The batting average, which had reached 0.277 at one point during the season, plummeted for 10 consecutive games. Bae Ji-hwan (24, Pittsburgh Pirates), who seemed to be ending his second year in the big league season with such disappointment, is soaring by showing new potential.
Bae Ji-hwan started as the number one hitter and second baseman in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the Washington Nationals held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 13th (Korean time) and recorded 1 hit and 1 strikeout in 5 at-bats.
His batting average fell from 0.245 to 0.244 (291 touchdowns, 71 hits), his on-base percentage fell slightly from 0.306 to 0.304, but his slugging percentage rose from 0.325 to 0.326. Above all, it was a game that could give him a big score as he surpassed his previous record and produced a hit in 7 consecutive games.
7 games in a row with good batting skills and perfect defensive play… ‘Bae Ji-hwan’s form is crazy’It didn’t start well. Bae Ji-hwan, who was retired by a grounder to second base on opposing starter Joan Adon’s low curve in the top of the first inning, swung his bat for a changeup in the second inning, but bowed his head in the same manner.
He made up for his slump in batting with defense. Bae Ji-hwan completed a double play with a quick throw to first base after catching a difficult throw from third baseman Brian Hayes at first base with no outs in the top of the second inning. In the top of the third inning, with one out and one out on first base, Alex Cole tried to steal base with a clean catch and tag. Caught it.
Bae Ji-hwan, who struck out on a missed swing at Adon’s fast ball in the bottom of the 4th inning, left a big disappointment with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 5th inning. The batters ahead of him hit 3 hits and 1 walk, and with the bases loaded and the team leading 3-1, left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia, who was replaced, hit a grounder toward first base on a low outside slider after a 7-pitch match. The ball headed home and the runner on third base was out.
A hit was reported at the end of the game. Bae Ji-hwan hit Amos Willingham in the bottom of the 7th inning with one out and runners on first base when the team was ahead 4-1. Bae Ji-hwan, who selected the first and second pitches, pushed a high four-seam fastball on the third pitch at 94.5 miles per hour (152.1 km). The batted ball landed deep in the left field line and flew over the fence. Recognized double hit. With this, he extended his hitting streak to 7 games.안전놀이터
Bae Ji-hwan’s double put the runners on second and third base with one out, and Hayes’ sacrifice fly to center field put a runner on third base. Bae Ji-hwan headed to third base, but failed to score due to a missed follow-up hit.
Pittsburgh achieved a pleasant victory with starter Bailey Falter pitching 6 innings and allowing 1 run, and thanks to the performances of Josh Palisios (2 RBI), Hayes (1 RBI), and Andy Rodriguez, who had multiple hits.
Pittsburgh ended its two-game losing streak and maintained fourth place in the National League (NL) Central Division with 67 wins and 78 losses. In the wild card rankings, it is still difficult to expect to advance to the fall baseball season, ranking 8th and 9 games behind the 3rd place Arizona Diamondbacks. On the other hand, Washington ranked last in the NL East with 65 wins and 80 losses.
Bae Ji-hwan, who was faltering, has a brighter outlook for next year, ‘like Kim Ha-seong’Bae Ji-hwan, who made his MLB debut in Pittsburgh last year, had an outstanding batting average of 0.333, but appeared in only 10 games. He was expected to perform well this season.
He has left a strong impact since the beginning of the season. He accumulated stolen bases with his trademark explosive speed that shook the opposing team, and he made a series of walk-off home runs and fantastic ‘the catches’ that preserved the team’s victory. He seemed to herald the birth of a new star in Pittsburgh.
However, in the full-time season, when Bae Ji-hwan was properly welcomed, Bae Ji-hwan fell into a slump. He continued his upward trend, and at one point in June his batting average soared to 0.277, but then he went hitless for 10 consecutive games and his batting average fell to 0.237.
It looked like he would end the season with regret, but he came back to life in the final minutes. Starting with the Milwaukee Brewers game on the 6th, he has recorded hits in 7 consecutive games to this day, showing his adaptability to the MLB stage. In particular, he showed off his long-hitting ability by hitting two consecutive doubles from the previous day to this day.
Ha-Seong Kim also had times when he was underperforming, but he improved on his own every season. His batting average, which was only 0.202 in his first season, rose to 0.251 last year and 0.270 this season. Ha-seong Kim’s biggest weapon is his defensive ability that allows him to play all infield positions. Based on this, he consistently participated in games and this season showed off his quick feet, making 35 stolen bases and becoming a treasure for the team. He naturally took many chances and even improved his hitting ability.
Bae Ji-hwan, like Kim Ha-seong, also needs to play in more games and improve his batting sense. There are positive aspects. There are some similarities to Kim Ha-seong. Although he is not a player with as excellent defensive skills as Ha-seong Kim, he can play both second base and center field, so his utilization is high. He appeared in 56 games as a second baseman and 56 games as a center fielder this season, making it difficult to choose his main position, and he was used evenly in both positions.
Above all, what highlights Bae Ji-hwan’s value is his quick feet. At the beginning of the season, he ran so boldly that he led the team in stolen bases and showed incredible speed. He has been criticized for his somewhat disappointing base running sense, but this is also gradually improving. He has already surpassed 20 stolen bases and is considered to be capable of stealing 30 or 40 bases in the future if he continues to get more opportunities.
Although the team’s situation is not good, it is on the rise at the end of the season, raising expectations for next year. Like Kim Ha-seong’s third season, Bae Ji-hwan is also a player with ample potential to show off his improved skills.