Bae Ji-hwan Hits First Triple-A Home Run: How This Mets Star Turned the Game Around

Ji-hwan Bae / Photo: Getty Images

[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu] WORCESTER, Mass. — Ji-hwan Bae, an outfielder in the New York Mets organization, hit his first Triple-A home run of the season.

Bae, starting in left field and batting sixth for the Syracuse Mets, went 2-for-4 on March 30, 2026 at Polar Park in Worcester, Mass., against the Worcester Red Sox. He finished with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.

After an 0-for-4 outing on March 29, Bae delivered a multi-hit performance Sunday, capped by the ninth-inning go-ahead homer that lifted Syracuse to the win.

Bae’s Triple-A average rose to .250 (2-for-8).

He came to the plate for the first time in the top of the second with one out and a runner on first. Bae turned on Payton Toli’s first pitch — a 96.6-mph fastball (about 155.5 km/h) — and lined a single into center field.

He later scored on a double by Hayden Senzer, coming home from second to put Syracuse on the board.

In the top of the third, with Syracuse leading 4-0 and runners on second and third, Bae chased a cutter from Toli and grounded out to second, leaving the runners stranded.

In the top of the fifth, with two outs and a man on first, he looked to attack a cutter from reliever Jack Kelly but flew out to right field.

Trailing 6-7 in the top of the eighth with nobody out and a runner on first, Bae laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second. Subsequent walks and free passes by the hitters that followed produced the tying run, knotting the game at 7.

Bae finished the rally in the ninth. After Cristian Arroyo doubled with one out and a runner on second, he crushed the first pitch from reliever Kyle Keller — a 92.8-mph fastball (about 149.3 km/h) — over the right-field wall for a two-run, go-ahead homer.

Syracuse held the lead in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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