April 22, 2009

A teammate congratulates SK Wyverns’ Park Jae-hong after the 35-year-old veteran hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning in an April 16 home game in Incheon against the LG Twins.

It’s a feat never achieved in the KBO, a record that represents a rare combination of power and speed.

Park Jae-hong of the SK Wyverns is one steal away from becoming the only Korea Baseball Organization player with both 250 steals and 250 home runs in his career.

The 35-year-old veteran has recorded three home runs and two steals this season, bringing his career totals to 277 and 249, respectively.

The 250-250 milestone has been reached only 19 times in the Major League Baseball and four times in the Japanese pros.

Just six MLB players have reached the next benchmark, the 300-300 club. That group includes the likes of Willie Mayes, Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson, Bobby Bonds, Reggie Sanders and Steve Finley.

Park displayed power and speed around the base paths from the onset of his career, smashing 30 home runs and 36 steals during his rookie season in 1996.

No other player had achieved that double feat - 30 or more home runs and 30 or more steals in one season - in the history of the KBO. Yet Park did it his rookie year, which presented just a taste of things to come. Park followed that up in 1998 with 30 home runs and 43 steals and 32 home runs and 30 steals in 2000.

Getting his last steal to hit the 250-250 mark has not been easy, though.

Park successfully stole a base during an April 9 game in Gwangju against the Kia Tigers, and he recorded another steal the very next day in Mokdong, western Seoul, against the Heroes to reach 249.

But he has been stuck there since then, despite playing in eight games.

The problem stems from his low on-base percentage. Park is hitting an unimpressive .229 percent this season, providing him with limited opportunities to steal.

From April 11 to 16, Park managed just three hits and one walk in 28 at-bats. There was a runner on second on two occasions when he reached first base, blocking his chance at a steal.

A southpaw pitcher manning the mound made it difficult for Park to get a solid lead from first on another occasion. To make matters worse, Park was hit in the right knee on an inside pitch during the ninth inning of a game against the Hanhwa Eagles on April 17. Although Park wasn’t seriously injured, he experienced discomfort and severe swelling in his right knee.

The defending champion SK Wyverns are currently in first place with eight wins, two ties and four losses and are in a three-game series with the Lotte Giants until this Thursday.

While the final steal has not been easy for Park, he has a long season ahead of him - and his illustrious career seems far from over.


source: joongang.co.kr
By Choi Min-gyu, Jason Kim
[jason@joongang.co.kr]