*This content was translated by AI.
Park Byung-ho (40), a "people's big guns" who was appointed as a coach for Kiwoom Heroes' rehabilitation forces, delivered a heartfelt message of support to his junior Ko Woo-seok (28, Triple A under Detroit), who is silently struggling in the minor league. Above all, he left warm advice because he had experienced the U.S. stage for two years.
When asked at a press conference for retirement and coaching at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 15th, Park Byung-ho said, "I personally want to cheer for challenging anything if I live my life as a baseball player," and added, "For example, Ko Woo-seok is only in the minor leagues, not the major leagues, but he is playing baseball as he tries to do so and accepts a new culture." Although I am playing baseball in an environment that is not in the spotlight, I really want to support you because this is a big experience and a challenge in my life as a baseball player," he encouraged.
Park Byung-ho also experienced both major league and minor league life when he was active. He played for the Minnesota Twins from the 2016 to 2017 season. He played 62 Major League games in the 2016 season, hitting .191 (41 hits in 215 at-bats) with 12 home runs and 24 RBIs, and was only in the minor leagues in the 2017 season. In the end, Park Byung-ho returned to his former team, the Heroes. Park Byung-ho knew the loneliness and pressure better than anyone else, so he was sure that his junior Ko Woo-seok's time to endure silently was never in vain.
Ko Woo-seok is also spending time in an unfamiliar U.S. land for his goal of promoting to the Major League. Ko Woo-suk, who moved to the U.S. stage from the LG Twins on the condition of receiving a two-year guarantee of $4.5 million (about 6.6 billion won) with the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2024 season, has not made the major league stage in two years. He played in the minor leagues for two years and recorded six wins, four losses, six saves with a 5.61 ERA in 76 games (three starts). After one trade, he moved to the Miami Marlins and was even released. Before the 2026 season, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and decided to try again on the major league stage. Currently, he is staying in Saipan and building himself as a member of the WBC (World Baseball Classic) national team.
Park Byung-ho also recalled that life in the U.S. helped him greatly. He said, "I've changed my mind a lot since I've been to America. They often say 'frog in a well', but I had no idea until I went to the United States. Since it was in its heyday until the crossing, I think there must have been an idea and a sense of pride to play baseball a little more with the thought of "this is how it should be done." Seeing the superstars playing made me think a lot. "I think I played baseball again with the intention of keeping the parts I have to learn when I returned to the Heroes in the rest of my baseball life," he said, reflecting on the meaning of a challenge.
Park Byung-ho, who knows the solitude of the minor leagues better than anyone else. His warm eyes are now directed not only to Kiwoom players but also to Ko Woo-seok, who is struggling beyond the Pacific Ocean.
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*This content was translated by AI.
