On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 30

“Ugh, this is such a pain. Why do you always give me the troublesome tasks? Don’t you know I just want to blend in?”

Kim Jung-ryul nudged closer to Yeon Woo-shik.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], even if I can’t drink, I’ll take care of you when you are. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other if we’re both playing in the Futures League. Besides, you don’t exactly have a ton of close friends around here anyway.”

“Damn it, are you calling me a loner?”

“Hyung, please do me this one favor. You know I don’t usually ask for stuff like this.”

Kim Jung-ryul kept pestering him, so Yeon Woo-shik shoved him away.

“Get off me, you leech. I hate people clinging to me, whether they’re men or women.”

“Why? Does it remind you of your wife?”

“You son of a bitch. Are you trying to rub it in? Rub it in that I’m divorced?”

“Hehehe, why are you getting so worked up when you’re the one who wanted the divorce?”

“I might just ignore everything you’re saying if you keep this up.”

“Ah, sorry, sorry. My bad. Please, I’m begging you. Please look after Suk-hyun and me. Oh, I’ll smooth things over with Manager Park in the front office beforehand. It’s just a rehab group that’s basically useless anyway, what could possibly happen if they do some Futures League training?”

“Hmm, I don’t get it. Why are you going to such lengths? It would be easier for you to get back into the Futures League on your own, no sweat.”

Kim Jung-ryul got out of bed.

“Hyung needs to see Suk-hyun. He’s really got what it takes to be someone big. It’s such a waste to see him wasting away like this, I can’t just stand by and watch.”

“Are you his dad or something?”

“Even if I’m not his dad, I’m his senior [someone with more experience]. It’s only natural for a senior to help out a junior.”

“You’re so nosy.”

Yeon Woo-shik also got up.

“Alright, alright. I’ll drop a hint to the manager that you need a dedicated catcher to get back into the Futures League. Your name’s basically a free pass anyway, so I should be able to squeeze him in somehow.”

“Thank you, hyung. I’ll buy you something amazing in return. Just name it.”

“Korean beef [Hanwoo]?”

“Deal. Anything else?”

“You son of a bitch. If you were going to agree so easily, I should have asked for something more expensive.”

“Just say it. I’ll buy it for you.”

Yeon Woo-shik darted his eyes back and forth.

“Honestly, I don’t know. What’s more expensive and delicious than Korean beef?”

Kim Jung-ryul chuckled.

“Seriously. Don’t worry, just tell me what you want to eat from now on. I’m a guy who’s loaded, how could I not buy you something delicious?”

“Hmm, really? Then I’m really going to eat all sorts of amazing things?”

“Not ‘all sorts,’ just moderately and with some tact, okay?”

“I don’t even know what this Song Suk-hyun guy does, but he’s providing for my daily bread. What a grateful guy.”

“You’ll be even more grateful when you see his skills.”

* * *

Everything went off without a hitch.

Kim Jung-ryul’s position was still secure.

When Kim Jung-ryul said he wanted Song Suk-hyun to be his dedicated catcher and participate in training, the Futures League manager and the front office approved it in less than a day.

“Even so, they must think 8 billion [Korean Won, roughly $6 million USD] is a waste.”

Kim Jung-ryul winked at Song Suk-hyun, who looked visibly nervous.

“How’s it feel? This is the taste of connections. Is this your first time participating in team training?”

Song Suk-hyun nodded.

“Yes, it is.”

“Show them what you’ve got. I’ve set the stage nicely, so paint a masterpiece.”

Song Suk-hyun gripped his bat tightly.

A 1kg, 36-inch bat that he was now very comfortable with.

Song Suk-hyun took a deep breath.

“I’ll smash it with a sledgehammer.”

Catcher’s Rise

The Sledgehammer Cometh

“Hello, Manager.”

Kim Jung-ryul took Song Suk-hyun to the Futures League manager’s office first.

The Futures League manager, Gu Chang-hyun, looked up from his newspaper.

