Korean standout Choo to join Texas

South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-Soo has signed a $A147m deal with Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers.

South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-Soo

South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-Soo has signed a $A147m deal with the Texas Rangers. (AAP)

South Korean star Choo Shin-Soo has agreed to a seven-year contract worth $US130 million ($A147 million) with the Texas Rangers.

The signing has not been confirmed by the American League club because Choo must pass a physical before the deal can be completed, a report on Major League Baseball's website said on Saturday.

The 31-year-old outfielder, who had been the top prize remaining among free agents, produced a career-best .423 percentage of reaching base over 154 games last season for Cincinnati -- fourth-best in the major leagues behind only Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto and Mike Trout.

That figure was boosted by Choo being hit by pitches 26 times, the most of any batter in Major League Baseball last season, and walked 112 times, 29 more than his prior career-high season for bases on balls.

Choo, who rejected a one-year offer for $US14.1 million ($A16 million) to return to the Reds next season, has batted .288 over nine North American seasons with Seattle, Cleveland and Cincinnati with 104 home runs and 427 runs batted in.

As a leadoff batter last season for the Reds, left-hander Choo hit .285 with 21 home runs, 54 runs batted in and 20 steals.

He will add punch to a Rangers' attack that slipped last year as Texas missed the playoffs after reaching the World Series in 2010 and 2011 and taking a wild-card berth in 2012.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world