Park became the first South Korean to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994 and his success overseas is widely considered as one of the main reasons why the sport has taken off in the Asian nation.

He was part of the team which took baseball gold at the 1998 Asian Games in the Thai capital Bangkok and he also played in Japan’s top league, Nippon Professional Baseball, for the Orix Buffaloes.

“I am very honoured and take very seriously this appointment as a global ambassador of the inaugural 2015 WBSC Premier12,” Park said.

“The sport of baseball has shaped my life, and I embrace this responsibility to represent the sport of baseball at the world level for WBSC and Premier12.

“Playing for my national team will always be one of my fondest memories of my career, and I will do everything I can to help promote the ideal, the duty and the sense of pride that comes with putting your country first."

The first-ever edition of the competition features the top 12 baseball teams in the world who will go head-to-head in a round robin and knockout format in Taiwan, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled to take place at the Tokyo Dome.

World number one ranked Japan are in Group B alongside the United States, ranked at number two in the world, Olympic champions South Korea, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico.

Olympic silver medallists Cuba, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Canada, Puerto Rico and Italy make up Group A.

It is hoped the event will help showcase baseball’s global appeal after baseball/softball was put forward by the Tokyo 2020 Additional Events Programme Panel for potential inclusion at the Olympic Games in the Japanese capital in five years’ time.

“It's an honour to have Chan-ho Park, one of South Korea's most storied baseball players, as a WBSC Premier12 global ambassador,” WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said.

“He personifies 'global baseball' and the new WBSC Premier12 flagship platform: he has played at the top level, and has represented his country and our sport proudly on the international stage.”

Further global ambassadors of the inaugural Premier12 are due to be announced before Japan and South Korea, the reigning Olympic gold medallists following their victory at Beijing 2008, will face each other in a special opener for the tournament at the 40,000-seat Sapporo Dome on November 8.

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