Bae was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.comreports.
Bae started three of Pittsburgh's previous four games, but he's mired in a 3-for-23 slump and will return to the minors. Oneil Cruz is making the transition to center field, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa is poised to serve as the club's primary shortstop for the rest of the season.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Taking seat against righty
Rotowire
Bae is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Though a right-hander (Nick Martinez) is on the hill for the Reds, the lefty-hitting Bae will head to the bench for the series finale. Michael Taylor will step in as the Pirates' center fielder in place of Bae, who still looks to be the Pirates' preferred option at the position after starting in each of the team's previous five matchups with righties.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Bae is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
The lefty-hitting Bae will hit the bench for the second day in a row while the Rangers send another southpaw (Andrew Heaney) to the hill, but the 25-year-old might have temporarily recaptured a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching. He started in each of the Pirates' last three matchups with righties, going 2-for-11 with three strikeouts. Billy McKinney looks to be Bae's main threat for playing time in right field with Bryan De La Cruz and Bryan Reynolds likely to see more starts at designated hitter in the short term while Andrew McCutchen (knee) is on the injured list.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Playing time trending down
Rotowire
Bae is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Bae will hit the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Rowdy Tellez and Oneil Cruz while the Padres send southpaw Martin Perez to the hill for the series finale. Whereas Tellez and Cruz appear fairly well locked into playing time against right-handed pitching, Bae was on the bench for three of the Pirates' last five matchups with right-handers, as Michael Taylor started in center field in each of those contests.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Swipes bag in loss
Rotowire
Bae went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers.
Bae was productive in his return to the starting lineup after being on the bench the previous two games. He doubled his first time up and came around to score on an Andrew McCutchen home run. Bae then notched a base hit in the fifth and stole second but was left stranded. Though it's a smaller sample size, Sunday was just his second multi-hit game of the year, and the double was only his second extra-base hit. For the year, Bae is slashing .216/.281/.255 with four RBI, 10 runs, five steals and a 5:16 BB:K in 57 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Idle again
Rotowire
Bae is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.
Bae will be on the bench for a second consecutive game, giving way to Michael Taylor in center field again Saturday. Considering the Dodgers have started right-handed pitchers in both contests, the lefty-hitting Bae could be losing playing time.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Still sitting Friday
Rotowire
Bae (knee) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Bae departed Monday's contest against the Astros due to left knee discomfort, and he'll sit for a third straight game coming off Thursday's team off day. Michael Taylor will receive another start in center field for the Buccos.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Bae (knee) isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Astros.
Left knee discomfort forced Bae out of Monday's game, and the injury will now cause him to miss his second consecutive start Wednesday. As a result, Michael Taylor will pick up another start in center field and bat ninth.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Leaves early Monday
Rotowire
Bae left Monday's contest against the Astros early with left knee discomfort.
Bae was forced to the leave the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after appearing to tweak something in his left knee while trying to leg out a bunt in the top of the frame. He finished his day 0-for-2 at the plate and more information on his status moving forward will likely be provided in the near future.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Swipes bag Sunday
Rotowire
Bae went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks.
Bae got a second consecutive start since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday and swiped his third bag of the season after getting walked in the fifth. He likely won't be up with the big club for much longer with Bryan Reynolds (back) set to return from the bereavement list any day now. Bae now has six base hits, three RBI, six runs, three steals and a 3:9 BB:K in 34 plate appearances with the Pirates this year.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Bae (wrist) participated in live batting practice Monday, MLB.com reports.
Bae has also resumed defensive work. Manager Derek Shelton indicated that Bae is close to beginning a rehab assignment, meaning he should be activated from the injured list prior to the end of June, barring any setbacks.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Out multiple weeks
Rotowire
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Friday that Bae (wrist) won't grip a bat for 10 to 14 days, MLB.com reports.
Bae landed on the injured list Tuesday with a right wrist sprain and won't be ready to return after the minimum 10 days. His ongoing absence should allow Jack Suwinski to hold down the strong side of a platoon in center field for the foreseeable future.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Bae was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a sprained right wrist, Alex Stumpf of MLB.comreports.
Bae presumably suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, during which he went 1-for-5 with a strikeout. It's unclear how long the 24-year-old will be sidelined, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the active roster June 13. Jack Suwinski was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move and should see regular playing time going forward, especially since outfielder Michael Taylor was also placed on the paternity list Tuesday.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Out against lefty
Rotowire
Bae is out of the lineup Sunday against Atlanta.
The lefty-hitting Bae will retreat to the bench against southpaw Chris Sale as the Pirates look for a series sweep against Atlanta. Michael Taylor will start at center field and bat eighth, but Bae appears to have moved into the strong side of a platoon with the veteran.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Takes seat against LHP
Rotowire
Bae is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Bae will defer to Michael Taylor in center field Friday with lefty Ray Kerr on the mound for Atlanta. The duo have worked in a platoon since Bae's promotion Tuesday, with Bae landing on the strong side.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: May poach playing time from Taylor
Rotowire
Bae will start in center field and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Giants, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Bae will stick in the starting nine for the second time in three games and may end up getting a look in the strong side of a platoon in center field with the right-handed-hitting Michael Taylor, who is on the bench Thursday and has been withheld from the lineup in four straight matchups versus righties. After being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Bae impressed in his 2024 big-league debut later that night, going 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, two runs and an RBI.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Recall made official
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Bae began the season on the injured list with a hip issue and was optioned once healthy. He's earned a promotion following a terrific run at Indianapolis, though, during which he sported a .367/.479/.551 batting line with four home runs and seven stolen bases over 27 games. Bae is capable at a handful of positions but is mostly a second baseman and center fielder. He could see semi-regular duty.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Set to be recalled
Rotowire
Bae will be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the Pirates' game against the Giants on Tuesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
There's no word yet on what the corresponding roster move will be. Bae has slashed .367/.479/.551 with four home runs and seven stolen bases over 27 games with Indianapolis this season. The 24-year-old has played center field, second base and left field with Indianapolis and should bounce around to multiple positions in Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
Bae (hip) was activated from the 10-day injured list by the Pirates on Sunday and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Bae is done with his rehab from a left hip flexor injury, but the Pirates have elected to keep him at Indianapolis rather than add him to the major-league roster. He should be back to fill a utility role with the big club eventually.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Bae on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left hip flexor strain.
Bae is coming along in his recovery, having progressed to full baseball activities, but he simply ran out of time to be ready for Opening Day. The Pirates are thus hopeful that Bae's stay on the IL will be a brief one. Once healthy, he's pegged for a utility role.
