Seoul: The Doosan Bears have announced the signing of free agent shortstop Park Chan-ho to a multiyear contract, marking the first significant move in South Korean baseball's open market this winter. The deal, confirmed on Tuesday, is set to strengthen the Bears' lineup as they prepare for the upcoming season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park agreed to a four-year contract valued at up to 8 billion won (US$5.5 million). The agreement includes a signing bonus of 5 billion won, with a total salary of 2.8 billion won. Additionally, Park can earn up to 200 million won through performance incentives. The 30-year-old shortstop is the first of 21 free agents to finalize a contract since the market opened on November 9.
Park, known for his defensive skills, has spent the last decade with the Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Drafted in the fifth round in 2013, he has appeared in 1,088 games, posting a career batting line of .266/.328/.332, with 23 home runs, 353 RBIs, 514 runs scored, and 187 stolen bases. Over the last five seasons, Park has played the most innings at shortstop in the KBO, totaling 5,481. He was awarded the KBO Fielding Award in 2023 and 2024 and received his first Golden Glove in 2024.
Notably, Park led the league in steals in 2019 and 2022, achieving the second-highest total of stolen bases in the KBO since 2019, just behind his new Bears teammate, Jung Soo-bin. Both the Tigers and the Bears missed the postseason in 2025, but the Bears showed improvement in the latter half of the season with their emerging young talent. The Bears are now looking to Park for leadership in their infield.
The Bears expressed confidence in Park's abilities, stating, "Park Chan-ho is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league and he can be the stabilizing force on our youthful team. He is a great leadoff hitter with aggressive baserunning style. We expect him to breathe new life into our team."
Park, who has long admired the Bears, shared his excitement about joining the team, stating he was "honored and overwhelmed" to wear their uniform. He also extended gratitude to the Tigers' fans for their support throughout his career.
The KBO categorizes free agents into three classes based on their salaries over the previous three years. Park falls into Class A, given his top-ranking salary on the Tigers and within the league. To secure Park, the Bears must compensate the Tigers with either twice his previous salary and a player not on their protected list, or three times his previous salary.