Ji-Man Choi (33), who has recently joined the New York Mets, has been mentioned as a ‘dark horse’ to be included in the opening roster.
On the 26th (Korean time), the official Major League website ‘MLB.com’ named one candidate per team who could be included in the opening day roster.
The Mets were the only team to have two players mentioned: Luke Voit and Ji-Man Choi.
With Pete Alonso firmly holding the first baseman position in the Mets, MLB.com believes that they could compete with existing players for the backup first baseman and designated hitter positions.
The media stated, “The Mets recruited Choi and Voit right after the start of spring training,” adding, “Mark Vientos will likely start as the designated hitter, but if Vientos fails to meet expectations in the exhibition games or if veteran D.J. Stewart performs poorly like last September, the Mets could bring in either Voit or Choi to replace them.”
The reason Choi and Voit were mentioned together is related to the fact that Choi is a left-handed batter and Voit is a right-handed batter.
Vientos, who is likely to be included in the opening roster, is a right-handed batter, while Stewart is a left-handed batter. Choi and Voit could replace either of them in case they underperform.
Vientos is a promising rookie born in 1999 with noticeable power. He recorded a batting average of .211 and hit 9 home runs in 65 big league games last year. He is a batter who is expected to be the future of the Mets.
Stewart, a 31-year-old veteran, has yet to make a significant mark in the Major Leagues. He hit double-digit home runs in Baltimore in 2021 and with the Mets last year, but his batting average was only in the low .200s.
The Mets’ recruitment of Choi and Voit can be seen as a precautionary measure in case Vientos and Stewart struggle.
Choi’s competitor is Stewart, another left-handed batter, and he is in a better position than Voit, who has to compete with Vientos, the Mets’ promising rookie.
Stewart currently has no hits in two at-bats in this year’s exhibition games, and Choi also made his first appearance in the game against the Houston Astros, recording no hits in two at-bats and one walk.
starburyny@news1.kr