It’s hardly what you would consider a ‘hot stove’ burner, but the Boston Red Sox did complete a trade Wednesday afternoon with the acquisition of utility player Hoy Park from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The trade was a one-for-one swap from Chaim Bloom, too, as the team parted with minor-league lefty Inmer Lobo to complete the deal with Pirates general manager Ben Cherington.
The #RedSox today acquired INF/OF Hoy Park from the Pittsburgh Pirates, in exchange for minor league LHP Inmer Lobo. pic.twitter.com/qf1PAVHGNi
— Red Sox (@RedSox) November 24, 2022A 26-year-old hailing from South Korea, Park comes to the Red Sox organization after a 2022 campaign that included a .216 average, along with two homers and six RBIs, in 23 games with Pittsburgh.
Outside of his 23-game run with the Pirates, Park spent his 2022 season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he hit .225 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 89 games for the Indians.
Park’s 89 games in AAA last season stands as his highest single-season appearance total at the highest level of minor-league baseball, as his 2021 was split between Double-A (10 games) and Triple-A (56 games).
Overall, Park has 653 games of minor-league experience since 2015.
Jun 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Hoy Park (44) enters the dugout before the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)
Originally acquired by the Pirates in the 2021 trade that sent Clay Holmes to the Yankees, Park stuck with the Pirates for 44 appearances in 2021, and established career-highs in hits (25), doubles (five), triples (two), home runs (three), and RBIs (14) while batting .197 for Pittsburgh.
A righty-throwing, lefty-hitting presence, Park has appeared in 68 total MLB games since 2021.
And while the bat may not be of note, the Red Sox will certainly like Park’s versatility, as he had MLB experience in both the infield and outfield over that 68-game run in the bigs.
Park’s greatest experience in the field has come at second base (173 innings over 27 games), while he’s also logged 100 innings at third base, another 80 at shortstop, and 64 in the outfield playing center, left, and right.
Red Sox have acquired utility man Hoy Park from the Pirates in exchange for LHP Inmer Lobo.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) November 23, 2022
He slashed .216/.276/.373/.648 with 2 HR in 23 games for the Pirates in 2022.
Not surprising considering the team non-tendered Yu Chang last week. 40-man depth.pic.twitter.com/6mP9vpNjKILobo, meanwhile, will depart the Red Sox organization after just one season on the farm, with a 2-0 record, 0.87 ERA, and 28 strikeouts over 22 innings of work in the Dominican Summer League.
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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.