Chan Ho Park, first Korean in MLB, throws ceremonial first pitch in Dodgers-Padres opener

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Former Major League Baseball pitcher Chan Ho Park, left, hugs San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to an opening day baseball game between the Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Former Major League Baseball pitcher Chan Ho Park throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to an opening day baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park speaks during a press conference at the Gocheok Sky Dome ahead of a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres for the MLB World Tour Seoul Series in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani takes the field to warm up prior to an opening day baseball game at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park attends a press conference at the Gocheok Sky Dome ahead of a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres for the MLB World Tour Seoul Series in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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San Diego Padres’ pitcher Yu Darvish, left, attends a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park, of South Korea, throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of the baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, on June 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

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Fans pose for photos prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dom in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Fans take photos prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dom in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Fans make their way to the stadium prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dom in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Fans gather prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dom in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

By KIM TONG-HYUNG

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Using the glove from his first major league appearance, former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres pitcher Chan Ho Park threw the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the season opener in South Korea.

Park, who began his Major League Baseball career in 1994 with Los Angeles as the first South Korean-born player in the big leagues, waved to cheering crowds packing Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome. Wearing a half-half jersey representing both teams, Park went into his wind-up and threw the ball to the Padres’ current South Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.

Before the game, Park, who currently works as an adviser with San Diego, expressed pride about how his achievements and those of his former Japanese teammate, Hideo Nomo, inspired younger generations of Asian players to try and reach the majors. Nomo joined the Dodgers in 1995.

“When I look at all these Asian players today, I feel that the tree planted by Hideo Nomo has grown strong and the tree planted by Chan Ho Park has grown strong, and that the fruits of those trees are now leading the majors and inspiring new hope,” Park said.

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' J.D. Martinez watches his two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the first inning of a baseball game Sept. 28, 2023, in Denver. Martinez has a new home, agreeing to a $12 million, one-year contract with the New York Mets on Thursday, March 21, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

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FILE - New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga smiles during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Senga is expected to begin throwing within one week after tests revealed inflammation in his right shoulder has cleared. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Mets right-hander Senga given medical clearance, may begin throwing within 1 week

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, talks with interpreter Will Ireton during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Park holds the MLB record for most wins by an east Asian pitcher, going 124-98 with a 4.36 ERA. He was an All-Star in 2001, when he went 15-11 with a 3.50 ERA for the Dodgers. His 17-year MLB career also included stops with the Texas Rangers, Padres, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Park, who retired in 2012, remains one of the most popular sports personalities in South Korea, where many people remember how his heroics cheered up a nation weathering a crippling financial crisis in the late-1990s.

A total of 25 South Koreans have played in the majors since Park’s debut, including Kim , who last year won a Gold Glove as a utility player. The Dodgers have arguably the two biggest stars in Japanese baseball — two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is to take the mound on Thursday.

The Padres’ Japanese ace Yu Darvish is a candidate to break Park’s Asian win record. The 37-year-old Darvish had 103 career wins ahead of his opening day start against the Dodgers, but lasted only 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday and was relieved by Tom Cosgrove with the game tied at one. Darvish threw 72 pitches.

“My record of 124 wins needs to get broken some time,” Park said. “And I really hope Darvish is the one who does it.”

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