Oakland Athletics outfielder Hyo-Jun Park has continued his hot hitting in exhibition play, recording back-to-back multi-hit games.
Park went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona, on Thursday (July 24). Park improved his batting average in the exhibition game from 4-for-7 to 5-for-5.
Starting in left field in the No. 9 spot, Park singled with the bases loaded in the second inning, followed by a double to left field in the fourth inning with the bases loaded. It was his seventh multi-hit game of the tournament. Park was replaced by Jason Rosario for defense in the top of the fifth inning.
Meanwhile, Park, who came to the United States in July 2014 as a junior at Yatap High School, signed a $1.16 million contract with the New York Yankees and worked his way up through the minor leagues to make his big league debut with the Yankees in July 2021. He became the 25th Korean major leaguer in history, 안전놀이터 but after one pinch-hit at-bat (a ground ball), he was sent down to the minors and traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After showing promise with Pittsburgh that year,
Hitting three home runs in 44 games, Park was demoted to the minors three times during the 2022 season. In 23 games, he batted just 2-for-11 (51 at-bats) with two home runs and six RBIs for a .648 OPS, and after the season, he was designated for assignment (DFA) by Pittsburgh, the Boston Red Sox, and the Atlanta Braves before signing a minor league deal with Atlanta.
Last year at Triple-A Gwinnett-Stripper, Atlanta’s affiliate, he batted .385 with a .385 on-base percentage, .379 slugging percentage, .763 OPS, and 16 stolen bases in 101 games (83-for-317) with six home runs, 42 RBIs, 60 walks, 86 strikeouts, and 16 stolen bases, 바카라사이트 추천 but he was unable to break through Atlanta’s thick roster that won a league-high 104 games and ended the season without a call-up. He was then released as a free agent and signed a minor league contract with Oakland in search of a team that would give him more opportunities.
Local media has been lukewarm about Park’s chances of making the opening day roster. However, with his five-figure bat and presence, there is a chance for drama.