No. 1 batting average in the team + defense utility, Bae Ji-hwan will hit career high in the exhibition game and head to Miami
Mar 26, 2025
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG), Pittsburgh's largest media outlet in the Pittsburgh region, confirmed 11 of the 13 fielders on the 25th, while the other two positions will go to Jack Swinsky and Bae Ji-hwan. Both players are outfielders,' the report said.
Pittsburgh wrapped up its exhibition game schedule after the Minnesota Twins match at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. Bae Ji-hwan started as the ninth center fielder and did not give a big impression as he had no hits and one walk in two at-bats. However, he seems to have gained trust from the coaching staff by displaying stable batting throughout the exhibition game.
Bae Ji-hwan marked a batting average of 0.381 (16 hits in 42 at-bats), one home run, four RBIs, 13 points, three walks, nine strikeouts, three steals, an on-base percentage of 0.422 and a slugging percentage of 0.595 and an OPS of 1.017 in 20 spring training games.
He ranks first in batting average, hits, and runs scored in his team. It is difficult to give much meaning to the exhibition game record itself, but Bae Ji-hwan has achieved his best batting performance since participating in the Major League exhibition game in 2018. He hit his first career home run in the exhibition game, and all categories, including hits, RBIs and runs, hit a career high.
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There were more opinions that Swinsky, who competed, would form the opening roster. However, Shelton decided to give both players a chance. He seems to have decided that it is difficult to send him, who has improved his offense and is versatile in defense, to the minor leagues and leave him unattended.
Bae Ji-hwan's upgraded batting to the extent that he is considered a career high in this exhibition game is shown in the strikeout rate. He entered 45 at-bats, walked four, and struck out only nine times. The strikeout rate is 20.0 percent. The figure is significantly lower than 24.9 percent in 2023 and 29.6 percent last year based on the regular season.
Bae Ji-hwan has been criticized for striking out many fast-footed batters. It is said that there were many cases where the bat was put out to the manned port.
In addition, Bae Ji-hwan is relatively strong against left-handed pitchers even though he is a left-handed batter. Bae Ji-hwan's batting average against left-handed pitchers is 0.246 and Swinsky's 0.173. In the case of Bae Ji-hwan, the overall batting average against right-handed pitchers is 0.226, which is stronger than that of left-handed pitchers.
Pittsburgh will start its 162-game road trip against the Miami Marlins at Rondipo Park on the 28th.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
