The home run king will return as a coach, Park Byung-ho Heroes will make a surprise return

Nov 04, 2025

Park Byung-ho when he was growing up. Sports Chosun DB

Park Byung-ho, who announced his retirement, will start his second baseball life as a coach for his former team Kiwoom Heroes.

Kiwoom club appointed Park Byung-ho from Kiwoom as its senior coach for the Remaining Army on the 4th," the official announcement said. It's a surprise recruitment.

He has been known as a `Monster High School Batter' since he was a student at Seongnam High School, and received the LG Twins' first local nomination in 2005. The attention paid to the first designated hitter with the 'all-time' talent was enormous. After completing his military service in Sangmu, he continued his long career as a prospect even after returning. And life completely changed when it was traded to the Heroes in the 2011 season. Park Byung-ho, who hit 31 home runs in his second season of trade in 2012, became the first home run king tight, and has become a leading hitter in the league with 37 home runs in the 2013 season and 52 in the 2014 season. Following the 2014 season, he surpassed 50 home runs for two consecutive years with 53 home runs in the 2015 season, and advanced to the Major League through the posting system.

In the 2012-2015 season, Park Byung-ho broke various records related to home runs and RBIs, including 20 home runs for nine consecutive years and 100 RBIs for the first five consecutive years. He also won his fifth home run title in the 2019 season after returning from a major league competition. After the contract with the Heroes ended at the end of the 2021 season, KT Wiz, who wanted a strong first baseman, signed an FA contract and recruited Park Byung-ho. And he won his sixth home run king with 35 home runs in the 2022 season.

Sportschosun DB

During the 2024 season, he transferred to Samsung through a trade, and there were many twists and turns in the second half of his career. This season, he played only 77 games due to injuries and sluggishness, and announced his retirement from active duty with a career batting average of 272-1554 hits-418 home runs-1244 RBIs.

The Samsung club announced Park Byung-ho's retirement from active duty on the 3rd. To some extent, it was a foregone conclusion. Park was scheduled to become a free agent after the end of this season. This is because they have completed the entire FA contract period. However, the Samsung club, which establishes Park Jin-man's second-term system, was holding onto breaking up with Park Byung-ho ahead of next season, and the player has also been agonizing in various ways over his future. And as Park Byung-ho announced his intention to retire, the Samsung club announced his retirement.

Park Byung-ho has been loved a lot for 20 years in professional baseball. Thank you to all the coaches and coaches who have coached me so far, and I was so happy with my colleagues who were able to be with me. I've moved around several teams, but I don't think I'll forget many fans who have always shown love. Thank you so much"He expressed his feelings about retirement through the club.

Photo=Kium Heroes

Park Byung-ho, who was contemplating his path as a leader, eventually made a fresh start as a coach at Kiwoom, where he was at his peak. Kiwoom said, `Coach Park Byung-ho is one of the representative players of the Heroes. When he was a member of the Heroes, he played as the team's leading hitter and home run hitter representing the league"I am deeply grateful to Coach Park Byung-ho for his hard work and dedication to the Heroes for always doing his best on the ground."

Then "Coach Park Byung-ho is very happy to start his second baseball life with the Heroes." His excellent skills, thorough self-management, and exemplary attitude during his active career have been a great model for younger players. "We expect him to exert a positive influence on our team's young players based on his experience and know-how."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.