The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 265

265. A Legend of a Bygone Era? (1)

The Grapefruit League.

This spring training league, held in Florida, lasts for about a month. This year, the Yankees were scheduled to play 31 games in 30 days. The number of games is greater than the number of days because home and away games are sometimes held on the same day.

A large bus.

It was a bus that couldn’t compare to the ones in the minor leagues.

Oswald Wells let out a long exhale.

“Hoo…”

“Are you nervous?”

“Huh, uh?”

His seatmate.

Choi Su-won, who had been closing his eyes, spoke to him.

“Sorry, did I disturb your sleep?”

“Nah, not really. You don’t have to look so worried. Just because I sighed, you think I’m going to throw a beanball [a pitch deliberately aimed at the batter’s head]?”

This guy, famous as a two-way player from Korea, made it clear through the recent scrimmage that, contrary to his seemingly gentle impression, he was not to be trifled with.

A total of 2 earned runs in 3.2 innings.

The numbers weren’t that impressive on their own. But the important thing was the content of his pitching. He threw a 96-mile fastball at three different batters.

“…”

“Just kidding. Just kidding.”

What was particularly impressive was the third beanball. He had allowed a hit and a walk to the previous batters, resulting in a bases-loaded situation. Everyone knew it was the ‘third’ one, and even the batter himself knew it, but still, would he throw a beanball even in this situation? That’s what everyone thought.

-Thwack!~!

The crisp sound of the bat hitting the ball still lingered in his ears.

“Is this your first major league spring training?”

“Yeah, I was in the minor league complex until last year. This is my first year.”

“I figured you were nervous. But don’t be too nervous. From what I saw, you catch the ball pretty well.”

“Ah, really? Thanks.”

23 years old this year.

Not making it to the majors was common, but this being his first major league spring training was definitely below average.

“No, well, I think I’m pretty lucky. Honestly, getting drafted was lucky in itself. And making it to the big league spring training like this…”

Oswald Wells pushed up his glasses, which were sliding down his freckled nose.

“Ah, sorry. You’re starting today, and I kept talking without thinking.”

“It’s okay. I’m not the sensitive type anyway. Besides, what’s so special about starting in spring training? Especially since it’s an away game. I’m just going to throw for a bit and rest.”

Perhaps it was because of the difference in status and skill?

Choi Su-won was also experiencing spring training for the first time, but he was strangely relaxed. Oswald Wells was reminded of his friend by that composure.

That friend, originally a first-round pick for the Yankees, had to quit baseball due to a ridiculous traffic accident. In a way, he was the biggest reason why Oswald Wells was still gritting his teeth and playing baseball.

A person who lives a black and white life their entire life doesn’t realize their life is black and white. They can’t imagine that the dazzling things shown in movies or comics exist in reality. Most ordinary people are like that because they never encounter such a moment in their entire lives. Oswald Wells was like that too, until he met that friend.

That guy, who shone with dazzling talent, turned the lives of everyone in the Midway High School baseball team, including Oswald Wells, into a movie. And the last scene of that movie was the draft [the process of selecting amateur athletes for professional teams].

The MLB draft has a total of 20 rounds.

A very small number compared to the 40 rounds it used to have. But considering that the number of players playing in the major leagues is only 26, even 20 rounds is a lot.

Therefore, in the case of lower picks, it is common to pick someone based on ‘connections.’ Like the manager’s son, the coach’s nephew, or a catcher who has been with the first-round pick for three years.

“That’s amazing.”

“Right? He was really amazing. To make the mighty Yankees plant a parachute [arrange a favor] in the lower picks for the sake of one draftee.”

“No, not that. I mean you. So you’re saying you were a 17th-round pick.”

***

‘The good players are good at baseball.’

The reason why this obvious statement is accepted as truth in this field is because baseball is that much about ‘talent.’

In the first place, throwing a fast ball is not in the realm of ‘effort.’ Similarly, hitting that fast ball accurately with a small bat is also not in the realm of ‘effort.’

Of course, this is possible to some extent with ‘training.’

That’s why in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], where the league level is around AA, there are often pros who come from the lower rounds of the draft or as undrafted players.

But the major league is different.

There are some success stories from the lower rounds, but that success is a rare occurrence in the history of the major leagues, and even if you just look at the major league debut itself, debuting in the major leagues from the 6th round or lower is statistically extremely unlikely.

So I was surprised.

‘Huh?’

First of all, his impression was very different. His body was too round, and with the glasses, his gentle appearance was too emphasized. Above all, this guy wasn’t a Yankees player as far as I remembered. No, he had never debuted with the Yankees in the first place.

Oswald Wells.

The most successful lower-round draftee since Mike Piazza, who debuted in 1988 as the 1390th overall pick in the 62nd round.

