Ji-hwan Bae explained

Ji-hwan Bae
Team:Pittsburgh Pirates
Number:3
Position:Second baseman / Center fielder
Birth Date:26 July 1999
Birth Place:Daegu, South Korea
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 23
Debutyear:2022
Debutteam:Pittsburgh Pirates
Statyear:August 19, 2024
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.234
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:2
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:42
Stat4label:Stolen bases
Stat4value:32
Teams:

Ji-hwan Bae (born July 26, 1999) is a South Korean professional baseball second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Bae as a free agent. He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Amateur career

Bae represented South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup. During the tournament, he hit for a .286 batting average with five RBIs, six runs scored, six walks and two stolen bases. In his final high school baseball season, Bae appeared in 27 games, hit .474, and received the as South Korea's best hitter at the high school level.[1] Bae was projected to be a first round pick in the 2017 KBO League draft.[2]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

On September 23, 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Bae as a free agent.[3] General manager John Coppolella claimed that Bae was the youngest Asian baseball player to sign with the Braves in nearly two decades.[4] By joining the Braves, Bae would have become the second player since, who signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2015, to leave a South Korean high school directly for professional baseball in the United States. On November 21, 2017, Major League Baseball voided his contract with the Braves as a result of fraudulent contract negotiations.[5] [6] The New York Times reported that, although Bae had agreed to sign for $300,000, the Braves planned to pay him an additional $600,000 by reallocating money promised to other signees.[7] The KBO League barred Bae from signing with any South Korean professional team for two years because he had skipped the KBO's draft to join the Braves organization, where he appeared with Atlanta's Florida Instructional League team.[8]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Minor leagues

On March 27, 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Bae for a reported signing bonus of $1.25 million.[9] [10] Bae finished the 2019 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers.[11] He then played for Geelong-Korea in the Australian Baseball League during the offseason.[12] [13] [14] The 2020 Minor League baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[15] and Bae was subsequently assigned to the Altoona Curve in 2021. At the Double-A level, he recorded a slash line of .278/.359/.413 with 12 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 31 RBIs in 83 games. After the minor league season ended, Bae was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas and selected to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game.[16] Bae spent most of the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Indians, where he appeared in 108 games, slashed .289/.362/.430 with 23 doubles, six triples, eight home runs and 53 RBIs.[17]

Major leagues

On September 23, 2022, Bae made his major league debut.[17] [18] He started at second base for the Pirates in a game against the Chicago Cubs,[18] was walked once, hit a single, and stole two bases.[19] [20] Bae made the Pirates 2023 Opening Day roster.[21] [22] On April 4, 2023, he hit his first major league home run.[23] Bae began the 2024 season in the minor leagues, initially with Low-A Bradenton, on rehabilitation assignment for a muscle strain. The Pirates recalled Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis in May 2024; Bae recorded his first MLB hit and RBI of the 2024 season on the same day, May 21.[24] [25]

Personal life

Born in July 1999, Bae attended Kyeongbuk High School in Daegu.[26] He grew up as a fan of South Korean professional baseball, and began watching Major League Baseball when fellow South Korea native Shin-Soo Choo joined the Cleveland Indians. Bae soon became a fan of Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and José Altuve.[27]

