Park Ki-Hyuk
Encyclopedia
Park Ki-Hyuk (born June 4, 1981 in Daegu
, South Korea
) is a South Korea
n shortstop
who plays for the Lotte Giants
in the Korea Baseball Organization
. He is currently considered one of the top defensive shortstops along with Park Jin-Man
in the KBO
league.
, South Korea
. In 1999, he was named in South Korea national junior team's roster for the 1999 World Junior Baseball Championship
. There Park led the attack alongside Choo Shin-Soo
and Jeong Keun-Woo
.
in the 2nd round (2nd pick) of the 2000 KBO
draft. He had several mediocre seasons, but earned a starting position in the Giants' infield in the 2003 season, playing in 95 games.
Park participated in the 2006 KBO All-Star Game and 2006 Asian Games
.
Though predominantly known as a light-hitting defensive infielder, Park had his most offensively productive season in 2008, when he hit .291 and posted career-highs in RBI (36), runs (47) and hits (102). After the end of the 2008 season, he won his first Golden Glove Award at shortstop.
In addition to achieving a level of personal success, Park was called up to the South Korea national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
. He was expected to serve as backup to another defensive wizard Park Jin-Man
for Team Korea. However, Park Jin-Man
did not make the team because of an inflamed shoulder, and Park Ki-Hyuk finally took over as the starting shortstop. Appearing in all 9 games for South Korea, Park Ki-Hyuk struggled at the plate, going just 3-for-26 with 3 walks, but filled Park Jin-Man
's void at shortstop perfectly, making numerous acrobatic defensive plays in the field.
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
) is a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who plays for the Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
. He is currently considered one of the top defensive shortstops along with Park Jin-Man
Park Jin-Man
*SK Wyverns Park Jin-Man is a Korean Baseball Organization shortstop for the Samsung Lions. He bats and throws right-handed. Since becoming a fixture in the starting lineup in his first pro season, Park has demonstrated defensive versatility as a shortstop, winning five Golden Gloves...
in the KBO
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
league.
Amateur career
Park attended Daegu Commerce High School in DaeguDaegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In 1999, he was named in South Korea national junior team's roster for the 1999 World Junior Baseball Championship
World Junior Baseball Championship
The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States...
. There Park led the attack alongside Choo Shin-Soo
Shin-Soo Choo
Shin-Soo Choo is a South Korean professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball in the United States.Choo was selected as the Most Valuable Player and Best Pitcher of the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship as South Korea won the event...
and Jeong Keun-Woo
Jeong Keun-Woo
Jeong Keun-Woo is a second baseman and shortstop who currently plays for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed.-Amateur career:...
.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | World Junior Baseball Championship World Junior Baseball Championship The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States... |
5th |
Professional career
Park made his pro debut in 2000, drafted by the Lotte GiantsLotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
in the 2nd round (2nd pick) of the 2000 KBO
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
draft. He had several mediocre seasons, but earned a starting position in the Giants' infield in the 2003 season, playing in 95 games.
Park participated in the 2006 KBO All-Star Game and 2006 Asian Games
2006 Asian Games
The 15th Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, is Asia's Olympic-style sporting event that was held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to December 15, 2006. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games...
.
Though predominantly known as a light-hitting defensive infielder, Park had his most offensively productive season in 2008, when he hit .291 and posted career-highs in RBI (36), runs (47) and hits (102). After the end of the 2008 season, he won his first Golden Glove Award at shortstop.
In addition to achieving a level of personal success, Park was called up to the South Korea national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
. He was expected to serve as backup to another defensive wizard Park Jin-Man
Park Jin-Man
*SK Wyverns Park Jin-Man is a Korean Baseball Organization shortstop for the Samsung Lions. He bats and throws right-handed. Since becoming a fixture in the starting lineup in his first pro season, Park has demonstrated defensive versatility as a shortstop, winning five Golden Gloves...
for Team Korea. However, Park Jin-Man
Park Jin-Man
*SK Wyverns Park Jin-Man is a Korean Baseball Organization shortstop for the Samsung Lions. He bats and throws right-handed. Since becoming a fixture in the starting lineup in his first pro season, Park has demonstrated defensive versatility as a shortstop, winning five Golden Gloves...
did not make the team because of an inflamed shoulder, and Park Ki-Hyuk finally took over as the starting shortstop. Appearing in all 9 games for South Korea, Park Ki-Hyuk struggled at the plate, going just 3-for-26 with 3 walks, but filled Park Jin-Man
Park Jin-Man
*SK Wyverns Park Jin-Man is a Korean Baseball Organization shortstop for the Samsung Lions. He bats and throws right-handed. Since becoming a fixture in the starting lineup in his first pro season, Park has demonstrated defensive versatility as a shortstop, winning five Golden Gloves...
's void at shortstop perfectly, making numerous acrobatic defensive plays in the field.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Asian Games Baseball at the Asian Games Baseball has been an event at the Asian Games, since the Games in Hiroshima, Japan in 1994.-Medal table:-Medalists:-External links:*... |
 |
.500 BA (3-for-6), 2 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB | |
| 2009 | World Baseball Classic 2009 World Baseball Classic The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the... |
 |
.115 BA (3-for-26), 4 RBI, 1 R, 3 BB | |