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Park Jung-kwon

Park Jung-kwon is a South Korean former KBO League infielder and coach, celebrated for his powerful left-handed bat, defensive versatility, and clutch postseason hitting, earning multiple Korean Series titles and MVPs with SK Wyverns.

1. Overview

Park Jung-kwon (박정권Bak JeonggwonKorean; born July 21, 1981) is a South Korean former professional baseball infielder and current baseball coach. Primarily known for his tenure with the SK Wyverns and later SSG Landers of the KBO League, Park was celebrated for his powerful left-handed bat, defensive versatility at first base and outfield, and his reputation as a clutch hitter, particularly in postseason play, earning him the nickname "Autumn Man."

Throughout his career, Park played a pivotal role in multiple championships for the SK Wyverns, including the 2007, 2010, and 2018 Korean Series titles. He was recognized with the Korean Series MVP in 2010 and the Playoff MVP in both 2009 and 2011. After retiring as a player in 2019, he transitioned into coaching, serving as a hitting coach for the SK Wyverns and SSG Landers, and later as a baseball commentator for MBC Sports Plus. In 2025, he was appointed as the manager for the SSG Landers' minor league team.

2. Early Life and Education

Park Jung-kwon's journey into professional baseball began with his early life and academic pursuits, which laid the foundation for his future career.

2.1. Birth and Early Life

Park Jung-kwon was born on July 21, 1981. In the offseason of 2008, he married actress Kim Eun-mi.

2.2. Education

Park Jung-kwon attended Jeonju Hyoja Elementary School, Jeonju Dong Middle School, and Jeonju High School. After graduating from high school, he was designated by the Ssangbangwool Raiders in the 2000 KBO League draft. However, he chose to pursue higher education and enrolled in Dongguk University, a decision that delayed his professional debut but allowed him to further develop his skills.

3. Professional Career

Park Jung-kwon's professional baseball career spanned from his debut in 2004 to his retirement in 2019, marked by periods of struggle, significant achievements, and consistent contributions to his team's success.

3.1. Debut and Military Service

Park Jung-kwon made his professional debut with the SK Wyverns in 2004. During his rookie season, he primarily played as a first baseman and left fielder, but he did not receive significant attention and spent most of his time in the minor league. Recognizing the fierce competition for roster spots, particularly with established players like Kim Jae-hyun and Lee Ho-jun on the team, Park decided to fulfill his mandatory military service after the 2004 season. He enlisted in the Sangmu Phoenix baseball team, a military sports unit, where he played for two years in 2005 and 2006. During his time with Sangmu, he showcased his potential by consecutively winning the batting title in the KBO Futures League Northern Division, demonstrating his hitting prowess at the minor league level.

3.2. SK Wyverns / SSG Landers Career

Park Jung-kwon's extensive career with the SK Wyverns, which later became SSG Landers, was characterized by his evolution into a key offensive and defensive player, marked by both triumphs and challenges.

3.2.1. Early Career and Setbacks (2004-2008)

Upon returning from military service in 2007, Park Jung-kwon was promoted to the first team. Although initially a backup player, he quickly demonstrated powerful hitting, a trait recognized by then-manager Kim Sung-keun. Park contributed to the SK Wyverns' victory in the 2007 Korean Series against the Doosan Bears. In 2008, he began the season as a crucial part of the team's lineup, performing well until June 27. In a game against the Hanwha Eagles, he suffered a severe injury, fracturing his left shin bone after colliding with Doug Clark at first base. This injury prematurely ended his season.

3.2.2. Rise to Prominence and Key Awards (2009-2010)

Following rehabilitation, Park Jung-kwon was designated as the starting first baseman for the 2009 season, filling in for the injured Lee Ho-jun. He excelled in this role, establishing himself as a prominent power hitter for the team, recording a batting average in the .200s and hitting 25 home runs. In the playoffs, he displayed exceptional performance against Doosan Bears pitcher Im Tae-hoon, contributing significantly to the Wyverns' advancement to the Korean Series. He achieved a batting average of .478 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI, earning him the Playoff MVP award and solidifying his reputation as a clutch performer. Despite the team finishing as runner-up in the Korean Series, his strong postseason play led to him earning a salary exceeding 100.00 M KRW in the subsequent season. He also set a new record for the most total bases in a single postseason with 23.

