The Braves announced that infielder Hoy Park has been outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett. He had been designated for assignment last week.
Park, 27 in April, has been bouncing around the league over the past couple of seasons. Originally a Yankee farmhand, he got out to a blistering start in 2021. In 48 Triple-A games, he hit .327/.475/.567 for a wRC+ of 180. On the heels of that torrid stretch, he went to Pittsburgh in the deal that sent Clay Holmes to the Yankees.
Unfortunately, his performance since that deal has made that hot streak look like a mirage. He hit .195/.297/.336 in 45 games for the Pirates after the deal in 2021. In 2022, he spent most of his time in Triple-A, getting into 89 games and hitting just .225/.332/.354 for a wRC+ of 86. He also got into 23 big league games but slashed a meager .216/.276/.373, 79 wRC+.
The Pirates designated him for assignment in November and then flipped him to the Red Sox for prospect Inmer Lobo, only for Boston to send Park back into DFA limbo again a few weeks later. The Sox then flipped him to Atlanta for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Atlanta then designated him for assignment again, with Park having now cleared waivers.
Despite the tepid offense over the past season and a half, Park continues to get interest due to his defensive versatility and speed. He regularly posts double-digit steal totals and can play all three outfield slots as well as the three positions left of first base. If his bat can even take a little step forward to be average-ish, he could be a valuable contributor.
Needed AAA backups—might turn out to be a very solid waiver claim.
He is terrible but if anyone can improve him it’s ATL. He could be a weak utility.
Man, I hope this kid gets picked up by an SS-needy team and performs well enough to ear the starting spot. He’s been really, really good at AAA, but he could never really hit MLB pitching to the point.
Perhaps the Angels or Twins will be interested in his services?
He’s already been outrighted, which means he went unclaimed on waivers.
Oh, yep. Stupid, I didn’t catch that. There’s so many of these occurring I cannot keep track, but that shouldn’t impact my reading the two sentences you wrote clearly defining it…lol.
Sorry, I have been absolutely brain dead the last two days. Thanks, Steve.
Unfortunately for Park, he may be kept as depth that will never be used, leaving him trapped in AAA for the season.
If he is good enough, he won’t be “trapped”.
I think what is even more mesmerizing is seeing these articles with the player in a Pirates uniform. It’s been a real revolving door here on the oblivion express.
That’s what I like about you clipper. You’ll admit fault when wrong. I like your comments most of the time as well.
He’ll get the call if he’s doing well and someone goes down. They almost always do.
If not, he can hit minor league free agency at the end of the year
Hoy vei,
Moose is on his way!
Collecting those hats!
Hoy Park, Lewin Diaz. These are guys that nobody wants and everybody wants. Kind of like Cliff Clavin at Cheers. You don’t want him at the bar but he makes for interesting conversation.
That’s life at the bottom of the 40-man.
No takers this time, Hoy goes to the AAA park.
It must be really bad for Hoy Park if Pirates, Reds, Diamondbacks, Twins, Marlins, or Rays won’t even give him a chance in their own system. Maybe it’s time to hang those cleats up.
Why are a high percentage of the player cover photos in Pirates uniforms even when that was two or more teams ago?