"FA eating and running?" There's such a player in the KBO?→ At least Doosan doesn't have it "Look at the responsibility of 8 billion FA."

*This content was translated by AI.

After signing a free agent (FA) contract, there are players who are sometimes extremely sluggish or lie down due to injuries. Fans call such a player "FA Muk-Tu." However, there seems to be no such player in the KBO League, or at least the Doosan Bears. This is because there is Park Chan-ho (31), an "8 billion FA."

Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung met with reporters ahead of the exhibition game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League against the KIA Tigers at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 21st and praised Park Chan-ho's responsibility.

Asked about the table setters leading to Park Chan-ho and Jung Soo-bin, head coach Kim said, "The current condition is not bad. Recently, (Park) Chan-ho has been a little bit off, but he doesn't really value it," he said.

At the same time, it was the sense of defense that came out. Coach Kim said, "Actually, I played a lot of defense the day before (against Lotte in Busan on the 20th), so I tried to give it a rest today," and added, "But you have to get a sense of defense because you have a sense of defense." I don't have to hit, so I'd appreciate it if you could change it when you go into the batter's box while playing defensive innings for now.' We talked to each other like this with the coach, and I think he values this part very much. He kept saying he wanted to go out," he said.

It was manager Kim's remarks that felt Park Chan-ho's responsibility. In November last year, Park Chan-ho signed an FA contract with Doosan for up to 8 billion won for four years (5 billion down payment, 2.8 billion annual salary, 200 million incentive). In fact, it is a full guarantee. Once he signed a large contract that was close to full guarantee, it could be loosened, but that was difficult to find from Park Chan-ho. Since he is only looking at the active performance of the regular season, he is volunteering to play in order not to lose his sense of defense from the exhibition game.

Coach Kim continued on the batting order, saying, "(Jung) Soo-bin is also showing a good performance in No. 2. Park Chan-ho also prefers No. 1 batting order. Therefore, I would like to say that I can enter the batting order (in the regular season) to some extent," he said, expressing his trust.

Park Chan-ho joined the KIA Tigers as the 50th pick in the 5th round of the 2nd round of the 2014 KBO Rookie Draft after graduating from Sindap Elementary School, University Bujung, and Jangchung High School. He began his first professional career in the first year, and played a batting average of 0.266 (951 hits in 3579 at-bats) with 23 home runs, 353 RBIs, 514 runs and 187 steals, and a 0.328 slugging percentage. He has played more than 130 games in the last seven consecutive seasons, and boasts durability by ranking first in shortstop digesting innings (5481 innings) in the last five seasons.

Park Chan-ho said at the time of signing an FA contract with Doosan, "I developed my dream while watching Doosan Bears baseball as a child. "I'm honored and overwhelmed to wear that team's uniform," he said. "My baseball motto has been 'hustle' since childhood. I think the play I've played so far will match the Doosan Bears' symbol, Hustle Doo. I ask for a lot of support and love," he said. And Park Chan-ho, who is waiting for the opening of the 2026 season with a strong sense of responsibility. Doosan fans' expectations for him are rising.

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*This content was translated by AI.