“Bae Ji-hwan had to hit the referee on the head.”
Following Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays), this time it is Bae Ji-hwan (Pittsburgh Pirates). Even in the major leagues, he was wronged by referee Angel Hernández, who is notorious for making misjudgments. Bae Ji-hwan started as second baseman in the 2023 Major League Baseball home game against the Washington Nationals held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 15th (Korean time), and went 0-hit in 4 at-bats and struck out three times.
The referee that day was Angel Hernández. Bae Ji-hwan suffered from misjudgment from the first inning. Appearing as a leadoff, it was an advantageous situation with a ball count of 3B1S. Minnesota starting pitcher Josiah Gray’s 6-pitch, 88 mph cutter went out of the strike zone and came in slightly high. It’s a walk.
However, Hernández caught Bae Ji-hwan by calling a strikeout. Bae Ji-hwan’s regretful expression as he let out a sigh was captured on the broadcast screen. Even in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 2-0 lead and no runners with one out, Gray’s 81 mph sweeper went out of the strike zone in 2B2S, but a looking strikeout call was issued.
Referee Hernández’s misjudgment became quite a안전놀이터 hot topic on social media. Justice Delos Santos, who covers Pittsburgh for MLB.com, wrote on his Twitter, “The ball went out of the strike zone, but it seems Bae Ji-hwan doesn’t like Hernández’s strike zone very much.”
Then Geoff Mosbay commented, “No one in history has ever thought that Hernández was not blind.” Brett even said, “Bae Ji-hwan should have turned around and swung Angel’s head.” In addition, videos of referee Hernández’s past misdeeds were also posted.
Platinum Key Brian also posted a video of the misjudgment and wrote, “It’s just Angel Hernández stuff.” It was a nuance full of anger. After the mistrial, Bae Ji-hwan was seen returning to the dugout with a bitter expression.
Umpire Hernández was also properly remembered by domestic major league fans this time. This is because this referee was the referee for the Toronto Blue Jays-Colorado Rockies game on the 2nd. At the time, referee Hernández made critical misjudgment calls to Ryu Hyun-jin and Chris Flexen, drawing the ire of Korean and local fans.