Choi heads to San Diego at trade deadline
Kim “I think we’ll have a synergistic relationship”

A week later, Choi’s joke became reality.

A week before the trade market opened, Choi appeared on a YouTube channel run by former big leaguer Kang Jeong-ho (36) with Kim Ha-sung (27) and predicted a move to the San Diego Padres.

“I might be here (in San Diego) in a week,” Choi said, while Kim said, “I think our team will bring him back.”

The casual joke became a reality.

Choi was traded to San Diego on Feb. 2 (KST), the day of the trade deadline. The Padres acquired Choi and left-hander Rich Hill in a deal that sent three prospects to Pittsburgh: Zach Wolf, Estuar Sueiro, and Alfonso Rivas.

Marty Caswell of San Diego local station Sports760 posted an interview with Kim and Choi on his YouTube channel on May 5.

“We talked about it a week ago as a joke, but it felt good to make it a reality,” Choi said in the video.

Kim Hae-sung welcomed the news, saying, “I felt good that a Korean player was coming, and I’m even happier that we traded for (Choi) to help the team win.”

San Diego is in fourth place in the National League West, but hasn’t given up on fall baseball. The team needed a left-handed hitter with a long arm, and Choi was their final choice.

“I played on a team that went to the postseason every year,” Choi said. There’s a good vibe,” Choi said. “The San Diego players are good players. Every game is important and we need to win.”

“We have a lot of good players on the team, so I thought it would be good to have Ji Man-hyung here. I think there will be a synergistic effect.”

Kim Ha-seong and Choi Ji-man had played together the day before against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The leadoff hitter went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk, while Choi added two hits and two runs batted in.

They were named to the starting lineup side by side against the Dodgers on June 6. Kim will bat first and second, 스포츠토토 with Choi batting seventh.