“Oh, Jung-ryul. Long time no see.”

“How have you been?”

“Me? Nothing much. How about you? I heard your arm flared up again?”

Kim Jung-ryul smiled, waving his arm around.

“I’m fine. It wasn’t an injury, just a simple bruise.”

“That’s a relief. Does it hurt now?”

“No, it’s much better now.”

“Much better, or really better?”

“I have no pain at all now. I’m in top condition.”

“Oh, really? That’s good to hear.”

Gu Chang-hyun pointed his chin at Song Suk-hyun, who was standing at attention behind Kim Jung-ryul.

“Is that him?”

“Ah, Suk-hyun. Say hello.”

Song Suk-hyun took off his hat and bowed.

“Hello! I’m Song Suk-hyun! Please take care of me!”

“Oh, oh, yes, yes. Full of spirit. You said you’re twenty years old?”

“Yes, he’s a high school graduate who entered through early entry.”

“Early entry is rare these days. You’re his dedicated catcher, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, I hope your skills won’t hinder the game. It would be difficult even if it’s your request. If the catcher is unqualified, the game itself won’t work.”

“Don’t worry. This guy has the basics down. Just watch him practice first.”

“Alright, well, let’s see.”

Kim Jung-ryul and Song Suk-hyun finished their greetings and left the manager’s office.

Only then did Song Suk-hyun take a deep breath.

“Whew, I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?”

“What could you have done wrong? There’s nothing like that. You did well. You’re not in a position to say anything proactively in these situations anyway. Staying quiet is the best thing to do.”

“Phew, this is surprisingly nerve-wracking.”

“Nerve-wracking? You’ll be seeing him every day.”

Kim Jung-ryul and Song Suk-hyun moved to the stadium.

Song Suk-hyun saw it every day, but this was his first time coming for training.

He looked around the inside of the stadium and headed for the dugout.

Players were already lined up outside the dugout.

“Hello.”

Kim Jung-ryul appeared on the field with a friendly smile.

The players who were warming up stopped and greeted Kim Jung-ryul.

“Hello, senior.”

“Hello, senior!”

“Yes, yes, long time no see. How have you been?”

Kim Jung-ryul went to the coaches to greet them and introduce Song Suk-hyun.

Kim Jung-ryul, who was the ace of G.O.A.T and played his entire career there, had absolute influence, at least in the Futures League.

“Oh, he’s got a good build.”

Kim Tae-woo, the Futures League battery coach, examined Song Suk-hyun’s body and touched his hands.

“His height is just right, and his hands are thick, which is good. Just looking at his body, he’s perfect as a catcher. He’s a high school graduate, but just looking at his body, he’s better than most college graduates?”

Song Suk-hyun bowed his head.

“I would be grateful if you would teach me a lot in the future.”

“Alright, well… let’s see. You need to have at least the basics if you want to play in games. Right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What did you do on your own? Can you practice on your own?”

“I did my best with what I could do on my own, even if it was lacking.”

“A catcher needs to catch balls, but how many pitchers are there in the rehab group? You need to practice blocking, memorize signs, and learn strategies, but what can you do on your own? You probably just swung the bat a bit.”

Kim Jung-ryul approached the battery coach and smiled brightly.

“That’s why you need to give him a lot of guidance. You need to draw a beautiful picture on a blank canvas, right?”

“Well, it’s my job even if you don’t ask me to. I’ll do what I have to do for sure. You should have come a little earlier. You missed group training, so you wasted valuable time.”

“I’ll work harder to make up for what I lack. Right, Suk-hyun?”

“Yes, I will work hard.”

“Alright, alright, that’s enough. Go join them. Warm up first, then do group training, and then train by position. Go ahead.”

Song Suk-hyun greeted the battery coach and stepped back.

Kim Jung-ryul put his arm around Song Suk-hyun’s shoulder and whispered.

“He’s known as a pretty good coach among the battery coaches. Learn from him.”

