursday, and his new team likely already knew about the procedure when it traded for him. Choi played through the elbow issue last season and finished the campaign with a .233/.341/.388 slash line, 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 113 games, and he's expected to be healthy in time for spring training in February.
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Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Sent to Pittsburgh
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Choi was acquired by the Pirates from the Rays on Thursday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Jack Hartman.
Choi had a .233/.341/.388 slash line with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 113 games for Tampa Bay in 2022, and the team opted to move on as he enters his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 31-year-old should enter spring training as Pittsburgh's primary option at first base.
