When will Pittsburgh’s Bae Ji-hwan return? The wait will not be long.
In an away game against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Triple-A) at Werner Park in Papillion, Nebraska on the 26th (Korea time), Bae Ji-hwan started as a second baseman and recorded two hits (one homer) and one run and three strikeouts from five times at bat. He recorded a batting average of 0.378. In an away game against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Triple-A) at Werner Park, he started as a second baseman and recorded two hits (one homer) and one run, one RBI and three strikeouts from five times at bat. His batting average for this season was 0.378.
In the first inning, he hit a left-handed leadoff home run against right-hander Luis Cessa.
In the 3-1 count, he hit a four-seam fastball at 90.8 mph for the fifth pitch without missing a beat. He hit the ball at an angle of 23 degrees, 99.1 mph, and a distance of 352 feet.
It was Bae’s second home run of the season.
In the second at-bat in the third inning, he got on base with a hit to the right, but was out at second base when the next batter Nick Gonzalez grounded out to third.
Since then, he has struck out in all three at-bats, leaving traces of regret.
The team lost 4-5. Matt Gorsky’s triple in the top of the ninth inning and a shortstop defensive error from Dustin Peterson’s at-bat gave the team a 4-2 lead, but allowed a turnaround in the bottom of the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, CJ Alexander hit a timely RBI single, allowing Devin Mann to make a sacrifice fly to tie the game 4-4. Then, with two outs and second base in the second inning, shortstop Reover Peguero’s defense continued when Tyler Gentry hit an infield single. An error added to the base, and the game ended like that.
Nick Gonzalez, who continues to hit hard in Triple-A with Bae Ji-hwan, was silent with no hits in four at-bats and one strikeout.
Rehabilitating catcher Yasmani Grandal also went 0 for 4.
