New York Yankees Prospect Profile Number 14: Hoy Jun Park

As we continue along with the Yanks Go Yard Prospect Profile series, we move down the MLB pipeline to the 14th-ranked prospect for the New York Yankees, Hoy Jun Park.

Scouting grades (courtesy of MLB Pipeline): Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

The New York Yankees’ 2014 signing period brought four International shortstops, one being their 14th-ranked prospect from South Korea, Hoy Jun Park, who signed with the Yankees for $1.1 million.

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Park made his pro debut in the summer of 2015 at the bright age of 19 with New York’s rookie level Appalachian League team, the Pulaski Yankees.  Park hit .239 (53-for-222) with five home runs and 30 RBI in 56 games with the team.

Park has great athletic ability and speed, but lacks some size and strength.  With his upside at the plate, working on swinging and adding the necessary strength for the big leagues, Park could be a great hitter. He’s a threat to steal bases and provide a better power display than projected, with possible double-digit home-run power in the future.

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He did commit 14 errors as a first-year player despite his ability on defense being advanced for his age.  That’s expected from a first-year pro and a kid who’s just 19-years-old.  Park plays much more fluidly at short than his counterparts.  In the field, he presents great quickness, glide ability and a strong arm to make plays across the diamond.

In his second year, the now 20-year-old Park was moved up to the Yankees’ Class A South Atlantic League affiliate, the Charleston RiverDogs.  Just four games into the early season, Park is hitting just 1-for-10 with a walk and three strikeouts for Charleston.

It will be interesting to watch how Park develops and transitions to baseball in America, and to see if he will display enough to compete with other Yankees shortstop prospects Jorge Mateo, Tyler Wade, and Kyle Holder, amongst others.