Ji-hwan Bae (born July 26, 1999) is a South Korean professional baseball center fielder and second baseman currently playing for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). The South Korean national has previously competed in MLB with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he spent four seasons from 2022 to 2025. Bae established himself as a notable international prospect after representing South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup and was projected as a first-round pick in the KBO League draft before pursuing a professional career in the United States. He made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in September 2022 and has accumulated career statistics including a .223 batting average, 2 home runs, and 44 runs batted in through the 2025 season.
Ji-hwan Bae Bio
Bae is a South Korean professional baseball player who has built his career as a versatile infielder and outfielder at the highest levels of the sport. Standing at the center of attention in both the Korean baseball community and American professional baseball circles, Bae has navigated a unique path that includes international competition, minor league development, and major league experience across multiple organizations. His journey from a highly-touted South Korean prospect to an MLB player demonstrates his resilience and adaptability in competitive environments.
Early Life and Background
Bae grew up in Daegu, South Korea, where he attended Kyeongbuk High School and developed his skills as a baseball player during his formative years. As a young athlete in South Korea, Bae immersed himself in the local baseball culture and became a passionate fan of South Korean professional baseball. His interest in Major League Baseball was sparked significantly when fellow South Korea native Shin-Soo Choo joined the Cleveland Indians, opening his eyes to the possibilities available in American baseball.
Inspired by Choo’s journey and subsequent success, Bae began closely following MLB and developed admiration for other South Korean players who had established themselves in the league, including Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Houston Astros star Jose Altuve. These role models provided Bae with a blueprint for how international players could succeed at the highest level of professional baseball. During his final year of high school baseball, Bae demonstrated exceptional hitting ability by appearing in 27 games and producing a remarkable .474 batting average, which earned him the Lee Young-min Batting Award as South Korea’s best high school hitter.
Path to Professional Baseball
Bae represented South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup held in Thunder Bay, Canada, where he competed against the world’s top amateur baseball players. During the international tournament, Bae showcased his talents by hitting for a .286 batting average while driving in 5 runs, scoring 6 runs, drawing 6 walks, and stealing 2 bases. His performance at the World Cup elevated his profile as an international prospect and generated significant interest from Major League Baseball teams.
Following his strong showing at the U-18 World Cup, Bae was projected to be a first-round selection in the 2017 KBO League draft, indicating his status as one of South Korea’s top amateur prospects. However, Bae chose to pursue his professional career directly in the United States rather than entering the KBO draft. His decision to bypass the Korean professional system marked a significant career transition that would set the stage for his future in American baseball.
Ji-hwan Bae Career
Atlanta Braves Organization
On September 23, 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Bae as a free agent, with the deal reportedly worth $300,000. General manager John Coppolella described Bae as the youngest Asian baseball player to sign with the Braves in nearly two decades, highlighting the significance of the acquisition. Had the contract been completed successfully, Bae would have become only 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, the situation took a dramatic turn on November 21, 2017, when Major League Baseball voided Bae’s contract with the Braves due to fraudulent contract negotiations. Investigations revealed that while Bae had agreed to sign for $300,000, the Braves had planned to pay him an additional $600,000 by reallocating money promised to other international prospects. This violated league rules regarding international signing practices. As a consequence of bypassing the KBO draft to join the Braves organization, the KBO League barred Bae from signing with any South Korean professional team for two years. Bae did appear with Atlanta’s Florida Instructional League team during this period while his status remained in limbo.
Pittsburgh Pirates Development
On March 27, 2018, Bae found a new professional home when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him to a contract with a reported signing bonus of $1.25 million. This opportunity allowed Bae to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional baseball in the United States despite the complications with his previous organization. Bae reported to the Pirates’ minor league system and began his development within their player development pipeline.
Bae spent the 2019 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the Low-A South Atlantic League, where he continued to hone his skills against professional competition. During the offseason following that year, Bae maintained his conditioning and baseball skills by playing for Geelong-Korea in the Australian Baseball League. The 2020 season presented unexpected challenges when the minor league baseball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Bae from competing and advancing his development on the field.
The 2021 season marked a significant step forward in Bae’s career when he was assigned to the Altoona Curve in the Double-A Eastern League. At the Double-A level, Bae demonstrated substantial improvement by recording a slash line of .278/.359/.413 with 12 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and 31 runs batted in across 83 games. Following the conclusion of the minor league season, Bae was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas for the Arizona Fall League, where he continued to perform well and was selected to participate in the prestigious Fall Stars Game, further establishing his prospect status within the Pirates organization.
