Jihwan Bae - Page 5 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Swipes 14th bag Bae went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact The young utility player continues to do his best Jon Berti impression, stealing his 14th base in 31 games to begin the season, with nine of them coming in the last 10 contests. Bae is also batting .333 (9-for-27) over that stretch, and while he offers little power -- he has just two homers and nine RBI on the year -- he could become more than just a one-dimensional fantasy asset if he keeps stringing together hits.

MAY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Tuesday Bae is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rays.

Impact Bae recorded his 11th steal of the season in Sunday's series finale against the Nationals, but Mark Mathias will get the start at second base as the Pirates open a three-game set Tuesday at Tampa Bay. It's a bullpen day for the Rays, so Bae probably will appear off the bench at some point.

MAY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes 11th base Bae went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a steal in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.

Impact Bae led off the third inning with a base hit before swiping second and scoring on a Bryan Reynolds hit. Bae is now 11-for-12 on stolen base attempts this year, tieing him for second in the league. The 23-year-old Bae has hit well enough to maximize his stolen-base value -- he's slashing .250/.302/.350 with two home runs, nine RBI and 17 runs scored through 87 plate appearances while playing regularly at second base.

MAY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Runs wild in Wednesday's win Bae went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one RBI and three stolen bases in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Dodgers.

Impact The Pirates showed no mercy to Los Angeles catcher Austin Wynns, going a combined 6-for-6 on steal attempts, but Bae was the star of the track meet. The 23-year-old has five pilfers in the last two games against the Dodgers and is now 10-for-11 on the basepaths in 2023, tying him for second in the majors in steals behind Ronald Acuna's 13.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pilfers two bags in loss Bae went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Getting the start in center field and batting eighth, the utility player ran wild against Noah Syndergaard, who had trouble keeping runners close even before MLB made basestealing easier. Bae is up to seven stolen bases in eight attempts this season, but the 23-year-old hasn't done much else to make a fantasy impact, slashing .224/.288/.343 through 74 plate appearances with two homers, eight RBI and 13 runs.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Friday Bae isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against Cincinnati.

Impact After snapping a three-game hitting streak Thursday, Bae will get a breather Friday against Graham Ashcraft and the Reds. Mark Mathias will take Bae's place at second base and bat seventh.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat against lefty Bae is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Impact Bae will get a seat against southpaw Austin Gomber after going 1-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's victory over the Rockies. Mark Mathias will handle second base duties and hit seventh in the series finale.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Productive in Monday's win Bae went 1-for-4 with two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base Monday against the Rockies.

Impact The Pirates scored six runs in the second inning of a blowout win, and Bae contributed to the rally with a bunt single that drove in one. He then proceeded to steal third base to tally his fifth stolen bag of the season. Though Pittsburgh shifts its lineup considerably when a lefty is on the mound, Bae has been a consistence presence in the batting order regardless of handedness and has an everyday role on the team. Through 55 plate appearances, he has chipped in 10 runs scored and eight RBI despite hitting just .220/.278/.380.

APRIL 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup Bae is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Bae started the past five games and will step out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale after he went 3-for-18 with a home run, three RBI, two stolen bases and six strikeouts during that stretch. Tucupita Marcano will take over at the keystone and bat eighth.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ji Hwan Bae dazzles in center field, as Pirates open Cardinals series with victory Ji Hwan Bae made a couple remarkable catches, Vince Velasquez had a strong start, and the Pirates beat the Cardinals, 5-0.

APRIL 14, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Blasts walkoff three-run homer Bae went 1-for-5 with a walkoff three-run homer in a 7-4 victory over the Astros on Tuesday.

Impact With a pair of runners on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Bae blistered a ball over the left-centerfield fence off Ryan Pressly to give the Pirates the win. Even while hitting just .242 with a .265 on-base percentage, Bae has shown some flashes of brilliance over the first 11 games of the season with a pair of homers, two stolen bases and six RBI over 33 at-bats.

APRIL 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bae belts walk-off HR as Bucs take down Astros PITTSBURGH -- Ji Hwan Bae called game. Bae’s first home run at PNC Park was of the walk-off variety, as he launched a three-run shot into th...

APRIL 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

After Pirates blow late lead, Ji Hwan Bae hits walkoff home to help Pirates down Astros The Pirates blew a late lead, but Ji Hwan Bae hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to help the Pirates walk off the Astros on Tuesday.

APRIL 12, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Batting leadoff Tuesday Bae is batting leadoff Tuesday against the Astros.

