Doosan’s Park Chan-ho Ends First Half with a Bang — Manager Kim Won-hyung Says “Perfect on Both Sides of the Ball

On the final day of the first half, Jamsil Stadium erupted. Doosan Bears shortstop Park Chan-ho (31) crushed a go-ahead home run against the Lotte Giants on June 30, 2026, sending the ball well over the fence and the crowd into a frenzy. “It felt so good, I can’t even describe it,” he said afterward — and it showed. In one swing, Park put weeks of frustration firmly in the rearview mirror. Manager Kim Won-hyung wasted no time heaping praise on him, calling Park’s performance “perfect on both offense and defense,” alongside ace starter Choi Min-seok’s dominant outing on the same day. So what exactly did Park Chan-ho deliver in the first half of 2026 after swapping his KIA Tigers jersey for Doosan blue?

Four Years, 8 Billion Won, and a Lifelong Dream

Park Chan-ho’s move to Doosan was the biggest story of last winter’s free agency period. After earning FA status with the KIA Tigers, Park signed a four-year deal worth up to 8 billion KRW with the Bears — beating out fierce competition from the KT Wiz. But this wasn’t just about money or market value. Park openly admitted that Doosan was the team he rooted for growing up, saying the Bears were “the team I dreamed about as a kid.” For a franchise that finished a humbling ninth in 2025, landing Park was more than a roster upgrade — it was a statement of intent.

The price tag made sense. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Park put together back-to-back full campaigns as a starting shortstop, earning a KBO Gold Glove, batting over .300, and posting double-digit stolen bases in each year. A complete player on all three sides of the game, he was widely considered the top position player available in free agency.

A Rocky Start — But His Glove Never Wavered

The transition wasn’t seamless at first. Park went 0-for-4 with a fielding error in the season opener against the NC Dinos in Changwon — not exactly the debut Doosan fans had imagined. His bat stayed cold in stretches that followed, and he was candid about the mental toll, saying there were moments he wondered if he had ever gone through a slump this long before.

But his glove? That was a different story entirely. Park anchored the Doosan infield and helped the team set a new franchise record with 14 consecutive errorless games. Even when teammates made mistakes, Park was the first to calm things down, reportedly telling younger players, “Don’t worry about it — just play your game.” The leadership was noticed. MBC Sports even highlighted him as a model FA signing, someone who earns his money both on the field and in the clubhouse.

Silencing the Slump with a Homer — Four Home Runs in the First Half, Career High in Sight

Park hit his first home run as a Doosan Bear on April 14 against the SSG Landers in Incheon — a solo shot that seemed to loosen something up inside him. He kept adding to that tally steadily, and by June 30, his first-half-closing blast against Lotte brought his season total to four. That matters because Park’s single-season career high is just five home runs. With a full second half still ahead, he’s in very real striking distance of a personal best — and he knows it. “I told myself from day one that I was going to hit at least five this year,” he said, with the kind of quiet confidence that’s become his trademark.

The Doosan Comeback Story — Written Together with Choi Min-seok

Park hasn’t been carrying Doosan alone. The Bears went 13-1-9 in June, riding a late first-half surge fueled in large part by 20-year-old right-hander Choi Min-seok, who posted a jaw-dropping 1.04 ERA for the month. Choi took the ball again on June 30 against Lotte and delivered. It’s no coincidence that Manager Kim Won-hyung singled out both players in the same breath after the game. A young ace and a veteran floor general clicking at the same time — that’s the formula Doosan is riding as they push up the standings.

The Bears are currently sitting in the top five, locked in a tight race for a postseason spot against KIA, Hanwha, and NC, among others. After the shock of finishing ninth in 2025, a return to October baseball would be a massive statement. And the way Park’s second half goes will have a lot to say about whether that happens.

What to Expect from Park Chan-ho in the Second Half

If Park is going to fully justify that four-year investment, the second half is where it really counts. He needs to push past his career high in home runs, keep the Doosan infield steady and sharp, and continue being the kind of locker room presence that raises everyone around him. This is only year one of a long-term commitment, and how he finishes the season will set the tone for everything that follows. He closed out the first half with a home run that brought the house down. Now Doosan fans are counting the days until the second half begins — and honestly, that anticipation feels completely earned.

Sources

• Doosan’s Park Chan-ho Ends His Slump with a Home Run — Sports Kyunghyang
• The Infield Leader Who Rallied His Teammates — Park Chan-ho “Like a 10-Year Contract” — MBC News Desk
• Doosan Signs Manager Kim Won-hyung, a Mound Management Expert — How Will the 2026 Season Go? — Hankook Ilbo
• Choi Min-seok Dominates as Doosan Sweep KIA for 2 Straight Wins — Newsis
• Manager Kim Won-hyung: “Choi Min-seok Was Outstanding — Park Chan-ho Was Perfect All Around” — Newsis