On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 36

“Let’s warm up, Jung-ryul.”

Rising Star as a Catcher

We Need You

The chairman wished he could light a cigarette if there weren’t reporters around.

The cigarette he quit for health reasons was desperately needed.

“He was so insistent on building a second-string stadium that we spent money to build him a nice one… tsk tsk.”

The surroundings froze at the chairman’s words.

The atmosphere was so cold that even the reporters were on edge.

“Oh, Kim Jung-ryul is coming up there.”

Someone, whoever it was, mentioned Kim Jung-ryul’s name to lighten the mood.

“Kim Jung-ryul?”

The chairman showed interest at the mention of Kim Jung-ryul.

“Is he here?”

“Yes, he is currently recovering in the second string [minor league team].”

“Jung-ryul used to throw well. He used to be so energetic. How is he these days?”

The president’s eyes wavered.

If he told the truth, the atmosphere would only get colder, and if he lied and Kim Jung-ryul stirred things up, his own situation would become more difficult.

“I heard he is still focusing on rehabilitation.”

“Really? So, we’re spending money and getting nothing done.”

The corners of the chairman’s mouth drooped.

After giving up a lot of runs in the first inning, the innings flew by.

He missed the timing to get up, and now Kim Jung-ryul came up.

“Still, we should watch Kim Jung-ryul. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When Kim Jung-ryul came out, the Wolves’ bench erupted with comments.

“Oh, Kim Jung-ryul.”

“Is he done with rehab?”

“Wasn’t he about to retire?”

“Wow, Kim Jung-ryul from back in the day.”

Kim Jung-ryul stood on the mound and looked at the catcher.

Five practice pitches.

The ground buzzed as Kim Jung-ryul threw the first pitch.

“Is that an underhand?”

“It’s an underhand?”

“Why is he throwing from below?”

The opposing team was surprised, but it was nothing compared to the reporters’ astonishment.

The reporters immediately picked up their cameras and took pictures of Kim Jung-ryul.

The chairman frowned deeply.

“What is this, are they playing games?”

The president swallowed hard at the chairman’s glare.

Even as the baseball team president, he couldn’t possibly know the current status of a forgotten ace who had been stuck in the second string for a while.

“He’s practicing different things because he’s in rehab.”

Since he didn’t know properly, he had no choice but to make excuses.

“Practicing?”

“…Yes.”

“Practicing…”

The president wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.

The handkerchief was damp.

Enough water would flow out if you wrung it out by hand.

Thwack.

Thwack.

As Kim Jung-ryul threw the second and third pitches, exclamations erupted from the Wolves’ bench.

“That’s great!”

The pitching coach nodded at Wolves’ second-string manager Kim Young-ki’s words.

“That’s a rare orthodox underhand [a type of baseball pitch].”

“I know. The ball looks good too.”

“The angle of the drop is sharp.”

“Now that he can’t do anything else, he’s going underhand.”

“He must have some pride, but that’s amazing.”

“I think it’s even more amazing that he throws the ball like that. When did he change his form?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know about that either…”

“Well, who would have been interested in him anyway?”

When Kim Jung-ryul finished warming up, the batter stepped into the batter’s box.

A moment of silence flowed through the ground.

As Kim Jung-ryul’s hand brushed the ground, the ball soared upwards.

Looking at it from left to right, it was in the middle, and looking at it from top to bottom, it was a little higher than the knee.

The batter’s iron rule is to aim for the first pitch of the changed pitcher.

The batter tensed his shoulders and swung the bat.

Tap.

The ball bounced and headed straight for the pitcher.

Kim Jung-ryul caught the ball and immediately got the out.

“Oooooh.”

“Did you see that? The way the ball dropped?”

“Wow, that’s a good ball?”

The Wolves’ bench was louder than the Goat’s bench.

The batter who was out shook his head as he entered the bench.

“The angle is really good?”

“Is it that good?”

“I almost swung and missed.”

“Don’t lie. What, did he throw a forkball or something?”

“The ball really dropped that much.”

After Kim Jung-ryul went on the mound, the Wolves didn’t score any additional points.

When Kim Jung-ryul returned to the bench, the Goat players stood up and applauded.

“Hey, is he a returning general or something? Why the applause?”

“Hyung [term for older brother or male friend], your ball was really good.”

“Hyung. Awesome, awesome.”

“Awesome, my foot. It’s just a few outs, don’t overreact.”

Kim Jung-ryul didn’t lose his smile even as he scolded them.

It’s the second string, but the batters can’t get a feel for it at all.

The difference between the second and first strings is clear, but he feels confident in his ball.

