Choi Ji-man, a former major leaguer currently playing in the Korean minor league, will take part in a pre-draft workout for the country's top domestic competition, his club announced Friday — a move that all but confirms the veteran's entry into next month's KBO draft.

The Ulsan Whales of the Futures League, the feeder circuit for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), said Choi will showcase his skills in front of scouts at the KBO pre-draft tryout on Tuesday.

The tryout serves as an opportunity for players not currently registered with high school or university teams to make an impression on KBO scouts and improve their chances of being selected in the draft. It is reserved for players in the following categories: those who played professional or amateur baseball overseas without having previously competed in the KBO; those who played for Korean high school or university teams but dropped out; and those who have appeared in at least one game for a Futures League team or an independent team recognized by the KBO, even without graduating from a school with a baseball team.

Choi falls into the first category. He signed with the Seattle Mariners out of high school in 2009 and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016, later adding major league stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and New York Mets. Because he has never competed in the KBO, he must enter the league through the draft rather than signing directly with a club — a rare case of a player with an extensive MLB résumé going through the same door as teenage prospects.

Choi's status for this year's KBO draft, set for Sept. 21, has been a topic of much discussion since he signed with the Whales in April, given his MLB track record. Across 525 games with six clubs, Choi posted 67 home runs and 238 RBIs. In 2020, as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, he became the first Korean position player to play in a World Series, which the Rays went on to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

Choi himself has repeatedly said he did not want to be the main focus of the draft, because teenage prospects coming out of high school deserve to take center stage.

However, even at age 35 with a recent injury history, Choi — a left-handed hitting first baseman — is widely regarded as a veteran who can still help a KBO team. In 20 games for the Whales so far this season, Choi has batted .308 with a home run, seven RBIs and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .847.

"Choi Ji-man has been playing on a consistent basis for us with his sights set on reaching the KBO," Whales manager Jang Won-jin said. "I hope he will lean on his experience to demonstrate his strengths in the tryout. We wish him all the success."