Shin Soo choo will return to Tribe in 2011
BY TIMOTHY W. SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
The question fans and the Cleveland Indians organization have been wondering for a few years, today the question was answered. Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin Soo Choo a South korean native will not be required to serve in the South Korean military.
Cleveland fans have been wondering if Choo would miss time in the Major Leagues due to the law of mandatory military service for every South korean male before they are 30 years of age.
The Indians organization has said that they were hopeful that if Choo led his South Korean baseball team to the gold medal in the Asian games he and his teammates would get and excemption and that is exactly what happened. South Korea beat Tawain 9-3 to clinch the gold and the excemption for all of the players.
Indians manager Manny Acta said when he heard of the decision, "It's a great relief, for choo and for all of us too." Acta continued, "We are talking about a great player in the prime of his career. I feel happy for Choo, but also for Cleveland because it won't lose one of it's best players for a long period of time.
Choo told the South Korean press that if he said he wasn't thinking about the military service he would be lying. But he said the main reason he wanted to play on the South Korean team was his love of baseball and to have the South Korean flag on his shoulders. He said it made him feel proud of his country and himself.
Major League baseball sources have said that the Indians are currently in negotiations with Choo's agent Scott Boras on a long term contract between the Indians and Choo. Choo has three more years until he can become a free agent.
E-mail Tim at: tshirer@lakecounty-sentinel.com
POSTED 11/19/2010 18:55
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