Former South Korean pitcher Chan Ho Park has made history by becoming the first Korean national to acquire a stake in a Major League Baseball franchise. The veteran, who spent 17 seasons in the big leagues with a career record of 124‑98, will join the Athletics’ ownership consortium as a senior adviser to principal owner John Fisher.
A Milestone for Korean Representation in MLB
The consortium, known as Team61, brings together actors Ken Jeong and Daniel Dae Kim alongside billionaire Mark Cuban. Together they have pledged a total of $70 million, with $55 million already secured and the remaining $15 million contingent on MLB approval. Their capital infusion reflects a broader ambition to deepen ties between Korean baseball talent and the sport’s premier league.
The Athletics are slated to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028, a move that includes plans for a $2 billion domed stadium on the Strip. Until then, the club continues to play its home games in West Sacramento, California, where the franchise has been based for the past two seasons.
Park and Fisher both expressed optimism that the partnership will not only benefit the team financially but also serve as a catalyst for greater Korean representation in the league. They envision a pipeline that will nurture the next generation of Korean players and cement a lasting legacy of Korean ownership in baseball.