Pirates’ Bae Brings High Energy to Lineup

When Ji Hwan Bae is in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup, the club is better for it.

It was good to see Bae, 25, on the field this past weekend. During Friday night’s game with the Seattle Mariners, when Andrew McCutchen injured his left knee and headed for the dugout, it was Bae who manager Derek Shelton sent out to replace him at first base.

On Saturday, it was Bae who started in right field at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.

The 2024 MLB schedule hasn’t been without “bumps in the road” for the South Korean infielder/outfielder. After overcoming injuries, it appears that Bae is at full strength physically. His speed on the base paths is a difference-maker for the Pirates.

On Friday, after replacing McCutchen at first base in the seventh inning, Bae came all the way around to score on an Oneil Cruz double. Pittsburgh went on to win 5-3, while breaking a 10-game losing streak.

Fans and some members of the media have criticized Bae’s offensive output this season. But there is a very good and obvious answer to their questions: injuries.

Going back to spring training, Bae saw action in but seven games. Staying healthy is key to any athlete’s putting out their full potential on the field. This isn’t about making excuses for Bae’s .190 batting average, with 58 at-bats in 23 games.

Most importantly, Bae, who began his pro career during the 2018 season in Bradenton as a member of the Pirates’ Gulf Coast League team, is now ready to go full speed in all facets of his game.

Back in April, after starting the 2024 season with the Pirates, Bae went on the 10-day injured list, removing him from the club’s 26-man active roster. A strain of his left hip muscle, a flexor, sidelined him. When his rehabilitation program was completed, Bae was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 21, and he was hitting .367.

Eight games back with his National League Central teammates, the injury bug bit Bae again. This time, a right wrist injury sidelined him. As Bae was packing his bags in the Pirates’ PNC Park clubhouse, I witnessed him departing for Indianapolis – again.

Quiet and without his interpreter, Daniel Park, at his side, Bae walked slowly from the clubhouse en route to his ride to Pittsburgh International Airport. Being sent to Indianapolis on June 21, Bae would play one month for the Indians. He was recalled on July 26.

The four trips to Indianapolis, the ups and downs of being optioned, and having injuries fixed this has been a recipe for frustration for Bae. He is a player that Shelton and his teammates revel in having on base. During the 2023 season, Bae swiped 24 bases.

This is Bae’s third campaign as a Pirate. A fan as well as a player, Bae said during a conversation late during spring training that he has long followed the careers of others from his home country who have found MLB success. Shin-Soo Choo, who logged 16 MLB seasons; Chan Ho Park, who played 17 MLB seasons, including as a Pirate during the 2010 season; and Ji-Man Choi, who was a teammate for part of last season with the Pirates, are heroes of Bae that motivate him.

Married last off-season, Bae is usually accompanied by Park. Be it in the clubhouse or close by on the field, should coaches have questions or directives for Bae, Park is present to translate. No misunderstandings will occur.

With less than 150 games under his MLB belt, Bae is still looking to find his groove. His speed, in the field and on the bases, is comparable to that of future hall of famer Ichiro Suzuki. By all accounts, Bae, who bats left and throws right, has the confidence of the Pirates’ front office. Both Bae and management are committed to his success.

Being in Shelton’s lineup regularly, remaining healthy, and not seeing the inside of the Indians’ clubhouse at Victory Field in Indianapolis will go a long way in building up Bae’s confidence and sharpening his skills. The best is yet to come from Bae. Patience is key.