Chan-ho Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| San Diego Padres — No. 61 | |
| Starting pitcher | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
|---|---|
| April 8, 1994 for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2006) |
|
| Wins-Losses | 113-87 |
| K | 1507 |
| ERA | 4.37 |
| Teams | |
Park, Chan-ho (born June 30, 1973 in Gongju, South Korea) is a Korean baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Major League Baseball San Diego Padres.
Contents |
[edit] Los Angeles Dodgers
He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1994, at the time a sophomore at Hanyang University in Seoul. A fastball pitcher, Park enjoyed success with the Dodgers who played at the pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. He had his best season with the Dodgers in 2000, when he went 18-10 with a 3.27 ERA and 217 strikeouts.
[edit] Texas Rangers
Following a 15-11 season with the Dodgers in 2001, Park was granted free agency and was signed by the Texas Rangers in December of that year to a five year, USD $65 million contract, which is one of the highest paid contracts for a pitcher. However, during his time with the Rangers, he was hampered by injuries and a home stadium that notoriously favors hitters at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. In his first season with the Rangers, Park only went 9-8 in 25 starts, with a 5.75 ERA. The following season, he only started seven times due to injuries, going 1-3 with a 7.58 ERA.
Park proved to be largely unpopular with the local crowds and Dallas-area media (referred to by some media members as "Heave Ho Park" and "Oh No Park"), considering the underperforming pitcher and his large contract to be a waste of money that hampered the team. However, they did not necessarily consider Park to be a player who could no longer succeed anywhere, but rather a player who did not fit the Rangers' organization, which traditionally focused on offense and power pitchers. Under this theory, it was Park's pitching style, which tended to induce fly balls (which at hitter friendly Ameriquest often end up as home runs), which led to his troubles with the Rangers -- and which was less of a problem when he pitched for the Dodgers, with their pitcher-friendly home park Dodger Stadium. (This theory appears to be supported by evidence; From 2002 to 2004, Park had a 6.75 ERA at home, much higher than his 4.92 ERA on the road.)
[edit] 100 Win Milestone
On June 4, 2005, Park became the first South Korean to ever reach 100 career wins in the majors. He was 26 days short of his 32nd birthday when he reached the milestone.
[edit] San Diego Padres
On July 29, 2005, he was traded by the Rangers to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Phil Nevin. He was shelled in his first outing as a Padre, giving up 7 runs and 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings with 8 hits and 3 walks against him. However, Park had a successful home debut as a Padre, including striking out a season-high eight in 5 2/3 innings of work. Padres fans hope that Park can repeat his success with the Dodgers as he plays in pitcher-friendly PETCO Park.
[edit] World Baseball Classic
In the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Park pitched extremely well, earning 3 saves. The WBC rules for pitching forced him to be excluded from Korea's final game against Japan. With his strong performance (no runs allowed in 10 innings pitched), he was selected to the All WBC team.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Park remains a highly popular player in his native South Korea. Many Koreans follow games when Park pitches. Park's place in the annals of baseball history is secure, in any case, as the pitcher who gave up Barry Bonds' record-breaking 71st home run in 2001.
[edit] Two Grand Slams in One Inning
On April 23, 1999, he surrendered two grand slams to Fernando Tatis in the same inning. Tatis is the only player ever to have accomplished this feat.
[edit] Intestinal bleeding
Park was placed on a 15-day disabled list on July 31, 2006 because of intestinal bleeding that required blood transfusion. He returned and pitched in two games before the bleeding recurred. The mysterious condition was finally diagnosed as a Meckel's diverticulum in his small intestine, which was surgically removed 23 August 2006.[1]
[edit] Brawl with Tim Belcher
When with the Dodgers, Park was the instigator of a celebrated brawl with Anaheim Angels pitcher Tim Belcher. On June 5, 1999, Park triggered an altercation with Angels pitcher Tim Belcher after Belcher forcefully tagged him out on a sacrifice bunt up the first base line. Park shoved him with both hands, then forearmed him in the face and giving him a Karate kick - leaving Belcher with a spike wound on his left thigh and a bruised left forearm.[2]
[edit] Family
Chan Ho Park and Ri-hye Park were married on Nov 29, 2005. Daughter, Elynne, was born on August 30, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Chan Ho Park at ESPN.com
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
