(cartoon by Choi Hoon, Naver.com, used sans permission)

Described by Reuters as  “a national treasure in Korea” (not so much of a treasure in Arlington), 19-year MLB veteran P Chan Ho Park was demoted yesterday to Japan’s minors by the Orix Buffalos.

Park was taken off Orix’s active team roster after a nightmare game against the Chunichi Dragons at the weekend, the Pacific League club said on Monday.

Having given up six runs in a little over three innings, Park, who burst onto the MLB scene with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994, copped a stinging rebuke from Orix coaching staff.

“He needs to pull himself together,” pitching coach Osamu Fukuma told the Sankei Sports newspaper. “He has not come here to fool around. He needs to do a lot better.”