Seoul: Having wrapped up a two-decade playing career that included two MVP awards, six home run titles, and a stint in Major League Baseball, retired slugger Park Byung-ho said Thursday he'd like to give himself full marks for things he did on the field. At 39, he is now ready for a fresh start as a minor league coach for the Kiwoom Heroes, one of his former teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and where he enjoyed his best years.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Park expressed his desire to earn players' trust in his new coaching role. Speaking at a press conference at the Heroes' home, Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Park said, "As a player, I want to give myself 100 points out of 100. I wasn't a big prospect who shined from the beginning, and I had to really grind my way up. As a coach, I want to become an instructor that can earn players' trust. I will try to become a coach that can be trusted by every player."

Park was recognized as one of the most feared sluggers of his generation. Drafted by the LG Twins in 2004, his career took a significant turn after a trade to the Heroes in 2011. Park claimed his first MVP award in 2012, leading the league with 31 home runs and 105 RBIs, and secured another MVP title in 2013 with 37 home runs and 117 RBIs.

In 2014, Park achieved a remarkable feat by hitting 52 home runs, becoming only the third player in KBO history to surpass the half-century mark. He followed this with another 53 home runs, making him the only player with back-to-back 50-homer campaigns. Park led the KBO in homers for four consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2015, a record streak in the league. His six home run titles are also a league record.

Park's career included two seasons with the Minnesota Twins and their Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, New York, from 2016 to 2017. He retired in November with 418 home runs, placing him fourth on the all-time KBO list.

Park's final two seasons were with the Samsung Lions, where he managed 15 home runs in 77 games last year despite injuries. "I made up my mind in the middle of last season that I was going to retire. I kept trying really hard but I felt that I could no longer compete," Park said. "But I had set out to reach 400 homers and I accomplished that. I've played in a lot of postseason games and in the Korean Series. The biggest disappointment is that I never did win a Korean Series title."

Park's return to the Heroes as a coach was unexpected. After informing a team official of his retirement, the official mentioned their interest in bringing him back as a player. "I said I didn't think I was good enough to play anymore and then an offer for a coaching position came up," Park said. "This one feels like a homecoming for me."

Park considered a career in broadcasting as an analyst but decided coaching was his ultimate goal. "I thought it would help me to start on that path as quickly as possible," he said. "I know I will have trial and error, but I think I will be able to relate to minor league players because I went through some difficult moments myself as a player."

Park aims to offer support and positivity to minor leaguers, acknowledging the challenges they face. "Players who are stuck in the minors for a long time will need encouragement," Park said. "I will listen to their stories and help them get over the hump, so that they won't just give up on their careers."