The Major League Baseball (MLB) player was unveiled as the 2014 Asian Games Organising Committee marked 200 days to go until the start of the two-week event on September 19.

"Choo Shin-Soo is one of the most successful sportsmen from Korea and one of the most successful Asian players in the Major League Baseball.

"We believe he is an ideal star to promote the Asian Games to all the people in Asia, and we are thrilled to have him as the Goodwill Ambassador of the 2014 Asian Games," Games organisers said in a statement.

Choo, who was also unveiled as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in January, signed a seven-year contract worth a reported $130 million (£79 million/€96 million) with the MLB franchise Texas Rangers in December last year.

At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, the 31-year-old was part of the South Korean side that defeated Chinese Taipei in the gold medal match.

He first came to prominence at the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Under-18 Baseball World Cup in 2000, where he helped his side to a gold medal and picked up the most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament award.

Prior to joining the Rangers, Choo had spells with the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners after making the move to the MLB in 2005.

Choo helped South Korea claim the Asian Games baseball gold medal at Guangzhou 2010 ©Getty Images



"I am honoured to be appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games," said Choo, who was speaking at the Texas Ranger training camp in Arizona.

"I would have loved to play in the Asian Games once again, but unfortunately, the MLB season schedule conflicts with the Asian Games.

"It was a great experience to win the gold medal in Guangzhou in 2010, and even though I cannot participate this time, I wish all the success to the Korean national team to win the gold medal in Incheon for the second time in a row."

The 2014 Asian Games are expected to feature around 10,000 athletes from more than 40 countries competing in 437 events across 36 sports.

This year will be the third time the Games will have been staged in South Korea, following on from Seoul in 1986 and Busan in 2002.