Park Han-Yi
Encyclopedia
Park Han-Yi (born January 28, 1979 in Busan
, South Korea
) is an outfielder
who plays for the Samsung Lions
in the Korea Baseball Organization
. He bats and throws left-handed
.
, Park got his first call-up to the South Korea national baseball team for the team's five annual friendly matches against the USA national baseball team in California
, United States.
In July , as a sophomore, Park was selected for the South Korean national team again, and participated in the 1998 Baseball World Cup
. South Korea eventually claimed the silver medal two times in a row, and Park led the team attack alongside cleanup hitter
Choi Hee-Seop
, going 17-for-41 (.415) with 10 runs. In November, Park was called up to the South Korean national team for the 1998 Asian Games
, which included professional players for the first time ever.
He led his team to their first Asian Game gold medal, going 10-for-23 (.435) with a home run and 3 RBIs as a leadoff hitter
.
In September , Park was selected by the South Korean national team to compete in the 1999 Asian Baseball Championship
. He was one of the only four amateur players on the roster. Team Korea won their two consecutive Asian Championship, and Park served as a backup center fielder
to Lee Byung-Kyu
in the tournament. In November, Park competed for the South Korea national baseball team, which exclusively consisted of college players, in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup
. South Korea finished disappointing 7th in the competition, but in their first game of the round-a-robin tournament, Park led his team to a memorable 4-3 victory over eventual winner Cuba
, smacking a two-RBI single to tie the game up at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was South Korea's first victory over Cuba at the major international baseball competitions organized by the IBAF.
after graduation from college in , Park made his KBO debut on April 5, 2001 against the Hanwha Eagles. In his debut game, which was also the Lions' opening game of the 2001 season, he hit a leadoff single in the game's first at-bat off Eagles' starter Song Jin-Woo
. Next day, Park smacked his first professional home run against the Eagles. Appearing in 130 games as a leadoff man for the Lions, he had a solid rookie season with a .279 batting average, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, and finished the runner-up in the 2001 KBO Rookie of the Year balloting.
In , Park played in all 133 regular-season games as the team's leadoff hitter, batting .272 with 137 hits, 10 home runs, 47 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, and made his first All Star Game appearance in July.
Park had a career-best year in . That year, he led the KBO league
in hits
(173), accumulating 113 runs and 17 stolen bases. He also hit .322, finishing sixth in the batting
race. In November, Park competed for South Korea national baseball team in the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship
, but his performance was very disappointing, going 0-for-7 as a backup center fielder.
Park had another solid season in , batting .310 (tenth in the league) with 156 hits (fourth in the league), career-highs 16 home run
s and 63 RBIs. After the season, he won his first Golden Glove award as an outfielder.
In , Park ranked third in the league in hits (139), posting 9 home runs and 59 RBIs, but his batting average fell to .295.
In , Park led the KBO league in runs
(89), posting 134 hits (sixth in the league) and 15 stolen bases, and won his second Gold Glove award. However, his batting average dipped again to .285., and struck out a career high of 62 times.
Park had his worst season In . He struggled at the plate all season, hitting a career-low .267. He finished with career-lows 2 home runs and 27 RBIs, and also posted career-lows in slugging percentage (.309) and on-base percentage (.359).
But Park came back strong in , batting .316 (8th in the league) with a .414 on-base percentage (5th in the league). He missed 20 games due to injuries, but accumulated 117 hits, 41 RBIs and 57 runs.
league. He has continued the routine every at-bat since he got his first professional hit right after a long pre-batting warm up in his pro debut game in 2001.
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
) is an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who plays for the Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
. He bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Amateur career
In July , as a freshman at Dongguk UniversityDongguk University
Dongguk University is a private, coeducational university in South Korea. It operates campuses in Seoul, in Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang province and in Los Angeles, United States...
, Park got his first call-up to the South Korea national baseball team for the team's five annual friendly matches against the USA national baseball team in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States.
In July , as a sophomore, Park was selected for the South Korean national team again, and participated in the 1998 Baseball World Cup
1998 Baseball World Cup
The 1998 Baseball World Cup took place in Italy from July 21 to August 2.Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals...
. South Korea eventually claimed the silver medal two times in a row, and Park led the team attack alongside cleanup hitter
Cleanup hitter
In baseball, the cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Although the third man up is generally the hitter with the highest batting average, cleanup hitters often have the most power on the team and are typically the team's best power hitter; their job is to "clean up the...
Choi Hee-Seop
Hee-Seop Choi
Hee-Seop Choi is a professional baseball player who has played in the MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is a first baseman who bats and throws left-handed. Choi currently plays for the Kia Tigers in the South Korean pro baseball league.-Amateur career:Choi...
