Korean major leaguer Choi Ji-man 안전토토사이트 (32) of the Pittsburgh Pirates started his first home run after returning from injury. He also completed a multi-hit by exploding a double.
Choi Ji-man started as the fifth designated hitter in a visit game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 Major League Baseball at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 10th (Korea Standard Time).
On the same day, Pittsburgh started the lineup with Jack Swinsky (center fielder), Brian Reynolds (left fielder), Henry Davis (right fielder), Carlos Santana (1st baseman), Choi Ji-man (nominated hitter), Jared Triolo (3rd baseman), Tucupita Makano (shortstop), Nick González (2nd baseman), Austin Hedges (fourth baseman).
The Arizona starting pitcher facing Pittsburgh is Jack Davis. Pittsburgh saw an opportunity in the top of the second inning when leadoff hitter Santana walked and got on base, trailing 0-1. Choi Ji-man, who had his first at-bat of the game, did not respond to an 88-mile (142km) four-seam fastball that fell outside the first pitch and hit a solo home run in the middle of the second pitch, not missing it.
It was Choi Ji-man’s third home run of the season. Pittsburgh turned the game around 2-1 thanks to Choi Ji-man’s home run. It is the first time in 89 days that Choi Ji-man has added a home run since the game against the Houston Astros on April 12.
Choi Ji-man stepped down with a groundout to first base in his second at-bat in the top of the fourth inning and struck out at first base with one out in the top of the sixth inning, but he completed the multi-hit game and was replaced by pinch-runner Connor Joe. It was Choi Ji-man’s second double of the season. Choi Ji-man hit an 85.7 mile (138km) curve by right-hander Jose Ruiz, who came in for the second pitch, to penetrate the right-center outfield.
Then, Triolo’s timely right-handed hit allowed Joe to score and Pittsburgh to lead 4-2. Pittsburgh, which had a two-run lead thanks to Choi Ji-man’s double, was able to win 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning when closer David Bednar blocked one inning without losing a point. Pittsburgh won 41 games (49 losses) this season. Arizona is 52-39.
Choi Ji-man, who was active with two hits and two RBIs in four at-bats on the day, has a season’s batting average.159 (7 hits in 44 at-bats) and the OPS rose to .568.
Choi Ji-man, who had a left Achilles tendon injury, made his comeback against Arizona on the 8th and went 0-for-4 at-bats. On the first day of his return, he bowed his head without a hit, but the next day, against Arizona on the 9th, he came out with a chance to second base with no outs in the top of the 10th inning of extra time and scored a hit in 88 days.