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Chan Ho Park
Time with Dodgers: 1994-2001, 2008
Stats: 84-58, 3.77 ERA, 1,177 SO, 1,279 IP, 108 ERA+, 4.23 FIP, 1.324 WHIP
Baseball Reference WAR: 18.3
FanGraphs WAR: 16.5
Combined WAR: 17.4
Chan Ho Park spent the majority of his career in Los Angeles. He was with the Dodgers from 1994 through 2001, and then had a second stint with the club in 2008.
Park made his debut for the Dodgers in 1994 at the age of 21. It was a brief stint, as he only appeared in two games. It was the same thing for him in 1995, as he appeared yet again in only two games. 1996 was when he finally got his opportunity. Park appeared in 48 games, mainly as a reliever as he only made 10 starts.
For the most part, Park had a really impressive rookie campaign. In 108 2⁄3 innings, Park owned a 3.48 ERA while posting a 3.89 FIP and 107 ERA+. He was averaging just under 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
1997 was when Park made the transition from reliever to starter, making 29 starts for the Dodgers. He won 14 games, and lowered his ERA to 3.38. This was the beginning of a five-year stretch in which Park would be one of the biggest workhorses in all of baseball. From 1997 through 2001, he made 165 starts, an average of 33 a season. He went 75-49 while posting a 3.77 ERA, 4.24 FIP and 1.30 WHIP. Park struck out 966 in 1,067 innings of work.
In 1998, Park won 15 games and struck out 191 batters. He absolutely dominated during the month of July. He went 4-0 and had an earned run average of 1.05. Opponents hit .176 off of him and he struck out 34. Park was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for July.
2000 and 2001 would be Park’s best two seasons during his first stint in Los Angeles. Overall, he won 33 games and had an ERA of 3.38. He also owned an ERA+ of 122 with a 4.05 FIP and 1.24 WHIP. He was an All-Star for the first and only time of his career in 2000. Leading up to the All-Star Game, Park was 8-5 with an ERA of 2.80. Opponents were hitting 191 off of him and he had 137 strikeouts.
Park signed with the Texas Rangers in January of 2002. Eventually, he ended up back with the Dodgers as he signed a free-agent contract with them in January of 2008. Just like his early days with LA, Park was mainly used as a reliever. Though, he was a pretty good one. At the age of 35, Park appeared in 54 games for the Dodgers. His ERA was 3.40, the lowest it had been in eight years.
He really struggled during those six seasons he pitched for other teams, but he seemed to find his form again when he was back where it all started. His second stint with the Dodgers was short-lived, as he signed with the Phillies that offseason.
Chan Ho Park is one of 21 pitchers to appear in at least 275 games for the Dodgers since they moved to Los Angeles. Here is where he ranks among those guys:
- 1,177 strikeouts (11th)
- 84 wins (10th)
- 1,279 innings (10th)
- 21.4 strikeout % (7th)