26 Ji-Man Choi 1B

Choi has been wearing a mask and protective goggles during early summer camp workouts, a practice that could extend to the regular season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi could again see time at both first base and designated hitter in 2020 after posting career-best figures in multiple categories, including home runs (19) and RBI (63), a year ago. The 29-year-old has been one of the most consistent on-base presences for the Rays during his first two seasons in Tampa, and it remains to seen if added protective accessories would affect his typically sharp vision at the plate to any degree. Notably, Topkin separately reports Choi hit from the right side for part of Saturday's batting practice session and put solid wood on the ball, but manager Kevin Cash remarked that he plans to keep Choi hitting left-handed on a full-time basis once the season begins.

Choi plans to leave his native South Korea later Tuesday to join the Rays in anticipation of the 2020 MLB season resuming, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reports.

Choi's impending return to the United States comes on the heels of MLB owners voting Monday to implement a 60-game season that will reportedly begin around July 24, per Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. The plan would require players to sign off on a health-and-safety protocol to arrive at their home stadiums by July 1 to prepare for the season, but it's unclear how that timeline may impact foreign players like Choi, who could need to self-quarantine for a two-week period before partaking in workouts with the Rays. Assuming that Choi is cleared for full team activities at least a week or so before the season kicks off, however, he shouldn't face any restrictions when games begin.

Choi is working out consistently in his native South Korea and maintaining regular contact with manager Kevin Cash and other Rays staffers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi returned to his hometown of Incheon back on March 24 and self-quarantined for 14 days. Subsequent to that period, Choi has been working out with his older brother Jungwoo at the latter's With Baseball academy, which offers the 28-year-old access to regular batting practice as he demonstrated in a recent posting on his personal Instagram account. Choi is also using SMS technology to communicate every few days with Cash and head athletic trainer Joe Benge, and he is contemplating a possible mid-May return to the United States to continue preparing for the regular season.

Choi is preparing to resume workouts in his native South Korea after a two-week period of self-quarantine following his return to the country, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi has had to wait longer to resume workouts than some of his teammates due to his decision to return to his home country, which appears to be returning to normalcy daily. The 29-year-old will look to maintain the positive pace of preparation he'd established during Grapefruit League play, when he hit .273 over 10 games.

Choi was hitting .273 (6-for-22) with a home run, three RBI, seven walks and three runs across 10 Grapefruit League games before spring training was suspended.

Choi's first full Rays season in 2019 was a success, as the 28-year-old posted career highs in doubles (20), home runs (19), RBI (63), walks (64) and runs (54). Choi also generated an impressive and career-best .363 on-base percentage last season, and although Jose Martinez was brought in this offseason as a possible platoon mate at first base, the latter's defensive deficiencies may ultimately limit his opportunities. However, Choi's career-long struggles versus left-handed pitching still project to cap his opportunities versus southpaws, with Yandy Diaz also available to fill in when a left-hander is on the hill.

Choi is not starting Wednesday's AL Wild Card Game against Oakland, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

Choi will take a seat with lefty Sean Manaea on the mound for Oakland. He's made the roster, though, and has a decent chance to appear of the bench in what could be a game full of substitutions. Yandy Diaz starts at first base.

Choi (foot) went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a double Sunday in the Rays' 8-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Choi wasn't able to run at full speed while playing through the bruised left foot, but the injury didn't impact him at the plate. While Choi may continue to run with extra caution during the playoffs, he should remain a fixture in the heart of the lineup versus right-handed pitching.

Choi (foot) is starting at first base and batting third Sunday at Toronto, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic eports.

Choi missed the last two games with the foot bruise but apparently progressed well enough to return to action for the season finale despite the Rays already having their playoff position locked in. The 28-year-old may not see a full nine innings Sunday, but it's nonetheless a good sign to see him return to the field ahead of Wednesday's Wild Card Game.

Choi (foot) was walking with less of a limp Saturday and could be available in some capacity Sunday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Choi is being treated with an abundance of caution as he continues to deal with a bone bruise in his foot. With the Rays having failed to clinch home-field advantage for the American League Wild Card Game by virtue of their loss and an Athletics win Saturday, Choi seems likely to remain on the bench for Sunday's finale in the hopes of having him available for the one-game playoff.

Choi (foot) is not in Saturday's lineup against the Blue Jays.

He is battling a bone bruise on his foot and has not played since Sept. 25. Nate Lowe will start at first base and bat sixth.

Choi is day-to-day with a bone bruise on his foot, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Choi fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday. His X-rays and CT scan were negative, but he didn't escape entirely uninjured and will sit for at least one game. Nate Lowe starts at first base Friday.

Choi (foot) is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Toronto.

Choi fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday and will miss at least one contest as a result. The 28-year-old had X-rays come back negative after exiting the game, and it remains unclear whether he's expected to be available this weekend. Nate Lowe will receive the start at first base in his place Friday.

Choi had X-rays on his foot come back negative after leaving Wednesday's win over the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi fouled a ball off his foot during the ninth inning and remained in the contest to finish the at-bat, but he did not retake the field for the bottom of the frame. The 28-year-old will have Thursday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing additional time.

Choi went 1-for-4 with a game-winning solo home run and a walk in an extra-innings victory over the Yankees on Tuesday.

Choi's 18th blast of the season, which led off the 12th inning against Cory Gearrin, sent the Rays home winners in a key victory in their Wild Card quest. Choi has left the yard in consecutive games and now has 13 RBI on 13 hits in September, despite producing a pedestrian .217 average overall during the month.

Choi went 2-for-4 with a double, a three-run home run and two runs overall in a win over the Red Sox on Monday.

Choi's 412-foot shot to center in the fourth with Austin Meadows and Travis d'Arnaud aboard put a significant dent into a 4-0 deficit. The Korean slugger is hitting just .214 in September, but he's remained a viable contributor with 14 walks and eight extra-base hits (out of 12 total), the latter helping lead to an impressive 12 RBI during the month.

Choi went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Red Sox.

Choi doubled home a run in the eighth inning, and the Rays would ultimately walk it off in the bottom of the 11th. The 28-year-old first baseman is slashing .260/.365/.441 with 16 homers and 58 RBI over 121 games this season.

Choi went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers.

Choi's lone hit in the game was a solo homer to right field in the sixth inning that temporarily knotted the score. The 28-year-old has been given the most major-league playing time in his career this season, seeing action in 119 games and compiling a .259/.365/.441 slash line along with 16 homers and 55 RBI.

Choi sits against lefty Patrick Sandoval and the Angels on Sunday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Choi hits the bench against a southpaw as he typically does. He's hit just .239/.345/.366 in limited action against lefties this season. Jesus Aguilar will start at first base.

Choi is not in the lineup Friday against the Angels.

Choi hits the bench against lefty Andrew Heaney. Jesus Aguilar gets the nod at first base in his absence.

Choi, who went 1-for-1 with four walks in a loss to the Rangers on Thursday, has now reached safely in 10 straight plate appearances, a new franchise record, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi's ninth-inning walk, his fourth free pass of the game, snapped a four-way tie he'd been in with B.J. Upton, Logan Forsythe and Tim Beckham for the record. Choi is actually scuffling at the plate overall in September in terms of hitting safely, as he's just 6-for-27 during the month. However, four of those six hits have gone for extra bases, with the 28-year-old posting a double, a triple and two home runs since the calendar flipped.