Lee Seung-yeop, Choi Jung, and Park Byung-ho. The third 400th home run in the KBO League is just around the corner. Samsung Lions infielder Park Byung-ho is only two steps away from the 400th goal.
As of Thursday morning, Park had hit a total of 398 home runs. He had 18 home runs this season alone. Having hit only three home runs (44 games) with the KT Wiz before being traded in late May, Park drew 15 arches in 60 games since his transfer. Notably, he hit seven home runs in August alone. Including multiple home runs against the Kia Tigers on Sept. 1, he drew nine arches in the second half. He is currently the player with the best home run pace in Samsung.
He is also innocent. Park hit eight home runs in a tie, giving his team the lead. The number is higher than those of Koo Ja-wook (six), Kang Min-ho (five), and Lee Seong-gyu (four). He also hit nine home runs in the first to third innings, which is the second highest after Koo Ja-wook (11). This proves that he plays a big role in bringing about the mood in the early stages of the season amid tight current. After a period of slowness after moving to the team, he is reviving the team at the end of the season.
Park Byung-ho hit a home run against the LG Twins on June 13 and reached the 400th home run in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) Minnesota Twins, combining 12 home runs and 388 home runs in the KBO League. 스포츠토토
In an interview with this newspaper at the time, however, Park said, “I don’t care much about the Korea-U.S. record,” adding, “The KBO league record of 400 home runs is special.” The 400 home runs record was set by only two players, Choi Jeong (491), and Lee Seung-yeop (467), in the 42-year history of the league. “My last goal in baseball is 400 home runs in the KBO league,” Park stressed.
At the time, he said, “It would be a shame if I finish in the 300s. I thought I would keep those ten if I retire,” adding, “Even if I retire later, I want to change my career home run to four.”
The opportunity has come. If he draws two more arches in the remaining 17 games, he can achieve 400 home runs in the KBO League without overcoming the sun. If he adds two more home runs, Park will hit 20 home runs for the first time in two years since 2022 (35). He failed to hit 20 home runs for 10 consecutive seasons last year with only 18 home runs, but he will try again at the age of 38.
Along with Park’s 400 home runs, “20 home runs” is also significant for the team. If Park achieves 20 home runs, Samsung will produce four or more of them for the first time in five years since 2019. At the time, Darin Ruf (33), Kang Min-ho (22), Koo Ja-wook (20), and Lee Won-seok (20) hit more than 20 home runs. This year, Kim Young-woong (25), Koo Ja-wook (24), and Lee Sung-kyu (20) topped the list of 20 home runs. If Park joins the team, the team will be able to demonstrate its prowess again.
In addition, Samsung is currently leading the league by hitting 154 home runs. The last year in 2015 was when Samsung produced four or more players with 20 home runs by hitting more than 150 home runs. It was a year called the last during the dynasty. For Samsung, which is shouting “revival of the dynasty” along with running to the top ranks, Park Byung-ho’s 20 home runs and 400 home runs would be a welcoming event.