The A’s have agreed to a minor league contract with utility player Hoy Park, according to the transaction log at MLB.com. He’d reached minor league free agency at season’s end.
Park spent the entire 2023 campaign with the Braves’ Triple-A team in Gwinnett. Atlanta had run him through outright waivers last offseason. The 27-year-old had a decent season, hitting .262/.385/.379 through 389 plate appearances. Park drew walks in a huge 15.4% of his trips against an average 22.1% strikeout rate. He stole 16 bases in 18 attempts while hitting six home runs.
The lefty-hitting Park has a solid minor league track record. He has ridden a patient plate approach to a .258/.385/.402 batting line in just over 1000 Triple-A plate appearances. Park hasn’t carried that over against big league pitching, hitting .201/.291/.346 in 68 games between 2021-22. Virtually all of that playing time came with the Pirates, but Park has also spent time in the Yankees, Red Sox and Braves organizations.
Park has played mostly second or third base during his limited big league action. He has experience at shortstop and spent the bulk of his time in Gwinnett in right field. While Park doesn’t have a ton of power, his plate discipline and defensive versatility give him a shot to compete for a bench role in Spring Training.
Huh? Well, ok… Go A’s…
A .201 career hitter? a’s fans can’t wait (both of them!)
Is there really a difference between a major league deal and a minor league deal with the As right now?
The A’s are looking like the pirates AAA team.
I don’t think the A’s could win a AAA title at the moment. Maybe not AA either.
Hey, don’t diss Triple-A Indianapolis. Nick Gonzales and Jared Jones would be the best players on the Oakland Athletics by far.
Live in Columbus, can confirm……Indy is always solid
@ruff: Speaking of the Pirates, it’s too bad Hoy didn’t sign w/them. Pirates fans could have greeted him w/gruff pirate voiced chants of “A Hoy Matey” before each at bat.
Pretty much what I was going to comment.
Having to pay them?
Chan was a pretty good pitcher twenty years ago. Perfect fit for the A’s.
There’s the new park we’ve been waiting to see.
Lol
Clever
The renderings really didn’t do him justice.
Park needs a second shot at some consistent ABs. He’s got the tools to be a solid UTIL
Hoy park…. Mañana tambien park..
Bien Joey!
I’ve never been to a Hoy Park.
Legend
Classic Oakland A’s signing. He’ll probably end up starting for them this year. I wonder if Oakland will exceed 1M in attendance this season? I highly doubt it as this will require an average of 12,350 paid seats per home game.
I would be surprised if they crack 400k this season.
No way they sell 12k seats per game. There’s super low incentive for CA companies to purchase boxes either. This move to Vegas can’t be worth this.
They’ll make the playoffs. Bitta positvity for an all time great franchise and a franchise loaded with history. Not their fault money has taken over. They’ve made some small but decent moves. An ‘us against the world’ approach will change everyone’s minds this year. They are on the verge of having a top 10 rotation but who knows I guess. Rule5 and land that number one and Vegas here we come!!!!! Go A’s
A’s still collecting ex Pirates. Guarantees a 100 loss season.
A’s owner accidentally signed Hoy Park thinking it’s an alternate playing site for his moribund franchise.
I’m sure Park will make the big league team, not like the Athletics are fielding much at the MLB level. I’m sure there are Triple A teams that can do better than the Athletics.