, going 17-for-41 (.415) with 10 runs. In November, Park was called up to the South Korean national team for the 1998 Asian Games
Baseball at the 1998 Asian Games
Baseball was one of the many sports which was held at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand beginning on December 7, 1998.-Level A:-Level B:-Medal round:-References:*...
, which included professional players for the first time ever.
He led his team to their first Asian Game gold medal, going 10-for-23 (.435) with a home run and 3 RBIs as a leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
.
In September , Park was selected by the South Korean national team to compete in the 1999 Asian Baseball Championship
Asian Baseball Championship
The Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
. He was one of the only four amateur players on the roster. Team Korea won their two consecutive Asian Championship, and Park served as a backup center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
to Lee Byung-Kyu
Lee Byung-Kyu
Lee Byung-Kyu is a South Korean baseball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and in the 2000 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the South Korean team which finished eighth in the 1996 tournament....
in the tournament. In November, Park competed for the South Korea national baseball team, which exclusively consisted of college players, in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (baseball)
The Intercontinental Cup is a baseball tournament between the members of the International Baseball Federation . It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999....
. South Korea finished disappointing 7th in the competition, but in their first game of the round-a-robin tournament, Park led his team to a memorable 4-3 victory over eventual winner Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
, smacking a two-RBI single to tie the game up at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was South Korea's first victory over Cuba at the major international baseball competitions organized by the IBAF.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Baseball World Cup 1998 Baseball World Cup The 1998 Baseball World Cup took place in Italy from July 21 to August 2.Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals... |
 |
.415 BA (17-for-41), 10 R | |
| 1998 | Asian Games Baseball at the Asian Games Baseball has been an event at the Asian Games, since the Games in Hiroshima, Japan in 1994.-Medal table:-Medalists:-External links:*... |
 |
.435 BA (10-for-23), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 7 R | |
| 1999 | Asian Baseball Championship Asian Baseball Championship The Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer... |
|
.000 BA (0-for-3), 2 RBI | |
| 1999 | Intercontinental Cup Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The Intercontinental Cup is a baseball tournament between the members of the International Baseball Federation . It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999.... |
7th |
Professional career
Signed by the Samsung LionsSamsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
after graduation from college in , Park made his KBO debut on April 5, 2001 against the Hanwha Eagles. In his debut game, which was also the Lions' opening game of the 2001 season, he hit a leadoff single in the game's first at-bat off Eagles' starter Song Jin-Woo
Song Jin-Woo
Song Jin-Woo is a retired Korea Baseball Organization left-handed pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles. He also competed for South Korea in the 2000 Summer Olympics on the team that won the bronze medal.Song played in the KBO for 21 years since...
. Next day, Park smacked his first professional home run against the Eagles. Appearing in 130 games as a leadoff man for the Lions, he had a solid rookie season with a .279 batting average, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, and finished the runner-up in the 2001 KBO Rookie of the Year balloting.
In , Park played in all 133 regular-season games as the team's leadoff hitter, batting .272 with 137 hits, 10 home runs, 47 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, and made his first All Star Game appearance in July.
Park had a career-best year in . That year, he led the KBO league
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(173), accumulating 113 runs and 17 stolen bases. He also hit .322, finishing sixth in the batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
race. In November, Park competed for South Korea national baseball team in the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship
2003 Asian Baseball Championship
The 22nd Asian Baseball Championship was contested in Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan in November 2003. The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Baseball Federation. The top two teams of the tournament gained automatic entry into the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens....
, but his performance was very disappointing, going 0-for-7 as a backup center fielder.
Park had another solid season in , batting .310 (tenth in the league) with 156 hits (fourth in the league), career-highs 16 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 63 RBIs. After the season, he won his first Golden Glove award as an outfielder.
In , Park ranked third in the league in hits (139), posting 9 home runs and 59 RBIs, but his batting average fell to .295.
In , Park led the KBO league in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(89), posting 134 hits (sixth in the league) and 15 stolen bases, and won his second Gold Glove award. However, his batting average dipped again to .285., and struck out a career high of 62 times.
Park had his worst season In . He struggled at the plate all season, hitting a career-low .267. He finished with career-lows 2 home runs and 27 RBIs, and also posted career-lows in slugging percentage (.309) and on-base percentage (.359).
But Park came back strong in , batting .316 (8th in the league) with a .414 on-base percentage (5th in the league). He missed 20 games due to injuries, but accumulated 117 hits, 41 RBIs and 57 runs.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Asian Baseball Championship 2003 Asian Baseball Championship The 22nd Asian Baseball Championship was contested in Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan in November 2003. The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Baseball Federation. The top two teams of the tournament gained automatic entry into the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.... |
 |
.000 BA (0-for-7) |
Trivia
Park is known for his extensively lengthy and quirky pre-at-bat routine in the KBOKorea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
league. He has continued the routine every at-bat since he got his first professional hit right after a long pre-batting warm up in his pro debut game in 2001.