Choi Ji-man (35), who plays for the professional civic baseball club Ulsan Whales, has officially declared his participation in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft.

The Ulsan club announced on the 28th that "Choi Ji-man will participate in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft tryout held at the Goyang National Baseball Training Center on September 1, where he will showcase his skills in front of scouts."

Choi, who enjoyed a long career in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, donned the Ulsan uniform to play in this season's KBO Futures (Farm) League games in pursuit of a return to the KBO League.

His batting statistics stand at a .308 batting average (12 hits in 39 at-bats) with 1 home run, 7 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.847 across 20 games.

Ulsan manager Jang Wonjin stated, "Choi Ji-man has steadily accumulated practical game experience in Ulsan and diligently prepared toward the goal of the KBO League. Based on the experience he has built up, I hope he displays his strengths in this tryout as well. I wish him success."

This year's KBO Rookie Draft is scheduled to take place on September 21 at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Some clubs in need of immediate infield assets have formulated plans to recruit Choi, setting the stage for intense strategic maneuvering on the day of the draft.

(Photo: Yonhap News)