Bae Ji-hwan (24, Pittsburgh Pirates) left for America to board a pirate ship again.
Bae Ji-hwan left for the United States via Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 10th.
Bae Ji-hwan, who met with reporters before departure, said, “Last year, I posted all my first hits, stolen bases, and RBIs in the Major League (MLB). Now it’s time to hit a home run.” ” he shuddered. The most memorable thing while staying in Korea was visiting the Buk-gu B Little baseball team, where he played, and donating baseball supplies and talents. It was so good,” he recalled.
Bae Ji-hwan is the 26th Korean major leaguer of all time. Bae Ji-hwan, who graduated from Gyeongbuk High School and signed a contract with Pittsburgh in 2018, played in 108 games at Triple-A last year and recorded a career high with a batting average of 0.289 (121 hits in 419 at-bats), 8 homers and 53 RBIs. He was also selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) by the Indianapolis Indians, a Triple-A club. As instructed by the club, he succeeded in getting a call-up to the big leagues after increasing his value by digesting almost all positions in the infield and outfield.
Bae Ji-hwan also said that he had no objection to digesting utilities. He said, “I’m not bragging, I’m very comfortable in any position,” he said.
On September 24 last year (Korean time), he started as the 9th batter and second baseman in the game against the Chicago Cubs held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. In the game against the Cubs the next day, he also made his first long hit (double) and an RBI.
In the end, he had a batting average of 0.333 (11 hits in 33 at bats), 6 RBIs and 3 stolen bases in 10 games, and was recognized as a possibility even in fewer games.
Bae Ji-hwan is currently on the Pittsburgh 40-man roster. He joins the Pittsburgh Major League Spring Camp starting on the 21st as a ‘big leaguer’, not an invited player.
Bae Ji-hwan goes further and aims to enter the opening roster (26 players) and start. In Pittsburgh, many veterans such as Andrew McCutchen, Choi Ji-man, and Carlos Santana joined. Bae Ji-hwan expected their strength. Bae Ji-hwan said, “The captain (McKutchin) has returned, and I am a rookie who has just debuted. Rather than saying, ‘What will I do this year?’, I want to learn from veteran seniors one by one.” One thing was right. Like a pot, I was hot when I did well and cold when I didn’t, but I think the seniors will catch it. Choi Ji-man is also very close with the senior. 슬롯사이트 Even if I can’t throw a throw, I hope he catches it well.”
Meanwhile, another Korean player was added to Pittsburgh. Shim Jun-seok, who signed a contract last month, also moved to the United States and, like Bae Ji-hwan in the past, started aiming for promotion from the minor leagues step by step. Bae Ji-hwan said, “It depends on my personality and what I do. What I say is nonsensical. The position is also different.”
Bae Ji-hwan said, “Thank you for taking good care of my appearance last year. This year, I want to play full-time without getting hurt. I want to test myself throughout the year.”