A slimmer Choi Hee-seop of the Kia Tigers swings during
yesterday’s game against the SK Wyverns in Gwangju.

Baseball is one of those rare sports in which overweight athletes don’t really look out of place on the field. Still, you can cross Choi Hee-seop off the list of unfit-looking players. A hard to miss big man - he stands 190 centimeters (6-foot-5) tall - he’s trimmed down noticeably during the offseason.

The former major leaguer and KIA Tiger’s designated hitter this season has shaved at least 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and now weighs around 110 kilograms.

This means baseball insiders can agree that we can expect at least three big changes for the 2009 season: the video challenge on home runs, the smaller outfield fence at the Jamsil Stadium for LG Twins games and a more nimble Choi.

The 29 year-old is working hard on a breakout season in the KBO after a disappointing rookie season in 2008. He promised his manager a change was forthcoming and he lived up to the promise by sticking to a tough regimen of weight training and hiking during the offseason. During the training camp, the left-handed batter took on average up to 1,300 swings per day. He also controlled his diet.

“Choi didn’t start a special diet program such as those used by bodybuilders. We just told him to stay away from instant foods,” said the Tigers’ trainer Jang Sae-hong.

Less girth around the waist has resulted in increased speed for Choi. During a game against the defending champion SK Wyverns on Tuesday, Choi hit his first home run of the season off a Kim Kwang-hyun’s slider.

Choi was able to connect on the pitch with the tip of his bat but was able to drive the ball well over the fence. There are whispers around the league that Choi’s big bat is coming to life.

The loss of girth has also allowed the batter to change his stance. Last season, Choi’s upper body shifted towards the pitcher after a swing, which limited his ability to connect on breaking balls and inside pitches. His current batting stance, which looks more stable, requires bat speed.

The big man has also shown flashes of acceleration around the bases, which was unthinkable in the past. During the season opener on April 4 against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium, Choi hit a ball to the right field and having noticed the Doosan right fielder Lim Jae-chul stall with the ball, sprinted to second base.

On the following play, Choi scored from second on a Lee hyun-gon single. A drastic change, indeed.

Kia, which was eagerly looking to start fresh after a disappointing season, has lost its leadoff hitter and national team member Lee Yong-kyu for at least six weeks to an ankle injury. (He ran into the outfield wall during the Tuesday game against SK.)

Kia has lost all three of its games this season. They played SK last night and will play them again today. And they have a three-game series against the Samsung Lions over the weekend.

Choi has two hits and a home run from 11 at bats in the three games this season.


Article posted: April 09, 2009
By Choi Min-gyu, Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]
source: joongang.co.kr
credits: aeinsshi