Having signed the largest free agent contract in South Korean pro baseball history, SK Wyverns third baseman Choi Jeong said his main objective in 2015 isn't just to put up gaudy offensive numbers.



Speaking at the team's spring training site here in Japan on Thursday, the 27-year-old said he hopes to play better defense at the hot corner.



"This season, defense will be the key," Choi said. "I've got to be able to play good defense."



Regarded as one of the premier five-tool players in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Choi, who debuted with the Wyverns in 2005, hit free agency for the first time last winter. The Wyverns retained him with a four-year deal worth 8.6 billion won (US$7.8 million), the most lucrative deal ever handed out to a KBO free agent.



The contract would have made more sense after the 2013 season, when Choi set career highs with a .316 batting average, 28 home runs, 24 steals, a .551 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage.



Slowed by nagging injuries, Choi was limited to 82 games last year. He still managed to hit .305, his fifth straight season of batting at least .300, and drove in 76 runs. His other stats suffered, however, as Choi only had 14 home runs, his fewest since 2008, and stole seven bases, the first time he'd failed to reach double figures since 2007.



On the field, he committed a career-worst 19 errors in 120 games in 2013. Then in 82 games last year, Choi was charged with 12 errors.



Though errors don't always tell the whole story of a player's fielding abilities -- the former high school pitcher is still known for a strong arm -- Choi said defense has become more difficult for him.



"In the past, I played defense with abandon, and I was confident because I could still make plays that way," he said. "But as I got to know baseball, I began to think too much on the field, and it made things difficult. Defense used to be fun, but it's more challenging now."



Since the start of spring training last month, Choi said he's been watching old videos of himself playing defense, trying to get his old feelings back. He admitted he hasn't been as successful in games as he's been in training.



"It's stressful because I haven't done things in games that I usually do in practice," he said. "I was so frustrated the other day that I even looked up video clips of major league players."



Aside from improving defense, Choi said he hopes to avoid injuries.



"I want to stay healthy and play a full season," he said. "I dropped some weight in the offseason and started my weight training from scratch. I've been able to hit with more power so far, and I feel better now than before." (Yonhap)



