Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho, 38,was ousted from the Orix Buffaloes after less than a year in the Japanese professional baseball league, his club announced Monday.
The former Major League veteran made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league debut this season, but disappointed fans as he spent most of time in the lower league.
Park was highlighted with the highest number of wins of 124 among the Asian-born pitchers in his 17-year MLB career. He, however, only came up with a 4.29 ERA with only one win and five losses in 42 innings in Japan.
“We notified Park, along with two other players, that we will not make a deal with them for another term,” the club said on its official website.
Park initially signed a one-year-old contract with a salary of $120,000 and a $100,000 bonus with the Buffaloes, with high expectation to do his job as a starter.
He instead struggled throughout the season, including in his debut game in April, which he lost by allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
He was sent back and forth to the minor leagues since then, and remained there from summer as he suffered setbacks, including a thigh injury.
The country’s first Major Leaguer previously said he hopes to join the local league if he is to return home.
Meanwhile, his Buffaloes compatriot Lee Seung-yeop, a slugger, also showed his intention to end his NPB league career and to return.
Poor Chan Ho. Seems like only yesterday he was talking about diarrhea!
Source koreatimes.co.kr
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