Major League Debut and Pirates Career
Bae spent the majority of the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate in the International League. He appeared in 108 games for Indianapolis and delivered an impressive performance, slashing .289/.362/.430 with 23 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, and 53 runs batted in. These statistics demonstrated Bae’s readiness for major league competition and positioned him for his long-awaited MLB debut.
On September 23, 2022, Bae made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Bae started at second base in the lineup and immediately showed his tools by drawing a walk, hitting a single, and stealing two bases in his debut game. He appeared in 10 total games during his rookie campaign, going 11-for-33 (.333) with 6 runs batted in and 3 stolen bases, providing a glimpse of his potential impact at the major league level.
Bae earned a spot on the Pirates’ 2023 Opening Day roster, indicating the organization’s confidence in his ability to contribute at the highest level. On April 4, 2023, he achieved a career milestone by hitting his first major league home run. Throughout the 2023 season, Bae appeared in 111 games for Pittsburgh, batting .231/.296/.311 with 2 home runs, 32 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases. His stolen base total demonstrated his continued ability to impact games with his speed on the bases.
The 2024 season began with Bae starting in the minor leagues, initially with Low-A Bradenton on rehabilitation assignment while recovering from a muscle strain. The Pirates recalled Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis in May 2024, and he recorded his first MLB hit and RBI of the season on the same day, May 21, 2024. He played in 29 games for the Pirates during the year, slashing .189/.247/.216 with 6 runs batted in and 6 stolen bases.
New York Mets Transition
Bae made the Pirates’ Opening Day roster in 2025, beginning the season with the major league club. However, his time with Pittsburgh took another turn when he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on April 3, 2025. He appeared in only 13 games for the Pirates during the 2025 season, going 1-for-20 (.050) with 4 stolen bases before his stint with the organization concluded.
On November 4, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates placed Bae on waivers, ending his tenure with the organization that had developed him from an international prospect into a major league player. On November 6, 2025, Bae was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, providing him with a fresh opportunity with a new franchise. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets on January 8, 2026, where he will continue his career development while seeking another opportunity at the major league level.
Ji-hwan Bae Career Highlights
Throughout his professional career spanning from 2017 through the 2025 season, Bae has accumulated notable accomplishments at both the international and professional levels. His career path has taken him through multiple organizations and levels of competition, demonstrating his ability to adapt and persist in competitive baseball environments.
Amateur and International Achievements
Bae’s most significant international achievement came at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, Canada, where he represented South Korea as a member of the national team. His performance at the tournament included a .286 batting average along with 5 RBIs, 6 runs scored, 6 walks, and 2 stolen bases. Prior to the World Cup, Bae distinguished himself as South Korea’s top high school hitter by winning the Lee Young-min Batting Award during his final season at Kyeongbuk High School in Daegu, where he hit .474 in 27 games.
Professional Statistics
Through the completion of the 2025 MLB season, Bae has accumulated career major league statistics of a .223 batting average, 2 home runs, and 44 runs batted in across his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His career also includes a notable stolen base ability, with 37 career steals at the major league level. In the minor leagues, Bae demonstrated strong offensive capabilities, including a standout 2022 season at Triple-A Indianapolis where he hit .289 with 8 home runs and 53 RBIs in 108 games.
Ji-hwan Bae Personal Life
Background and Influences
Bae was born in July 1999 in South Korea and grew up in Daegu while attending Kyeongbuk High School. His upbringing in South Korea’s baseball-rich culture shaped his early passion for the sport and influenced his career trajectory toward professional baseball. The success of South Korean players in Major League Baseball served as inspiration for Bae’s own ambitions, particularly after observing Shin-Soo Choo’s career with the Cleveland Indians.
Professional Conduct
In May 2018, allegations emerged regarding an incident involving Bae that occurred on New Year’s Eve in 2017, when he was 18 years old. In October 2018, Bae was convicted of assault in a court in Daegu and required to pay a fine of 2 million won. Following an investigation, Major League Baseball suspended Bae without pay for 30 games in April 2019 due to the incident. Bae has continued his professional baseball career while navigating the consequences of this conduct.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Bae with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. After beginning the season on the major league roster, Bae was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in early April following limited playing time with the big club. His performance during his brief major league appearances showed struggles at the plate, going 1-for-20 in 13 games, though he did contribute 4 stolen bases.
The Pirates’ decision to place Bae on waivers in November 2025 marked the end of his four-season tenure with the organization. Throughout his time with Pittsburgh, Bae appeared in 153 major league games across parts of four seasons, demonstrating his ability to contribute as a contact-oriented player with speed. His claim by the New York Mets in November 2025 provides Bae with an opportunity for a fresh start within a new franchise as he continues his professional career at the Triple-A level with Syracuse while working toward earning another major league opportunity.