Article: ByungHo Park Tries To Catch Up By Slowing Down

[Nick Nelson]

Over the offseason, it came to light that Minnesota's slugging Korean first baseman wanted his first name written differently than it had been previously. No space. No dash. Just ByungHo.

 

It's not the only difference we've seen with him this spring.

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Park went from hitting long shots last March to becoming a longshot this time around after losing his 40-man roster spot. But with Kennys Vargas away at the World Baseball Classic, the 30-year-old is taking advantage of his opportunity to pile up at-bats.

 

Sure, the thump has been there – he leads the team with three home runs (I mean, #ParkBangs). But that’s nothing new, as it was clear from the moment he arrived that his prodigious power was legit. Now, it’s the subtler things that are gaining notice.

 

He drew yet another start on Sunday and once again made the most of it. No, there was no 500-foot moonshot. But Park did fight off a tough pitch for a bloop single over the second baseman’s head, and laid off a borderline offering on a full count to draw a walk.

 

Therein lies the most conspicuous distinction between this spring and last. In his first camp, Park displayed plenty of pop but the ghastly plate discipline – evidenced by a 17-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio – was an unshakably ominous harbinger. This year, his improved approach at the dish is evident in a K/BB that stands at 6-to-4 following Sunday’s contest.

 

Manager Paul Molitor has certainly taken notice of this adjustment.

 

"I like that he’s swinging at a lot of strikes,” Molitor said over the weekend. "We haven’t seen the huge expansion of the zone, or the panic. It seems like there’s a lot more calmness to his at-bats and trust in his approach.”

 

While he’s not one to make excuses on anyone’s behalf, Molitor noted that the foreign import faced a variety of exacerbating factors as an MLB rookie. “The microscope was fairly intense," as he put it.

 

The Korean media throngs that swarmed through Hammond Field last year have now dissipated to a sparse contingent. The widespread attention and notoriety attached to a KBO superstar arriving in America have faded.

 

Park has been humbled, first by a midseason demotion to the minors that proved season-long, and then by a trip through waivers – unclaimed – during the offseason. Setbacks like these can be a driving force in self-actualization.

 

Add in the surgical repair of a finger tendon issue that hampered him for much of the summer, and there’s a strong basis for belief that some key circumstantial changes will make Park’s second go at it far more fruitful.

 

But one thing that’s not going to change is the speed of those major-league fastballs. The data on Park’s lackluster production against pitches buzzing in 93+ MPH, which he rarely if ever saw in South Korea, is stark.

 

"He was a little bit intimidated by last year,” bench coach Joe Vavra suggested. “The excessive velocity compared to what he’s used to, that was in his head.”

 

Now? The former Twins batting instructor detects an unmistakable shift. While the blazing heaters won’t cool off, a mellower mental state could make them more manageable.

 

"His mind has slowed down, if anything, and that really relaxes him at the plate,” said Vavra. "You don’t see him too anxious and overexcited in any one at-bat."

 

Molitor opined that the relentless speed of the game at its highest level, in conjunction with the team’s horrendous season-opening slump, contributed to sending the first-year big-leaguer into a spiral.

 

Park was one of five Twins appearing in an Opening Day MLB lineup for the first time last April, the manager pointed out, and "although he’s an experienced player, it was new for him.” The former KBO MVP had grown accustomed to carrying his club.

 

“That’s the kind of guy he is,” Molitor said. "I think it’s part of his makeup and part of his culture that they have a huge accountability factor.”

 

All the more reason to believe fierce efforts over the winter are playing into this early success. Park is visibly more comfortable in the batter’s box. But, then again, it’s spring training. When the games don’t matter and the pitchers aren’t going full bore, it’s much easier to manage emotions and stay on an even keel.

 

Can he do it in the regular season? Will he get the chance, with the non-roster barrier now standing in his way? Even if he keeps doing encouraging things on the field, the Twins can still easily justify sending him to Triple-A, where he failed to distinguish himself last year. This would enable the front office to delay tough DFA decisions involved with re-adding him to the 40-man.

 

He doesn't exactly have the largest obstacle blocking him though. Well, in the literal sense, yes, Vargas is a big man. But he isn't exactly doing much to stymie Park's advance. Vargas went 1-for-13 in Grapefruit play before reporting to Puerto Rico for the WBC, where he has started one of three games (and went hitless).

 

Either way, it's starting to feel like it won't be long before Park is back... with a bang?

 

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[HitInAPinch]

Last season, Park was probably pushing too hard to prove he belonged in the MLB.  I think he get's the call.  I don't know what they'll do with Vargas.  I'd probably give him the opportunity to catch on with another team.

[Squirrel]

Last season, Park was probably pushing too hard to prove he belonged in the MLB.  I think he get's the call.  I don't know what they'll do with Vargas.  I'd probably give him the opportunity to catch on with another team.

Vargas has an option left I think?

[HitInAPinch]

 

Vargas has an option left I think?

Yes he does.

[AZTwin]

Do we have any spots open on the 40 man? If May gets tommy John does that open up a spot?

