The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 261

261. The Ace’s Adjacent Seat (2)

At 25 years old, Jace Whittaker was a promising prospect from the Yankees’ farm system.

The 132nd overall pick in the 3rd compensation round of 2024.

After pitching for two years in college baseball, he entered the draft at the age of 21. He graduated from the minors in just a year and a half and entered the big leagues as a bullpen pitcher at the young age of 23.

It was a remarkable feat.

The Yankees were known for their conservative call-ups. No matter how early the draft, no matter how good the pitcher, it was extremely rare to make it to the majors in less than two years. Naturally, Yankees fans showed him unwavering enthusiasm.

Looking at the Yankees’ ace lineage since the 20th century, there were very few players from the Yankees’ farm system. Andy Pettitte, a member of the Core Four [a group of long-tenured Yankees players who were instrumental to the team’s success], and Luis Severino, who played for the Yankees through an international prospect contract, were the only ones who could be considered aces from the Yankees’ farm system, even for a short time. Of course, neither player finished particularly well.

But even so, the Yankees have won two World Series championships, four American League championships, and twelve division titles in the 21st century. The secret was simple.

If they couldn’t develop the best player, they could just buy the best player. Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, and Gerrit Cole. And Domingo Rodriguez, who was currently performing well, was also one of those players.

A young ace from Tampa Bay, he stood out at the young age of 21 and was called up to the big leagues. In his debut year in the big leagues, he finished third in the Rookie of the Year award, and after that, he continued to grow remarkably. In his fourth year, he finally succeeded in winning the American League Cy Young Award [an award given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball].

And in the free agency two years ago, he signed a whopping 8-year, $300 million contract and joined the Yankees. He inherited the throne from Gerrit Cole, whose performance was gradually declining due to age, without much fanfare.

And just last year.

The position Jace Whittaker was vying for was right next to Domingo Rodriguez. During the two months he pitched as a bullpen pitcher in the 2026 season, he recorded an excellent ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 2.08 in 30.1 innings, and the front office promised him a spot as a starter in the 2027 season.

A bright future was in sight.

Following Domingo Rodriguez and Gerrit Cole, he would proudly take his place as the third starter, take the second starter spot before Gerrit Cole retired, and finally become a pitcher comparable to Domingo Rodriguez ahead of free agency.

But reality was harsh.

Last year, he started in 13 games in the first half and recorded an ERA of 5.12. He wasn’t demoted to the minors. This was because he still maintained an ERA in the late 2s in his first few appearances. Returning to the bullpen in the second half, he finished the season with an ERA of 4.13.

His gaze turned to the seat next to Domingo Rodriguez.

The man occupying the very spot he was in just last year was none other than Choi Su-won. The Asian ‘Home Run King’ who was the hottest topic in the major leagues this winter.

‘Damn it.’

His locker room is right next to Domingo Rodriguez’s, and he even uses a whole space by himself. Also, there is no official announcement, but if you listen to the rumors, it was almost certain that he would make his major league debut and even take a spot as a starter.

Just twenty years old.

Jace Whittaker thought that the treatment was excessive for someone who had only played one season in a league that was only AA level [the second-highest level of minor league baseball]. No, in fact, he wasn’t the only one who thought so. His acquaintances were also strongly agreeing with his complaints.

“He’ll run out of steam soon anyway. There’s a reason why the team makes the players grind in the minors.”

“That’s right. What was it called? Back in the days when there was no draft, there was a bonus kid or something? They said that all the people who were made to play in the majors right away failed. So after that, it became a tradition to make the drafted players play in the minors for several years.”

Bonus Baby.

A story from the days when there was no draft and players had to be on the major league roster right away due to the bonus rule.

Yes, in the end, a player who comes up without going through the minors properly has no choice but to run out of steam. But who can compensate those who are harmed in the process, like Jace Whittaker himself?

Jace Whittaker thought that the reason he failed a bit as a starter early last season was ultimately a matter of adaptation. Therefore, since he played so well again as a bullpen pitcher at the end of the season, it is normal to get another chance to start. But what if a guy who suddenly appears like that takes a spot as a starter?

Spring Training.

A total of 41 pitchers continued running, each with their own thoughts.

***

As always, the first day of training was nothing special.

After a simple physical examination and a group run, the first day of training ended with throwing about 30 half-pitches that hardly used the lower body.

And the second day.

“Oh, you must be Swan. Nice to meet you.”

Yankees’ starting catcher Jose Trevino, who joined a day late, greeted me first.

This thirty-five-year-old catcher has won three Gold Gloves [an award given annually to the best defensive players in Major League Baseball] and even collected two Platinum Gloves [an award given annually to the best defensive player in each league in Major League Baseball].

If the Gold Glove is selected by a vote of the press corps for the player who showed the most outstanding defense among each position, then the Platinum Glove, in the case of the Rawlings Platinum Glove, is awarded to only one player in each league who showed the most outstanding defense. In other words, Jose Trevino was the player who showed the best defense in the American League for at least two seasons, regardless of position.

Usually, on the second day, the starting catcher matches up with the players in order of seniority. This is because everyone wants to leave work early.

