Korean rookie in tough stretch with Minnesota

NEW YORK — Byung Ho Park’s demotion to the minor leagues is just the latest setback for the Korean star.

The Minnesota rookie became expendable Friday when the Twins recalled Miguel Sano, who spent the first half of last season with the Chattanooga Lookouts. Before the roster move, Park had bounced around the Twins lineup and struggled especially with runners on base. Through 62 games, the slugger was hitting .191 with 80 strikeouts.

That’s from the performance you’d expect from the 29-year-old who had his own theme song in South Korea, complete with dance moves and set to the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

With fans having little to dance about since Park came to the United States, the setbacks this season have stalled significant hype and potential marketability to fans in Asia.

“Baseball-wise (in MLB), I’m still adjusting and learning and definitely still in that learning period,” Park said through his interpreter, J.D. Kim.

Known by the nickname “Park Bang” while with the Nexen Heroes from 2011 to 2015, Park led the Korea Baseball Organization in home runs (53), total bases (377) and RBIs (146) in 2015. The Twins took notice and paid $12.85 million just to win bidding rights to negotiate with Park, then signed him to a four-year, $12 million contract.

But Park’s stardom in the United States was never a guarantee, and he has struggled with the noticeable talent jump in pitching. During one stretch in June, he struck out eight times in 11 at-bats, prompting manager Paul Molitor to pull him from a start to give him a mental break.

Park’s struggles have led the Twins to hold off on pursuing marketing deals back in his homeland, team spokesman Dustin Morse said. But overall they’re still eager, just like other clubs who also have Asian players such as Korean hitters Dae Ho Lee of the Mariners and Jung Ho Kang of the Pirates. Clubs have seen the benefits of success by other stars from Asia — Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, Shin-Soo Choo and Yu Darvish, among others.

Suzuki, now with the Miami Marlins, is a rare example of an Asian star who achieved the same level of stardom within a year of coming to the United States.

In an All-Star 2001 season with the Seattle Mariners, Suzuki was the American League MVP and rookie of the year, and he also won Golden Glove and Silver Slugger awards. His marketing power has kept pace with his success each season — Suzuki was recently honored for reaching 4,257 hits between the Japanese and North American major leagues, surpassing Pete Rose’s MLB total.

Because of Suzuki, Miami’s games are now broadcast in Japan and team officials have gone to Japan each offseason to make connections, Marlins president David Samson said.

“We are trying to make inroads there,” Samson said, and we would love to be the team of Asia like we are the team of Latin American because we are Miami.”

The Twins want similar connections in South Korea, sending executives to talk with companies in the country about ideas for the future.

“We’re trying to let Byung Ho Park establish himself as a baseball player, and since it’s his first year in Major League Baseball we’re not trying to go too over the top,” Morse said.

If Park can turn things around and establish himself in the majors, U.S. fan support and marketability could follow in his favor.