Ji Hwan Bae #71

Ji-hwan Bae (pronounced “Gee-juan Bay”)…Attended Kyeong-buk High School in South Korea and batted .474 in 27 games during his final year of schooling...Became enamored by Major League Baseball while following Shin-Soo Choo’s career.

2021

Entered season ranked as Pittsburgh’s ninth-best prospect according to Baseball America...Was also listed as the ninth-best shortstop prospect by MLB. com...Hit a combined .281 (92-for-327) with 12 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 33 RBI and 20 stolen bases between Double-A Altoona and Pittsburgh’s two Florida Complex League teams while on rehab...Became the first Korean-born player to suit up for Altoona...Finished tied for fifth among all Pirates minor leaguers in stolen bases... Ranked fifth in the Northeast League in stolen bases (20), eighth in runs scored (63) and tied for second in triples (five)...Hit .424 (14-for-33) with a .500 OBP during a nine-game on-base streak that ended on 5/16...Was placed on the injured list with an injured left knee on 6/9 after a collision with Cal Mitchell on 6/8...Began a rehab assignment on 7/2 in the Florida Complex League...Hit first professional home run in first game on rehab on 7/2...Was activated from the injured list on 7/6...Hit .292 in 18 games in July after returning from the injured list...Made his first career start in the outfield (center field) on 8/1...Recorded a 25-game on-base streak with the Curve from 8/15 to 9/16; the longest by an Altoona player for the season (sixth-longest in the Northeast League)...Hit the first eight home runs of his career after 7/1...Made 65 appearances (63 starts) at second base and one start in center field while playing with Altoona...Hit .250 (23-for-92) with four doubles, one triple, two home runs, 11 RBI and eight stolen bases in 23 games for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League...Was named to the Falls Stars Game.

2020

Was ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s seventh-best prospect entering the season; was also listed by the same publication as the “Best Hitter for Average” in the Pirates minor league system...Was a member of the taxi squad at the alternate training site in Altoona...Was rated by MLB Pipeline as the “Best Runner” in the Pirates minor league system following the season.