Minnesota Twins Designate Byung Ho Park for Assignment
By David Hill
Byung Ho Park was expected to be a key power bat in the middle of the Minnesota Twins lineup. Instead, he was designated for assignment yesterday.
It was just a year ago when there was a great deal of excitement surrounding Byung Ho Park. He had hit a combined 105 home runs in his final two seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization, leading the Minnesota Twins to believe they had a desperately needed power bat for the middle of their lineup. With a four year, $12 Million contract, on top of the $12.85 Million posting fee, the Twins thought they had a bargain.
Instead, Park may no longer be a part of their future. After signing reliever Matt Belisle to a one year deal, the Twins designated Park for assignment to clear a spot on the 40 man roster. Given the remaining amount due on his contract, the Twins are obviously hoping that he can clear waivers, and look to get back on track in AAA.
Park had a promising start to the year last season, with a .268/.351/.598 batting line through May 7, hitting seven home runs. However, even during that run of success, there were warning signs. Park struck out 27 times in 94 plate appearances, while drawing eight walks. From that point, he struggled to a .143/.227/.292 batting line, striking out 53 times in his final 150 plate appearances before he was sent to the minors.
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The hope that Park would be able to figure out his swing at AAA was soon dashed. Although he hit 10 home runs in 128 plate appearance, Park had a .224/.297/.526 batting line. His strikeout rate decreased, as he struck out only 32 times, but he also drew only six walks.
Even with those struggles, Park is still an intriguing player. His power was able to translate from the KBO to the Majors, despite a low batting average and high strikeout rate. Park was also just about league average defensively at first, giving him some additional value.
With his affordable contract and power numbers, it may not be a surprise if another team puts a claim in on Park. There are still teams looking for an affordable power bat, and Park could be an option. If he is able to improve his contact rate while retaining his excellent power, Park could be the bargain the Twins had hoped for.
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Byung Ho Park has been designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins. Given his power and reasonable contract, he may be worth a look from another franchise.