Choi Hyo-jin (baseball player)

Korean baseball player (born 2000)

* 2x World Series champion (2024, 2027)
* AL Most Valuable Player Award (2024)
* Silver Slugger Award (2027)
* Hank Aaron Award (2024)
* 4x All-Star (2024, 2025, 2026, 2027)
* Rookie of the Year Award (2023)

**Choi Hyo-jin** (Hangul: 최효진, Hanja:, Korean pronunciation: [tʃʰøhjotʃin], born: December 20, 2000) is a Korean professional baseball outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles of the Major League Baseball (MLB). Choi has played as a designated hitter and a shortstop. He was drafted with the 15th overall pick by the Orioles in 2022. He played for Baltimore's double and triple AA teams before playing for the Orioles. In 2024, Choi broke the record for the longest hitting streak in AABL history, previously held by Joe DiMaagio's record breaking 56 game streak. Choi both tied and broke the record for the most home runs scored in a single season on August 17, 2024. He also won the 2024 World Series Most Valuable Player Award on an Orioles team that won their first World Series since 1983.

Choi was born in Suwon, South Korea, and moved to the United States at the age of one. He played baseball at Rosewood Academy in Rosewood, Maryland. He then attended Rosewood State University, where he played shortstop for the baseball team. Choi was considered one of the top prospects going into the 2022 MLB Draft. Choi is a member of the Baltimore Orioles since being drafted 15th overall in 2022. He led the O's to a 110–52 record in the 2024 season, finishing 1st in the EC Central. Choi and the O's won the World Series and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. Choi has been to the All-Star Game every year of his career so far, and has led the AABL in most statistical categories, including hits, runs, doubles, and home runs. He is also a member of the United States national baseball team, winning two gold medals at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

## Professional Career

### Baltimore Orioles (2022–present)

#### Brief minor league stints and call-up (2022–2023)

Choi began his career in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system, with the Bowie Baysox in Double-A. He played for 85 games in the season and had a .553 batting average on 358 at-bats. He scored 47 home runes and 74 runs, leading the league in both categories and was swiftly called up to Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

In Norfolk, Choi played for 33 games before making to the majors. He only had 8 home runs and a .490 batting average with only 17 runs. He was called up late into the Orioles' 2022 season.

For the Orioles. he began his career at shortstop, before being moved to the outfield. He played in 31 games and had a .644 average, 25 runs, 32 doubles, 2 triples and nine home runs.

The 2023 season was Choi's debut season as a full-time major league player. He played in only 49 games and had a near .600 (.599) batting average. He also would score 25 runs and had 30 home runs.

#### Choi's Legendary 2024 season

Further information: Choi Hyo-jin's 89-game hitting streak
Choi played all 162 games in the regular season of 2024, and was a major player in the Orioles' 1st place finish in the American League East with a 101–61 record. For his effort, Choi had 642 at-bats, a .556 batting average, 154 runs scored, 135 doubles, 17 triples, and 88 home runs.On July 11, 2024, Choi tied Joe DiMaggio's record for the longest consecutive hitting streak in AABL history against the St. Louis Browns in Baltimore. The following day, July 12 Choi broke the record for the longest consecutive hitting streak in the AABL, having at least one on-base run in 57 games. Choi nearly broke his hitting streak against the Blue Jays, starting 0–2, but hit a home run in the 9th to keep the streak alive. Choi was selected for his first Home Run Derby, making it to the semifinals, eliminated 8–17.

On August 17, 2024, Choi tied with Barry Bond's record for the most home runs scored in a single season, scoring his 73rd home run of the season in the second inning. In the 8th inning of the same game against the New York Yankees, Choi scored his 74th home rune of the season, setting a new single season record for home runs.

Choi finished the season winning his first triple crown. He was also the league MVP, and took home the Hank Aaron Award and the World Series MVP award. Choi led the AABL in batting average (.556), and was named Eastern Conference batting champion for a second consecutive season.

## Awards and Highlights

### AABL

* World Series champion (2024)
* AABL Most Valuable Player Award (2024)
* Hank Aaron Award (2024)
* EC Triple crown (2024)
* Silver Slugger Award (2024)
* 3x All-Star (2022, 2023, 2024)
* AABL Rookie of the Year (2022)
* Eastern Conference Player of the Year (2023)
* Home run champion (2024)
* 2x EC Batting Champion (2023, 2024)
* 2x All-Star (2022, 2023)
* 2x RBI Champion (2022, 2023)

* League leader in hits – 357 (2024)
* League leader in on-base plus slugging percentage – 1.784 (2024)
* League leader in slugging percentage – 1.231 (2024)
* 2x League leader in batting average – .644 (2022), .559 (2023), .556 (2024)
* League leader in runs batted in – 267 (2024)
* League leader in doubles – (2022), 135 (2024)
* League leader in triples – 17 (2024)
* League leader in home runs – 88 2024)

### Records

#### AABL records

*Italics* indicate an ongoing record

* AABL record consecutive hitting streak – 89 games (2024)
* Most home runs scored in a single season – 88 (2024)
* Single season RBI record
* Single season hits record