Ji Hwan Bae Bio
Ji Hwan Bae, born July 26, 1999, is a South Korean professional baseball center fielder and second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates and signed his first professional contract in 2017, the same year he was selected to represent South Korea at the international level. Bae made his major league debut in 2022 and has been recognized as one of the few South Korean high school players to move directly into the American professional ranks.
Early Life and Background
Born in July 1999, Ji Hwan Bae grew up in South Korea and attended Kyeongbuk High School in Daegu, where he developed into one of the country’s most highly regarded young hitters. As a child, he followed South Korean professional baseball closely, and his interest in Major League Baseball grew when fellow South Korean player Shin-Soo Choo joined the Cleveland Indians. Bae went on to admire pitchers Hyun-jin Ryu and Jung-ho Kang, as well as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, all of whom helped shape his view of the game at the highest level.
Path to Baseball
During his final high school season, Ji Hwan Bae appeared in 27 games and hit .474, performances that earned him the Lee Young-min Batting Award as South Korea’s best hitter at the high school level. He was projected as a first round pick in the 2017 KBO League draft and was selected to represent South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup, where he batted .286 with five runs batted in, six runs scored, six walks, and two stolen bases. These results attracted attention from Major League Baseball clubs and set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks in the United States.
Ji Hwan Bae Career
Atlanta Braves (2017)
On September 23, 2017, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Ji Hwan Bae as a free agent, with general manager John Coppolella describing him as the youngest Asian baseball player to sign with the Braves in nearly two decades. Had the contract held, Bae would have become only the second South Korean high school player, after Kwon Kwang-min in 2015, to leave a Korean high school directly for professional baseball in the United States. On November 21, 2017, however, Major League Baseball voided the contract following an investigation into fraudulent contract negotiations. The New York Times reported that, although Bae had agreed to sign for $300,000, the Braves intended to pay him an additional $600,000 by reallocating money promised to other signees.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2018–2025)
On March 27, 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Ji Hwan Bae for a reported signing bonus of $1.25 million. He spent his first professional season in 2019 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers and later played for Geelong-Korea in the Australian Baseball League during the offseason. Bae did not appear in a game in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bae opened 2021 with the Altoona Curve of Double-A, where he posted a slash line of .278/.359/.413 with 12 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and 31 runs batted in across 83 games. After the minor league season ended, he was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League and was selected to the Fall Stars Game. He spent most of 2022 with the Indianapolis Indians, batting .289/.362/.430 with 23 doubles, six triples, eight home runs, and 53 runs batted in over 108 games.
On September 23, 2022, Ji Hwan Bae made his major league debut, starting at second base for the Pirates against the Chicago Cubs. He drew a walk, recorded a single, and stole two bases in the contest, and he finished his rookie campaign with a .333 batting average, six runs batted in, and three stolen bases across 10 appearances. He earned a place on Pittsburgh’s 2023 Opening Day roster and hit his first major league home run on April 4, 2023, finishing that season with a .231/.296/.311 line, two home runs, 32 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases in 111 games.
New York Mets (2025–Present)
After a 2024 season in which a muscle strain sent him to a rehabilitation assignment with Low-A Bradenton before the Pirates recalled him in May, Ji Hwan Bae returned to action in limited fashion. He made the Pittsburgh Opening Day roster in 2025 but was optioned to Indianapolis on April 3, 2025, and played in only 13 games for the Pirates that year, going 1-for-20 with four stolen bases. On November 4, 2025, Pittsburgh placed him on waivers, and two days later, on November 6, 2025, the New York Mets claimed him, beginning a new chapter in his major league career.
Ji Hwan Bae Personal Life
Ji Hwan Bae’s early years were shaped by South Korean professional baseball and a growing enthusiasm for Major League Baseball sparked by Shin-Soo Choo’s arrival in Cleveland. His admiration for players like Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Jose Altuve also helped guide his development as a young fan and aspiring professional.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transition year for Ji Hwan Bae. After breaking camp with the Pirates’ Opening Day roster, he was optioned to Indianapolis on April 3 and appeared in only 13 major league games for Pittsburgh, finishing 1-for-20 with four stolen bases. The limited major league action reflected a season shaped by roster moves and limited opportunities at the highest level.
On November 4, 2025, the Pirates placed Bae on waivers, and on November 6, 2025, the New York Mets claimed him, signaling a fresh start in a new organization. The change of scenery offered a renewed platform to compete for a major league role heading into 2026, with his speed and defensive versatility at second base and center field remaining his clearest paths to a regular spot in the Mets’ plans.