Or Mo! Bae Ji-hwan (26, Pittsburgh) will enter the final entry for the opening of the entry, and will start the exhibition game against Minnesota

Mar 25, 2025

피츠버그 SNS캡쳐

'If it's not anyway, Mo, you have to pour out all your energy.'

The last day of the College Scholastic Ability Test is here. The fate of Bae Ji-hwan (26) is at stake. It is a test stage that determines whether or not the Pittsburgh Pirates will make the opening entry of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 2025 season.

There is only one seat left anyway. Fighting Zach Swinsky for a spot in the backup outfield. Go in or not. Whether the 2025 season starts as a major leaguer or a minor leaguer is decided. Swinsky is rated slightly better in the previous 'Mock Test'. In fact, Bae Ji-hwan did better on the mock test. However, Swinsky is getting better reviews in 'Expression'. Given his previous major league career and the role he needs on his current team, local media and MLB.COM expected Swinsky to join the opening entry as a backup outfielder.

However, it is not a decision made by the Pittsburgh coaching staff. It's just an outside view. It's still worth the game. Because the last stage is left.

Bae Ji-hwan was listed on the starting list for the game against the Minnesota Twins, the final game of the 2025 Major League exhibition game at Fort Myers Lee Health Sports Complex in Florida on the 25th (Korea time). Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton gave Bae Ji-hwan the last chance to prove his ability.

It's the way it's used as expected. Coach Shelton is alternately starting Swinsky and Bae Ji-hwan at the end of the exhibition game. Players who are not starting are put in as pinch-hitters in the second half of the game.

Swinsky came out as the eighth center fielder against Boston on the 22nd, and Bae Ji-hwan started as the first left fielder against Baltimore on the 23rd. Swinsky then started in center field at No. 5 against Toronto on the 24th. This time, it is Bae Ji-hwan's turn to start.

Bae Ji-hwan was listed in the lineup as No. 9 center fielder. Left field and right field are Tommy Pham and Brian Reynold, respectively. Both are unwavering main outfielders and the team's first and second table setters. Bae Ji-hwan, who boasts a strong batting ability and speed in the exhibition game, is deployed in No. 9, which is expected to create synergy in the speedup of the batters.

Coach Shelton is expected to expect two things from Bae Ji-hwan through this game. One is Bae's defensive stability. Bae Ji-hwan has already shown impressive batting performance during this exhibition game. He played in 19 previous games and hit a batting average of 0.400 (16 hits in 40 at-bats). He has the most hits and most doubles in the team. The OPS is also 1.054.

Therefore, it seems that the defensive side will be examined more closely in the final exhibition game. As a centerline outfielder, the central axis of defense, he is likely to look at the range of defense, the stability of the port and the throwing ability (accuracy, speed), and use it as an indicator to determine whether he deserves to be left as a backup outfielder.

The second is the consistency of hitting. He hit a batting average of around 400 in the exhibition game, and it is necessary to determine whether this figure can be consistently maintained in major league games. Even in the KBO League, it is common for players who were swinging hard in exhibition games to be silent in the regular league. The same goes for Major League Baseball exhibition games.

In particular, many minor league pitchers seeking to enter the Major League will take the mound in exhibition games. Therefore, there are many hitters who emit more firepower than expected. It is necessary to examine whether Bae Ji-hwan is also temporarily good at this trend.

Pittsburgh Pirates Bae Ji-hwan is striking out swinging as the leadoff hitter in the top of the ninth inning in an exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 24th (Korea time). Photo = MLB.TV Capture

In that sense, the match against Minnesota is a good exhibition stage. In the final round of the exhibition game, the second and third round of the starting rotation usually appear. Minnesota also predicted a right-hander Bailey over. He was a full-time starter last season and recorded 12 wins and 9 losses with a 3.98 ERA. During this exhibition game, he also pitched in four games, winning two games and losing with a 1.59 ERA.

It may be a bit overwhelming opponent for Bae Ji-hwan. However, on the contrary, if Bae Ji-hwan does not feel discouraged against such a pitcher and draws a hit with his own swing, he can capture Shelton's heart at once. Crisis is an opportunity. In the end, he must consistently play well in the final exhibition game.

Jack Swinsky is competing with Bae Ji-hwan for outfield backup. AP Yonhap News

Swinsky, who is competing for outfield backup with Bae Ji-hwan, waits on the bench for now. There is a possibility of substitution after the middle of the game. This can lead to a starker contrast. Attention is focusing on whether Bae Ji-hwan will be the final winner of the final match in which one of the two will be eliminated.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.