“Sunbae [term for senior colleague], your ball was the best.”

Song Seok-hyun gave a thumbs up.

Kim Jung-ryul stroked Song Seok-hyun’s head.

“Are you overreacting too?”

“Your ball was really good.”

“It wasn’t that good, was it?”

“This is the kind of ball that’s hard to get a hit off of even if you know it’s coming?”

“You’re flattering me.”

Perhaps it was thanks to Kim Jung-ryul’s quick innings.

The Goats scored runs and gradually caught up.

The president took this opportunity to say to the chairman.

“Um… how about we get up now for today? It seems like the scheduled time is up.”

The chairman glanced at his watch.

“That’s true, but let’s watch Kim Jung-ryul throw one more time. I’m curious.”

The chairman clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them.

The president groaned involuntarily.

It’s fortunate that they scored, but if they give up another point here, the atmosphere will be even colder than before.

Thwack!

-Out!

Thwack!

-Out!

Kim Jung-ryul got two outs with three balls.

The chairman’s expression didn’t change, but he nodded once or twice.

“Didn’t I tell you not to swing at the first pitch?”

“The ball came in too much in the middle…”

“Still, hold back. You have to see the ball.”

“I’m sorry.”

On the Wolves’ bench, they scolded the batter who was out.

The player hung his head at the hitting coach’s scolding.

“Jung-ryul will be back in the first string this season.”

The hitting coach sighed at the manager’s words.

“Why is he doing this when the reporter is here?”

“Isn’t he doing this on purpose? The chairman is here, the reporter is here, it’s the perfect signal for Kim Jung-ryul’s return. Don’t you think?”

“Do you think so?”

“If it’s a hint, it’s a hint.”

“Why is he doing this when we’re playing against him?”

“Well, did we look easy? Did we look even easier because we see each other often?”

“Huh? That… I told him not to swing at the first pitch, but that… huh?”

The batter who swung at Kim Jung-ryul’s first pitch ran to first base.

The ball bounced irregularly in front of the second baseman.

The second baseman blocked the ball with his body, but the batter runner landed safely on first base.

“Hmm…”

The manager crossed his arms and glanced at the audience.

“The reporters are still here because the chairman hasn’t left.”

“Why?”

The manager paused for a moment and then sent a signal with his hand.

“I feel sorry for Jung-ryul, but we have to do what we have to do.”

The signal the manager sent was a steal signal.

The runner on first base was Jung Young-cheol, a first-string regular.

He had been demoted to the second string due to a slump in hitting, but he was a fast runner who was in the top 5 in stolen bases last year.

“…”

Song Seok-hyun looked back and forth between Kim Jung-ryul and the runner.

The Wolves’ coach’s hand is moving busily.

Two outs, runner on first.

If it were standard, he would leave it to the batter.

Underhand, fast runner.

It’s a situation where he can attempt to steal even with two outs.

Taat!

At the same time as Kim Jung-ryul threw the ball, the runner ran. The batter deliberately swung and missed to help the runner steal.

The catcher caught the ball and threw it, but it went over the second baseman’s head.

“Run! Run!”

The runner landed safely on third base.

“…”

The chairman’s eyes, who had been about to get up after watching this inning, sharpened again.

It was the chairman’s first time coming to the second string, and he was disappointed in the team for not even saving face once.

“Sigh.”

The Goat’s second-string manager, Gu Chang-hyun, glanced at the audience.

“Why isn’t he leaving?”

“Isn’t he going to watch the whole game like this?”

“I’d rather get yelled at, this is driving me crazy, really.”

“What should we do?”

“What can we do? We have no choice but to trust Jung-ryul.”

Kim Jung-ryul got the batter runner out and finished the inning.

The inning was over, but the chairman still stayed in his seat.

The president couldn’t urge him to get up anymore.

-Out!

-Out!

-Out!

Kim Jung-ryul quickly increased the out count.

The Goats also followed one point at a time.

Before they knew it, it was the 6th inning.

The score was 8-7.

“The game is interesting.”

A sigh of relief erupted around the chairman’s words.

“Is Kim Jung-ryul finally doing even 1/100th of what he’s been paid for?”

“Wouldn’t he be a promising player?”

“Why haven’t they used him in the first string when he throws so well?”

“Well… as I said before, he’s currently in rehab…”

“Rehab? When he throws so well?”

“Ah, so, he’s adapting, adapting.”

“If we want to get back the money we’ve invested in that guy, we have to work him hard. Can he waste time here?”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

The chairman had already forgotten to get up from his seat.