March 30, 200422 yr Untapped potential Marlins first baseman Hee Seop Choi has played well this spring, but don't expect him to make anyone forget about Derrek Lee. By CLARK SPENCER cspencer@herald.com VERO BEACH - Hee Seop Choi is an imposing first baseman. He's 6-5, weighs 240 and wields a glove so large that pitcher Carl Pavano said earlier this spring it reminded him of a kitchen frying pan. Choi's home runs aren't exactly popgun pokes, either. He has hit a couple of tape-measure bombs this spring, including one that left a mark high on the wall of the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse located well beyond right field at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. The Marlins have been nothing short of pleased with Choi's four home runs and team-leading 16 RBI. But they also speak cautiously when discussing the still-raw 25-year-old from Korea, who was acquired in the deal that sent Derrek Lee to the Chicago Cubs. That salary-driven trade saved the Marlins millions, but it left them with an inexperienced first baseman who brings potential but no guarantees. Choi, unlike Lee, is a work in progress. The Marlins don't expect Choi to match Lee's 31 home runs or equal Lee's defensive work. Lee was a Gold Glove winner, after all. What they're hoping is that Choi proves worthy of a full-time role early on and maintains it for the duration of the season. ''It's tough to replace a Derrek Lee,'' general manager Admin Beinfest said. ``But we got what we thought was one of the more premium prospects in the game, a guy we thought was ready to play.'' Said manager Jack McKeon: ``I think he's got a lot of potential. He hasn't put it all together yet, but he's getting there. I think with him, you're going to have to be patient.'' PROMISING PAST Choi wears a hatful of top-prospect accolades. In 2002, after hitting 26 home runs and driving in 97 runs for Triple A Iowa, Choi was named by Baseball America as the Pacific League's eighth-best prospect. USA Today selected him as the Cubs' minor-league player of the year. The Sporting News had him on its second-team, all-prospects team. The Cubs figured Choi to be their first baseman of the future, too, and he was their starter on opening day last year. But after hitting just .218 and suffering a concussion in a collision with pitcher Kerry Wood in midseason, the Cubs looked to upgrade. McKeon has purposely given Choi plenty of playing time this spring. ''I wanted Choi to get into a groove, to get all the at-bats he could,'' McKeon said. ``When I saw him a couple of years ago, I thought he was going to be tough. I thought the Cubs were going to have some kind of bomber.'' McKeon and the Marlins aren't placing such expectations on Choi this season. Hitting coach Bill Robinson said it would be considered a success if Choi hits 20 home runs, drives in 70 to 75 runs and hits between .270 and .280. Choi has had more at-bats than any other Marlin this spring and has made the most of them, hitting .274 and displaying power to all fields. Monday, he hit two deep flies to the warning track in left, one of which drove in a run. Defensively, he is nowhere near as skilled as Lee. Then again, few are. ''Let's face it,'' McKeon said. ``Lee spoiled everybody [with his defense]. But Choi has a good glove, and he's probably one of the league's five best on defense.'' `EVERYBODY LIKES HIM' The soft-spoken Choi said he's happier now than he ever was with the Cubs. ''This spring training is a lot better than last year,'' he said. ``I feel a lot more comfortable. I'm very happy because I've got acquainted to a new team very fast.'' He even has more than one nickname. McKeon refers to him as ''Big Choi,'' while pitcher Josh Beckett calls him ''Hip Hop'' instead of Hee Seop. ''Everybody likes him,'' McKeon said. ``He's got a good attitude, a fun-loving guy.'' McKeon knows the facts!
March 30, 200422 yr Choi top 5 defensive 1st basemans? ... i think thats a little too much. JT Snow Helton Mienketwiczeyehsowue ... whatever his name is DLee Olerud Sweeney Johnson call me crazy but those dudes are much better.
March 30, 200422 yr Choi top 5 defensive 1st basemans? ... i think thats a little too much. JT Snow Helton Mienketwiczeyehsowue ... whatever his name is DLee Olerud Sweeney Johnson call me crazy but those dudes are much better. JT is good with the glove. Helton is all bat nowadays. Douggy is good with the glovey. Olerud is way past his prime and Choi is better than him (I've seen them both in person....yes I saw Olerud in his prime) Sweeney isn't that good. Johnson???
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