Hoy Jun Park (Korean: 박효준; born April 7, 1996) is a South Korean professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2014 and made his MLB debut in 2021.
| Hoy Park | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Park with the Trenton Thunder in 2019 | |
| Free agent | |
| Second baseman / Third baseman | |
| Born: April 7, 1996 Seoul, South Korea | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 16, 2021, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Batting average | .201 |
| Home runs | 5 |
| Runs batted in | 20 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Hoy Park | |
| Hangul | 박효준 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Bak Hyo-jun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pak Hyochun |
Career
editNew York Yankees
editOn July 2, 2014, Park signed with the New York Yankees organization as an international free agent.[1] He made his professional debut in 2015 with the rookie-level Pulaski Yankees, compiling a .239/.351/.383 slash line in 56 games. He spent the 2016 season with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, slashing .225/.336/.329 with 2 home runs and 34 runs batted in (RBIs). Park split 2017 between Charleston and the Class A-Advanced Tampa Yankees, posting a cumulative .251/.348/.359 slash line with career-highs in home runs (7) and RBIs (39). Park returned to Tampa for the 2018 season, hitting .258/.387/.349 with 6 home runs and 34 RBIs in 103 games. In 2019, Park played with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, logging a .272/.363/.370 slash line with 3 home runs and a career-high 41 RBIs.[2][3]
Park did not play professionally in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] He started the 2021 season with the Double-A Somerset Patriots before being promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[5][6] On July 15, 2021, Park was added to the Yankees’ taxi squad following a COVID-19 outbreak in the major-league club.[7] The following day, Park was added to the team's 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[8][9] Park made his MLB debut the same day against the Boston Red Sox as a pinch hitter for Tim Locastro, grounding out in his only at bat. That was his only plate appearance with the Yankees before he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster on July 21.[10]
Pittsburgh Pirates
editOn July 26, 2021, the Yankees traded Park and Diego Castillo to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Clay Holmes. He was then assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.[11] The Pirates promoted Park to the major leagues on July 31.[12] The next day, playing against the Philadelphia Phillies, Park hit a double for his first major league hit.[13] On August 10, Park hit his first major league home run off of St. Louis Cardinals starter J. A. Happ.[14] On August 23, after going hitless in his previous 20 at-bats, Park was optioned to the Indianapolis Indians.[15]
Park was recalled on August 31 after Michael Chavis was placed on the injured list.[16] On April 22, 2022, he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after batting .214 playing 5 games in the majors to start the season.[17] When Ben Gamel was placed on the injured list on May 29, Park was recalled.[18] On May 30, after only pinch running once, Park was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Yu Chang.[19] On June 13, the Pirates recalled Hoy Park from Triple-A. On November 22, Park was designated for assignment.
Atlanta Braves
editOn November 23, 2022, the Pirates traded Park to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor-league left-handed pitcher Inmer Lobo.[20] Park was designated for assignment on December 13 after the Red Sox added Kenley Jansen to their roster.[21][22] On December 16, the Red Sox traded Park to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[23][24] On December 28, 2022, Park was designated for assignment to make room for Eli White on the 40-man roster.[25] On January 5, 2023, Park was sent outright to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers.[26] He spent the year with Gwinnett, hitting .262/.385/.379 with six home runs, 42 RBI, and 16 stolen bases across 101 games. Park elected free agency following the season on November 6.[27]
Oakland Athletics
editOn November 20, 2023, Park signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics.[28] He led the team during spring training with 21 hits in 22 games as a non-roster invitee. Despite the strong play, Park was sent to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators to begin the season.[29] He elected free agency on November 6.[30]
References
edit- ^ Johnson, Greg (June 2019). "South Korea native Hoy Jun Park experiences successful transition to Yankees organization". The Trentonian.
- ^ Franko, Kyle. "'Hoy, Hoy, Hoy!' EL All-Star Hoy Jun Park giving Thunder spark at top of lineup". The Trentonian. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ ranko, Kyle (September 10, 2019). "Hoy Jun Park eager to continue learning as Thunder push for championship". The Trentonian.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com. June 30, 2020.
- ^ Foley, Conor (June 13, 2021). "RailRiders Insider: Park providing spark". Scranton Times-Tribune.
- ^ Brendan Kuty (June 26, 2021). "What's behind Yankees prospect Hoy Jun Park's surprise breakout?". Nj.com.
- ^ "Yankees To Place Hoy Jun Park On Taxi Squad". MLB Trade Rumors. July 15, 2021.
- ^ "Yankees Select Three Players, Place Luke Voit On Injured List". MLB Trade Rumors. July 16, 2021.
- ^ "Yankees, Red Sox lineups Friday | Trey Amburgey, Chris Gittens in; Luke Voit on IL; Greg Allen, Hoy Park, Rob Brantly recalled (7/16/21)". Nj.com. July 16, 2021.
- ^ "Yankees Select Asher Wojciechowski, Outright Hoy Jun Park". MLB Trade Rumors. July 21, 2021.
- ^ "Pirates Trade Clay Holmes To Yankees". MLB Trade Rumors. July 26, 2021.
- ^ "Hoy Park eager to show Pirates what he can do". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Phillies 15, Pirates 4 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "Park hits first HR in Bucs' lone breakthrough". MLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Roster moves". MLB.com. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ "Pirates notebook: Hoy Park returns as Michael Chavis goes on IL, taxi squad travels to Chicago". Triblive.com. August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Park Hoy-jun sent to minors after difficult start to season". Korea JoongAng Daily. April 25, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ Dreker, John (May 29, 2022). "Pirates Place Ben Gamel on Injured List; Hoy Park Recalled". Pirates Prospects. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ "Pirates' Hoy Park: Heads back to minors". www.cbssports.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ "Red Sox acquire INF/OF Hoy Park in trade with Pirates". Boston.com. Associated Press. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Red Sox agree to two-year contract with right-handed pitcher Kenley Jansen". MLB.com. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ Cotillo, Chris (December 13, 2022). "Red Sox moves: Kenley Jansen signing official, Hoy Park designated for assignment". MassLive. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Red Sox trade infielder/outfielder Hoy Park to Atlanta Braves". MLB.com. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (December 16, 2022). "Atlanta adds versatile INF Hoy Park via trade". MLB.com. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Atlanta Braves on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Braves outright Hoy Park to Gwinnett, Lewin Diaz claimed by Orioles". batterypower.com. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ "A's, Hoy Park Agree to Minor League Deal". November 27, 2023.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. March 27, 2024.
- ^ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet