Choi Ji-man puts injury behind him as form gradually improves

Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays has slowly started to see his form improve since his return from injury last week, picking up hits in the last three straight games with two RBIs on Tuesday.

After a strong start to the season in April with a .357 batting average, two home runs and 10 RBIs, Choi landed on the 10-day injured list (IL) on May 1 due to "loose bodies in his right elbow."

He was reactivated on May 8 — the 10 days were retroactive and counted from April 28 — but appeared to struggle at the plate. In his first four games back from injury, Choi failed to pick up a single hit in 15 at-bats, striking out eight times.

That 0-for-15 dry spell started to cause some concerns, especially because Choi had started the previous month with a 9-for-16 run, but the slugger wasn't too worried.

"It's nothing new to me, and I'm not in my best condition,'' Choi said on May 13. "But I'm trying to do my best to get back to where I was before. My condition is always up and down, so my focus right now is to get back to my best condition.''

In the same interview, Choi also discussed his most recent injury. Despite spending more than his fair share of time on the IL over the last few weeks, Choi has never had to deal with an elbow complaint before.

"I was surprised that I was injured in a new area, because I have never hurt my elbow before,'' Choi said. "I don't know how it happened. It just started to hurt.''

Choi's lack of concern appears to have been the correct approach. Immediately following that interview his numbers started to pick up, with the Korean slugger recording his first hit in nearly three weeks on Sunday.

What followed wasn't a flurry of action at the plate, but a steady return to form that suggests Choi is starting to get over his recent dry spell.

His single against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday — a ground ball to the left field in the sixth inning — earned him an RBI with one of just three runs scored in that game.

Against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Choi hit a double to the right field and made it to second to kick off the bottom of the second inning, but three quick outs prevented the Rays from making anything on the play.

That form continued on Tuesday when Choi got the ball rolling against the Tigers with a timely ground ball with a runner on third and one out, allowing Yandy Diaz to score on the forceout. Choi picked up a second RBI in the fifth inning with a single to bring home Wander Franco.

Choi's plate vision has also clearly improved. After striking out eight times in his first four games back from injury, Choi has only struck out once since Sunday. He also picked up a walk on Tuesday, his first since April 22.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]