WASHINGTON: A South Korean minor league pitcher, Choi Hyun-il, who previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers' affiliates, was selected by the Washington Nationals during the minor league Rule 5 Draft, marking a significant step in his pursuit of a Major League Baseball career.According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi, a 24-year-old right-hander, was acquired by the Nationals as part of the draft intended to prevent teams from monopolizing emerging talent. This draft allows players who are not protected on a major league or Triple-A roster to be selected by other teams for a cost of $24,000. However, unlike the major league phase, players picked in the minor league phase are not bound by roster constraints with their new teams.Choi began his professional journey with the Dodgers after signing out of Seoul High School in 2019, starting in the Rookie League. In 2024, he made his debut at the Triple-A level, the highest tier in the minor leagues, where he recorded a 4-6 win-loss record and a 4.28 ERA over 73 2/3 innings, while striking out 56 batters and walking 32 in 15 appearances, including 14 starts.Throughout his minor league career, Choi has posted a 22-24 record with a 3.88 ERA across 80 games, 57 of which were starts. With his new team, Choi will join the Rochester Red Wings, the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, as he continues to aim for a spot in the majors.The path Choi is taking is relatively uncommon among South Korean players, who typically enter MLB after several years in the Korea Baseball Organization. Others, like Park Hoy-jun and Bae Ji-hwan, have also pursued the less traditional route from Korean high school directly to the minors before reaching MLB, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities for international prospects in the league.
- September 13, 2026
