The competitor has disappeared. Is it possible for Baek Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates to join the opening day roster?
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced roster changes through their official social media on the 19th (Korean time). A total of 8 players have been sent down from the major league camp to the minor league camp. Baek Ji-hwan's name was not on this list. Baek Ji-hwan has survived in the major leagues.
Pittsburgh used the option to send catcher Jason Delay to Triple-A. Additionally, infielders Derek Holland, utility players Nick Solak, Matt Gorski, infielder Alika Williams, catcher Abraham Gutierrez, outfielder Bryce Johnson, and right-handed pitcher Johan Ramirez have been sent down to the minor league camp. As a result, there are 42 players remaining in the Pittsburgh major league camp.
Baek Ji-hwan is included in this list of 42 players. The competitor has also disappeared. Nick Solak and Bryce Johnson were resources competing with Baek Ji-hwan for the major league roster, but Baek Ji-hwan has survived.
Baek Ji-hwan made a brief appearance in the spring training exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Lecom Park in Bradenton, Florida, on the 19th. He recorded 1 at-bat with no hits and 1 Samjin. He entered as a defensive substitute in the top of the 6th and went to bat in the bottom of the 8th, but struck out on three pitches. After observing a 96 mph four-seamer against Orion, he also received a strike call on an 84.4 mph sweeper. With two strikes, he swung and missed at a 95.4 mph high fastball, ending both his first and last plate appearances.
Baek Ji-hwan is the hottest hitter on the team in the exhibition games. He proves every day why he should remain in the major leagues. Although he struck out on this day, his batting average remains in the .400 range. He has a batting average of .424 (14 hits in 33 at-bats) with 1 home run, 3 runs batted in, 11 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.077 over 16 games.
Although he is playing as an outfielder, he can also take the field as an infielder and create scoring value with his top-level speed in the major leagues. Nevertheless, Baek Ji-hwan's chances of remaining on the major league roster are not high.
Baek Ji-hwan's name is missing from the 26-man opening day roster predicted by MLB.com. It is expected that Brian Reynolds, Tommy Pham, and O'Neill Cruz will start in the outfield, with bench resources including Adam Frazier, Jared Triolo, and Jack Suwinski.
However, he explains his competitiveness through his records every day. Can Baek Ji-hwan really put his name on the opening day roster?
[OSEN = reporter Cho Hyung-rae]