New Twins DH Byung Ho Park: ‘Baseball is baseball’

Park is the eighteenth Korean-born player to make it to Major League Baseball.

The Twins posted the highest bid last month, $12.85 million, to Park’s club in the KBO for the exclusive right to work out what became a $12 million, four-year contract for the 29-year-old.

Last season in the Korea Baseball Association, Park hit.343, with 35 doubles, 53 homers, and 146 RBI in 140 games. Minnesota plans to primarily use Park, a first baseman in Korea, as a designated hitter.

Park’s interpreter says, “Well, he said baseball is baseball, but then he heard, he knows that a lot of good players play for major leagues, so he’s going to try his best to adjust to Major League Baseball”.

“I want to meet the Minnesota Twins’ fans”, he said into television cameras assembled at Target Field, “and I want to win (a) championship”.

“I wanted to reassure him today, if there’s anything I can do to help his (transition) process, I’m here to help”, Mauer said in a TV interview after the press conference. Mike Radcliff, Twins vice president of player personnel, said the organization sees Park more than the typical global player. Barring a trade of third baseman Trevor Plouffe, which a source said the Twins aren’t actively seeking, that would push fellow slugger Miguel Sano to right field for the first time at any level.

“Brandon Knight, who pitched for Nexen from 2011 to 2014, said he and others advised Park that if he moved to the United States, American players would not appreciate the flips”.

“We’ve been watching Byung Ho for more than a decade now”, Radcliff said “We have a very good history of visual observations on him, especially over the last five years….”

“This guy can swing the bat”, Ryan said. “We have a lot of conviction and belief in him”.

Park said he is satisfied with the contract with the Twins, because he prioritizes chasing his dream over money. We had trouble scoring runs previous year.