[Respy]

 

Do we have any spots open on the 40 man? If May gets tommy John does that open up a spot?

It sure would, if he goes on the 60-day DL.  I question that they are going to be willing to do this, though, because they might have to keep him on the 40-man indefinitely because I don't know if he'd clear waivers again at this point.  Especially with the spring he's had.

 

As good as Park has been, I think they will decide to send him to Rochester and make him start raking there first.  The FO seem to have already committed to giving Vargas his chance for full-time at-bats.

[mikelink45]

Unless Vargas catches fire or Park ends the spring poorly, I would bet on Park.  Even if the FO is different, the investment in Park is still there by the Twins and the rest of the FO would like to see it pay off.  

[Teddy]

 

As good as Park has been, I think they will decide to send him to Rochester and make him start raking there first.  The FO seem to have already committed to giving Vargas his chance for full-time at-bats.

 

This approach is the least risk-averse. It gives Falvine a couple of months to evaluate Vargas, Mauer and the 1B/DH spots, while allowing Park to prove he can master AAA. However, if Park is not up by sometime in June, it's a bad sign for his long-term future as a member of the Twins.

[Taildragger8791]

 

It sure would, if he goes on the 60-day DL.  I question that they are going to be willing to do this, though, because they might have to keep him on the 40-man indefinitely because I don't know if he'd clear waivers again at this point.  Especially with the spring he's had.

 

As good as Park has been, I think they will decide to send him to Rochester and make him start raking there first.  The FO seem to have already committed to giving Vargas his chance for full-time at-bats.

 

I'm confused at how the waiver talk came into play. I didn't think players were exposed to waivers just for going on the 60-day DL. They just come off the 40-man roster until they're removed from the DL, then they go back on the roster if there's room. If there's a roster crunch at that point then someone is probably going through waivers to clear room.

[terrydactyls]

When is someone going to volunteer Danny Santana as the person to be dropped from the 40-man roster? There are eight posts above mine and I haven't seen his name yet.

[MN_ExPat]

Good point Sir.  I hereby second the motion.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I'm confused at how the waiver talk came into play. I didn't think players were exposed to waivers just for going on the 60-day DL. They just come off the 40-man roster until they're removed from the DL, then they go back on the roster if there's room. If there's a roster crunch at that point then someone is probably going through waivers to clear room.

 

The 60 day opens up another 40 man spot.  Perkins will likely be 60 dayed.  May definitely will.  Both give an extra 40 man spot to put Park back on.  There's no exposure to waivers for the 60 day (I believe).  You cannot use 60 day DL in the offseason, which I suspect is why Park got moved, as they were confident he wasn't going to get claimed.

 

Otherwise, they'd have to DFA someone.

[sftwinsfan]

It could have been a big mistake for Vargas to have gone to sit on the bench for Team Puerto Rico rather than compete for a spot on the 25-man roster.  Park has definitely made some adjustments and is making the decision a lot harder on the Twins.  He's definitely got some ability and the right makeup, I'm hoping we will be pleasantly surprised by Park the year.

[puckstopper1]

 

I'm confused at how the waiver talk came into play. I didn't think players were exposed to waivers just for going on the 60-day DL. They just come off the 40-man roster until they're removed from the DL, then they go back on the roster if there's room. If there's a roster crunch at that point then someone is probably going through waivers to clear room.

The waiver talk has to do with Park, not May.  If they add Park to the 40 man, they would have to put him thru waivers (again) to remove him.  Thus I believe Respy was saying that the Twins better be darn sure that Park is in their future to add him to the 40 man.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

It sure would, if he goes on the 60-day DL. I question that they are going to be willing to do this, though, because they might have to keep him on the 40-man indefinitely because I don't know if he'd clear waivers again at this point. Especially with the spring he's had.

 

As good as Park has been, I think they will decide to send him to Rochester and make him start raking there first. The FO seem to have already committed to giving Vargas his chance for full-time at-bats.

replacing May might mean adding a pitcher to the 40 man roster as well.

[Penthang]

I, for one, am a ByungHo believer. I think he was coming around last year before he hurt his wrist and he's been swinging a good bat this spring. I would much rather see him on the 40 man than Danny San, and there will definitely be a spot with May going on the 60 day. With both Park and Vargas having options this gives the Twins the option of starting the season with the hot hand but shuffling as needed if that one cools too much. I am hoping the front office has the courage to give Park the shot.

[Jgcarew]

Park has hit the hard throwers heat this spring. Vargas' sluggin percentage last year can't be ignored.

[Linus]

I think Kennys is going to regret his decision to play or sit in the WBC.

[Doomtints]

This is what Molitor said last year. Park seemed to be ahead of pitches. When he tried to adjust, he was then behind. Usually this happened in the same at bat. His timing was just off.

 

ST won't tell us anything about Park. He exceeded my expectations last year in ST but then could not hit during the regular season. 

[Doomtints]

 

Park has hit the hard throwers heat this spring. Vargas' sluggin percentage last year can't be ignored.

 

Oh believe me. The Twins can ignore anything they want.