Pirates recall INF/OF Ji Hwan Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis

Bae made the Opening Day roster before being demoted one week into the 2025 season with the Pirates.

Don Kelly has made his first move as Pittsburgh Pirates manager.

The Pirates announced on Friday that INF/OF Ji Hwan Bae is returning to the Pirates before the Atlanta Braves series. Multiple reports stated Bae has a locker at PNC Park and was set to return to the team. The Pirates placed first baseman Enmanuel Valdez on the 10-day IL to clear room on the roster.

Bae, 25, played two games for the Pirates without recording a hit in four at-bats before being sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this season. He made the Opening Day roster but struck out three times and hasn’t reached base.

In 23 games at Triple-A, Bae totaled a 2:1 strikeout (22) to walk (11) ratio along with a .258 average and .719 OPS. Bae compiled eight doubles, one home run, and six RBIs through 23 games (93 at-bats) in the minors.

Defensively, Bae played 14 games in center, 12 in right, and seven in left field, not making an error over 193 innings.

Bae is a career .301 hitter in the minors and recorded a .342 average through 66 games in Indy last year, but a .229 batter in the big leagues.

Lacking consistent power and more of a gap-to-gap hitter with good speed and quickness, Bae owns 22 doubles, two triples, and two career homers in 152 games with the Pirates. He’s stolen 33 bases in four seasons but struggled on the base paths during previous spots in Derek Shelton’s tenure.

Bae has experience playing second, shortstop, center field, and both corner outfield spots in the majors.

The Pirates host the Braves at PNC Park for the first of a three-game series beginning at 6:40 p.m. on Friday. Bailey Falter starts for the Pirates with the team 12-26 this season.