SEOUL - In a surprising move by the Oakland Athletics, South Korean utility player Park Hoy-jun has been demoted to the minor leagues despite an impressive performance during spring training. The Athletics announced on Tuesday (U.S. local time) that Park will start the season with their Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, even as the team gears up for their MLB season opener against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park's spring training statistics positioned him as a strong contender for the Opening Day roster. Prior to the Athletics' final spring training game on Tuesday, Park had led the team with 21 hits in 22 games, achieving a remarkable .488/.489/.674 batting line and striking out only once in 43 at-bats. Despite these figures, the Athletics have opted to begin the season without him on the main roster.
Park, 27, joined the Athletics as a non-roster invitee this spring and nearly secured a spot on the Opening Day lineup. He entered free agency in November after spending the entire 2023 season with the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A team of the Atlanta Braves, where he posted a .262/.385/.379 batting line with six home runs, 42 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Park's versatility allowed him to play at second base, third base, and right field.
Park's MLB journey began with the New York Yankees, who signed him straight out of high school in 2014. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played in 2022, and then moving through trades to the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves. Park's last MLB appearance was on September 7, 2022, as a member of the Pirates.