Hoy Park homers in 1st Grapefruit League swing as Pirates tie Tigers

LAKELAND, Fla. — Hoy Park’s arrival at spring training was delayed not so much by his case of covid-19 in South Korea but a second positive test upon his arrival to Pittsburgh Pirates spring training.

In his first Grapefruit League game, Park was right on time.

Park drove an Eduardo Rodriguez fastball over the left-field fence for a solo home run in the first inning of his spring training debut, which ended with the Pirates and Detroit Tigers playing to a 6-6 tie Wednesday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

“I was trying to make contact, especially first game, first at-bat,” Park said. “Trying to be on time and get a good swing.”

Park came to camp with the intention of competing for the starting job at second base. A mild case of covid required a negative test before he could travel overseas. Three times, he tested negative. When he reached Florida, Park tested positive.

“I was like, ‘What? What happened? What’s wrong with me?’” Park said. “Then, after two days, they said I was ready to go. That’s why I’m here a little bit late, but I finally got here.”

The Pirates acquired Park from the New York Yankees last July in the Clay Holmes trade after he led Triple-A East in batting average (.327), on-base percentage (.475), OPS (1.042) and walks (46) for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last summer.

Park made an immediate impact on the Pirates, going 9 for 28 (.321) with four doubles, four RBIs and a .983 OPS in his first eight games. He went hitless over the next seven and was batting .200 when he was demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis. Park finished strong but was instructed to add muscle after losing weight during the season.

The offseason was spent concentrating on adding 15 pounds, which Park believes will improve his stamina, speed and strength. The early signs were evident when he flashed his power by turning on a 1-0 four-seamer for the homer.

“It wasn’t perfect contact,” Park said. “But it was pretty much like I can do damage on it. So, yeah, I can really feel (strength) in my body.”

It was one of only two hits allowed over four innings by Rodriguez, who struck out the rest of the side in the first and finished with five strikeouts.

The Tigers tied the score at 1-1 when Akil Baddoo lined a leadoff double off the center-field wall, advancing to third on a flyout to center and scoring on a Javier Baez groundout to third. That was the only run given up by Pirates righty Wil Crowe, who struck out four and gave up three hits on 49 pitches in 2 2/3 innings in his second spring start.

The Pirates increased their lead to 3-1 in the fifth, when shortstop Oneil Cruz hit a line drive with a 113.4-mph exit velocity over the head of pitcher Michael Fulmer and into center, and catcher Michael Perez smacked a two-run homer to right field.

Daniel Vogelbach’s RBI double and a run-scoring single by Cruz gave the Pirates a 5-1 edge, but the Tigers scored five runs off Austin Brice in the seventh on a leadoff homer by Derek Hill and a grand slam by Ryan Kreidler for a 6-5 lead. Pirates third baseman Hunter Owen homered to left in the top of the ninth to tie the score.

Mitch Keller is scheduled to start for the Pirates against Aaron Nola at 1:05 p.m. Thursday when the Philadelphia Phillies visit LECOM Park.