On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 58

“What?”

Hong Dae-sung frowned deeply.

“Why are you cursing me like that, as a friend?”

“Your pitches are fast, but your control isn’t great. You don’t have any breaking balls that drop. You don’t have any breaking balls that break to the outside. Your fastball tops out at around 153 km/h [approximately 95 mph]. Of course, you won’t make it in the pros. Look at Kim Young-gon over there. His control is better than yours, but not by much, yet he’s on a different level. It’s the difference between having a reliable breaking ball and not. What I’m doing is just improvising. Don’t get too excited. Eventually, hitters will time your pitches.”

“Is a catcher even allowed to say things that bring a pitcher down?”

“I’m just telling you not to get your hopes up. You’re going to get hit eventually. Your pitches have been high all day.”

Song Seok-hyun put his catcher’s gear back on as he spoke.

Kim Young-gon’s strikeout show continued, and the inning was quickly coming to an end.

“If you don’t like what I’m saying, then just overpower them with your stuff.”

The pitching duel between Kim Young-gon and Hong Dae-sung continued into the 5th inning.

Despite Song Seok-hyun’s words, Hong Dae-sung overpowered the Sangmu lineup with his fastball.

That is, until he walked three consecutive batters.

“Oh, bases loaded, no outs. Hong Dae-sung’s control is faltering rapidly.”

“His pitches have been consistently high, but he’s managed to get away with it because his left-right control hasn’t been too bad. Especially his outside pitches were decent, but now even those are missing the mark. If Hong Dae-sung had a breaking ball that broke away to the outside, it might be a different story, but when his fastball starts missing outside like that, the batter doesn’t even need to think about swinging.”

“Speaking of which, here comes lead-off hitter Hong Jin-seop. He hasn’t reached base today. With the lead-off hitter struggling, the offense can’t get going.”

“Hong Jin-seop is a good hitter, though. If he sees a pitch in his wheelhouse, he’s going to swing without hesitation.”

Song Seok-hyun called for a fastball 90% of the time.

The sign Song Seok-hyun gave to face Hong Jin-seop was a low, outside fastball.

Now, whether it works or not, he had to throw it low.

“Hong Dae-sung is exchanging signs with the catcher. He’s being careful this time.”

“He has to be. It’s bases loaded, no outs, after all.”

“The pitcher winds up!”

Hong Dae-sung’s pitch flew right down the middle, as if measured with a ruler.

Hong Jin-seop pushed the ball to the opposite field, splitting the gap in right-center field.

“He hits it! A base hit!”

“It looks like it’s going to be a bases-clearing double.”

“Runner scores! The runner from second scores! Even the runner from first is coming home! The runner from first also scores, and the batter is heading to second! He makes it to second!”

“It was close, but the game has turned around like this. 4-3. Now it’s a one-run game. A one-run lead in the 5th inning is nothing.”

Hong Dae-sung smacked his lips with a dejected expression.

The catcher sat there without any gesture.

Hong Dae-sung raised his arm and rotated it twice.

“I guess you can’t make it as a pro with just a fastball.”

The Sangmu’s second batter was Bang Jeong-wook.

The future shortstop for the Suwon Pegasus and the best hitter on the Sangmu team.

He hadn’t reached base today, but he had shown the ability to take Hong Dae-sung to five pitches or more in every at-bat.

“Of all people, Bang Jeong-wook is up to bat with a runner on second and no outs.”

“Bang Jeong-wook is a good hitter, even though he’s overshadowed by his defense. He’s a case where his defense is so good that his hitting gets overlooked. He has a good eye and hits the ball well to all fields.”

“Bang Jeong-wook is the second batter. That means the third and fourth hitters are waiting behind him. This is where the game will be decided, isn’t it?”

“The realistic approach is to put a runner on first and try for a double play. But third hitter Shin Seok-yeol has the potential for an extra-base hit. And fourth hitter Hwang Young-shik is a powerful hitter. If it comes down to a battle of strength, Hong Dae-sung won’t have an easy time. Hong Dae-sung is a pitcher who overpowers hitters with his stuff, so he struggles against hitters who can match his power. They need to make a stand here.”

Song Seok-hyun signaled for an outside fastball.

He wanted to intimidate the hitter with a fastball inside, but now wasn’t the time.

With Hong Dae-sung’s control being erratic, there was a high chance of a beanball [a pitch thrown intentionally at the batter’s head].

Putting a runner on first was a good option, but it could be dangerous for the hitter.

With Hong Dae-sung’s current control, it wouldn’t be surprising if the ball hit the batter in the head.

“Hmm…”

Hong Dae-sung hesitated for a moment before going into a full windup.

He didn’t pay attention to the runner on second.

*Thwack!*

“Strike!”

The batter was surprised and leaned back.

A cross-counter pitch, low and inside.

It was a clear opposite pitch, but the angle was sharp.

“That was a really good pitch.”

“If Hong Dae-sung could consistently throw pitches like that, he could go straight to the pros and be an ace.”

Contrary to the commentator’s praise, Song Seok-hyun’s expression was grim.

His arm angle was lower.

It wasn’t obvious, but the height of his pitch had dropped by about one ball.

On purpose? Or by mistake?

Adjusting his arm angle during the game?

Song Seok-hyun signaled for another outside fastball.

*Thwack!*

“Strike!”

The same fastball in the same location.

Bang Jeong-wook couldn’t swing this time either.

