[SPORTALKOREA] Bae Ji-hwan of the New York Mets has been passed over once more for a Major League call-up.

According to Will Sammon of *The Athletic* on May 12 (Korean time), the Mets are promoting top outfield prospect A.J. Ewing. He is expected to make his MLB debut on May 13 against the Detroit Tigers.

Ewing, a 21-year-old left-handed hitter, is the Mets’ No. 2 prospect and ranks 33rd overall among all MLB organizations, according to *Baseball America*.

Since debuting in the minors in 2023, Ewing has played 251 games over four seasons, posting a .290 batting average with 15 home runs, 118 RBIs, 174 runs, 101 stolen bases, and a .820 OPS.

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Known for his elite speed, Ewing recorded 70 steals in 124 minor league games last season. This year, he has successfully stolen 16 of 17 bases, maintaining a high success rate.

Starting the season at Double-A, Ewing has enjoyed his best career start. Across Double-A and Triple-A, he has played 30 games with a .339 average and .961 OPS, showing consistent production.

At Double-A alone, he hit .349 (22 hits in 63 at-bats) with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, 16 runs, 12 steals, and a 1.052 OPS. His strong performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse on April 28.

His momentum continued at Triple-A, where he batted .326 with 5 steals and an .827 OPS in 12 games, showcasing his speed. This success placed him on the verge of a big-league call-up.

The Mets, sitting at 15-25 (.375) as of May 12—the worst record in MLB—need Ewing’s speed and power. The team ranks tied for 23rd in steals (19), 29th in runs scored (139), and last in OPS (.628).

Ewing is expected to step into the starting center field role. The Mets have a gap after Luis Robert Jr. landed on the injured list in late April with a herniated disc. His return timeline is uncertain. Since Robert’s absence, Tyrone Taylor and Carson Benge have shared center field duties.

Meanwhile, Bae Ji-hwan, playing for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, was once again passed over. His batting has been solid: in 32 games, he leads the team with a .287 average (29 hits in 101 at-bats), 2 home runs, 13 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases.

Despite his performance, the MLB call has not come. Even as regulars have fallen to injuries, Bae has been overlooked. When Juan Soto went on the IL, the Mets called up Ronny Mauricio; when Jorge Polanco was sidelined, they promoted veteran Tommy Pham. After Luis Robert Jr. was placed on the IL, the Mets instead added Eric Wagaman, claimed off waivers. Most recently, with Mauricio heading to the IL, the Mets bypassed Bae for Vidal Bruján to address their shortstop need.