Former KBO MVP Park Byung-ho Celebrated in Emotional Retirement Ceremony

Former MVP-winning slugger Park Byung-ho was feted in an emotional retirement ceremony Sunday held by the club with whom he enjoyed the most success. Park, one of the most feared power hitters in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history with two MVP awards and consecutive 50-home run seasons, had announced his retirement in November last year, quietly fading into a minor league coaching position with the Kiwoom Heroes. The Heroes then organized a ceremony to celebrate Park's 17-year KBO career at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, ahead of a game against the Samsung Lions, one of four clubs Park played for. Park was added to the Heroes' roster as an extra player for Sunday's game and even took the field at first base in the top of the first inning. Park was lifted for Im Ji-yeol just before the first pitch. "Thanks to this special arrangement, the Kiwoom Heroes will go down as my last team," Park said at a press conference before the ceremony. "That's good enough for me." Park was drafted by the LG Twins in 2004, but it was after a trade to the Heroes in 2011 that Park blossomed into a premier slugger. Park claimed the first of his two MVP awards in 2012 after leading the league with 31 home runs and 105 RBIs. Park was voted the MVP again in 2013, when he topped the KBO with 37 home runs and 117 RBIs. In 2014, Park blasted 52 home runs, becoming only the third player in KBO history to surpass the half-century mark. He followed that up with 53 home runs, and he remains the only player with back-to-back 50-homer campaigns. Park led the KBO in homers in four straight seasons from 2012 to 2015, the longest such streak in league history. He topped the league in home runs a record six times. Park also spent two seasons with the Minnesota Twins and their Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, New York, from 2016 to 2017. Park retired with 418 home runs, the fourth most in KBO history. At the pre-ceremony presser, Park said he had been too busy coaching to think much about his retirement ceremony, but he kept growing more excited about the occasion as it neared. "Ever since I was young, I thought a retirement ceremony was only for great players to make sure they would have a happy ending to their careers," he said. "It feels great to be such a player." Park thanked the Heroes for reviving his career when he was going through a particularly difficult stretch. "It's hard to describe in words, and I have such precious memories with this club," he added. "I decided to start my coaching career with this organization because the Heroes have always been in my heart. I am so grateful for fans for welcoming me back with open arms. Now as a coach, I will try to develop young players the best I can." Only months into his coaching career, Park said he has not yet thought about ultimately becoming a manager. "From the start, I wanted to work with young players in the minors, and I think it suits me well," Park said. "And during my short time in the United States, I learned a lot by observing how coaches there led and interacted with players. I've been trying to make myself accessible for players, listen to what they have to say and also ask some questions myself." In the ceremony, Park's son threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while Park stepped into the batter's box. Park also thanked the Lions for their support in the final years of his career.