By Yoon Seo Park = After spending the first half of the season on the disabled list with an ankle injury, Bae Ji-hwan, 24, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is getting ready to return. However, it is unlikely that his return will be immediate.
Bae felt pain in his left ankle during a home game against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 2. The next day, Bae was diagnosed with a left ankle sprain and placed on the 10-day disabled list. This is the first time Bae has been placed on the disabled list since making his big league debut last September.
This year, Bae made the major league opening day roster for the first time and has been playing a full season. He has shown off a variety of strengths, including quick feet, excellent range, energetic defense, and utility skills.
In the first half of the year, he played in 76 games, hitting two home runs, 19 RBI, 20 doubles, 37 runs scored, and a .609 OPS. He was first on the team in stolen bases and fifth in runs scored.바카라사이트
However, his hitting pace has taken a distinct downturn recently. In his last 15 games, Bae is batting just .083 (3-for-36) with one home run, one RBI, five walks and five runs scored.
Pittsburgh plays its first game of the second half at home against the San Francisco Giants on April 15, but it’s unclear if Bae will play.
“Bae will be re-evaluated on the 14th to see if he can play again,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Dec. 12. “He could return this weekend against San Francisco, but a return doesn’t appear imminent.”