Byung-ho Park (1B, MIN) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~170

CURRENT ADP: 198

ANALYSIS: Byung-ho Park will turn 30 in July and is a pretty big dude (6’1”, 236 lbs) who swings a mighty right-handed bat.  He has absolutely obliterated the KBO, hitting over 30 homers each year since he got regular playing time with the Nexen Heroes. These past two years, he’s hit 52 and 53 bombs while hitting over .300.

Now, guys like Eric Thames and Wladimir Balentien were superstars in the hitter-friendly KBO, but that doesn't mean Park can't make it in the majors. Jung-ho Kang's stats in the KBO were similar to those of Park, and the Pirates' infielder enjoyed a strong rookie campaign. Park’s average home run distance was just a couple of inches below 430 feet-- that would have been the best in the majors last year. He struck out 161 times last year in 622 PA, while Kang’s career high in Ks was 109 in 532 PA. Park has a heavier swing, and it could require some tweaking for Major League-level pitching.

Park's floor is a guy who can’t keep up with competition, can’t turn on the inside pitch with that mighty swing, and is ultimately demoted to the minors, but his ceiling is 30 home runs with a .270 average. Park should get his chance given the commitment Minnesota just made to him, especially if Miguel Sano remains in the outfield, and is a fun CI lottery ticket to take with healthy upside.