The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Ryder Ryan to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. Bae has earned the call-up to Pittsburgh by dominating Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .367/.479/.551 slash line with a 1.030 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI, seven stolen bases and 23 runs scored in 27 games on the farm. The 24-year-old South Korean will essentially serve as a super-utility player for the Pirates, as he played center field, left field and second base for Indianapolis. Bae made his major-league debut for the Bucs in 2022 and has played in 121 games the previous two years, hitting .240 (88-for-367) with two homers, 38 RBI and 27 stolen bases. His speed will mainly be attractive for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Ji Hwan Bae (ankle) took ground balls on Wednesday and is playing catch. The Pirates expect that he will begin a minor-league rehab assignment when the team returns from its West-Coast road trip. The 23-year-old was injured on July 1 and was hitting only .238 (51-for-214) with two home runs, nine doubles, 19 RBI and 37 runs scored in 239 plate appearances and 76 games, but he's also stolen 20 bases. Barring a setback with his sprained left ankle, Bae should be back with the Pirates in early August. Because of his speed alone, he deserves to remain stashed in deeper fantasy leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Ji Hwan Bae (ankle) is available off the bench for Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Bae suffered a minor ankle injury during Friday's contest. The Pirates will give him an additional day off on Saturday to recover. However, Bae could come off the bench to bat or pinch-run if needed. The 23-year-old is hitting .244 with two home runs and nine RBI with 14 stolen bases in 24 games. He should be back in the lineup within the next few days.
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Ji-Hwan Bae has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. The 23-year-old is hitting .289/.362/.430 with eight home runs and 30 stolen bases in Triple-A this season. Clearly, Bae is ready for the next level and his ability to play multiple positions should be an asset. While in the minors, Bae played second base, third base, shortstop, center field and left field. The expectation is that Bae will have regular playing time down the stretch of the season in Pittsburgh. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should take a look at him.
Ji-Hwan Bae Gets First Hits of Spring in Pirates' Win
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Ji-Hwan Bae picked up his first hits of the spring on Sunday afternoon, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored in the 13-1 victory over the Orioles. Bae is unlikely to break camp with the Pirates given their depth in the middle infield, but it is good to finally see him pick up a couple hits. The two main tools Bae brings to the table in fantasy are high average and speed, as he slashed .323/.403/.430 with 31 stolen bases in the South Atlantic League in 2019, and after the minor league season ended that year he showed some pop with the Australian Baseball League where he hit his first two professional home runs and slashed .297/.416/.469 over 19 games. It's unlikely Bae will reach Pittsburgh before September call-ups this year, but managers in dynasty formats should keep an eye on him as he could be a good source of speed in the middle infield within the next couple years.
