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![Former MLB player Choi Ji-man speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at a cafe in Seoul’s Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on May 4. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12590216.jpg?imageId=12590216&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Choi Ji-man interviews with Korean reporters at the Incheon International Airport in 2023 [NEWS1]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12605378.jpg?imageId=12605378&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Bae Ji-hwan high-fives in the dugout after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. [USA TODAY/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12492315.jpg?imageId=12492315&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Choi Ji-man, then of the Pittsburgh Pirates, celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres on July 26, 2023, in San Diego. [AP/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12009074.jpg?imageId=12009074&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![San Diego Padres third baseman Kim Ha-seong advances home to score a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Petco Park on Monday. [USA TODAY/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/11170283.jpg?imageId=11170283&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Kim Ha-Seong of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a solo home run to lead-off the game in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday. [AFP/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/10947483.jpg?imageId=10947483&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Left; Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates after hitting a home-run in the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres in San Diego on Wednesday. Right; Kim Ha-seong tosses a ball during the third inning of the same game. Choi and Kim faced off Tuesday in a rare big league Korean derby, with Choi and the Pirates coming out on top with a tight 3-2 victory. [USA TODAY; AP/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/11145236.jpg?imageId=11145236&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates waves his hat to the fans after a video tribute played by the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning of a game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday. Choi played for the Rays from 2018 to 2022, becoming a fan favorite and a prolific slugger before he was traded to the Pirates ahead of the 2023 season. He returned to Tropicana Field with the Pirates this week despite being out for two months with a left Achilles strain. [AP/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/10731057.jpg?imageId=10731057&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Choi Ji-man slides into second base after hitting a double against the Houston Astros during the first inning at PNC Park on April 11. [USA TODAY/YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/11005526.jpg?imageId=11005526&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)