Hyun-il Choi

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #30 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Choi had a chance to be a top pick in the Korea Baseball Organization draft out of high school but instead signed with the Dodgers for $300,000. He led the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts in his pro debut in 2019 and, after spending the coronavirus shutdown in South Korea, posted a 3.55 ERA in 106.1 innings as he moved from Low-A to High-A in his full-season debut in 2021. He finished among the organization’s leaders in innings, ERA, wins (8), strikeouts (106) and WHIP (0.969) and was named the Dodgers’ minor league pitcher of the year.
  
  Scouting Report: Choi is extremely polished for his age and has advanced command of a four-pitch arsenal. His fastball ranges from 90-94 mph with late armside run and plays up with his ability to locate it precisely on both sides of the plate. His best secondary pitch is an average, 80-84 mph split-changeup that plays well off his fastball in part because of how well he locates the pitch. Choi’s 80-84 mph slider flashes average but is inconsistent and he rarely uses his slow, 72-74 mph curveball, but he can locate both with plus control. Choi works quickly and efficiently and holds his stuff and command for the better part of five innings before slowing down.
  
  The Future: Choi’s command and pitchability give him a chance to rise as a swingman. He may see Double-A in 2022.
  

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #13 prospect in 2019
  The Dodgers signed Choi last year for a $300,000 bonus, giving them a promising pitcher who in time could be a mid-rotation starter. Because of the quality of competition in his native South Korea, Choi at times looked too advanced for the Arizona League, where he posted a 2.63 ERA and fanned 71 batters in 65 innings. "Choi knows where he's going to throw the baseball," Dodgers Mota manager Jair Fernandez said. "And he has a good feel for the ball and a good repertoire." Choi has a broad array of four or more pitches, but the Dodgers had him focusing on a three-pitch mix for his first season. He shows an ability to mix pitches and locate them well with a loose, three-quarter arm slot. His fastball sits 90-91 mph, touching 94 mph, and he can backspin it up in the zone for a different look. The pitch can also feature sinking action, and he commands it to both sides of the plate. He mixed in a curveball with good break and late action as well as a changeup. Choi exudes confidence and poise on the mound.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Choi had a chance to be a top pick in the Korea Baseball Organization draft out of high school but instead signed with the Dodgers for $300,000. He led the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts in his pro debut in 2019 and, after spending the coronavirus shutdown in South Korea, posted a 3.55 ERA in 106.1 innings as he moved from Low-A to High-A in his full-season debut in 2021. He finished among the organization&#39s leaders in innings, ERA, wins (8), strikeouts (106) and WHIP (0.969) and was named the Dodgers&#39 minor league pitcher of the year.
  
  Scouting Report: Choi is extremely polished for his age and has advanced command of a four-pitch arsenal. His fastball ranges from 90-94 mph with late armside run and plays up with his ability to locate it precisely on both sides of the plate. His best secondary pitch is an average, 80-84 mph split-changeup that plays well off his fastball in part because of how well he locates the pitch. Choi&#39s 80-84 mph slider flashes average but is inconsistent and he rarely uses his slow, 72-74 mph curveball, but he can locate both with plus control. Choi works quickly and efficiently and holds his stuff and command for the better part of five innings before slowing down.
  
  The Future: Choi&#39s command and pitchability give him a chance to rise as a swingman. He may see Double-A in 2022.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Choi had a chance to be a top pick in the Korea Baseball Organization draft out of high school but instead signed with the Dodgers for $300,000. He led the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts in his pro debut in 2019 and, after spending the coronavirus shutdown in South Korea, posted a 3.55 ERA in 106.1 innings as he moved from Low-A to High-A in his full-season debut in 2021. He finished among the organization’s leaders in innings, ERA, wins (8), strikeouts (106) and WHIP (0.969) and was named the Dodgers’ minor league pitcher of the year.
  
  Scouting Report: Choi is extremely polished for his age and has advanced command of a four-pitch arsenal. His fastball ranges from 90-94 mph with late armside run and plays up with his ability to locate it precisely on both sides of the plate. His best secondary pitch is an average, 80-84 mph split-changeup that plays well off his fastball in part because of how well he locates the pitch. Choi’s 80-84 mph slider flashes average but is inconsistent and he rarely uses his slow, 72-74 mph curveball, but he can locate both with plus control. Choi works quickly and efficiently and holds his stuff and command for the better part of five innings before slowing down.
  
  The Future: Choi’s command and pitchability give him a chance to rise as a swingman. He may see Double-A in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Choi has shown elite control and pitchability at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and enough stuff to project a future major league role for him. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 94 mph and his changeup has been a consistently average pitch. His slider is inconsistent, but at its best it's another potentially average offering. Choi is still maturing and learning to hold his velocity, but he's shown enough to be a potential swingman.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Dodgers signed Choi last year for a $300,000 bonus, giving them a promising pitcher who in time could be a mid-rotation starter. Because of the quality of competition in his native South Korea, Choi at times looked too advanced for the Arizona League, where he posted a 2.63 ERA and fanned 71 batters in 65 innings. "Choi knows where he's going to throw the baseball," Dodgers Mota manager Jair Fernandez said. "And he has a good feel for the ball and a good repertoire." Choi has a broad array of four or more pitches, but the Dodgers had him focusing on a three-pitch mix for his first season. He shows an ability to mix pitches and locate them well with a loose, three-quarter arm slot. His fastball sits 90-91 mph, touching 94 mph, and he can backspin it up in the zone for a different look. The pitch can also feature sinking action, and he commands it to both sides of the plate. He mixed in a curveball with good break and late action as well as a changeup. Choi exudes confidence and poise on the mound.