Ji-Hwan Bae Could Open Season As Pirates' Fourth Outfielder
10 months agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Ji-Hwan Bae is likely to open the 2024 season on the bench, according to Jake Crouse of MLB.com. It's still unclear who will start the year as the Pirates' second baseman, and while Crouse acknowledges that Bae is in the mix, he also writes that it's "unlikely Bae will get the majority of the reps, as his bat doesn't have much staying power." In fact, second base might not even be his main position. Crouse expects that the 24-year-old, who made 64 appearances at second base and 62 in the outfield last season, will start this year as the Pirates' fourth outfielder. After posting a 66 wRC+ and .081 ISO last year, it's safe to say that Bae has some work to do before he can be trusted as an everyday player once again.
Source: Jake Crouse
Source: Jake Crouse