Florida Marlins pitcher Kim Byung-hyun, of South Korea, pitches during a Major League Baseball game in Philadelphia in this Sept. 7, 2007 file photo. Kim is currently a free agent.
/ AP-Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
The year 2007 was tough for South Korea's Major League Baseball (MLB) players.
Despite laboring to secure their spots on United States teams, they have seen their roles diminishing and only one Korean player, Kim Byung-hyun, managed to remain in the league until the end of the season.
In contrast, players from regional rivals Japan and Taiwan cemented their statuses, exhibiting flashes of excellence.
Even though a new season is coming in four months, the Koreans' brakeless flops are likely to continue, while Japan and Taiwan are still exporting top-level players to the U.S.
Korean right-handed pitcher Park Chan-ho is making his last-ditch efforts to revive his big league career with his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 34-year-old veteran, who signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers last month, will compete in the Dodgers' spring camp for the fifth slot in the rotation for the first time since he became a fulltime Major Leaguer in 1996.
The team, where Park began his career in 1994, has already decided its top four starters ― Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Japan's Hiroki Kuroda ― for next season.
With one vacancy left in the rotation, Park has a tough duel with high-profile Jason Schmidt, who has a 124-94 career record, and Esteban Loaiza, who is 125-112.
Submariner Kim, who had an up-and-down season while playing for three teams, despite earning 10 wins, is testing the free agent market in the stove league. Although the 29-year-old wants to stay in Florida where he finished the season, the low-budgeted Marlins cannot afford to award him the $2.5 million contract he is seeking.
South Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho stretches during the national baseball team’s training in Seoul in this Nov. 9, 2007 file photo. Park signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.
/ Yonhap |
What's worse, most teams have already filled their rotations, so if he remains a starting pitcher, it will take longer to settle in with a new team because big-name veterans Freddy Garcia and Livan Hernandez are also in the market.
American media is also doubtful of Kim taking a spot in a starting rotation, although he is expected to sign with a big league club.
Returning to a closing job, like he had with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox, is likely to broaden his options.
Cleveland Indians Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo is expected to return to action in May, after suffering an elbow injury. But his return doesn't guarantee him a spot on the team because the Indians' outfield is full of prominent players, such as Grady Sizemore and David Dellucci.
Korean right-hander Ryu Jae-kuk's future with the American League doormat Tampa Bay Rays is not certain because he did not show strong performances as a starter in the final qualifying round for the Beijing Olympics in Taiwan last month. The former Chicago Cub, who is 24 years old, is rumored to come back to Korea in two or three years.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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