Ready for ML Comeback

Chan Ho Park of the Texas Rangers and Byung Hyun Kim of the Arizona Diamondbacks are likely to come back to the major leagues.

Coincidently, the two are now on the disabled list, and train themselves in the minor leagues, waiting for the call from the ML.

Park pitched yesterday for the Oklahoma Red Hawks, a minor league team of the Rangers, against the Memphis Red Birds of the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed one run on six hits and three walks in six innings. The ball speed reached up to 148 km. In total, he threw 102 balls. When he wrapped up his pitching in the sixth, the score was 1-1 tie. Park did not record a win or a loser. The game went to the Red Birds 1-2.

Except in the first where he allowed one run on three hits, he shut out the rest five innings. He showed his confidence and was quoted as saying, "If I succeed in maintaining today`s pitching, I think I can do good in the ML."

Still, it is uncertain when Park can make his ML comeback. Originally, Park was supposed to throw in a home game against Tampa Bay Devil Rays on May 23rd. Right off the DL, Ismael Valdes silenced New York Yankees, allowing only two runs on five hits for five innings. Thus, Valdes will take the place of Park for the game. The local press predicts that Park will pitch one more game in the minor leagues. Park, however, said, "I will go back to Dallas. I have not been notified of the exact schedule yet."

Kim also pitched in a minor league game Saturday, and threw 7 1/3 innings. He gave up two runs on seven hits, and recorded two strikeouts. He allowed a solo home run in the eighth, and lost the game. Nonetheless, his performance was excellent and demonstrated he was ready for his return to the ML.

It is highly likely that Kim will take on San Francisco Giants at home on May 22nd.

Hee Seop Choi of the Chicago Cubs recorded no hit Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. And yesterday, he just sent in a first baseman without having any opportunity at bat.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com