The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 114

Debut Game? (1)

Professional baseball player.

What does it mean for a child who starts playing baseball to become a professional baseball player? It’s a difficult feat for the average person to truly grasp. To put it in perspective, it’s akin to getting into Seoul National University [South Korea’s most prestigious university] after dedicating oneself to academics. So, what does it mean to then make it to the first team from there?

Well, if you really want a comparison, wouldn’t it be like passing the first round of the bar exam?

Just one or two years ago, Jo Yu-jin never imagined he would achieve this level of success. Of course, he often ‘imagined’ it, like someone buying a lottery ticket dreams of winning first prize, or a student taking an exam pictures themselves passing. It existed purely in the realm of ‘fantasy,’ not expectation.

But now, Jo Yu-jin stands on the professional first team stage, wearing a catcher’s mask in the opening game.

Even if his position wasn’t secured purely through baseball prowess, does it really matter? Do all those who pass the first round of the bar exam do so solely on their skills? Passing with a lucky guess, despite mediocre abilities, is a skill in itself. Similarly, hitting .080 in the exhibition games and starting as a catcher in the opening game is also a skill, if you think about it.

At least, that’s what Jo Yu-jin told himself.

“Is that really okay? He seems to be getting worse,” one person commented.

“The manager [Dilton] thinks so too… and his performance has actually dipped quite a bit. Plus, Coach Yang says he’s doing pretty well in practice. It’s a mental hurdle, so he’ll probably improve as he gets accustomed to the first team stage…”

“No, is the first team stage a place for kids to adapt?”

“That’s true, but Dilton still believes in him… and even though Yu-jin is hitting .080, Gyo-cheol is only hitting .190 anyway…”

Choi Soo-won, casually walking to first base, caught his eye.

If Jo Yu-jin was a mediocre guy who scraped by on the first round of the bar exam by guessing well on multiple-choice questions, then Choi Soo-won, standing on first base, was a genius destined to ace the exam with perfect scores.

Yes, that guy possessed ridiculously amazing skills. And, equally, he had the arrogance to match those skills.

The way he treated his ‘seniors’ [older or more experienced players] was utterly disrespectful. It wasn’t the attitude of someone addressing a senior, but almost as if he were dealing with younger siblings, or even children.

Of course, he wasn’t always like that. It changed around his second year, when a jealous senior crossed the line. Because of that, Lee Jin-woo was the only senior at Joongang High who actually liked him.

In fact, the same was true with his classmates; not many of them liked him either. It’s not like he was particularly showing off, but how easy is it to like someone who can do things others can’t, no matter how hard they try, as if it’s as easy as breathing, and then looks at you with a ‘Why can’t you do it?’ expression?

-Bang!!

Jo Yu-jin threw the ball that landed in his mitt to Noh Hyung-wook at third base. The ball sailed past Kang Ra-on, who was playing shortstop today, and Saul Lopez, who was at second base, before nestling into Choi Soo-won’s mitt.

He smirked and then casually tossed the ball towards the fans already in the stands beyond the high fence behind him. It’s nothing much, but it’s not easy. Watching him, you wouldn’t think he was a rookie making his professional debut today.

But despite all that, Jo Yu-jin couldn’t bring himself to hate him.

There’s no particular reason. It’s just that he was strangely nice to him for no reason, even after Jo Yu-jin confessed that he had let Ahn Byung-young harass him.

Yes, for about two years since he suddenly changed.

Jo Yu-jin received a lot of help from him. Jo Yu-jin himself believed that Choi Soo-won’s contribution was the biggest reason he was drafted by the Marines in the second round, 11th overall.

And then, one day, the guy who looked down on everyone and was so full of himself asked Jo Yu-jin for a ‘favor.’ At that moment, Jo Yu-jin felt a huge void he had been feeling being filled.

He knew that a relationship where you only receive help unilaterally cannot be equal.

And that the word ‘friend’ only applies to equal relationships, and therefore, Choi Soo-won and Jo Yu-jin himself could not be friends.

Yes, regardless of the truth, that’s what Jo Yu-jin thought.