However, it’s not just about seniority. They also consider the current form and the quality of the career. In that sense, it wasn’t strange that I was given the fifth opportunity. Although it was a minor league contract, I was virtually in a position no different from free agency.

-Thwack!!

After exchanging the ball a few times, Jose Trevino raised his thumb.

“Oh, this one’s really good? What percentage are you at?”

“Well, about 70 percent?”

“Really?”

“Of course. You know I won’t be demoted to the minors even if my pitching is a bit sluggish.”

“Oh, that’s right. You were a two-way player. I forgot for a second because your ball is so good. What about breaking balls? Is that something you can do?”

“Should I throw a few curves?”

“Curve is good.”

When I was playing for the Marlins, it was really hard because of the catcher in the beginning. It was pretty good after Jjoyu wore the mask, but this guy’s batting was so bad… Anyway, in that sense, Jose Trevino’s catching was very stable.

“Ugh!!”

Especially impressive was the scene where he caught a curve that hit the ground hard because the ball slipped out of my hand with his body. I thought he might be a little worse than Jjoyu in terms of agility because he was old, but should I say that the defense of a catcher who received the Platinum Glove in the major leagues is indeed different? At least I didn’t have to worry about the ball getting past him.

“I heard you have a slider and a changeup.”

“Yes, but I don’t think the slider is good enough to use in the big leagues yet. And I’m currently working on improving the changeup.”

“Really? Still, show me once in a while. You never know.”

Fastball and curve. Changeup and slider, all in all 34 pitches.

That’s how my bullpen pitching ended on the second day.

***

“How was it?”

“The fastball is good. The curve is a bit questionable. The slider and changeup are really just for show. If you keep that in mind, you’ll definitely give up a home run, right?”

“Hmm… You’re also keeping in mind that my body condition is about 70%, right?”

“Well, if that’s really true, I think you can easily pitch 180 innings with an ERA in the low 4s just by using the fastball and curve.”

Jose Trevino didn’t believe Su-won’s words that he was about 70% of his current condition. Hadn’t he seen rookies come to spring training in their best condition countless times? In fact, even if that’s not the case, most starting pitchers are terrible egoists. They grit their teeth and throw, but they calmly throw out middle school-like lines like, ‘This isn’t my 100%.’ 70%? It wouldn’t be strange if that was 80% or even 90% today.

“Even if that’s not the case, it’s enough to be in the rotation as the 5th starter. Is that what you’re saying?”

“We’ll have to see. Starting isn’t just about speed.”

“He’s already pitched about 160 innings as a starter in the Korean league, so he’s not a complete beginner.”

“Hey, how can the minors and the majors be the same? Besides, with that kind of ball, he could have just thrown the fastball down the middle and it would have all worked, but that’s not the case here. To be honest, Jace was good enough to get away with it last year if you only look at his speed, but as the season progressed, he got hit a bit and his mentality was shattered, so he broke down like that.”

“Anyway, keep an eye on him. He’s just come to America and a lot of things are unfamiliar.”

“Don’t worry. I’m a professional at taking care of pitchers’ mentality.”

The battery coach nodded at Jose Trevino’s words.

***

Third day.

The atmosphere in the locker room was a bit strange.

In fact, it’s normal for the atmosphere in the locker room of spring camp to be chaotic. At the beginning of the camp, everyone starts full of hope, but as it progresses, the high wall of reality blocks their path.

I’ve never done it before, but I’ve heard that when moments of ‘Ah, it’s my turn now’ come, moments of taking luggage out of the locker room usually come within a day or two.

But that’s at least after the position players have all joined and the full-scale practice games have started. In other words, it’s after the selection of the rough stones has begun. Now is still the time when everyone is rolling around in the flower garden in their heads and full of hope…

“Oh, rookie!! Nice to meet you.”

Gerrit Cole held out his right hand to me.

At least in the top five of all pitchers in Major League Baseball over the past 10 years, a true ace, and thirty-seven years old this year.

193cm and 110kg [approximately 6’4″ and 242 lbs].

Of course, according to the profile, he is similar in height to me and only slightly heavier than me. But when I saw him with my own eyes, he looked similar in build to me at 120kg [approximately 265 lbs] before I went back in time.

“Your body is more solid than I heard? Where are you using your locker now? Ah, over there? Hmm… Don’t do that. Hey. You. Uh. Yeah, you. What was your name? Ah, Josh. And you? Donald. Okay. Josh and Donald. Take your luggage out now and switch places with this Swan. Ah, you don’t have to do it yourself. I’ll ask Clubby [a clubhouse attendant] here later, so just nod. Okay?”

Who on earth can say no when the great Gerrit Cole asks for a favor? The two players who shared the locker right next to him nodded.

“Mr. Cole. Just a moment.”

“Huh?”

“How can you do that as you please when they’ve already unpacked and settled in? And this isn’t our home, so it’s not right to ask Clubby to do that. Don’t you think so?”

Ah, there was.

A human who can say no here.

Domingo Rodriguez.

The space where the two players’ eyes met.

Josh and Donald, who were about to move their luggage themselves, looked at me with very embarrassed expressions.

‘What a mess.’