Park Byung-ho makes list of top 10 designated hitters

Park Byung-ho

• Published Feb 3, 2016 5:44 PM KST
• Updated Feb 3, 2016 5:44 PM KST

Minnesota Twins’ slugger Park Byung-ho has been named one of the 10 best designated hitters in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 2016.

American television network CBS Sports on Tuesday named Park, who has yet to make his MLB debut, to its list of the best 10 designated hitters in MLB for 2016.

“He's the unknown quantity,” CBS Sports reports. “The 29-year-old Korean import boasts impressive power (105 homers over the last two seasons in KBO), and last season Kang Jung-ho proved that Korean hitters can pass muster and even thrive in MLB. That said, when a hitter is making such an extreme leap, it’s wise to temper expectations. Park, though, has the upside to be much higher on this list next time.”

At the top of the list was Mariners’ slugger Nelson Cruz, and in second was David Ortiz of the Red Sox. Third was Blue Jays’ slugger Edwin Encarnacion.

CBS Sports noted that the list ignores salary and that all-around play matters.

The Twins and Park agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract in December last year.