MLB star to shine with best of the KBO

Former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Park Chan-ho will play during the KBO’s All-Star Game slated for July 21 in Daejeon, according to the Korea Baseball Organization yesterday.

Lee Seung-yeop, the former Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star, did not make the team.

The KBO announced the list of 24 manager-recommended All-Star players yesterday. Three days earlier, the baseball governing body announced 20 All-Stars based on fan voting.

The Hanwha Eagles’ Park, 39, has pitched 14 games, going 4-5 with a 4.14 ERA. While these aren’t All-Star statistics, the lowly Eagles have not helped out the former major leaguer, with many suggesting his winning percentage should be significantly higher.

Park will pitch for the Western Team, comprised of players from the LG Twins, Nexen Heroes, Kia Tigers and the Hanhwa Eagles.

The Eastern Team is stocked with players from the Lotte Giants, who swept every starting position for the first time in KBO history.

Park, the first Korean to play in the Major Leagues, will also be the first player to play All-Star games in both the Korean and U.S. leagues. After a 17-year MLB career and a one-year stint with Japan’s Orix Buffaloes, Park made his KBO debut this season.

He holds the MLB record for the most wins as a pitcher from Asia with 124. He played during the Major League All-Star Game in 2001 when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Other former Major Leaguers such as Kim Byung-hyun of the Nexen Heroes; Seo Jae-weong and Choi Hee-seop of the Kia Tigers; Bong Jung-keun of the LG Twins; and Kim Sun-woo of Doosan Bears were not named All-Stars.

Oh Seung-hwan of the Samsung Lions, who broke the league’s saves record early this month, will pitch for the Eastern Team. Jang Won-sam, Jin Kap-yong and Kim Sang-soo from the Daegu-based club will join him in Daejeon.

Sun Dong-yul, manager of the Kia Tigers who will lead the Western Team, recommended Anthony Lerew, Kim Sang-hoon, Kim Sun-bin and Kim Won-sup from the Tigers and Benjamin Jukichi of the LG Twins.
By Moon Gwang-lip [joe@joongang.co.kr]