The nation's baseball players in the U.S. major league are facing tough times despite a stellar showing in the World Baseball Classic.

The San Diego Padres have demoted former starting pitcher Park Chan-ho to the bullpen. The righthander was left off the playoff roster last year and has fared poorly in exhibition games this year.

Last season, he finished 12-8 in starts for the Texas Rangers and San Diego, and is still struggling with back injuries.

A thigh injury has forced Colorado Rockies pitcher Kim Byung-hyun to start the season on the 15-day disabled list. The submarine-style hurler went 5-12 last season with an earned-run average of 4.86.

Seo Jae-weung is apparently the lone bright spot for South Korean baseballers in the United States. He has shined in the preseason for his new team Los Angeles Dodgers and has a good chance of breaking into the starting rotation.

Seo finished 8-2 for the New York Mets last season with an ERA of 2.59.

Pitcher Kim Sun-woo of the Washington Nationals is also plauged by a nagging thigh injury, but could take the fifth spot in the rotation. Going 5-1 with the Rockies before being traded, he went 1-2 with the Nationals.

Slugger Choi Hee-seop has moved to the Boston Red Sox, but the team's depth at first base could mean a minor-league demotion.