Second-year outfielder Park Jae-hyun has emerged as one of the Kia Tigers’ biggest surprises this season.
The 20-year-old, batting .292 with 15 home runs and 19 stolen bases, has helped propel a team that slumped to eighth place last year back into postseason contention, as Kia battles the LG Twins and Doosan Bears for third place.
It has been a dramatic turnaround for both Kia and Park. The Tigers entered last season as overwhelming favorites but fell well short of expectations, and the outlook remained bleak after key players Choi Hyoung-woo and Park Chan-ho leftas free agents.
Park had an equally difficult rookie season. Drafted 25th overall in the third round out of Incheon High School in 2025, he hit just .081, with five hits in 62 at-bats over 58 games and no home runs in the first year.
A year later, Park has secured a regular spot in the lineup and become one of the team’s most popular players. He also has a chance to become the first Kia player since Kim Do-yeong in 2024 to join the 20-homer, 20-steal club.
His nickname, “Kkikki,” mimics the chattering sound of a monkey, a nod to his quick and playful personality. At the All-Star Game, he dressed as Sun Wukong, the mythological Monkey King from the 16th-century Chinese novel "Journey to the West," and rode in on a scooter styled as the character’s magic cloud, drawing laughs from fans. His jersey sales and requests for autographed baseballs both rank among the top three on the team.
Kia Tigers outfielder Park Jae-hyun, dressed as Sun WukongKIA TIGERS
“It feels great, and if a baseball player is getting that much attention from fans, doesn’t that mean he’s doing well?” Park said. “They criticize me a lot when I don’t play well, but I see that as a form of attention too. The incentives from jersey sales haven’t been settled yet, so I don’t know how much they’ll be. I’m just grateful for the fans’ support.”
Park has no shortage of mentors. Captain Na Sung-bum and Kim, in particular, have played a major role in his development.
“Just being around Na and Kim has a positive influence on me,” Park said. “Na really looked after me even when I was struggling. He’s been a real benefactor to me. I also learn a lot from watching Kim.”
Kia Tigers outfielder Park Jae-hyunKIA TIGERS
His easygoing personality also allows him to approach senior teammates and joke with them without hesitation.
Park is equally clear about his approach at the plate. When his on-base percentage lagged behind his batting average, manager Lee Bum-ho offered him a deal: finish the season with a .350 on-base percentage, and he could skip the fall training camp.
Park focused on getting on base for a while, but eventually changed his thinking.
“My results were really bad whenever I let a first-pitch strike go by,” Park said. “I decided I should play to my strengths and stopped worrying so much about my on-base percentage. I try not to swing at completely ridiculous pitches, but otherwise I swing confidently from the first pitch.”
Manager Lee has one concern heading into September. Kim, Park and pitcher Sung Yeong-tak have all been selected for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and are expected to miss about two weeks.While it's a loss for the Tigers, it is a sign of how significant Park's presence has become.
Kia Tigers outfielder Park Jae-hyunKIA TIGERS
Park, however, remains unfazed.
“Do-young is a superstar and obviously an outstanding player, but there are players who can fill in for me when I’m gone,” Park said. “Even now, I go into every game thinking someone could take my spot.”
Still, he could not hide his excitement about representing Korea for the first time. Winning a gold medal would also make him eligible for military service benefits.
“My baseball career could hinge on this period,” Park said. “The team is in such a tight race in the standings that I’ve put my excitement aside for now, but I’ll give it everything I have.”
Park joined Kia in October 2024 and watched the Tigers win the championship on television from the club’s minor league training facility in Hampyeong, South Jeolla.
“I got goose bumps watching them win,” Park said. “I kept thinking, ‘What would it be like if I were out there?’ I trust my teammates will do well while we’re at the Asian Games. This year, I want to be out there playing baseball with the team at the top.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