Choi Soo-won told him that he wanted to win the championship.

He also said that Joongang High was able to win the championship last year not only because of Choi Soo-won’s performance but also because of Jo Yu-jin’s contribution in controlling and uniting the team. And he said that the Marines needed that kind of power now.

To be honest, it was ridiculous in many ways. Let’s say that Jo Yu-jin’s contribution to the championship was true.

But last year, Jo Yu-jin and Choi Soo-won were the oldest members of the team. That means Choi Soo-won was in a position where he could do such things, and Jo Yu-jin himself was in a position where he could play such a role. But it was different now. At best, he was the youngest member, and a youngest member with no connections or anything.

But despite all that, Jo Yu-jin readily nodded.

He had no choice.

And now.

-Bang!!!

“Strike!!!”

Dilton Dooley’s first pitch of the opening game pierced the mitt.

It was a 154 km/h fastball.

***

[Well, ladies and gentlemen, the 2027 KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] Professional Baseball season has begun! Today’s opening game is between the Busan Marines and the Seoul Elites. Seoul Elites versus Busan Marines. I’m caster Lee Joo-hyung, and I’m joined by commentator Park Dong-sik for today’s game.]

[Hello, Park Dong-sik here.]

[Commentator, what are your thoughts on today’s game?]

[Well, the Seoul Elites finished third last year, didn’t they? They were only 3.5 games behind the first-place Dolphins, so they chased them fiercely until the very end. On the other hand, the Marines…]

[They were 34 games behind the Dolphins.]

[Of course, there’s no guarantee that last year’s record will continue this year. Basically, the performance of foreign pitchers is very important in the KBO, and Diego Rodriguez, who was the Elites’ second starter last year and had a record of 3 wins and no losses against the Marines with an ERA [Earned Run Average] of 1.66, has joined the Marines as their foreign player this time.]

[It’s actually quite strange to release a player who played for the Elites until last year, and who had such a good record, without any conditions. Usually, they would impose voluntary retirement.]

[I heard there were some contractual issues involved.]

[I see. But as far as I know, even if it’s not voluntary retirement, don’t they have the right of first refusal?]

[Ah, I know that part for sure. The right of first refusal is ultimately at the discretion of the club, and I heard that the Elites released him in a magnanimous gesture.]

─InvincibleElites: Is the front office crazy? I’m already pissed that they didn’t renew his contract, but they just released a player like that?

─IHaveAGoldWatchInMySafe: The front office isn’t crazy. His contract was a bit complicated, and after negotiations, the club agreed not to exercise their right of first refusal, limited to the Phoenix and Marines.

─InvincibleElites: Ah, if that’s the case, I understand.

─DismantleTheMarines: Hey, don’t understand. We were 8th last year, and the Phoenix were last, so why are we being treated the same?

─InvincibleElites: Ah, sorry. I don’t have time to worry about minor teams that can’t make it to the playoffs.

─SajikAhjussi: Those Elites bastards, when did they ever go to the playoffs? It’s ridiculous.

─YuGwangJumperMan: The Marines have been in last place 4 times in the last 8 years, right?

Opening game.

Dilton Dooley was in great condition.

-Clack!!

But it wasn’t just Dilton Dooley who was in great condition. The reason why the Seoul Elites were able to record a good result of 3rd place in the league last year was thanks to their overwhelming foreign one-two punch and the highest batting average lineup in the league.

And during the winter season, unlike the Marines, who lost two of their key players, the Elites succeeded in keeping all of their internal free agents.

[Saul Lopez!! He tries to follow, but it was a bit high! Hit!! In the top of the first inning, the Elites’ second batter, Kang So-gu, gets a hit.]

[One out, runner on first. The Elites’ third batter, Ahn Young-hwan, is at the plate. Ahn Young-hwan, who recorded .311/.379/.447 with 19 home runs last year, bulked up this winter to strengthen his long-hit power. He actually hit 4 home runs in the exhibition games, showing the effect, but what will he show in the regular season?]

First base.

“Hey.”

