Ji Hwan Bae Bio
Ji Hwan Bae, born on July 26, 1999, is a South Korean professional baseball player who serves as a center fielder and second baseman. He is currently in the New York Mets organization and has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bae is recognized as a versatile athlete whose path from South Korean amateur baseball to the major leagues reflects both his athletic talent and his ability to navigate the complex world of international baseball contracts.
Bae’s professional journey includes notable stints in minor league systems, international leagues, and the Australian Baseball League, all of which helped shape his development as a player. He made his MLB debut in 2022 and continues to pursue his career at the highest level of professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Ji Hwan Bae was born on July 26, 1999, in South Korea. He attended Kyeongbuk High School in Daegu, where he distinguished himself as one of the top young baseball talents in the country. During his final high school season, Bae appeared in 27 games and posted an impressive .474 batting average, which earned him the Lee Young-min Batting Award as South Korea’s best hitter at the high school level.
Bae grew up as a fan of South Korean professional baseball and expanded his interest to Major League Baseball when fellow South Korean Shin-Soo Choo joined the Cleveland Indians. He became a fan of several prominent players, including Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Jose Altuve. These players helped shape his appreciation for the game and inspired his own aspirations to play professionally in the United States.
Bae also represented South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup held in Thunder Bay, Canada. During the tournament, he hit .286 with five runs batted in, six runs scored, six walks, and two stolen bases, demonstrating his offensive capabilities on an international stage. His strong performance at the high school level led to projections that he would be a first-round pick in the 2017 KBO League draft.
Path to Baseball
Bae’s path to professional baseball took a unique turn when, in 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced his signing as a free agent. At the time, Braves general manager John Coppolella stated that Bae was the youngest Asian baseball player to sign with the Braves in nearly two decades. If the deal had been completed, Bae would have become the second player since Kwon Kwang-min, who signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2015, to leave a South Korean high school directly for professional baseball in the United States.
However, on November 21, 2017, Major League Baseball voided Bae’s contract with the Braves as a result of fraudulent contract negotiations. The New York Times reported that, 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. As a result, the KBO League barred Bae from signing with any South Korean professional team for two years because he had skipped the KBO’s draft to join the Braves organization.
Following the voided contract, Bae appeared with Atlanta’s Florida Instructional League team before being signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 27, 2018, for a reported signing bonus of $1.25 million. This marked the beginning of his professional career in affiliated American baseball.
Ji Hwan Bae Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
After signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ji Hwan Bae began his career in the minor leagues, working his way through the organization’s developmental system. He finished the 2019 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers and then played for Geelong-Korea in the Australian Baseball League during the offseason to gain additional experience.
Bae did not play in any games in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he was assigned to the Altoona Curve, where he played at the Double-A level and recorded a slash line of .278/.359/.413 with 12 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and 31 runs batted in across 83 games. After the minor league season ended, Bae was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas and was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game, further demonstrating his standing within the Pirates’ farm system.
Pittsburgh Pirates Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Ji Hwan Bae spent most of the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Indians, where he appeared in 108 games and slashed .289/.362/.430 with 23 doubles, six triples, eight home runs, and 53 runs batted in. On September 23, 2022, he made his major league debut with the Pirates, starting at second base against the Chicago Cubs. In that game, he drew a walk, recorded a single, and stole two bases, signaling his speed and contact skills at the highest level.
During his rookie campaign, Bae made 10 appearances for Pittsburgh, going 11-for-33 (.333) with six runs batted in and three stolen bases. He made the Pirates’ 2023 Opening Day roster, and on April 4, 2023, he hit his first major league home run. In 111 total appearances for Pittsburgh that year, Bae batted .231/.296/.311 with two home runs, 32 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases, establishing himself as a regular contributor.
Pittsburgh Pirates Final Years (2024–2025)
Bae began the 2024 season in the minor leagues, initially with Low-A Bradenton, on a rehabilitation assignment for a muscle strain. The Pirates recalled him from Triple-A Indianapolis in May, and he recorded his first MLB hit and run batted in of the season on May 21, 2024. He played in 29 games for the Pirates during the year, slashing .189/.247/.216 with six runs batted in and six stolen bases.
Bae made the team’s Opening Day roster in 2025 but was optioned to Indianapolis on April 3, 2025. He played in only 13 games for Pittsburgh that season, going 1-for-20 (.050) with four stolen bases. On November 4, the Pirates placed Bae on waivers, ending his time with the organization that had originally signed him.
New York Mets Era (2025–Present)
On November 6, 2025, Ji Hwan Bae was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, marking a fresh chapter in his MLB career. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets on January 8, 2026, as the organization assessed its roster and his role within the team.
Bae’s transition to the Mets organization represents an opportunity to continue developing and competing at the major league level. His speed, defensive versatility, and contact-oriented approach remain valuable assets as he works to establish himself with his new club.
Driving Style and Strengths
While baseball does not involve driving, Ji Hwan Bae’s professional strengths on the field center on his speed, contact hitting, and defensive versatility. His ability to play both center field and second baseman provides teams with valuable flexibility, and his stolen base totals throughout his career highlight his effectiveness as a baserunner.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ji Hwan Bae’s notable career milestones are his 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup appearance, his Lee Young-min Batting Award, and his major league debut on September 23, 2022. His first major league home run on April 4, 2023, stands as a significant personal achievement during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ji Hwan Bae Career Wins
While individual game wins are not a standard statistic for position players, Ji Hwan Bae has accumulated notable offensive and defensive contributions across his professional career. His minor league performance, particularly his .289 batting average with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022, and his major league appearances with the Pirates demonstrate his ability to contribute at multiple levels.
Minor League and International Highlights
Bae’s development through the minor leagues, including his time with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Altoona Curve, and Indianapolis Indians, reflects a steady progression. His selection to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game in 2021 and his participation in the Australian Baseball League with Geelong-Korea further illustrate his growth as a professional player.
Major League Performances
In the major leagues, Bae’s most productive season was 2023, when he batted .231 with 24 stolen bases across 111 games. His rookie campaign in 2022, though limited to 10 games, produced an impressive .333 batting average. Through the 2025 season, his cumulative MLB statistics include a .223 batting average, 2 home runs, and 44 runs batted in.
Ji Hwan Bae Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information about Ji Hwan Bae’s family background is not widely available in verified public sources. His professional baseball journey began in South Korea, where he developed his skills as part of the country’s strong youth baseball tradition.
Personal Life
Ji Hwan Bae attended Kyeongbuk High School in Daegu, South Korea, where he established himself as a premier baseball talent. His personal interests include following Major League Baseball, where he admires players such as Shin-Soo Choo, Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Jose Altuve.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a challenging year for Ji Hwan Bae with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made the team’s Opening Day roster but was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on April 3, 2025, after a slow start. In 13 games at the major league level, Bae struggled offensively, going 1-for-20 (.050) with four stolen bases.
Despite his limited major league playing time, Bae’s defensive versatility and baserunning ability remained part of his profile. On November 4, 2025, the Pirates placed him on waivers, and two days later, on November 6, 2025, the New York Mets claimed him off waivers, signaling a new opportunity for the young infielder and outfielder.
As Bae moves forward with the Mets organization and the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, his focus will be on refining his offensive game and earning another opportunity at the major league level. His combination of speed, defensive flexibility, and contact-oriented approach offers a foundation for potential contributions to the Mets’ roster in upcoming seasons.