Ji Hwan Bae Bio
Ji Hwan Bae (born July 26, 1999) is a South Korean professional baseball center fielder and second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Bae as a free agent. He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Ji Hwan Bae was born in South Korea and attended Kyeongbuk High School in Daegu. Growing up, he was a fan of South Korean professional baseball and began watching Major League Baseball when fellow South Korean player Shin-Soo Choo joined the Cleveland Indians. Bae developed a passion for the sport and admired players such as Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Jose Altuve. Bae represented South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup, where he showcased his talent by hitting for a .286 batting average, accumulating five runs batted in (RBIs), six runs scored, six walks, and two stolen bases. In his final high school baseball season, he appeared in 27 games, achieving an impressive batting average of .474, which earned him the Lee Young-min Batting Award as South Korea’s best hitter at the high school level. Bae was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2017 KBO League draft.
Path to Baseball
On September 23, 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Ji Hwan Bae as a free agent. General manager John Coppolella noted that Bae was the youngest Asian baseball player to sign with the Braves in nearly two decades. However, on November 21, 2017, Major League Baseball voided his contract with the Braves due to fraudulent contract negotiations. Although Bae had agreed to sign for $300,000, the Braves planned to pay him an additional $600,000 by reallocating money promised to other signees. This situation barred Bae from signing with any South Korean professional team for two years. In March 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Bae for a reported signing bonus of $1.25 million. He began his professional career in the minor leagues, finishing the 2019 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Bae also played for Geelong-Korea in the Australian Baseball League during the offseason.
Ji Hwan Bae Career
Early Career (2022-2023)
Ji Hwan Bae made his major league debut on September 23, 2022, starting at second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game against the Chicago Cubs. In his debut, he was walked once, hit a single, and stole two bases. During his rookie campaign, Bae made 10 appearances for the Pirates, achieving an impressive batting average of .333 with six RBIs and three stolen bases. Bae made the Pirates’ 2023 Opening Day roster and hit his first major league home run on April 4, 2023. In total, he played in 111 games for Pittsburgh that season, batting .231 with two home runs, 32 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases.
Breakthrough (2024-2025)
In 2024, Bae began the season in the minor leagues, initially with Low-A Bradenton, due to a muscle strain. He was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in May and recorded his first MLB hit and RBI of the season on May 21, 2024. Bae played in 29 games for the Pirates that year, slashing .189/.247/.216 with six RBIs and six stolen bases. Bae made the Pirates’ Opening Day roster in 2025 but was optioned to Indianapolis shortly after. He played in only 13 games for Pittsburgh, struggling with a batting average of .050. On November 4, 2025, Bae was placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by the New York Mets.
Notable Works and Milestones
Ji Hwan Bae’s signature work includes his impressive debut season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he showcased his speed and batting skills. He has made significant contributions to the team, including notable performances in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Ji Hwan Bae Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Ji Hwan Bae has not yet received any major award nominations.
Ji Hwan Bae Awards Won
Ji Hwan Bae has not yet won any major awards in his professional baseball career.
Ji Hwan Bae Family
There is limited public information available regarding Ji Hwan Bae’s family background.
Personal Life
Ji Hwan Bae was convicted of assault in 2018, which resulted in a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball. This incident has been a notable aspect of his personal life, but further details about his personal relationships and current status remain private.