(LEAD) Pirates utility man Bae Ji-hwan hoping to find power stroke

▲ Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for photos after speaking with reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Feb. 10, 2023. (Yonhap)

▲ In this UPI file photo from Sept. 30, 2022, Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates puts down a bunt against the St. Louis Cardinals during the top of the second inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) MLB-player

(LEAD) Pirates utility man Bae Ji-hwan hoping to find power stroke

(ATTN: ADDS comments in last 4 paras)

INCHEON, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- After making his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in September last year, South Korean player Bae Ji-hwan started checking off several boxes. In 10 big league games, the 23-year-old collected his first career hit, stolen base and RBI.

Bae now wants to get his first major league home run out of the way.

"Hitting a home run is the ultimate in baseball. Though I am more of a contact hitter, I'd love to hit a few home runs too," Bae told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Friday, before traveling to the United States for spring training. "I've been lifting weights quite a bit in Korea. So far, I've focused on contact hitting, fielding and baserunning, and now I want to start hitting for more power."

In his first cup of coffee with the Pirates, Bae batted .333/.405/.424 with six RBIs, three steals and five runs scored. He played at second base, center field and left field, showing off his defensive versatility.

In his Triple-A season in Indianapolis last year before his call-up, Bae put up a .289/.362/.430 line, with eight home runs, 53 RBIs and 30 steals in 108 games. He also handled multiple positions all over the diamond.

Bae is on the Pirates' 40-man roster, along with another South Korean, first baseman Choi Ji-man. Bae will try to crack the Opening Day roster of 26 players for the first time.

"I'd love to make the roster, but I won't get too down even if that doesn't happen," Bae said. "If I hadn't been hurt last year, I would have played more games in the majors last year. I'd like to be a full-time big leaguer this year."

Bae and Choi have been close friends for years, dating back to Bae's minor league days, and the two should have natural chemistry in the infield -- if that's where Bae ends up playing mostly.

"I am comfortable in both infield and outfield," Bae said. "What I really want is to be in the starting lineup. It doesn't matter where I hit in the lineup or where I play on the field."

Bae also said he was looking forward to playing with one of his idols and Pirates legend, Andrew McCutchen, who reteurned to Pittsburgh as a free agent in January after spending the past five seasons with four clubs. McCutchen first played for the Pirates from 2009 to 2017, winning the National League MVP award in 2013.

"When I first came to Pittsburgh, I looked up to McCutchen. He's the captain of this ship," Bae said. "Last year, we had a lot of young players and the dugout seemed a bit chaotic at times. We would get really high and then really low. I think veterans will run a tight ship and keep things in order."

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