User talk:Today too, 2 hits 'survival competition' Park Hyo-jun ranks 1st with most hits in an exhibition game
Park Hyo-joon (Athletic Oakland), an invited minor league player, tied for first with the most hits (more than two hits per game) in a major league exhibition game in 2024. The coach also admitted, "Park Hyo-joon made a good impression in the big league spring camp for a limited period of time."
In the home game against the Los Angeles Angels at Meisa Hochkam Stadium in Arizona, the U.S. on the 24th (Korea time), Park played as the ninth batter and left fielder, and recorded two hits in two at-bats. Park hit a double to the left fielder by hitting a high pitch from the bottom of the second inning with no outs and runners on first base with a 3-2 lead. Park scored a run from the first base with no outs in the fourth inning. Afterwards, he tagged up JD Davis' outfield fly ball but was out at home. Park was replaced while on defense in the top of the fifth inning.
In this exhibition game, Park recorded multi hits for the seventh time, raising his batting average to 0.500 (21 hits in 42 times at bat). His batting average in the last 10 games was a whopping 0.625.
For Park Hyo-joon, this exhibition game is more valuable.
I signed a minor league contract with Oakland and participated in the spring camp as an invited player. Big League survival depends on the performance of this exhibition game.
Park Hyo-jun signed with the New York Yankees as an international amateur free agent in 2015, and he is entering his 10th year in the U.S. He made his big league debut in 2021, but rebounded around the team without finding a place. He received three DFAs from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves. His career big league record was .2015 with 20 home runs in 68 games and .258 with 26 home runs and 111 RBIs in 246 Triple-A games.
In this exhibition game, Park is showing off his presence by tying for first with a batting average of 0.500 and the most hits. MLB.com also had an interview with Park.
Park Hyo-joon entered the opening roster for the first time after batting .308 in an exhibition game in 2022, when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Currently, Oakland is not so thick that it has a good chance of entering the big leagues depending on how they perform in the remaining exhibition games.
"Migel Andujar (third baseman and left fielder) will start this season on the injured list," Oakland manager Mark Kosh said. "Park Hyo-joon made a good impression in the big league spring camp for a limited time," raising the possibility of being included in the big league roster.
Park said, "I've wanted to play for Auckland, where there are many chances, since a few years ago. I've had the best offseason of my life, and I'm showing the results in exhibition games. Physically and mentally, I'm ready." He expressed strong confidence.
