By Lee Kyoung Mi and Lee Jihae

U.S.-based baseballer Choo Shin-soo said he will provide financial support to his team's minor league players suffering financially from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

American media such as The Associated Press (AP) and ESPN on April 1 said Choo decided to give USD 1,000 each to all 191 minor leaguers with the Texas Rangers, or a combined USD 191,000. The team also announced through Twitter news of his donation.

Choo told The AP that he remembers his financial difficulties during his seven years in the minors, saying, "I know right now the minor league system is better than 15-20 years ago, but still tough. Everything's difficult, especially money-wise."

He said he wants to "pay back to other people" and hopes that his donation can reduce the financial worries of minor leaguers and get them focused on baseball.

Eli White, one of the players to receive Choo's donation, on April 1 told a Korean media outlet that when the pandemic ended spring training and all seemed lost, Choo reached out first by offering financial support and encouraging White to focus on baseball and family.

White said he wants to express gratitude to Choo on behalf of all of the other minor leaguers to receive his help.

Earlier on Feb. 10, Choo donated KRW 200 million to Daegu, the epicenter of the pandemic in Korea.

km137426@korea.kr