South Korean utility player Bae Ji-hwan made a significant impact in his return to Major League Baseball (MLB), helping the Pittsburgh Pirates secure a thrilling 7-6 victory in his first MLB match of the year. Bae, who was called up from the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians, prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants, played a pivotal role as the Pirates fought back for the win.
Starting as the center fielder and batting ninth in the lineup, Bae showcased his skills by delivering a crucial hit and a walk in three at-bats, tallying one RBI, scoring two runs, and stealing one base. His standout moment came in the bottom of the 9th inning with the bases loaded and the Pirates trailing 6-4. Facing Giants’ closing pitcher Camilo Doval, who was pitching at 99 miles per hour, Bae smashed a right-field hit, driving in the third base runner and igniting a late-game rally. With two outs in the inning, Bae crossed home plate to tie the game at 6-6, setting the stage for the Pirates’ eventual victory.
Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales, who secured the win with a walk-off hit, credited Bae and his teammates for their contributions to the victory. Both Gonzales and Bae had played together in the Triple-A team earlier in the season.
Bae’s return to the MLB comes after he played 111 games last year but started this season in Single-A due to a left hip flexor injury. During his time with the Indianapolis Indians, Bae excelled with a batting average of .367, four home runs, 15 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 27 games, leading the International League in batting average before his return to the MLB.
