ID :
40461
Tue, 01/13/2009 - 17:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40461
The shortlink copeid
Park Chan-ho quits national team ahead of World Baseball Classic
By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Major League pitcher Park Chan-ho of the Philadelphia
Phillies said Tuesday he will not participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC)
slated for March and will also step down from South Korea's national team.
"I decided not to join the WBC squad. I thought about it for a long time after I
was invited. I apologize to manager Kim In-sik," said a teary-eyed Park during a
press conference in Seoul.
"I will concentrate on the Phillies and compete for the starter position there
through spring training."
Park's absence leaves the Korean team short of right-handers and without a star
player. Another key member slugger, Lee Seung-yeop of Japan's Yomiuri Giants, is
also expected to skip this year's WBC.
Park, 35, signed with the 2008 World Series champion Phillies for US$2.5 million,
with another $2.5 million in bonuses based on the number of innings and games he
pitches as a starter.
He broke into tears while discussing his shaky status with the Major League team,
feeling sidelined and unsure whether he'd be able to win the spot as starting
pitcher.
"I don't have the confidence that I'd be able to perform well at the WBC and
during the regular season," he said.
The WBC, an international baseball competition between 16 teams from around the
world, begins with regional preliminary matches in March. Team Korea will hold
its first match against Taiwan in Japan on March 6.
Park also announced his retirement from South Korea's national squad during the
press conference.
"I will no longer play for Korea's national team," he said. "I'm really sorry to
the Korean people and the fans who love and support me."
Park got on the national squad for the first time in 1991 as a member of the
youth team. Team Korea won the gold medal in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and
Park played a major role the team's third-place finish in the last WBC games in
2006.
Park debuted in the U.S. Major League with the L.A. Dodgers in 1994 and has since
played with the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and the New York Mets before
returning to the L.A. Dodgers last year. He signed with the Phillies this year.
He has pitched a total of 117 winning games in the Major League over the past 14
years.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Major League pitcher Park Chan-ho of the Philadelphia
Phillies said Tuesday he will not participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC)
slated for March and will also step down from South Korea's national team.
"I decided not to join the WBC squad. I thought about it for a long time after I
was invited. I apologize to manager Kim In-sik," said a teary-eyed Park during a
press conference in Seoul.
"I will concentrate on the Phillies and compete for the starter position there
through spring training."
Park's absence leaves the Korean team short of right-handers and without a star
player. Another key member slugger, Lee Seung-yeop of Japan's Yomiuri Giants, is
also expected to skip this year's WBC.
Park, 35, signed with the 2008 World Series champion Phillies for US$2.5 million,
with another $2.5 million in bonuses based on the number of innings and games he
pitches as a starter.
He broke into tears while discussing his shaky status with the Major League team,
feeling sidelined and unsure whether he'd be able to win the spot as starting
pitcher.
"I don't have the confidence that I'd be able to perform well at the WBC and
during the regular season," he said.
The WBC, an international baseball competition between 16 teams from around the
world, begins with regional preliminary matches in March. Team Korea will hold
its first match against Taiwan in Japan on March 6.
Park also announced his retirement from South Korea's national squad during the
press conference.
"I will no longer play for Korea's national team," he said. "I'm really sorry to
the Korean people and the fans who love and support me."
Park got on the national squad for the first time in 1991 as a member of the
youth team. Team Korea won the gold medal in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and
Park played a major role the team's third-place finish in the last WBC games in
2006.
Park debuted in the U.S. Major League with the L.A. Dodgers in 1994 and has since
played with the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and the New York Mets before
returning to the L.A. Dodgers last year. He signed with the Phillies this year.
He has pitched a total of 117 winning games in the Major League over the past 14
years.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