I had never played on the same team as him, but I had heard his name from time to time because he had such an unusual career, and I had even done a magazine shoot with him once.

At the time, he was quite solid and stubborn, like a flint, but today he felt like cotton candy.

“Ah, we’re here. Then do your best today. See you later.”

In spring training, players with more experience usually play at home, and players with less secure positions go on the road. Considering my position, it was natural to start at home, but what should I say?

“Swan, hoo… You’re pitching against the Phillies the day after tomorrow. Pack your bags.”

“Yes.”

Yeah, this was a kind of ‘punishment’ for the push-out beanball.

But it wasn’t bad. The bus was a bit cramped and uncomfortable compared to Korea, but that’s because the KBO buses are too good in the first place. This was almost a major league-level bus. Besides, the away game was a relatively short 1 hour and 20 minutes away, and there was an unexpected encounter.

“There’s Choi Su-won.”

“Hey, get the camera ready quickly.”

As always, many reporters rushed to me. Thanks to that, the attention of some fans who had arrived at the stadium early was also focused on me. This Bright House Field was the Philadelphia Phillies’ spring training home stadium, but most of the fans who came to the stadium today were probably Yankees fans.

In fact, most of the people looking at me behind the reporters were wearing Yankees pinstripe jerseys.

“Choi Su-won, you’re starting in the Yankees’ first exhibition game today. Can you say a few words about your feelings?”

“Choi Su-won! You’ve been consistently used as a pitcher since the scrimmage. When are you planning to play as a hitter?”

The reporters’ questions poured out.

As expected, most of them were substandard.

“Well, it’s the first exhibition game, but since it’s an away game, there’s not much significance in pitching first. But since it’s the first game against another team as a Yankee in America, not just a scrimmage, I’ll do my best.”

“I think the team wants to test my skills as a pitcher rather than as a hitter. I’m going to do my best in the role I’m given for now.”

I answered a few simple questions and headed to the stadium. Some players were already signing autographs for fans, and among the fans reaching out to me, I noticed one person in particular, probably in his early 40s.

“Oh? How did you get the uniform already? The season hasn’t even started yet?”

“Haha, I had to go to New York recently, so I got it with my son.”

“Ah, were you originally a Yankees fan?”

“No. I was originally a Dodgers fan, but I decided to support the Yankees from this season. Choi Su-won, fighting! [a Korean expression of encouragement, like ‘Go for it!’]”

“Thank you.”

With this much sincerity, it would be enough to receive my first and second autographs in America. I knelt down and signed the child’s back first, and then signed the man’s back as well.

I also signed for some of the people who handed me balls, but thanks to the YES Network broadcast, or because it was an away game and there were few famous players, most people flocked to me, so I couldn’t sign for everyone.

“I’m sorry. I’m starting today, so I’ll stop here and go in.”

Still, I tried to sign for all the children as much as possible.

I completely loosened my stiff body from the bus ride and threw the ball a few times.

-Thwack!!

It wasn’t Jose Trevino, who usually caught my balls, but he wasn’t bad at catching the ball since he was a major leaguer…

-Thwack

Ah… It was a bit bad.

It wasn’t that much of a breaking curve, but he couldn’t catch it. As far as I knew, he wasn’t the team’s second option, but the third option, and considering that they only use 13 position players on the active roster these days, it’s hard for him to make the 26-man roster.

Top of the 1st inning.

Andrew Painter came to the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was born in 2003 and was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, in 2021, receiving a $3.9 million signing bonus. He is a right-handed pitcher in his 5th year in the big leagues, and although he is not a Cy Young contender, he is definitely worthy of the title of ace.

Last year’s record was 31 games, 189.1 innings, ERA [Earned Run Average] 3.14.

-Thwack!!

“Strike!”

The speed was not displayed on the Bright House Field scoreboard. So I couldn’t know the exact speed, but it felt like around 93 miles per hour? Considering that the number of right-handed starters with an average speed of 98 or 99 miles per hour is increasing these days, it wasn’t fast, but it wasn’t bad considering it was still the end of February.

The Yankees’ batters swung their bats wildly.

I could see a strong will to show something. Ah, of course, that strong will didn’t lead to results. In the first place, it’s easy for pitchers to handle batters who swing so openly.

Well, even if that wasn’t the case, it was natural for a decent ace pitcher to show this kind of performance against hitters who were barely on the 40-man roster.

That’s how the Phillies’ ace cleanly shut down the Yankees’ offense in the top of the 1st inning with one strikeout and a three-up, three-down.

And bottom of the 1st inning.

My turn.

A very famous man came up to the first at-bat.

Bryce Harper.

A big name who would definitely have his face engraved in the Hall of Fame even if he retired right now.