Welcome to In The System, our new daily analysis of the latest throughout the Pirates' organization!
Each morning, we'll spotlight an individual player or performance from the previous day/night, in addition to offering convenient links to find all the information anyone could want on Class AAA Indianapolis, Class AA Altoona, high Class A Greensboro and low Class A Bradenton throughout the season.
Player: Ji-hwan Bae
Position: Second base
Bats/throws: Left/right
Age: 21
Size: 6-1, 185 pounds
MLB organizational rank: 14
Affiliate: Altoona
There were a handful of offensive performances in the Curve's 11-2 victory against Richmond that were demanding of attention. But Bae, considering his struggles throughout the early part of the season, got the most out of the day.
Bae recorded his first four-hit game since Aug. 2019 while collecting a pair of doubles Saturday night. He's raised his batting average by more than 60 points during a five-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .476 (10 for 22). The two doubles he hit Saturday were his only extra-base hits during that stretch.
The 2018 signee is among a group of middle infielders that represent the strength of the Pirates system. With that considered, he's going to get a little more runway but this has been a relieving breakout for a guy that was having a hard time staying above the Mendoza line just a week ago.
He made a pair of errors in this game, both throwing, and his double-play partner, Oneil Cruz, booted a ball for his ninth error of the season at shortstop.
OH BAE!😍 @Bae_ji_hwan goes the opposite way to score two on a double. He extends our lead to 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) June 5, 2021
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf pic.twitter.com/Z2HqDPclhc
ELSEWHERE
• Bae obviously wasn't the only Altoona batter to have a big game. Rodolfo Castro, who had some chances at the major-league level this season, also compiled four hits, including a pair of homers. Mason Martin, the power-hitting first baseman, doubled on a three-hit night.
• The fireballing 2020 second-rounder, Jared Jones, made his first professional start and allowed his first run of the season for Bradenton on Saturday. He lasted 3 2/3 innings surrendering the lone tally on three hits and a pair of walks. Jones has a 1.17 ERA through 7 2/3 innings this season.
• In support of Jones, the reformed infielder Jase Bowen bashed his sixth homer while scoring three times for Bradenton. Jones is batting .263 with an .833 OPS and 20 RBIs already this season. Endy Rodriguez, who is the best catcher prospect in the system, also provided a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs for the Marauders.
OFFICIAL LINKS
YOUR TURN: We'd love to hear from you, too, especially if you make it out to see any of these prospects and affiliates play. Feel free to file your own original scouting reports and other observations in comments.