“I understand. You brought me here, so I’ll work hard so I don’t get a bad reputation.”

Kim Jung-ryul personally introduced Song Suk-hyun to the players.

It went smoothly because Kim Jung-ryul, the most senior player, took the lead.

After the introductions were over, training began.

At first, it was simple stretching.

After that, they gradually increased the pace with mini-games, bodyweight exercises, and agility training.

Once they warmed up, the next course was free batting.

Kim Jung-ryul nodded at Song Suk-hyun.

Showtime.

The batters lined up and entered the batting cage.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

When the batters hit the ball, most of them were caught before the warning track.

G.O.A.T traditionally lacked power hitters.

Since they used the large Jamsil Stadium, they were more interested in collecting medium-to-long-range hitters instead of home run hitters. It wasn’t that there were no home run hitters in the Futures League, but the total number of home runs hit by all the hitters was only four. Even those barely cleared the fence.

“Tsk, tsk, without In-hwan, there are no home runs.”

The hitting coach clicked his tongue.

Other coaches also sighed.

“There aren’t any. There’s not enough long hits. How can’t they hit a home run even when they pull it?”

“Maybe it’s because it’s winter.”

“Even if it’s winter, still. In-hwan hits home runs even when he pushes it.”

“It’s Kim In-hwan. But Jae-wan and Dong-hwa hit a few home runs, right?”

“Only those two barely saved face. The kids these days are bigger than we were, but their power seems to be weaker.”

While the coaches were whispering, Song Suk-hyun came out last.

The players were slowly cleaning up to prepare for the next training session.

No one was paying attention to the training of the twenty-year-old early entry player. Except for Kim Jung-ryul.

“Suk-hyun, fighting! Hit it big!”

Song Suk-hyun smiled awkwardly and entered the batter’s box.

A junior who is favored by a senior is in a position that is likely to be resented by other seniors.

It was obvious that if he didn’t perform well here, he would be seen as an incompetent parachute and his Futures League life would be difficult.

“Hoo-ooh.”

Song Suk-hyun took out his bat.

A bat that was 2 inches longer than others.

If anyone had been watching Song Suk-hyun at this moment, they would have thought, ‘The bat is a bit long. That’s strange,’ but no one was paying attention.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

Song Suk-hyun spread his legs slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and pulled his top hand back.

“Stretch, stretch, stretch.”

Song Suk-hyun muttered the three words and took a breath.

“Here it comes.”

The batting ball pitcher threw the ball.

Song Suk-hyun swung the bat a little later than others, at the timing when the ball would have entered the catcher’s mitt.

Bang!

The batted ball, pushed by right-handed hitter Song Suk-hyun, stretched out along the right field line.

The pitcher who threw the batting ball was startled by the dull sound and turned his head back.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

The ball easily cleared the fence and bounced off the stands.

“…What?”

Even the pitcher who threw the ball doubted his eyes.

It was the timing when he thought it was completely pushed.

The ball was pushed instead of pulled.

If it was a hitting position or an uppercut swing raised upwards, it would be understandable, but to his eyes, it was close to a level swing.

The ball, which should have fallen close to the warning track at best, went over the fence.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Kim Jung-ryul clapped loudly on purpose and shouted.

“Home run! Nice! Let’s go for another one!”

At the sound of a home run, the players and coaches who were preparing for other training turned their heads.

A twenty-year-old early entry hitting a home run?

Song Suk-hyun was just under 185cm tall.

His physique was solid, but since there were also power hitters who reached 190cm, it was hard to expect him to hit home runs just based on his physique.

But hitting a home run from the first at-bat was hard to understand.

“Um, would you mind giving me the ball?”

At Song Suk-hyun’s request, the batting ball pitcher came to his senses.

“Oh, oh. Alright.”

The pitcher threw the ball back to the center.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, this ball would be the deciding factor.

Bang!

With a more cheerful sound than before, the ball flew along the right field line.

Like before, the ball was hit late, but it easily cleared the fence.

“What? What is he?”