Park reunites with fellow Korean

Nunez fine after slipping at first base

March 5th, 2016
Byung Ho Park signed a four-year deal worth $12 million during the offseason. (Getty)Getty Images

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After missing out on a chance to see former teammate Jung Ho Kang on Friday, Twins designated hitter Byung Ho Park was able to catch up with Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim on Saturday, as Minnesota played host to Baltimore in a 13-2 win at Hammond Stadium.
Park didn't make the trip to Bradenton on Friday to play the Pirates and Kang, who is still out after undergoing knee surgery last September, but Park and Kim played against each other for the first time since last year's Korean Baseball Organization playoffs. Park was a two-time Most Valuable Player Award winner with Nexen, while Kim starred for Doosan, which went on to win the 2015 Korean Series.
Twins hit 3 homers, ease past Orioles
Park, 29, joined the Twins on a four-year deal worth $12 million this offseason after Minnesota posted a winning bid of $12.85 million, while Kim, 28, signed with Baltimore for two years and $7 million as a free agent.
"It was good seeing him today," Park said through translator J.D. Kim. "Before the game, he came to the dugout and said hello. It's nice to be able to see him down here. We try to stay in touch. We're both new here, so I wish him the best of luck."

Kim, who went 0-for-4 at the plate, said he was also excited to be able to catch up with Park before the game.
"I was very happy to meet him on the field in an American ballpark," Kim said through translator Danny Lee. "I actually talked to Park before the game [and told him], 'Let's do well in the big leagues together.' It was very special to meet him on the field today. He seems like he's doing fine. Now that's remaining is myself, who [still] has to do well."
Park went 0-for-2, but scored his first run of the spring, as he reached on an error in the second and hustled to advance to second on the play. He later scored on a single from Kurt Suzuki.
"We're trying to get a better feel for not his speed but how he runs the bases," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "So it was a good couple of at-bats today, and he put the ball in play."
Park added he's happy that both Kang and Kim train so close to Fort Myers, and that he hopes he'll be able to meet up with them away from the ballpark.
"It's nice to see them on and off the field and maybe sometime we can get dinner and have fun," Park said. "But the reason we are here is to play baseball and focus on baseball. I just wish the best of luck to my fellow Korean players."
Worth noting
• Utility infielder Eduardo Nunez left Saturday's game in the seventh inning for precautionary reasons after stepping awkwardly on first baseman Trey Mancini's foot, but he is expected to play Sunday.
"I thought he pulled his hamstring and the umpire told me he thought he stepped on the base wrong, but he told me he stepped on the first baseman's foot," Molitor said. "But the trainers said he's good."

• Relief prospect Nick Burdi was impressive in his debut, as he hit 99 mph on his fastball three times in a scoreless eighth inning. Fellow reliever Yorman Landa, who was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason, was also throwing in the high 90s.