Mariners outbid several clubs, sign South Korean teen Choo

The Mariners, who lacked first-, second-, and third-round draft choices last June, nevertheless signed an equivalent No. 1 choice yesterday - Shin-Soo Choo from South Korea. Seattle's toughest decision is where to play the 18-year-old.

The Mariners focused on Choo, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, for the past few months. They waited until he was almost finished with summer competition, then outbid several clubs for his services. No terms were disclosed, but Choo's signing bonus is believed to be between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.

"He's the best kid in Asia that we've seen," said Roger Jongewaard, director of scouting and player development for the Mariners. "He's a legitimate two-way guy."

Choo, who will graduate from Pusan High School in February, can throw 95 mph, above the major-league average. He was named best pitcher the past two years at the President's Cup, Korea's top high-school tournament.

However, Choo also can hit. In the Pusan city championships this year, he hit .610 with five home runs.

"We're going to start him off in center field," Jongewaard said.

Choo has power, above-average speed and a strong outfield arm. But if at some point the club decides he doesn't project as a hitter, he'll be moved to the mound.

Choo was scouted and signed by Jim Colborn, Seattle's Pacific Rim scout. Choo attended the same high school as Cha Sueng Baek, who was signed two years ago and is one of the system's best pitchers.

The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Choo will play in the Arizona Fall League and join the Mariners in spring training next February. He should play for Peoria, Ariz., next summer.

Jongewaard said the Mariners still hope they can sign their first pick - left-handed pitcher John "Sam" Hays of Waco, Texas, who was taken in the fourth round.

Notes

-- Injured pitcher Gil Meche will test his ailing right shoulder again today. He'll throw about 65 pitches before the game. His progress has been encouraging the past week. "It feels great," he said. "No discomfort while I'm pitching and nothing the next day."

-- Piniella and front-office bigwigs Pat Gillick and Lee Pelekoudas met before yesterday's game to talk about September callups. No number was decided, but Piniella said players expected to join the Mariners include outfielder Charles Gipson, pitcher Joel Pineiro and Meche, if he's ready. Beyond those players, it's uncertain.

-- There is a better-than-even chance top prospect Ryan Anderson, who is working through some shoulder soreness, will be with the Mariners at some point in September. Anderson would like to represent the United States at the Olympics next month. However, because of the injury, the Mariners would be reluctant to risk their brightest prospect to another entity without control over how he is used.

It might be a better scenario to allow Anderson to recover from his injury, then bring him up to the big club when he's ready next month.

-- Jay Buhner celebrated his 36th birthday yesterday. Fans in the right-field section greeted him with applause and cheers.

-- Stan Javier, who hyperextended his left shoulder Friday in a first-base encounter with Cleveland's Wil Cordero, was available as a pinch-hitter yesterday, but only as a left-handed hitter. He is still too sore to hit from the right side.

-- Al Martin's triple in the third inning was his third in five games. After 40 at-bats here, he is tied for the team lead with three triples. Martin played in his 1,000th career game yesterday.

-- Edgar Martinez's stolen base in the third inning was his first since Aug. 30 last year. The Mariners matched their season high with five steals in the game.

Farm report

AAA: Tacoma (65-57) 4, Edmonton 1

AA: New Haven (68-52) 4, New Britain 0

A: Lansing 11, Wisconsin (30-20) 9

A: Eugene 2, Everett (27-26) 1

A: High Desert 9, Lancaster (35-16) 7