Report: Choo to request Rangers' permission to play in WBC
Shin-Soo Choo intends to play for Team Korea at the World Baseball Classic in March, despite the wishes of the Texas Rangers.
Concern over Choo's health recently led the Rangers to file objection forms in regards to his participation in the tournament, though the outfielder's representatives revealed Tuesday they've enlisted the help of the Korean Baseball Organization to request the Rangers' permission to allow Choo to play in the competition.
"Choo Shin-soo has a strong desire to play for the country on home soil," Song Jae-woo, Choo's representative in South Korea, told Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. "He also wants his family to see him in the national team uniform."
Choo played only 46 games for the Rangers in 2016, thanks to an injury-riddled season. The 34-year-old had four stints on the disabled list, including one in late August when he underwent surgery to repair a fractured forearm. He missed over a month, returning for the final three games of the regular season.
"He knows he can't just be forcing the issue," Song said. "Right now, we just have to wait for the decision (by the WBC organizers)."
Team Korea named three other MLB players to their roster in November, including Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, and Seattle Mariners first baseman Dae-Ho Lee.
Team Korea will play the tournament's first home game March 6 when they take on Israel at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.