Pacific Mariners: Korea

ROOTS IN KOREA

Five players born in Korea were part of the Seattle Mariners organization during the first thirty-five seasons. Two of these men played for the big league team.

• Che-Seung Baek (Pusan)
• Ji-Man Choi
• Shin-Soo Choo (Pusan)
• Mike Hickey (Seoul)
• Seon-Gi Kim (Cheongju-City)

CAREERS IN KOREA

Fourteen players in the Korea Baseball Organization were part of the Seattle Mariners big league club over the first thirty-five seasons.

• Francisco Cruceta (Lions '09-'10)
• Tim Harikkala (Lions '05-'06)
• Kevin Hodges (Lions '04)
• Ryan Jackson (Giants '04-'05)
• Al Martin (Twins '04)
• Manny Martinez (Lions '01; Twins '02-'03)
• Keith Mitchell (Tigers '00)
• Warren Newson (Tigers '02)
• Robert Perez (Giants '03-'04, '07)
• Roberto Petagine (Twins '08-'09)
• Arquimedez Pozo (Tigers '00)
• Dan Rohrmeier (Eagles '99-'00; Twins '01)
• Salomon Torres (Lions '01)
• Wilson Valdez (Tigers '08)

Thirty-six players in the Korea Baseball Organization were part of the Seattle Mariners system over the first thirty-five seasons.

• Israel Alcantara (Twins '03; Bears '04)
• Jayson Bass (Tigers '00)
• Denny Bautisa (Eagles '11-'13)
• Tilson Brito (Wyverns '00-'01 & '04; Lions '02-'03; Eagles '05)
• Mickey Callaway (Unicorns '05-'07)
• Francisco Cruceta (Lions '09-'10)
• Eddy Diaz (Wyverns '03; Eagles '04)
• Victor Diaz (Eagles '09)
• Rick Guttormson (Tigers '09) 
• Tim Harikkala (Lions '05-'06)
• Sean Henn (Eagles '12)
• Kevin Hodges (Lions '04)
• Ryan Jackson (Giants '04-'05)
• Justin Lehr (Bears '08)
• Aquilino Lopez (Tigers '09-'10)
• Julio Manon (Tigers '04)
• Ravelo Manzanillo (Twins '02)
• Al Martin (Twins '04)
• Manny Martinez (Lions '01; Twins '02-'03)
• Keith Mitchell (Tigers '00)
• Warren Newson (Tigers '02)
• Corey Paul (Unicorns '02)
• Kit Pellow (Giants '05)
• Robert Perez (Giants '03-'04, '07)
• Roberto Petagine (Twins '08-'09)
• J.R. Phillips (Unicorns '01)
• Len Picota (Eagles '02-'03)
• Arquimedez Pozo (Tigers '00)
• Kenny Rayborn (Wyverns '07-'08)
• Dan Rohrmeier (Eagles '99-'00; Twins '01)
• Bubba Smith (Lions '99-'00; Twins '00)
• Jesus Tavarez (Tigers '00-'01)
• Brad Thomas (Eagles '08-'09)
• Melqui Torres (Unicorns '02)
• Salomon Torres (Lions '01)
• Wilson Valdez (Tigers '08)

[Note: This draft is based on a week spent poring over every level of the all-time organization roster and individual player pages at Baseball-Reference. Please let me know if there are any errors or omissions. Immense gratitude to Dan at MyKBO.net for his help. Latest update: February 10, 2013]