Park Yong-taik sets new KBO record with 2,500 career hits

LG Twins veteran Park Yong-taik records his 2,500th career hit against the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

LG Twins veteran Park Yong-taik picked up his 2,500th career hit on Tuesday, becoming the first player in the history of the KBO to reach the milestone.

Park appeared in the batting box as a pinch hitter at the bottom of the ninth inning with the Twins already down 3-2 against the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. With one out and a runner on base, Park hit a clutch double into right field to set the new record and put runners on second and third.

Unfortunately for Park, the Twins weren't able to convert either of those runners, and the game ended 3-2 to the Lions. The loss pushed the Twins down to fifth place, the wildcard spot, with just a few weeks left of the regular season.

Park broke the career runs record in June 2018 and has held it ever since. Having joined the KBO in 2002, Park has managed to maintain an impressive career batting average at .308 with 2,500 hits and 213 runs over 2,222 games.

Park, the oldest player in the KBO, is due to retire at the end of this season. After 19 years with the Twins, his goal for the season was to win the Korean Series for the first time. With just 17 games left and trailing in fifth place, the Twins face an uphill battle and likely a serious postseason fight to be in with a shot at the championship title.

BY JIM BULLEY, KANG YOO-RIM [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]