New york: South Korean utility player Bae Ji-hwan has reportedly been claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.

According to Yonhap News Agency, MLB.com reported that the Mets picked Bae off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had taken him off their 40-man roster two days earlier. Bae, 26, is known for his speed and defensive versatility, having played all three outfield positions in the majors and logged games at second base and shortstop.

Bae has struggled to hit at the big-league level since making his debut with the Pirates in 2022. His career statistics include a .223 batting average, a .294 on-base percentage, and a .293 slugging percentage over 163 games. In 2025, he played only 13 games in the majors, recording one hit in 20 at-bats with nine strikeouts.

The utility player made the Pirates' Opening Day roster in March after leading the team with 16 hits and 13 runs scored in spring training. However, he was sent down to the minors in early April, briefly recalled in early May, and then spent the next four months in the minors before being brought back up in September. That stint lasted only a week, as Bae went 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in six games.

Bae has shown better performance in the minors, boasting an .805 on-base plus slugging (OPS) with Triple-A Indianapolis in 2025 and a career .819 OPS over seven minor league seasons. MLB.com notes that Bae could be an option in center field for the Mets, who have only Tyrone Taylor as a natural center fielder. Taylor had a .598 OPS this past season and is considered a non-tender candidate.