Get to know Hoy Park, A's Spring Training sensation

MESA, Ariz. -- Hoy Park has generated a buzz in A’s camp that is impossible to ignore.

Who is Hoy Park? A decade ago, he was one of the top baseball players in all of South Korea and signed with the Yankees as a teenager.

After bouncing around a couple of organizations in recent years, he signed a Minor League deal with Oakland in November and has performed as arguably the top batter in all of Spring Training. Through 21 Cactus League games -- and with two more hits in the A's 11-5 win over the Angels on Saturday -- Park is batting .500 (21-for-42) with a 1.190 OPS. His 21 hits lead all Cactus and Grapefruit League hitters.

His chances to break camp with the team as a non-roster invite might have just improved. Before Saturday’s game against the Angels at Hohokam Stadium, manager Mark Kotsay revealed that Miguel Andujar will begin the season on the injured list, which opens a spot on the 26-man roster.

“He’s had an amazing camp,” Kotsay said of Park. “For a guy with limited time in the big leagues, he’s left a good impression.”

In this Q&A, get to know more about the 27-year-old Seoul native.

MLB.com: Growing up in Seoul, what was your introduction to baseball?

Park: When I was a kid, I didn’t like sitting at a table and studying all day. I had so much energy since I was little, so my Mom put me in all sports. Soccer, basketball, golf, swimming. The last sport I tried was baseball, and I liked it so much. I would finish school work at 6 p.m. and then I would go play baseball and wouldn’t come back home until like 9. I loved to play. I would skip English class to play baseball on the street. My Mom caught me and brought me to my first baseball manager, and that’s how I started playing on a team.

MLB.com: Why baseball over the other sports?

Park: Baseball is so many players playing together for everybody. I think that’s why I liked it. I really want to help the team win with my teammates. I want to be the best, but sometimes I can’t, so I try to do whatever makes our team better.

MLB.com: You signed with the Yankees in 2014 as an international prospect. How did that come about?

Park: My second year of high school, we went to Los Angeles for offseason training and I was considered the best player in high school at the time. I was pretty good, but I think I was kind of overrated. But I went to LA and scouts from all 30 MLB teams came to watch me. I was nervous at the beginning. But after a while, I was just thinking, ‘I have to enjoy this.’ I started playing well and scouts kept looking at me when I went back to Korea. Three or four teams offered me over a million dollars for a signing bonus. I wanted to play for the best team, and everyone knows the Yankees, so I chose the Yankees.

MLB.com: You’ve been getting the guys fired up before every game in the dugout with your energy. What is it about this team that made you comfortable right away?

Park: This is my fourth team, so I’m used to meeting new teammates. I like the vibe of this younger group. First couple of games this spring, we were losing and it was quiet in the dugout. I was expecting so much energy, but there was absolutely none. So, after a couple of games, I tried to bring the energy, and people loved it. My teammates love when I do it, so I want to keep bringing energy. Winning or losing, just try to help the team by bringing some energy.

MLB.com: It’s not your decision, but do you feel like you’ve done enough to make this team out of Spring Training?

Park: A couple of years ago, I was thinking that I wanted to play for the Oakland A’s. There’s always opportunities here to play in The Show. No matter what, I want to help the team win. I had the best offseason training in my life, and I think the results have shown this Spring Training. I’m ready. Physically and mentally, everything is ready to go.

MLB.com: Lastly, the Dodgers and Padres just played a series in your hometown. Did you watch and what did you think?

Park: I watched it. It was awesome. I’ve never in my life thought about an MLB team playing in Korea. That’s one of my dreams. In the future, maybe one day I’ll get to play there.