Former All-Star outfielder and slugger Choo Shin-soo has become the first Korean eligible for the Major League Baseball(MLB) Hall of Fame.

Choo, who played in the MLB from 2005 to 2020, was among 12 newcomers on the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released by the Baseball Writers' Association of America(BBWAA) on Monday.

Choo was named along with Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, Rick Porcello, Edwin Encarnación, Gio González, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis and Hunter Pence. 

The group joined 15 holdovers from the 2025 voting cycle.

Choo made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2005 and played 16 seasons in the big leagues through 2020, including with the Cleveland Guardians (formerly Cleveland Indians), Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers, where he played the majority of his games.

Over 1,652 games, he batted .275, with 218 home runs, 782 RBIs and 157 steals.

Choo was also the first Asian player to post a 20-homer, 20-stolen-base season, a feat he achieved three times during his MLB career.

He earned an All-Star selection in 2018 as a member of the Texas Rangers when he established a franchise record by reaching base safely in 52 consecutive games.

Following his MLB stint, Choo played four seasons at the Korea Baseball Organization's SSG Landers before retiring. He currently serves as an adviser to the Landers' parent company.

The MLB Network will announce the results of the BBWAA's vote live on January 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.