Mets Claim Ji Hwan Bae Off Waivers, Bolstering Infield and Outfield Depth

The New York Mets bolstered their roster on Thursday by claiming infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bae, 26, originally signed with the Pirates as an international free agent in March 2018 and was once considered a Top-15 prospect for Pittsburgh. Despite his potential, Bae never fully capitalized on his major league opportunities, playing 11 games in 2023 with a .608 OPS, two home runs, 17 doubles, 32 RBI, and 24 stolen bases, followed by 20 games in 2024 and 13 games in 2025, appearing solely as an outfielder. Known for his 82nd percentile sprint speed, Bae has shown strong minor league numbers, posting a .945 OPS with 86 hits in 67 games in 2024 and an .800 OPS with 82 hits in 73 games this past season.