Wednesday, March 11, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Dodger pitched for success
Park ready to begin his second season starting on mound
The Associated Press
VERO BEACH, Fla. — Chan Ho Park was a lonely figure as he ran along the outskirts of Dodgertown at 8:45 in the morning.
When approached for an interview two and a half hours later, Park politely declined, saying he had more running on his agenda, this time with other Los Angeles Dodger pitchers.
Finally, another 75 minutes after that, Park spared a few minutes before a trip to the weight room.
"Every morning I do 35 minutes by myself — I run my course around Dodgetown," said the 24-year-old park, who also runs for 30 minutes with his pitching buddies. "I run a lot, it's big for pitching."
Park became one of the National League's better pitchers last season after winning the No. 5 starting job in spring training.
The first native-born Korean to pitch in the big leagues, Park was 14-8 with a 3.32 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 192
innings. He began the season with a 5-5 career record and 132 strike-outs in 116 and two-thirds innings.
Park finished second in the NL with a .213 opponents' batting average, behind Pedro Martinez, who allowed the opposition to hit just 1.84 while pitching for Montreal.
Park allowed three earned runs or less in 23 of his 29 starts and one earned run or less in 10 starts. The Dodgers were 20-9 when the righthander started.
"I don't think he has scratched the surface," pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. "The sky's the limit for this guy. His work ethic and everything he does will keep him in a position to excel."
The way Park pitches is reminiscent of the way Hall of Famer Tom Seaver did it — much of the power comes from the upper legs.
"Last year was the first time I pitched so many innings in my life." Park said. "I was tired — not mentally, physically, I tried to work hard during the offseason to
be ready. I don't want to miss any turns. Last year, I missed two. I don't want to miss any this year, I want to be ready every time."
Park, who studies English during the offseason, signed with the Dodgers four years ago and began his professional career in the big leagues. But he clearly was not ready.
He pitched in two games with the Dodgers in the 1994 and 1995 seasons before joining the team for good in 1996.
"I feel like newborn, everything's new — every person new for me, for food new for me, for every player new for me," Park said of spring training four years ago. "One thing was the same — baseball. I grew up. I can make my schedule, I can make my goal. I learn all the time."
Spring training is different for Park this year—in the past, he had to worry about making an impression. This spring, he is already locked in as a starter.
"I don't worry about minor leagues, anything like that," he said. "I'm more relaxed, concentration's better."
Gregson said, "He's focused, he knows exactly what he needs to do. This kid's got a plan. He doesn't have to be told what to do."
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