AL WILD CARD SERIES: RAYS VS GUARDIANS

October 8, 2022

JI-Man Choi

Progressive Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Pregame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Ji-Man.

Q. What do you think was the key to kind of get your season back on track here in the last couple weeks?

JI-MAN CHOI: Obviously all the help from the coaching staff and for some reason my confidence is back too.

Q. Was there anything that changed that led to that or it just kind of happened?

JI-MAN CHOI: I've been watching a lot of videos from the past and I've been trying to figure out what has been different, and that way I've been able to figure out what has been different and adjust to it.

Q. You've never really had a stretch that long in your career where you struggled for that long of a time. How difficult was it for you mentally just to kind of deal with all that every day?

JI-MAN CHOI: Yeah, obviously, honestly, it was really a hard time for me, but in the cage all the coaches and our mental performance coach, Justin Su'a, helped me a lot, and even during that time there's been a lot of up and downs, but overall it has been a very hard time for me.

Q. When you looked at video what did you find that was different?

JI-MAN CHOI: When I looked at my old videos I realized that my right leg, the stride on my right leg, was a bit further than what I used to do, and even the take back too.

Q. I know the weather was bad in Boston, so you had to deal with that, but what's it like for a team like you guys playing in Tampa to have to deal with this kind of cold weather right away all of a sudden?

JI-MAN CHOI: The weather could obviously be a factor, but during the spring training season Tampa is pretty chilly too, so I think all the players are able to get used to it pretty quickly.

Q. How much do you appreciate the faith that Kevin Cash has kept in you to, through all these struggles to have you penciled in to the playoff lineups like this and being a part of such important postseason games?

JI-MAN CHOI: Not just Kevin Cash, but my teammates and the coaches too, I really appreciate for believing in me.

Q. When you're on this stage, and I know Kim is playing for the Padres, are people, are you hearing from people at home that are getting up and watching these games? Is there excitement in Korea for the playoff games?

JI-MAN CHOI: I haven't heard much, but obviously it's a huge honor to be in the playoffs and to see my fellow Korean player playing in the MLB playoffs. It's just nice to see that, and I hope people in Korea will enjoy watching us.

Q. How have you been dealing with these early starts? Are you typically an early riser?

JI-MAN CHOI: Yeah, I've never played this early, so I have a lot to say, but I won't say it here.

Q. How much has Daniel Park helped you this year?

JI-MAN CHOI: I don't think that question is for this interview (smiling).

But all jokes aside, I really appreciate him. He has been my mouth, ears, and everything, so very thankful for him.