Shin-Soo Choo
Born: 7/13/1982 in Busan, Busan, South Korea
MLB Debut: 2005-04-21 | Final Game: 2020-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 205 lbs
Biography
Shin-Soo Choo, born in 1982, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 2005 to 2020. Choo established himself as a key contributor on the field, playing in 1,652 games and amassing 1,671 hits, 218 home runs, and 782 RBIs, all while maintaining a batting average of .275. Known for his keen eye at the plate and ability to get on base, Choo was also a threat on the base paths, finishing his career with 157 stolen bases. His versatility and consistent performance made him a valuable asset to every team he played for.
Choo's career included a notable All-Star selection, highlighting his impact during his time in the league. He played through an era characterized by significant changes in player dynamics and the increasing emphasis on analytics, adapting his game to remain effective. His journey from South Korea to the Major Leagues exemplified the globalization of baseball, as he became one of the most successful Asian players in MLB history. Choo's contributions to the game extended beyond statistics; he was admired for his work ethic and leadership both on and off the field, leaving a lasting legacy in the baseball community.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1652 | 6087 | 961 | 1671 | 339 | 29 | 218 | 782 | 157 | 868 | 1579 | 0.275 | 0.377 | 0.447 | 0.824 | 19093.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | SEA | AL | 10 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.056 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | CLE | AL | 45 | 146 | 23 | 43 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 5 | 18 | 46 | 0.295 | 275.9 |
| 2006 | SEA | AL | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.091 | 275.9 |
| 2007 | CLE | AL | 6 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.294 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | CLE | AL | 94 | 317 | 68 | 98 | 28 | 3 | 14 | 66 | 4 | 44 | 78 | 0.309 | 1648.8 |
| 2009 | CLE | AL | 156 | 583 | 87 | 175 | 38 | 6 | 20 | 86 | 21 | 78 | 151 | 0.300 | 2408.9 |
| 2010 | CLE | AL | 144 | 550 | 81 | 165 | 31 | 2 | 22 | 90 | 22 | 83 | 118 | 0.300 | 2751.8 |
| 2011 | CLE | AL | 85 | 313 | 37 | 81 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 36 | 12 | 36 | 78 | 0.259 | 194.4 |
| 2012 | CLE | AL | 155 | 598 | 88 | 169 | 43 | 2 | 16 | 67 | 21 | 73 | 150 | 0.283 | 1820.2 |
| 2013 | CIN | NL | 154 | 569 | 107 | 162 | 34 | 2 | 21 | 54 | 20 | 112 | 133 | 0.285 | 3586.8 |
| 2014 | TEX | AL | 123 | 455 | 58 | 110 | 19 | 1 | 13 | 40 | 3 | 58 | 131 | 0.242 | 388.1 |
| 2015 | TEX | AL | 149 | 555 | 94 | 153 | 32 | 3 | 22 | 82 | 4 | 76 | 147 | 0.276 | 2100.2 |
| 2016 | TEX | AL | 48 | 178 | 27 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 25 | 46 | 0.242 | 186.2 |
| 2017 | TEX | AL | 149 | 544 | 96 | 142 | 20 | 1 | 22 | 78 | 12 | 77 | 134 | 0.261 | 674.5 |
| 2018 | TEX | AL | 146 | 560 | 83 | 148 | 30 | 1 | 21 | 62 | 6 | 92 | 156 | 0.264 | 1689.9 |
| 2019 | TEX | AL | 151 | 563 | 93 | 149 | 31 | 2 | 24 | 61 | 15 | 78 | 165 | 0.265 | 1404.1 |
| 2020 | TEX | AL | 33 | 110 | 13 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 33 | 0.236 | -36.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0.222 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ALDS1 | TEX | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 2015 | ALDS2 | TEX | 5 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.238 |
| 2013 | NLWC | CIN | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1307 | 1285 | 2632 | 80 | 51 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | SEA | OF | 5 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | CLE | OF | 39 | 38 | 81 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2006 | SEA | OF | 4 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | CLE | OF | 5 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | CLE | OF | 75 | 70 | 128 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | CLE | OF | 143 | 142 | 317 | 11 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010 | CLE | OF | 142 | 142 | 267 | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| 2011 | CLE | OF | 85 | 84 | 172 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| 2012 | CLE | OF | 154 | 151 | 293 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 | CIN | OF | 153 | 153 | 353 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | TEX | OF | 75 | 75 | 129 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | TEX | OF | 148 | 144 | 315 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 2016 | TEX | OF | 43 | 42 | 85 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | TEX | OF | 77 | 75 | 151 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | TEX | OF | 59 | 59 | 105 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | TEX | OF | 81 | 80 | 153 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | TEX | OF | 19 | 17 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 207 |
| Center Field | 160 |
| Right Field | 947 |
| Designated Hitter | 303 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Player of the Month | September |
| 2010 | Player of the Week | Week of 2010-09-19 |
| 2010 | Player of the Week | Week of 2010-04-18 |
| 2008 | Player of the Month | September |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | TEX | AL | $20,000,000 |
| 2015 | TEX | AL | $14,000,000 |
| 2014 | TEX | AL | $14,000,000 |
| 2013 | CIN | NL | $7,375,000 |
| 2012 | CLE | AL | $4,900,000 |
| 2011 | CLE | AL | $3,975,000 |
| 2010 | CLE | AL | $461,100 |
| 2009 | CLE | AL | $420,300 |
| 2008 | CLE | AL | $390,400 |
| Total Career Earnings | $65,521,800 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 12th | 23.0 | 420 | 0 |
| 2010 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 9.0 | 392 | 0 |