Kang So-gu, who took off his batting gloves and shin guards and put on his sliding gloves, spoke to Choi Soo-won.

In the past exhibition games, Soo-won committed a comprehensive package of actions that rookies shouldn’t normally do, from the way he threw his bat after hitting a home run to the ceremony of raising his hand when he returned home.

And Kang So-gu, who is now on first base, was a classmate of Kim Sae-han, who was hit by a home run by Soo-won. Although their teams are different now due to a trade, they still meet up for drinks three or four times a year. Naturally, the emotion in his voice now was close to hostility, and Soo-won perfectly caught that clear hostility.

And according to Soo-won’s principles, if the words you say are kind, there’s a possibility that the words you receive will also be kind.

“Why are you calling me?”

“What did you just say?”

“Why did you call me?”

The fact that he added the polite ‘yo’ [a polite suffix in Korean] at the end of the sentence a little late and quietly wasn’t the important thing. Just as Soo-won read the hostility emanating from Kang So-gu’s words, Kang So-gu also read the clear antipathy in Soo-won’s answer.

It was like he was shouting, ‘Who do you think you are, talking to me informally on our first meeting?’

“Hey, I’m seriously telling you this because I really think of you as a younger brother, be careful. This industry is small. Everyone knows everyone if you go through one connection, okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know Kim Sae-han, right? The pitcher for the Griffins.”

“Yes.”

“What did you do after hitting a home run against him?”

“That’s… uh?”

Dilton on the mound glanced at first base. And at that moment, Choi Soo-won’s body flinched. It was a momentary timing.

‘Pick-off attempt?’

The balance of Kang So-gu, who was leaning slightly towards second base, three steps away, was slightly broken. But it wasn’t a pick-off attempt.

-Clack!!

A fast hit.

But it was too late. Kang So-gu, whose balance was broken, couldn’t run to second base at full speed at the same time as the hit. Of course, in terms of time, it’s not that long. 0.1 seconds? Maybe less.

But in base running, that time is very significant.

Kang Ra-on, the shortstop, quickly caught the ball. Saul Lopez, the foreign hitter who played second base today, was an all-around utility player. He wasn’t a heavy hitter like typical foreign hitters, but he was an individual who boasted a high level of defense in both the infield and outfield.

He quickly covered second base and caught the ball tossed by Kang Ra-on with his bare hand and threw it straight to first base without any preparation.

Kang So-gu, who started a little late, raised his leg slightly in a bent-leg slide to interfere with the defense, but it was useless. The ball had already left Saul Lopez’s hand, and Saul Lopez avoided that ‘slightly’ uncooperative slide with his amazing athletic ability.

Of course, that one beat faster movement also had its weaknesses.

The direction of the throw wasn’t perfect. But it was okay. Choi Soo-won’s long arm perfectly caught the slightly dropped throw.

Double out.

Kang So-gu’s face, dusting off his butt while standing on second base, was full of annoyance.

That he, a veteran who would get FA [Free Agent] qualification in just two more years, was outmaneuvered by the reverse motion of a mere one-year rookie.

Choi Soo-won at first base moved his mouth, opening and closing it, towards him. Perhaps because of the distance, the shape of his mouth wasn’t clearly visible.

Yes, I’ll be careful.

Or, Ah, I should be careful.

Which of the two was it?

Kang So-gu somehow felt that the words that arrogant rookie was spitting out were the latter, not the former.

His mouth felt gritty.

-Ptooey

And change of offense and defense.

In the bottom of the first inning, Jake Bauer came up to the mound for the Seoul Elites.

The winner of the Choi Dong-won Award [Award given to the best pitcher in the KBO] last year.

He is the pitcher who has consistently shown top-class performance in the KBO for the past three years, and he receives a whopping $1.7 million in base salary this season alone.

And a ball befitting the huge sum of $1.7 million tormented the Marines’ hitters.

-Clack!!

The leadoff hitter grounds out to the infield.

-Clack!!

The second hitter flies out to the infield.

The Elites’ infielders skillfully handled the balls that were exquisitely hit off the timing.

And the third.

Choi Soo-won came to the plate.