On the 5th (Korean time), the Syracuse Mets, a Triple-A minor league baseball team in the United States, officially announced the release of Bae Ji-hwan (27) through the roster transactions page on the team's official website.

Bae Ji-hwan signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in March 2018, embarking on his challenge in the United States, and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2022, becoming the 26th Korean major leaguer in history. The following year, in 2023, he appeared in 111 games, posting a .231 batting average, 2 home runs, and 32 RBIs, establishing himself as a starting-caliber player. In particular, his speed and ability to play both infield and outfield positions made him a highly touted Korean position player prospect.

However, heading into the 2024 season, a combination of injuries and poor performance extended his time in the minor leagues. After the end of the 2023 season, he went through the designated for assignment (DFA) process by the Pittsburgh organization and was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, but he failed to deliver the expected bounce-back.

This year, Bae appeared in 91 games with the New York Mets' Triple-A affiliate, recording a .257 batting average, 5 home runs, and 32 RBIs. He was utilized as a utility player, shifting between the outfield and infield, but his hitting declined sharply in the second half of the season. In particular, his monthly batting average plummeted to .190 in July, with both his on-base percentage and slugging percentage dropping significantly, which proved detrimental.

Due to his declining performance, despite waiting for a big league call-up throughout the season, he was ultimately never summoned and has now parted ways with the team.

With this release, Bae Ji-hwan has obtained free agent (FA) status. He can pursue a new contract with another major league club, and options such as joining an independent league or moving to an overseas league remain open.

However, considering his performance in the major leagues and Triple-A over the past few years, cracking a 40-man roster immediately will not be easy. Sports fans are closely watching whether Bae can prove his competitiveness in a new environment and mount another challenge for the big leagues.