Pittsburgh Pirates utility player Bae Ji-hwan, 2024 was a regrettable year for him.
He started the game with a twisted start. He started the season on the injured list due to a hip injury, and remained in Triple-A while playing a rehabilitation game. He was called up afterwards, but failed to get a proper chance due to wrist injury and sluggishness. O’Neill Cruz’s transition to center field at the end of the season was a direct hit. Eventually, he finished the season with Triple-A as well.
He played just 81 at-bats in 29 games in the Major League. Compared to last year when he played in 111 games, he clearly showed a setback.
He is a rookie player who has yet to establish himself. With promising players constantly hitting from below, his retreat is fatal. Some predict that his time in Pittsburgh may be over.
What does Pittsburgh’s general manager Ben Cherrington think? Cherrington shook his head at the Major League Baseball`s general meeting with MK Sports.
“At the end of the season, we left him a message saying, ‘We believe you’ve become a better player than 12 months ago,'” he said, introducing the conversation he had with Bae Ji-hwan at the end of the season.
To the puzzled reporter, he continued, “It is true that Bae got more opportunities in the major leagues in 2023. However, back then, it was affected that our roster was not as good as this year. Although he didn’t spend much time in the majors this season, we believe he is a better player than he was a year ago.”
In what way does the general manager believe he has become a “better player”? “First of all, let me just mention his routine in general. What we saw this year was a more mature and professional figure. I think he has advanced further. He has made every effort to make himself to the best of himself,” he said.
The explanation continues. “We asked him to play center field once again. Because we thought we had a chance there. And we still have work to do in the long run, but we saw some really good signs. We showed diversity in defense, and we showed consistent performance in Triple-A at bat. He was the best hitter in the league all season there. I think he matured here as a person as well. When we think about these things, we thought so.”
Still, he has more to show than he has shown. “Bae Ji-hwan is a talented player. He has the instinct to play various defensive positions. He also wants to show good performances. He is still looking for ways to show good offense in the Major League, and I think he will find it,” Cherington said, referring to his focus on Bae’s potential for development. 메이저놀이터
So, does Bae still have his place in the team’s 2025 season plan? “Of course. I think he has a really good chance to be with us,” he said emphatically.
Cherrington noted the scarcity of Bae Ji-hwan. “We don’t have many players with speed on our team. We need more speed like this. He is a left-handed hitter here. Our team has a slightly bigger proportion of right-handed hitters. On top of that, defensive diversity will give him a chance. He is a player who can do things that many players on the field cannot do.”
“In the end, I think it’s a matter of consistency. We need to consistently play good at-bats in Major League games,” he said, calling for consistency.
If Bae shows consistent performance at bat, can he settle into one position? “We still want him to be able to play defense, both in the infield and outfield. I think this is what makes him a dynamic player,” he said, adding that he is paying more attention to his defensive diversity.
