PARK ONE STEAL AWAY FROM BECOMING KBO’S FIRST 250-250 MAN

Jae-hong Park is on the verge of becoming the first player in Korea Baseball Organization history to collect 250 homers and 250 stolen bases in his career. The 35-year-old Park, who plays for the defending KBO champion SK Wyverns, has recorded three homers and two steals this season, giving him 277 roundtrippers and 249 swipes since his rookie season in 1996.

Park smashed 30 homers and stole 36 bases in his first year, becoming the first member of Korea’s 30-30 Club. Just to show it wasn’t a fluke, Park turned in a 30-homer, 43-steal campaign in 1998 before a 32-30 season in 2000. But, apparently, that was then and this is now.

Since pilfering a bag against the Kia Tigers April 10, Park has gone eight games without a steal. He’s hitting just .229 this year, including a stretch of just three hits and one walk in 28 plate appearances between April 11 through 16. To add injury to insult, Park was drilled on the right knee by a Hanwha Eagles pitcher April 17, and has experienced discomfort and swelling ever since.

Despite Park’s woes, the Wyverns are otherwise firing on all cylinders with a KBO-leading 11-4-6 record. The Doosan Bears are second at 9-6-1, while the 9-7-0 Samsung Lions hold third place.