MLB 67-Home Run Hitter Ji-man Choi Returns to KBO Draft… Selection Result Still Undecided

Ji-man Choi’s participation in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft has been officially confirmed. Ulsan Whales announced that Choi will attend the rookie-draft tryout on September 1, 2026, at the Goyang National Baseball Training Center in Gyeonggi Province. This confirms his participation in the actual draft process, moving beyond earlier discussions about the possibility of his return.

Key Dates to Confirm

According to the KBO’s official notice, applications for the 2027 Rookie Draft were accepted from July 1 through August 22, 2026. Choi is currently under contract with Ulsan Whales and is regaining his game form in the Futures League.

MLB Career and Current Statistics

Choi recorded a .234 batting average, 67 home runs, and 238 RBIs in 525 career MLB games. In the 2026 Futures League, as of the reporting date, he had a .308 batting average, one home run, seven RBIs, and a .847 OPS over 20 games.

His 67-home run MLB career and his competitive record in Korea’s Futures League are the reasons interest in this draft has grown.

First-Round Outlook Remains Speculative

Some media outlets and people familiar with the scene have raised the possibility of Choi being selected in the first round or an early round. However, this remains an outlook, and neither the actual draft position nor a specific club has been determined. Therefore, the confirmed facts at this point are limited to his participation in the draft and the tryout schedule.

Choi also expressed, in substance, that he feels burdened and sorry because the attention surrounding the draft could reduce opportunities for student players. This is why the competitive dynamic between him and rookie players is attracting attention alongside his own career.

Discussion of the Two-Year Deferral Rule for Overseas Players

Choi acknowledged the purpose of the two-year deferral rule applied to players returning from overseas, while also pointing out the need for improvement because players may have to sit out two years during their prime. This does not mean the rule has been abolished or amended; rather, it raises the question of how to balance the protection of domestic players with the timing of overseas players’ returns.

Choi’s next step is the tryout on September 1. His method of returning to Korean baseball and his affiliated club will be finalized only after the actual selection results are announced at the draft on September 21.

Sources Checked

• [Money Today: Report on Ji-man Choi’s KBO return and the two-year deferral rule for overseas players](https://www.mt.co.kr/sports/2026/08/30/2026082715550593109) — Checked August 30, 2026
• [News1: MLB 525-game veteran Ji-man Choi officially confirms participation in the KBO Rookie Draft](https://www.news1.kr/amp/sports/baseball/6272665) — Checked August 30, 2026
• [Money Today: Analysis of Ji-man Choi’s chances of being selected in an early round](https://www.mt.co.kr/sports/2026/08/29/202608281828773217O) — Checked August 30, 2026
• [Newspim: Outlook for Ji-man Choi’s first-round selection and his position](https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20260817000088) — Checked August 30, 2026
• [Official KBO notice: Applications open for the 2027 Rookie Draft](https://web1.koreabaseball.com/MediaNews/Notice/View.aspx?bdSe=12024) — Checked August 30, 2026