Ji-hwan Bae Looks to Continue Second-Half Trend

Ji-hwan Bae has made a strong first impression in Triple-A, during the typically colder months.

Bae has a .287/.367/.466 line in 199 plate appearances heading into this week, with five homers and 11 stolen bases.

There is some potentially better news for the Pirates prospect.

“I am really more comfortable in the second half than the first half,” Bae said. “My eyes get used to the pitchers and everything like that. I really like the second half.”

With the end of June marking the completion of the first half of the season, Bae expects to continue his strong debut season at Minor League Baseball’s top level.

In 2019, the stats back Bae’s observation. His OPS increased each month from July to August to September. The 2018 season was just short season for Bae. Then, 2021 was a bit of an outlier, due to missing some time with an injury. However, a vast majority of his extra-base hits did come after July.

The injury is actually in the forefront of Bae’s season goals he expressed at the beginning of the campaign.

“I missed six weeks last year because I had an injury on my left knee,” Bae said. “The first [goal] is to stay healthy. I want to get through the whole season.”

His second goal was to hit more home runs. Bae hit a career high eight in 86 games last season. He is on pace to eclipse that in 2022, already possessing five long balls. Bae also has 10 doubles and three triples through 47 games.

Much of the success in hitting the ball hard this season, comes from carrying over his approach and confidence from 2021 and the Arizona Fall League.

“I haven’t really changed my approach against last year and the Fall League,” Bae said. “I just think about hitting a line drive and doing whatever I can do. I am trying to not do too much and that helps.”

Finally, Bae is not just succeeding with the pitches he offers at. He is also trying to be more efficient with the ones that he does not as well.

“I am trying to get more walks and get on base,” Bae said. “I am trying swing at the good pitches to hit. I really focused in Spring Training to make a zone, especially going higher level, really helped me.”

With this approach, Bae is just south of a .500 OBP. Along with the solid defense and increased power, Bae is making a push to be in the middle infield mix of the future.