by Scoop Malinowski
Ji-hwan Bae is a second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A native of South Korea, Bae signed with Pittsburgh in 2018 and made his Major League Baseball debut in 2022.
Status: Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder/second baseman.
DOB: July 26, 1999 In: Daegu, South Korea
First Baseball Memory: I was throwing lefty in centerfield.
Baseball Inspirations: Ichiro (Suzuki, former MLB outfielder from Japan).
First Player You Met Or Encountered: First year I met (Ronald) Acuna when I signed with Braves.
Last Book Read: Team Chemistry (By Andre Lachance). The Korean scout who brought me over to the States, he translated it to Korean, so it's everywhere in the book stores. So I just pick it and read it.
Greatest Career Moment: Walk off (home run vs. Astros Ryan Pressley in Pittsburgh in April 2023).
Most Painful Moment: I did everything, the bad thing in Colorado last year - strike out, ground ball miss, fly ball miss, picked off, caught steal, double play, throw error - seven things that day.
Favorite Ballparks: I like Fenway.
Favorite Uniforms: Black and yellow always.
Why Do You Love Baseball: To be honest, I tried soccer because I love soccer more before and I wasn't that good so I picked baseball [smiles].
Favorite Athletes To Watch: Right now Corbin Carroll, current big league playe (Arizona Diamondbacks).
Funny Baseball Memory: In AA, my homie, my roommate got hit by a pitcher, ball's rolling back to the pitcher. They showed the video, how fast it went back to the pitcher after hitting his kneecap.
Strangest Game: It happens a lot in minor league. Because they don't want a rain delay. Like we wait for like four hours and we re-start at like ten. And play past midnight.
Favorite Sport To Watch Outside Baseball: Soccer. EPL (English Premier League).
People Qualities Most Admired: Big smile. Funny.
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