Boston Red Sox trade Park Hoy-jun to the Atlanta Braves

Park Hoy-jun crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb in Pittsburgh on June 19. [AP/YONHAP]

Korean utility player Park Hoy-jun was traded to the Atlanta Braves over the weekend in his second move this offseason, having left the Pittsburgh Pirates last month for the Boston Red Sox.

Park was shipped off to Atlanta in exchange for an as yet unnamed player and cash considerations on Friday, three days after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox.

Park spent a large part of the last two seasons shuttling between the Pirates squad and the minors, recording a .202 batting average with five home runs and a .641 OPS over 209 plate appearances in 2021 and 2022.

Those numbers weren’t enough to secure him a regular spot in the Pirates lineup, and he finished the 2022 season with Triple A Indianapolis.

But while Park doesn’t provide much power at the plate, his versatility as a utility man could be enough to secure him a spot in the Braves lineup.

Park is expected to be at spring training with the Braves in a couple of months, where he will be among a number of players competing for a backup infield spot next season.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]