MLB will officially open its 2024 campaign in unfamiliar territory.
As part of their strategy to make the game more popular internationally, the league will kick off the season in South Korea with the Seoul Series, from March 20-21.
The two teams competing in front of thousands of Korean fans and millions watching on TV around the world will be the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
We are less than a week from watching meaningful, live baseball again, and fans can’t wait.
To throw the ceremonial first pitch in Seoul, former MLB hurler Chan Ho Park will be present.
“Chan Ho Park, who 30 years ago became the first @MLB player ever born in South Korea and pitched for both the @Dodgers and @Padres, will have ceremonial first pitch honors before the #SeoulSeries on March 20th,” MLB Communications tweeted.
Chan Ho Park, who 30 years ago became the first @MLB player ever born in South Korea and pitched for both the @Dodgers and @Padres, will have ceremonial first pitch honors before the #SeoulSeries on March 20th. pic.twitter.com/DeG0l4C4Ue
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 14, 2024
Park paved the way for dozens of Koreans who played at the highest level over the years: Shin-Soo Choo, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Byung-Hyun Kim, Ji-Man Choi, Hee-Seop Choi, Seung-Hwan Oh, and current Padres star Ha-Seong Kim, among many others.
He came to the bigs back in 1994 and proceeded to pitch eight seasons for the Dodgers, leaving a solid 3.77 ERA.
He pitched for the Padres in 2005 and 2006, and returned to LA in 2008.
Park retired from MLB with a 4.36 ERA over a 17-year career.
He is one of the most respected players from his country and his success prompted other teams to try their luck with top talents of the Korean league.
It will be a nice chance to remember his achievements and give him a nice round of applause.
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