Assault conviction

In May 2018, Bae was accused of slapping, choking, and kicking his ex-girlfriend in 2017 on New Year's Eve, when he was 18 years old.[28] [29] [30] In October 2018, he was convicted of assault in court in Daegu and required to pay a fine of ₩2 million.[31] [32] [33] In April 2019, Major League Baseball suspended Bae without pay for 30 games because of the incident.[34] [35] [36]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ji-hwan Bae returns to South Korea amid domestic violence investigation. May 20, 2018. ESPN.com. May 19, 2018.
  2. News: O'Brien. David. Braves close to signing Korean shortstop. September 24, 2017. September 24, 2017.
  3. News: Burns. Gabriel. Braves compare Korean signee Bae to Trae Turner. September 24, 2017. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 23, 2017.
  4. News: Thompson. Jaylon. Snitker encouraged by discussions about future. September 24, 2017. MLB.com. September 23, 2017.
  5. News: Braves penalized for int'l signing violations. MLB.com. November 21, 2017. November 21, 2017.
  6. News: Ex-Braves GM John Coppolella permanently banned; team loses prospects. November 22, 2017. ESPN.com. November 21, 2017.
  7. News: Kepner. Tyler. M.L.B. Bars Former Braves Executive in Signings Scandal. November 23, 2017. New York Times. November 21, 2017.
  8. News: Teen baseball prospect shrugs off murky future. January 3, 2018. The Korea Herald. Yonhap. December 19, 2017.
  9. News: Pirates rookie Bae Ji-hwan scores run in spring training debut. March 27, 2018. Yonhap. March 27, 2018.
  10. News: Berry. Adam. New Bucs prospect Bae makes pro debut. March 27, 2018. MLB.com. March 26, 2018.
  11. News: Grasshoppers' Bae steams through August . October 13, 2022 . MILB.com . August 22, 2019.
  12. News: Players to watch out for this summer . 13 October 2022 . Geelong Advertiser . 21 November 2019.
  13. News: Every name on the Geelong-Korea roster for the ABL season . 13 October 2022 . Geelong Advertiser . 20 November 2019.
  14. News: Geelong Korea wants to focus on localization for 2019/20 season . 13 October 2022 . Special Broadcasting Service.
  15. News: Adler. David. June 30, 2020. June 5, 2022. 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled. MLB.com.
  16. News: Gorman . Kevin . Pirates prospects Nick Gonzales, Ji-hwan Bae selected to play in AFL Fall Stars Game . 13 October 2022 . Pittsburgh Tribune Review . 21 November 2021.
  17. News: Gorman . Kevin . Ji Hwan Bae ready to showcase speed, defensive versatility for Pirates after promotion . 13 October 2022 . Pittsburgh Tribune Review . 23 September 2022.
  18. News: Persak . Mike . Pirates prospect Ji Hwan Bae joins team for Friday's game against Cubs . 13 October 2022 . Pittsburgh Post Gazette . 23 September 2022.
  19. News: Quiroz hits go-ahead single in 8th, Cubs beat Pirates 6-5 . 13 October 2022 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . 23 September 2022.
  20. News: delos Santos . Justice . Bae has ball in debut: 2 steals, 1 hit, 1 walk . 13 October 2022 . MLB.com . 23 September 2022.
  21. News: delos Santos . Justice . Bucs set 2023 Opening Day roster . June 10, 2023 . MLB.com . March 30, 2023.
  22. News: Pirates set Opening Day roster . June 10, 2023 . MLB.com . March 30, 2023.
  23. News: Gorman . Kevin . Pirates rookie Ji Hwan Bae has Monster game with 1st career homer, spectacular catch . June 10, 2023 . Pittsburgh Tribune Review . April 5, 2023.
  24. News: Hiles . Noah . Sources: Pirates to call up Ji Hwan Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 22 May 2024 . 21 May 2024.
  25. News: Guerriero . Justin . Ji Hwan Bae brings speed, defensive versatility, hot bat into Pirates lineup . May 22, 2024 . Pittsburgh Tribune Review . May 21, 2024.
  26. News: Korean high school shortstop signs with Atlanta Braves. https://web.archive.org/web/20170924094454/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2017/09/24/17/0702000000AEN20170924000900315F.html. September 24, 2017. The Korea Herald. September 24, 2017. Yonhap. September 24, 2017. Alt URL
  27. News: Bloom. Elizabeth. An inside look at the Pirates' signing of teenage Korean shortstop Ji-hwan Bae. April 22, 2018. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 27, 2018.
  28. Web site: MLB 진출 야구 유망주, '여친 폭행 혐의' 피소. Naver News.
  29. Web site: Pirates Prospect Ji-hwan Bae Accused Of Domestic Violence. MLB Trade Rumors. May 18, 2018.
  30. Web site: Exclusive: Pirates minor leaguer Ji-hwan Bae returns to South Korea to cooperate with police investigation into abuse allegations. Rob. Biertempfel. The Athletic. May 18, 2018.
  31. Web site: MLB suspends Hoppers infielder Ji-Hwan Bae six months after domestic violence conviction. Jeff. Mills. Greensboro News and Record. April 18, 2019.
  32. Web site: Pirates Prospect Ji-hwan Bae Found Guilty Of Assaulting Former Girlfriend. MLB Trade Rumors. October 15, 2018.
  33. Web site: MLB continues its investigaton after Pirates' prospect Ji-hwan Bae is found guilty of assault in South Korea. Rob. Biertempfel. The Athletic. October 12, 2018.
  34. News: Sam . Dykstra . Pirates' Bae suspended 30 games . 13 October 2022 . MLB.com . 17 April 2019.
  35. Web site: 마이너리거 배지환, 30경기 정지 징계…"전 여자친구 폭행". sports.news.naver.com. ko. April 18, 2019.
  36. Web site: Assault victim calls for Pirates to release suspended minor leaguer Ji-Hwan Bae. Rob. Biertempfel. The Athletic. April 19, 2019.

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