Pittsburgh Pirates top ten prospects for 2020
By David Hill
6. Ji-Hwan Bae
Minors (A): 380 plate appearances, .323/.403/.430, 25 doubles, 31 steals, 43 walks, 77 strikeouts
In theory, Ji-Hwan Bae never should have been a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He had originally signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent, earning a $300,000 bonus. However, Bae was one of the 13 prospects set free by MLB as part of the Braves punishment for international signing violations. With the Pirates having extra money in their pool, they were able to sign Bae for a $1.2 million bonus before he had even played a game stateside.
The Braves loss has been the Pirates gain. While Bae is never going to be a power threat, he does have excellent hand-eye coordination and an excellent ability to make contact. Those contact skills will occasionally make Bae expand the zone, so he does need to work on his batting eye and learn how to work a count. Once he does, his tremendous speed can become even more of an asset, which also allows him to cover ground well at second and short.
If Bae can refine his approach at the plate, he has the makings of a solid leadoff hitter. Chances are, his future will be at second base, especially with Oneil Cruz and Cole Tucker in the organization, but he part of a dynamic double play combo in a few years.
Ji-Hwan Bae is a player to watch in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. As he continues to develop, he has the chance to be their leadoff hitter for years to come.