Park Jin, the rising star of the Lotte Giants, has made headlines this spring training by being named the MVP of the 2025 season's camp, which is drawing to a close on March 5. At only 26, Park’s transformation has captivated fans and analysts alike, putting him on track for significant roles this upcoming season.
The spring camp, which took place between locations including Tainan, Taiwan, and Miyazaki, Japan, saw Park Jin showcase impressive skills and learn invaluable lessons from his coaches. "I got great help from Coaches Joo Hyung-kwang and Lee Jae-yool during my training, especially concerning balance and pitching mechanics," Park stated, highlighting the importance of guidance from veteran players and coaching staff. His performance during the practice games, with 7⅔ innings pitched, recorded him 3 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts, and just 1 earned run—a phenomenal 1.17 ERA.
Park demonstrated potential on the international stage as well, particularly during his outing against the Taiwanese national team on February 13. Displaying nerves of steel, he entered the game under pressure, having to navigate through loaded bases. The hopes were high when starter Kim Jin-wook succumbed to the situation, but Park rose to the occasion, allowing only one run after surrendering a sacrifice fly. He retired the next eight batters consecutively, firmly establishing his role as someone to be reckoned with.
This impressive outing did not escape the eyes of sports analysts; Shin Bon-ki, noted sports commentator, remarked, "Park Jin showed stable pitching. I feel like he’s ready to compete now." These endorsements could not come at a more pivotal moment as the competition for starting roles heats up within the Giants' pitching rotation.
Since joining the team as the 38th pick during the second round of the 2019 KBO draft, Park’s path to recognition was initially slow. By the end of the 2023 season, he had only appeared in six first-team games. Yet, with manager Kim Tae-hyung at the helm, Park received opportunities during their 2023 campaign, firmly establishing himself within the roster.
Last season marked something of a breakout for Park, who ended with career-highs—2 wins, 4 losses, and 1 save across 38 games with an ERA of 4.38. His notable skills were spotlighted during key moments, like when he recorded his first career save on July 28, replacing Kim Won-jung after his blown save, and achieving his first starting victory with just 83 pitches thrown on September 25 against the KIA Tigers.
The 2025 season promises to be competitive for Park Jin and the Lotte Giants, especially with foreign signings like Charlie Barnes and Tucker Davidson already establishing themselves as the prime rotation. With many eager to determine who will fill the remaining rotation spots, Park’s consistency and improvement may just earn him the role he has been striving for.
Lotte Giants fans are asking: what does the future hold for Park Jin? Securing the MVP title at the spring camp is but one step toward what he hopes will be a stellar season filled with contributions to the team’s success.