Twins' Byung Ho Park Still Getting Accustomed To American Life
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- His walkup song -- "Boom" by P.O.D. -- says it all, according to manager Paul Molitor.
The Twins have had their eye on the South Korean slugger since high school, and judging by his recent 462-foot blast to center field, their instincts were right. After a slow start, Park seems to be adapting to American baseball, and its faster pitching.
Longtime friend J.D. Kim is Park's translator.
"I'm not going to lie, it's not easy making those transitions seamless," Park said, according to translator Kim. "And I didn't expect it to be easy. Like you said, it's a big transition. It's a great feeling and really relieving to know that your coaching staff and your teammates are supporting you, regardless of how well or poorly you're doing."
Off the field, Park's been busy getting his wife and toddler son settled in the Twin Cities, checking out the sites and figuring out how to get around town.
He's getting to know his teammates too, clubhouse antics and all.
"I can definitely sense that everybody in this clubhouse is trying not to make me feel alone here," Park said via Kim. "They're trying to make jokes around me, trying to make conversation. And when we're on the road, they ask me if I want to go out to dinner, get something to eat, so I really appreciate that."
One night at spring training, some of the guys even had him over to watch an episode of the Bachelor -- something Park rolls his eyes at and says he'll never understand.
