Only ‘3.65 seconds’ to first base. Bae Ji-hwan (24, Pittsburgh Pirates), who boasts explosive speed, was selected as the ‘All-Speed Prospect’.
On the 13th (Korean time), the MLB.com, the official homepage 바카라사이트 of Major League Baseball, formed an ‘All Speed Team’ by gathering promising players with outstanding main power for each position. Bae Ji-hwan was named in the second baseman category in this list, which considered both speed and prospects, and his potential was recognized.
Bae Ji-hwan showed off his mobility from his minor league days. He stole 91 bases in 314 minor league games and stole 30 bases in 108 games at Triple-A last year.
Even after being called up to the major leagues, his quick feet were his strength. In particular, in the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 1 of last year, after attempting a surprise bunt in the 4th inning, he quickly reached first base and hit an infield hit.
At this time, it took only ‘3.65 seconds’ to reach first base. It was the fastest number in the big leagues since the 2019 season when ‘Statcast’ and related records began to be tallied. In the ‘Sprint Speed’, where speed peaked, it stood out by recording the top 17%.
‘Rumbentor’, which delivers news from Pittsburgh on Fanside, also showed expectations for Bae Ji-hwan. Celebrating the New Year, Pittsburgh’s key point was the running base, and said, “Last season, Pittsburgh showed an above-average base running ability despite terrible offense. Fast-footed players such as Kevin Newman have left, but O’Neill Cruise and Bae Ji-hwan will help replace them,” he noted Bae Ji-hwan’s speed.
Bae Ji-hwan was called up to the big leagues at the end of the season and recorded a batting average of 0.333 (11 hits in 33 at-bats), 6 RBIs, 3 steals, and an OPS of 0.829 in 10 games. Although his sample was small, he recorded 4 multi-hits and attracted a lot of attention as he swung the ground all over the place with his outstanding speed and running ability.
Based on the possibility he proved last year, I am already looking forward to what kind of performance Bae Ji-hwan will show in the 2023 season.