Bae Ji-hwan (24, Pittsburgh Pirates) hit a multi-hit against ‘living legend’ Jack Greinke (40, Kansas City Royals) who won 224 major league wins.

Bae Ji-hwan started as the first hitter and center fielder in an away game against Kansas City in the 2023 Major League Baseball held at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, USA on the 29th (Korean time), and played an active role with 2 hits and 1 point in 5 at-bats. Bae Ji-hwan, who showed off his slugging power by hitting doubles for two days in a row, saw his season batting average from 0.237 to 0.240 and OPS from 0.620 to 0.627.안전놀이터

Bae Ji-hwan reported a hit from the first at-bat against veteran pitcher Greinke, who started for Kansas City that day. Bae Ji-hwan, who started as the lead batter in the top of the 1st inning, hit the 4th curveball on a ball count of 2-1 and made an infield hit to the shortstop. Bae Ji-hwan, who advanced to second base on a hit by Ki Brian Hayes and third base when Andrew McCutchen hit, could not step home due to a misfired follow-up hit.

Bae Ji-hwan, who appeared as the lead batter in the top of the 3rd inning with Pittsburgh leading 1-0, pushed Greinke’s 2nd pitch inside fastball and landed the ball next to the left fielder. Heize’s double hit, and Bae Ji-hwan scored an extra run to make it 2-0.

The third match was Greinke’s victory. Bae Ji-hwan, who appeared in the top of the 5th inning with no runners out, hit a fastball on the 5th pitch with a ball count of 3-1 and retreated with a ground ball to second base.

After Greinke went down the mound, Bae Ji-hwan failed to add a hit against Kansas City bullpen pitchers. In the beginning of the 7th inning, he came out as a lead batter in the last at-bat in the beginning of the 9th inning, with a fly ball to center fielder from 1 out and 1 base, and withdrew with a pitcher’s ground ball.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s starter Yohan Oviedo achieved his first complete shutout in his big league debut (2 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, no runs in 9 innings), defeating Kansas City 5-0 and ending a two-game losing streak. Greinke, who has just one win this season, recorded 13 losses (5.28 ERA) for the season with 6 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts and 2 runs in 4⅔ innings.