In the 2010 season, Park was elevated to the crucial fourth spot in the batting order. He maintained a batting average in the .300s, showcasing powerful hitting that earned him the nickname "Jeongjangseok." His performance was instrumental in the team securing first place in the pennant race. Beyond his offensive contributions, he also demonstrated stable defense at both first base and right field, proving his versatility as a multi-positional player. He concluded the season with a batting average in the .300s, 132 hits, 18 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and 76 RBI. His exceptional play continued into the Korean Series, where he was named the Korean Series MVP, recording a batting average of .357 with 1 home run and 6 RBI over four games.

3.2.3. Continued Contributions and Performance Fluctuations (2011-2018)

The 2011 season saw Park Jung-kwon experience a decline in his regular season performance. After a strong start, he suffered a severe slump mid-season, leading to his demotion to the minor league. Although he showed improvement in the latter half of the season, his early struggles significantly impacted his overall statistics, finishing with a batting average in the .200s, 13 home runs, 54 RBI, and a career-high 103 strikeouts. However, he once again demonstrated his "Autumn Man" persona in the postseason, setting a record for the most times on base and hitting two consecutive 2-run home runs in Game 5 of the playoffs against the Lotte Giants. Despite his individual heroics, the Wyverns ultimately lost the Korean Series to the Samsung Lions.

In 2014, Park faced another deep slump, with his batting average falling into the .100s by May, prompting another stint in the minor league for adjustment. He returned in June and immediately made an impact, hitting 8 home runs that month. He maintained consistent performance, and from August onwards, he truly showcased his "Autumn Man" form, hitting 11 home runs and maintaining a batting average of approximately .380. He finished the season with a career-high 27 home runs and 109 RBI, marking his first season with over 100 RBI.

The 2015 season was significant as it was his last before becoming eligible for FA rights. He started strong, accumulating many RBI as a powerful cleanup hitter. However, he again experienced a severe batting slump and was demoted to the minor league. Recognizing this recurring pattern, manager Kim Yong-hee strategically moved him to the second spot in the batting order. In 2016, his batting average saw a further decline, remaining in the .200s.

In 2018, despite a significant reduction in his regular season appearances, Park Jung-kwon leveraged his extensive experience in the postseason. He recorded a combined 6 RBI in the playoffs and Korean Series, including a dramatic walk-off home run against Kim Sang-soo of the Nexen Heroes in Game 1 of the playoffs on October 27. His clutch performance contributed to the SK Wyverns' first Korean Series championship in eight years.

3.2.4. Final Season and Retirement (2019)

The 2019 season marked Park Jung-kwon's final year as a professional player. On October 26, 2019, he officially announced his retirement from playing and transitioned into a coaching role.

3.3. Player Style and Strengths

Park Jung-kwon was renowned for his powerful left-handed batting, often displaying a strong punch and clutch hitting ability, particularly in critical game situations. He was considered a "clutch hitter" and earned the moniker "Autumn Man" due to his consistent and exceptional performance in postseason games, where he frequently delivered key hits and home runs. His defensive versatility was another significant strength; he was capable of playing both first base and in the outfield (specifically left field and right field), making him a valuable multi-positional asset to his team.