Impact Bae did not start Sunday or Monday, but he'll jump to the top of the Pirates' order Tuesday against Houston right-hander Cristian Javier. The versatile 23-year-old is 7-for-28 (.250) with one home run and two stolen bases through eight games this season.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting against lefty Bae is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

Impact Though he'll give way to the righty-hitting Mark Mathias with southpaw Framber Valdez on the mound for Houston, the lefty-hitting Bae nonetheless looks as though he'll have an even clearer runway to a near-everyday role with shortstop Oneil Cruz (fibula) expected to be sidelined for around four months following surgery. Bae had already started in seven of his Pirates' first nine games while moving between second base and center field, but he could end up seeing most of his time at the keystone moving forward while Rodolfo Castro likely serves as Cruz's primary replacement at shortstop. The 23-year-old Bae looks like an appealing pickup in mid-sized or deeper leagues for any manager looking for help in stolen bases and possibly runs, as he could be a candidate to fill Cruz's spot as the Pirates' main leadoff man versus right-handed pitching.

APRIL 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats first career homer Bae went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The 23-year-old send a Nick Pivetta offering the other way in the second inning and just sliced it over the Green Monster, giving Roansy Contreras and the Pirates' bullpen all the run support they would need. Bae is just 3-for-14 (.214) through four games, but he's got a double and two steals in addition to Tuesday's production, and as long as he's getting consistent playing time between second base and center field, his speed and developing power should give him some fantasy value.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bae blasts 1st career HR ... and he doesn't stop there BOSTON -- It didn’t matter where Ji Hwan Bae was on Tuesday night, he was contributing in big ways. From second base to center field to the...

APRIL 5, 2023 • MLB.COM

Ji Hwan Bae's 1st career homer helps Pirates top Red Sox 4-1

Ji Hwan Bae hit his first career homer, Bryan Reynolds went deep for the third time in two games and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1

APRIL 5, 2023 • Associated Press

Gets Monday off Bae is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Impact After recording a pair of hits, stealing two bases and scoring twice in the Pirates' Opening Day loss to the Reds last Thursday, Bae went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts over the final two games of the series. He'll be on the bench for the first time this season Monday, and while Bae isn't locked in as a regular at any one position, his ability to fill in as a middle infielder or outfielder should allow him to hold down a quasi-everyday role so long as he's reasonably productive at the dish.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Regular role to begin campaign Bae went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Saturday against the Reds.

Impact Bae's line was ugly, but Saturday's lineup made clear that the Pirates are prioritizing playing him every day early on this season. With lefty Nick Lodolo on the mound for the Reds, Jack Suwinski sat while Bae shifted from second base -- where he started the first game of the campaign -- to center field. Though Bae is getting extra run for the time being, he'll need to perform without the handedness advantage to maintain playing time over Suwinski in the long term.

APRIL 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Two steals in opener Bae went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases in Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Reds.

Impact Bae started the game at second base before ultimately moving to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning as Canaan Smith-Njigba was lifted for a defensive replacement. Although Bae was buried in the eight hole in the order, he was in the middle of everything for the Pirates and showcased his speed when he got on base. Bae ranked in the 90th percentile in sprint speed last season according to Statcast.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tapped for start at second base Bae is starting at second base and batting eighth for the Pirates in Thursday's opener against the Reds.

Impact He gets the call over presumed starter Rodolfo Castro, who will come off the bench. Bae put up some good numbers during his brief time with the Pirates last season and could be a stolen base threat right out of the chute.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

To be on Opening Day roster Bae has made the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.

Impact Bae is set for super-utility duties as a player who can back up second base, shortstop and center field. He has good speed but will need regular playing time to make it count, and that is difficult to project at the moment.

MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sources: Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jason Delay and Ji Hwan Bae on Pirates' opening day roster Canaan Smith-Njigba’s stellar spring will indeed have a tangible reward, as the Pirates outfielder will be on the opening day roster Thursda...

MARCH 28, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Getting looks in center Bae started in center field in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Bae began spring training competing for the starting second base job and has been fairly unimpressive by posting a .244/.295/.268 line across 43 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action. However, both Mark Mathias and Rodolfo Castro have also struggled, leaving the division of playing time at the position ambiguous as we close in on Opening Day. Bae has played in center field and shortstop throughout his minor-league career, and that versatility could lead to him earning a roster spot out of camp.

MARCH 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Ji Hwan Bae's 1st career homer helps Pirates top Red Sox 4-1