The Pittsburgh Pirates’ standout player has been recruited for a new contract.
According to an announcement from the team, right-handed pitcher Ryder Ryan has been sent down to AAA Indianapolis, while infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae has been brought back up. Ryan had a 3.46 ERA in 11 games with 13.0 innings pitched. Bae played 111 games with the major league club in 2023, hitting .231/.296/.311 with 24 stolen bases and was caught stealing nine times, playing at both second base and center field. In AAA Indianapolis this season, Bae had impressive stats, hitting .367/.479/.551 in 122 plate appearances with 7 stolen bases.
The move appears puzzling to some observers, as they question why an extra position player was added while leaving the bullpen short-handed instead of sending down or designating for assignment any of the four position players with OPS below .600, including Rowdy Tellez at .483. It’s unclear if this move will become clearer in the near future, but it’s speculated that the team might not operate with a short bullpen for long. Manager Derek Shelton has confirmed that Bae will be in the lineup for the night’s game, although his specific position is yet to be determined.
