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Player Outlook
Ji-Hwan Bae began the 2023 season as a regular in the Pirates' lineup by serving in a strong-side platoon role, albeit split between second base and center field. Even after missing one and a half months with an ankle injury, Bae ended the season with 24 stolen bases - a useful haul even in the new offensive environment in which steals are more prevalent. From there, however, there's little positive to point to. Bae posted just a .081 ISO and had a putrid barrel rate of 2.0 percent and an average launch angle of 1.1 degrees. It would still be possible to salvage that profile with strong plate discipline, yet Bae struck out at nearly a 25 percent clip which to a .296 on-base percentage. Not a strong defensive second baseman (-6 DRS), Bae's future role in Pittsburgh is unclear heading into 2024 as he'll be competing with Liover Peguero, Nick Gonzales and Jack Suwinski for playing time, all of whom are almost certain to prioritized ahead of him. For fantasy purposes, he's best suited as a streaming option for stolen bases in most formats.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
r
Runs
hr
Home Runs
rbi
Runs Batted In
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
sb
Stolen Bases
avg
Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 2151.9 54 2 32 30 24 .231
2022 323.2 5 6 2 3 .333
3y Avg. 125.52.1 30 1 19 16 14 .239
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Fantasy News

  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Able to do full activities

    Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Bae (hip) is now able to go through full baseball activities, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bae looks to be fully recovered from the left hip flexor injury which has plagued him since early March. He will begin the season on the injured list as he continues ramping things back up, but the utility player shouldn't be out long.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Opening season on IL

    Bae (hip) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports. Bae has dealt with a left hip flexor injury for the last few weeks and is just beginning his running progression this week. It's not clear how long his stint on the IL might last. He's likely in line for a utility role once healthy.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Running progression next week

    Bae (hip) will begin a running progression next week, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bae has been doing all other baseball activities, but the running progression will be key as he comes back from a left hip flexor injury. A stint on the injured list would appear assured for the 24-year-old, with a clearer timetable available once he ramps up his running.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Battling hip issue

    Bae hasn't appeared in a spring training game since March 5 due to a hip injury, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bae is expected to serve as a versatile bench bat due to his ability to play along both the infield and in the outfield. Manager Derek Shelton didn't provide any further detail regarding the injury or a timeline for Bae's return. If he's forced to miss any regular season action, Joshua Palacios (illness) and Nick Gonzales could earn a roster spot.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Likely headed for bench role

    Bae is likely to begin the 2024 season as the Pirates' fourth outfielder, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports. Bae started 92 games for the Pirates in 2023, 56 of which came at second base and 33 in center field. His results were subpar, as he measured out as a well below average defender at second base while posting just a 66 wRC+ across 371 plate appearances. As a result, he's likely to begin the new campaign in a reserve outfield role, with Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and Jared Triolo vying for at-bats at second base.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Sitting Friday

    Bae isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against the Marlins, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bae has gone 5-for-20 with four RBI and three runs scored across his last five games, and he'll get a breather to open Pittsburgh's final series of 2023. Jared Triolo will start at second base instead while Connor Joe gets the nod at first base.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Absent from lineup

    Bae is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Philadelphia. He'll take a seat as the Phillies send southpaw Ranger Suarez to the hill. Nick Gonzales will man second base for the Pirates, and Jack Suwinski will patrol center field.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Not in Sunday's lineup

    Bae is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bae went 4-for-11 with a double, a triple, a stolen base, four RBI and three runs while starting the previous three games, but he'll step out of the lineup Sunday. Jared Triolo will man the keystone in the series finale.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Heads to bench Wednesday

    Bae is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs. Jared Triolo will start at second base and bat sixth as Jack Suwinski covers center field and hits fifth. Bae went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's blowout loss to Chicago and is slashing just .236/.300/.314 across 343 total plate appearances this year for Pittsburgh.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Out of Sunday's lineup

    Bae is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. Bae started the previous 12 games and will receive Sunday off after he posted a .217/.265/.326 slash line during that span. Liover Peguero will shift to the keystone while Alika Williams starts at shortstop against New York lefty Carlos Rodon.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Takes seat versus lefty

    Bae is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Bae will be one of several left-handed hitting Pirates who will hit the bench Sunday while the Cardinals bring southpaw Zack Thompson to the hill. With Bae sitting out, Vinny Capra will draw a start at second base and Jack Suwinski will man center field.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Idle against southpaw

    Bae isn't in the Pirates' lineup Saturday against the Cubs, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Lefty Jordan Wicks will start on the mound for his major-league debut Saturday, forcing the left-handed bat of Bae into the dugout. Liover Peguero will man second base in Bae's absence and bat seventh.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Swipes 21st bag

    Bae went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base Thursday against the Cubs. Bae has been a near everyday player since he was activated from the injured list Aug. 18. He now has five hits across 21 at-bats since his return, with Thursday's performance also marking his first stolen base in that span. Bae's usage of late suggests he'll have a chance to lead off against righties, and he also remains in the lineup against southpaws while playing either second base or center field.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Takes seat Monday

    Bae is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bae returned Friday from an extended stint on the injured list Friday and enjoyed a productive weekend in the Pirates' series with Minnesota. He started and served as the Bucs' leadoff hitter in all three contests, going 3-for-11 with two doubles, three walks, two runs and one RBI. Though he'll hit the bench Monday, Bae should have a relatively clear path to playing time at either second base or in center field for the rest of the season so long as health prevails.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: On base three times in return

    Bae went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk in Friday's loss to the Twins. Bae (ankle) returned to the lineup for the first time since July 1 and provided two hits for the punchless Bucs. When healthy, Bae has been a good source of speed with 20 steals. However, a slash line of .243/.307/.317 highlights the 24-year-old utility player's offensive limitations.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Returns from IL

    The Pirates reinstated Bae (ankle) from the injured list Friday. Bae landed on the injured list with a left ankle injury in early July and will now return to the Pirates' lineup after missing a month and a half. The 24-year-old was able to get his bat going during his assignment, going 9-for-32 with a home run over nine games with Triple-A Indianapolis. However, with a .609 OPS in the majors this season, there's no guarantee Bae's hot streak carries over into the bigs. Jared Triolo was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Begins rehab assignment

    Bae (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. Bae has been on the shelf since July 2 and is now set to begin the final stage of his recovery process. The Pirates haven't specified how long they will keep Bae on assignment, but he figures to be ready to return during Pittsburgh's weekend series with the Brewers.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Will need rehab assignment

    Bae (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment by late July, MLB.com reports. Bae has been on the injured list since July 2 and has recently resumed taking ground balls and playing catch. He'll need a rehab assignment, which is expected to begin July 28 when the Pirates return from a road trip on the West Coast.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Sitting Friday

    Bae isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against the Brewers The utility player is 0-for-25 across his last 10 games, forcing him to the bench against right-hander Freddy Peralta. In Bae's absence, Nick Gonzales will slide over to second base, and Tucupita Marcano will get the nod at shortstop.
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  • Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Back in lineup Thursday

    Bae will start at second base and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Padres. Bae was on the bench for two of the Pirates' last four games and is slashing a miserable .150/.232/.167 thus far in June, putting his status as an everyday player on notice. If there's a saving grace for Bae, it's that fellow middle infielder Tucupita Marcano has performed similarly poor in June (.493 OPS), which has resulted in recent call-up Nick Gonzales entering the lineup in place of Marcano for three straight games. Even if Marcano is the odd man out of the three for the time being, Bae could eventually lose reps to Rodolfo Castro at the keystone if another recent call-up in Jared Triolo ends up serving as the primary replacement at third base for the injured Ke'Bryan Hayes (back).
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