Breaking down this former Rangers outfielder's 2026 Hall of Fame chances

The National Baseball Hall of Fame released the 2026 ballot with 15 holdovers from last year's ballot and 12 newcomers, including several former Texas Rangers.

Headlined by lefty Cole Hamels, other names among the 12 are Howie Kendrick, Hunter Pence, Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp and Daniel Murphy.

Another first-year name stands out heading into the BBWAA vote in January, outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. The 16-year MLB veteran spent his final seven big league seasons with the Rangers from 2014-20.

Choo's prime years split between Rangers, Indians

Born in South Korea, Choo was a young superstar and was named the MVP for South Korea in the U-18 Baseball World Cup as a pitcher. From there he signed his first deal in Major League Baseball in 2000 with the Seattle Mariners where he eventually made his big league debut in 2005.

After just 17 games with Seattle, Choo was traded to the Cleveland Indians in July 2006 and that is where he spent seven seasons. In that time, Choo slashed .292/.383/.469 with 83 home runs, 372 RBIs, 162 doubles and an .853 OPS in 685 games.

Choo was traded once again to the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2013 season, playing just one year for the Reds. Then he arrived in Texas, signing a massive seven-year, $130 million deal to join the Rangers. It can be argued that his seven seasons in Texas was the best period of his MLB career.

Throughout his 799 games as a Ranger, Choo batted .260 with 114 home runs, 355 RBIs, 142 doubles, 464 runs scored, 771 hits and an 8.6 WAR for a Texas organization that won back-to-back AL West Division titles in 2015 and 2016. He was also named an All-Star during the 2018 season.

While there were some ups and downs during Choo's time with Texas. It was a big contract and at times it caused strife but overall it was seen as a positive and memorable seven years for Choo and the Rangers.

Choo ended his MLB career following the shortened 2020 season but moved over to the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) for four more seasons before eventually retiring following the 2024 season.

Breaking down Choo's 2026 Hall of Fame chances

Choo was most known recognizable throughout his career as an on-base machine, recording a career .377 OBP, which is 212th-best in major league history and 50 points above the .320 career average.

Over the course of his 16 seasons, Choo also recorded a 12.2 percent walk rate, hit 20 home runs in a season seven times, and reached the 20 HR/20 SB mark three separate times.

While some state that Choo is arguably one of the best major league players from Korea, his chances for National Hall of Fame induction are slim. He likely only sees a year or two on the ballot before not getting the requisite votes to remain eligible.

That doesn't take away the accomplishments, memories and moments throughout Choo's career. Whether it was becoming the first Asian-born player to hit for the cycle in 2015 in MLB, his strange deflection play in the 2015 ALDS or donating $1,000 to each of the 190 Rangers' minor leaguers during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown.

We will see what Choo's Hall of Fame fate is when the voting results are announced at 5 p.m. CT on Jan. 20, live on MLB Network.