Pirates A to Z: Ji Hwan Bae showed speed in stealing bases, making catches in center field

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Ji Hwan Bae

Positions: Second baseman/center fielder

Throws: Right

Bats: Left

Age: 24

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 185 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Batted .231/.296/.311 with 17 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 32 RBIs in 111 games.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2026.

Acquired: Signed as an international free agent deal with a $1.25 million bonus in 2018.

This past season: After beating out Rodolfo Castro for the starting job at second base, Bae had a spectacular first two weeks by showing off both his speed and versatility.

He had a monster game against the Boston Red Sox on April 5 at Fenway Park, making a memorable play in center field. Bae hit his first career home run, a 359-foot shot off Nick Pivetta, in the second inning, and added a spectacular catch against the Green Monster to rob Alex Verdugo of an extra-base hit in the eighth.

“I think the catch he made in Boston highlights just how good of an athlete he is,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.

The first home run of Ji Hwan Bae's big league career. ???? pic.twitter.com/p3sCaQfN9B

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 4, 2023

Ji Hwan Bae (@Pirates' No. 13 prospect) scales the Green Monster for a must-see grab ???? pic.twitter.com/CYqNobHV6p

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 5, 2023

Bae made history April 10, a day after the Pirates lost shortstop Oneil Cruz to a season-ending fractured left ankle. Bae smacked a 2-2 changeup from Houston Astros All-Star closer Ryan Pressly over the Clemente Wall at PNC Park for a three-run, walk-off homer to lift the Pirates to a 7-4 win over the reigning World Series champions. The ending overshadowed an earlier shot by first baseman Ji-Man Choi, as they became the first South Koreans in major league history to homer in the same game.

The Korean call of Ji Hwan Bae's #walkoff is ELECTRIC! pic.twitter.com/lnwe3nT45d

— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 12, 2023

Bae showcased his speed more than his power, recording 11 stolen bases in the first month as the Pirates created chaos on the basepaths on their way to the best record in the National League. Bae’s sprint speed of 29.7 feet per second ranked in the 97th percentile, per Statcast, and his baserunning value was in the 93rd percentile.

Even as the Pirates endured a miserable May, Bae batted .304/.360/.391 with four steals.

“Bae’s a key piece to the puzzle,” designated hitter Andrew McCutchen said. “He’s a guy who can use his speed to get on base, steal bases and make something happen on the basepaths. That was a very important part of the team.”

For as much as Bae might profile as an ideal leadoff hitter because of his speed, his statistics showed the opposite. He batted only .178 and had a .266 on-base percentage in 28 games at the leadoff spot, driving in seven runs and scoring 14. Batting eighth, however, Bae hit .299 with a .354 OBP and drove in 11 runs while scoring 27.

Those numbers are reflections of Bae scuffling against breaking (.191) and offspeed (.208) pitches. He scuffled in June, when he batted .159, and played only one game in July after going on the injured list with a left ankle sprain. While Bae was out, the Pirates took turns playing Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and Jared Triolo at second base.

A natural middle infielder, Bae struggled at times in the infield. He had minus-6 defensive runs saved in 465 1/3 innings at second but was only minus-1 in 336 2/3 innings in center. After being activated from the IL, it was no surprise that he started almost as many games in center (14) as he did at second (17).

“It’s good to see people trust me out there,” Bae said. “That makes me more comfortable. In center, I’ll read faster but I’m more calmed down out there. I’m not chasing the ball like a dog. I think they want to see more speed out there. I can cover more grass out there.”

That could be an indication of the Pirates’ plans for Bae.

The future: Shelton wasn’t shy about his fondness for playing Bae in center, whether it was as a late-inning defensive replacement early in the season or as a starter over the final month-plus.

The Pirates manager prefers multi-positional players, with NL Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes perhaps the rare exception at third base.

“Bae, I think, grew a ton at second base this year,” Shelton said. “Functionally, if you look at some of the games we won this year, we won games because Bae started at second and went to center. That versatility, especially late in games, I think is really important.”

With Bryan Reynolds preferring to play left, Jack Suwinski started 112 games in center last season but registered a minus-10 DRS. That could open the door for Bae to get more playing time in center field next year.

McCutchen, who won a Gold Glove in 2012, believes Bae has all the tools to be an impact center fielder for the Pirates.

“He showed he could do it when he was out there,” McCutchen said. “He’s a bit of a burner out there. He doesn’t know when to turn it on and turn it off. It’s just 100% all the time, but that comes with time, as well. He’s not a natural center fielder. That comes with time. … But he plays good center field. He’s made some fantastic plays out there. He’d be a good center fielder, honestly.”

We're going to extras in Seattle after an incredible, over-the-shoulder catch by Pirates center fielder Ji-Hwan Bae at the warning track, robbing J.P. Crawford of extra bases. Wow. pic.twitter.com/RBE6JGs5MO

— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 28, 2023

Shelton doesn’t disagree. He noted that Bae’s play in center improved as the season progressed, with him making better reads and taking better routes to the ball. Bae’s willingness in attempting to make catches against the wall made a strong impression on Shelton. That can be a serious concern for infielders transitioning to the outfield, but the catch against the Green Monster and another where he crashed into the wall after robbing Seattle’s J.P. Crawford of an extra-base hit in the bottom of the ninth in late May are examples of Bae’s fearless attitude.

“Oh, he can play center,” Shelton said. “I think it’s just gonna be a determining factor of where we feel his value is the greatest. Ultimately, I think we’re gonna probably see that his value is going to be the greatest being able to play multiple positions. In terms of being a center fielder, yeah, he’s not gonna have any issues being out there.”