3.4. Career Statistics

Below is a summary of Park Jung-kwon's career statistics in the KBO League:

YearTeamGABRH2B3BHRTBRBISBCSBBHBPSOGIDPEBAOBPSLGOPS
2004SK242815000500020500.179.233.179.412
2007SK100208264612247425211525055.221.280.501.781
2008SK5612715334134820001102333.260.319.579.898
2009SK131446701232702522576545149187.276.355.504.859
2010SK1244317613219418213761756358972.306.402.498.900
2011SK1224535411421213178539342310394.252.319.393.712
2012SK122416611061811216259464348074.255.330.389.719
2013SK110363561062011818270446417952.292.400.501.901
2014SK12045281140332272581097941210665.310.367.571.938
2015SK1244386612323021209703346411998.281.353.477.830
2016SK125422591171731819459403559976.277.337.460.797
2017SK11830537781411614251113057847.256.328.466.794
2018SK1429450021160020900.172.226.379.605
2019SK18325610110500501100.188.297.313.610
Career Totals (14 seasons)1308415061111342091717819116795636450359427053.273.347.460.807

3.5. Awards and Honors

During his distinguished playing career, Park Jung-kwon earned several individual and team accolades:

  • Korean Series MVP:** 2010
  • Playoff MVP:** 2009, 2011
  • KBO Futures League Northern Division Batting Champion:** 2005, 2006 (with Sangmu Phoenix)
  • Korean Series Champion (Team):** 2007, 2010, 2018 (with SK Wyverns)

4. Post-Retirement Career

After concluding his playing career, Park Jung-kwon transitioned into various roles within baseball, including coaching and broadcasting.

4.1. Coaching Career

Following his retirement as a player in 2019, Park Jung-kwon immediately moved into coaching. From 2020, he served as the minor league hitting coach for the SK Wyverns. In 2023, he was reassigned to the role of first-team hitting coach assistant for the SSG Landers (the rebranded SK Wyverns). He departed from the team at the end of the 2023 season. On January 27, 2025, it was announced that Park Jung-kwon would return to the SSG Landers organization as the manager of their minor league team.

4.2. Broadcasting Career

In 2024, after his departure from the SSG Landers coaching staff, Park Jung-kwon joined MBC Sports Plus as a baseball commentator and analyst, providing insights and commentary on KBO League games.

5. Personal Life and Nicknames

Park Jung-kwon's personal life includes his marriage, and he acquired several memorable nicknames throughout his career, reflecting his playing style and notable incidents.

5.1. Personal Life

Park Jung-kwon married actress Kim Eun-mi in the offseason of 2008.

5.2. Nicknames

Park Jung-kwon was known by several colorful nicknames, often given by fans and media, which highlighted his unique characteristics and performances:

  • Jeonggwon V: A portmanteau of his name, Park Jung-kwon, and the iconic Korean animation character Robot Taekwon V, symbolizing his powerful and impactful plays.
  • Beggar or Autumn Beggar: This nickname originated from an incident during a game against the Lotte Giants, where he was humorously disappointed about not being able to eat Gimbap thrown by Lotte fans. The "Autumn Beggar" variant combines this with his "Autumn Man" persona, suggesting he "begs" for hits in the clutch moments of autumn baseball.
  • Autumn Jeonggwon or Spring Summer Jeonggwon Winter: These nicknames were given due to his exceptional performance during the autumn postseason, implying that he reserved his best play for the most crucial time of the year.
  • Jeongjangseok: This nickname was used during the 2010 season, reflecting his consistent and powerful hitting as a cleanup batter, suggesting he was as reliable as a "rock" (석, seok) in the batting order.

6. Evaluation and Legacy

Park Jung-kwon is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and reliable clutch hitters in KBO League history, particularly celebrated for his "Autumn Man" reputation. His ability to deliver critical hits and home runs in high-pressure postseason situations made him a fan favorite and a crucial asset for the SK Wyverns during their championship runs. His powerful left-handed bat and defensive versatility, allowing him to play both first base and various outfield positions, underscored his value as a multi-dimensional player.

Park's career was marked by resilience, as he overcame significant injuries, such as the severe shin fracture in 2008, and navigated periods of slumps, often returning stronger. His contributions were central to the SK Wyverns' three Korean Series championships in 2007, 2010, and 2018, with his 2010 Korean Series MVP and multiple Playoff MVP awards cementing his legacy as a postseason hero. After retiring as a player, his transition to coaching and broadcasting further demonstrated his continued dedication to baseball, culminating in his appointment as a minor league manager, indicating his enduring influence on the sport.