Tonight was not only a special night for the Tampa Bay Rays as they tied the World Series 1-1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but for Ji-Man Choi as he became the first Korean-born player to get a hit within a World Series game.
Leading off in the top of the sixth, Choi was able to land a single off of Joe Kelly and down into right field. Eventually Choi would get home on a sacrifice fly out by Joey Wendle to give the Rays the 6-1 lead.
Prior to the Icheon native, there have been just three other Korean-born players to make appearances in the World Series. Chan-ho Park, Hyun-jin Ryu, and Byung-hyun Kim, who happens to be the only Korean-born player to have won a World Series title.
Choi is the only position player of this group, serving as the first basemen for the Rays.
Will Choi join Kim in the history books? Only time will tell, but it’s certain Choi is making a name for Korean baseball.
