Ex-big league vets struggling in KBO

By Jung Min-ho

Park Chan-ho and Kim Byung-hyun, both ex-Major League pitchers, are struggling more than many imagined in their first season in the domestic league.

Park’s past five games indicate that he is facing the toughest time in his career, giving up seven home-runs, adding four losses to his now 5-9 record. The 39-year-old’s last outing was an ominous sign for the remainder of the season.

Taking the mound as the Hanwha Eagles’ starter against the Kia Tigers Sunday, Park threw a season’s worst performance, giving up two home runs, nine hits and seven runs in three innings. The Eagles eventually succumbed to a 13-2 loss to remain rooted to the bottom of the table, falling further behind the other teams.

Park’s recent slump is disappointing as he emerged as the Eagles’ ace, allowing only three home runs in the first half of the season with controlled deliveries despite the team’s poor performance. Many have raised the question whether Park, who has only played as a relief pitcher since 2006, then with the San Diego Padres, has run out of steam as he had been on the Eagles’ starting rotation since April.

“Although it is premature to evaluate Park’s performance at this point, it seems like he is struggling in his first season. His age and therefore stamina seem to be the factors in these days’ bad results. Despite the initial momentum from his fine performances he seems unable to continue as the team has failed to back him up,” OBS sports commentator Gu Kyung-baek said. “Nonetheless, I believe he will deliver better performances for the rest of the season since he is very strict in his self-discipline.”

The situation for Kim, a two-time World Series winner with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2001) and the Boston Red Sox (2004), is not much better as the 33-year-old lost his spot as a starter last month.

Returning to the Nexen Heroes’ as the starting pitcher from the second string following a left ankle injury, he received extensive attention from fans who want to see the former Major League pitcher in action in the domestic league. However, his lackluster displays have forced him to the bullpen. For the last five matches, he has failed to add a victory to his record, giving up two home runs, 12 runs and three losses. With a 6.35 ERA, Kim has fallen short of expectations in his KBO debut year.

“Kim’s preparation period was short, which has resulted in poor results,” Gu said. “Considering that this is their first season in the domestic league, however, I believe their performances will improve as they adjust to the style here.”

Park donned his trademark number 61 for the Eagles after leaving Major League Baseball with 124 wins in 17 years. Kim signed with the Heroes this season after a year-long break from baseball while with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Japanese league because of his left ankle injury.