How many hitters could hit a 150 km/h [approximately 93 mph] fastball that comes in low and inside on the cross-up?

“Two strikes! He’s quickly putting the hitter away.”

“This game is getting interesting, isn’t it? His control has suddenly improved. I wonder if it’s a coincidence, or if he’s finally found his control.”

“Bang Jeong-wook didn’t even flinch.”

“You can’t swing at pitches like that. You have to watch them until you’re behind in the count.”

Song Seok-hyun threw the ball back to the pitcher.

It was clear.

He had deliberately lowered his arm.

He had changed his pitching form during the game.

As his arm angle lowered, the pitch broke further outside than he had anticipated.

Song Seok-hyun hesitated to call a sign for the first time.

“…”

He briefly considered going to the mound.

Song Seok-hyun decided to watch one more pitch before making a decision.

‘Fastball, outside.’

If he threw the same pitch as before, even in the same location, Bang Jeong-wook would strike out. The problem was whether he could throw the same pitch.

Hong Dae-sung wound up dramatically, as if showing off, and threw the ball.

“Strike! Out!”

“Wow! That was a great pitch!”

“It was a fastball that caught the outside corner perfectly. You can’t swing at pitches like that. How can you hit a fastball with that kind of control?”

“Two pitches inside, and then a fastball outside. It was perfect.”

Song Seok-hyun chuckled wryly.

It was a mess.

He changed his pitching form during the game, and there was no way he could have control.

Song Seok-hyun called a timeout and went to the mound.

“What?”

Hong Dae-sung asked brightly, his eyes sparkling.

“Are you crazy? Changing your pitching form during the game?”

“You told me to lower my hand.”

“That’s something you do in practice.”

“It feels like the ball is going better since I lowered it. It’s fun.”

“So you’re going to keep throwing like that?”

“Yeah, it’s different from before. The speed is similar, but the ball feels more… crisp.”

Song Seok-hyun clenched his right fist.

“Haa.”

He shook his head, looking at Hong Dae-sung.

“Yeah, would you even listen to me? Do whatever you want. Just don’t do anything without talking to me. Who changes their pitching form during a game?”

“Here?”

Song Seok-hyun clicked his tongue and walked off the mound.

Even though pitchers are individualistic, this was just insane.

How could he control a pitcher who did whatever he wanted during a game?

Song Seok-hyun returned to his position.

‘Fastball, down the middle.’

The cluster of pitches was definitely smaller than before, but his control was still random.

So… was there any need to worry?

He just had to put his mitt out and meet the ball wherever it came.

“Nice.”

Hong Dae-sung threw a 153 km/h [approximately 95 mph] fastball right down the middle from the first pitch.

The batter’s eyes widened, and he took a step back.

“Whoa, that’s fast.”

Song Seok-hyun simply held out his mitt.

There were no signs.

Hong Dae-sung’s lips gradually curled upward.

“This is fun. Baseball is fun.”

The third batter struck out in three pitches.

Song Seok-hyun kept his mitt in the middle, but the ball came inside, outside, wherever it wanted.

“Ha. I need to go to the pros soon.”

Song Seok-hyun shook his head.

Behind the catcher, in the spectator seats.

A man wearing glasses looked at Song Seok-hyun instead of his laptop.

A sticker that read ‘Good Sports’ was attached to the laptop.

“Wow, this is a jackpot today?”

The man’s name was Seok Su-il.

He was a reporter for Good Sports.

‘Success as a Catcher’

‘Young Gun (4)’

Word was open on Seok Su-il’s laptop.

The cursor blinked behind the title ‘Finding Young Guns’.

“Hong Dae-sung is amazing too. That guy might even go to the Asian Games next year?”

Next to Seok Su-il sat Oh Jang-heung, a reporter for Good Sports and a recent hire.

“I’m getting a lot of good stuff today. I came to see Kim Young-gon, but I’m seeing Song Seok-hyun here.”

“That catcher? Do you know him?”

“I remember now. I heard that guy’s name when I first joined the company. It was a long time ago, so I forgot, but I searched him up and it’s him. Song Seok-hyun. The guy who was supposed to go to the Major League.”

“That guy? Was he that good? I’ve never heard of him.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t know. He was going to the Major League as a pitcher, not a catcher. There’s even an article saying he hit 155 km/h [approximately 96 mph]. And that was in his first year of high school.”

“Wow, 155 km/h [approximately 96 mph] in his first year of high school is amazing.”

“How did he end up as a catcher? I’ve seen pitchers switch to other positions, but I’ve never seen anyone switch to catcher.”

“Shouldn’t we interview him too? It seems like there’s a fun story in his life.”

Seok Su-il stroked his chin.

“We’re supposed to be covering the Young Gun series until the day after tomorrow anyway, so let’s go interview him tomorrow or the day after. Kim Young-gon’s interview is the priority today.”

“Yes, sir.”

The game was going in Sangmu’s favor.

Despite Hong Dae-sung’s good pitching, Kim Young-gon was a tough wall to overcome.

Once his hard slider started working, the batters’ bats swung through the air.

Even Kim In-hwan, who had been in good condition, couldn’t resist swinging at Kim Young-gon’s slider.

Song Seok-hyun, batting as the fourth hitter, struck out looking.

“Hmm.”

After striking out Song Seok-hyun, the Sangmu players went to the bench.

Catcher Park Sang-yeon looked at the Goat’s bench with a uneasy expression.

“Hyung [older brother/senior male], why? What’s wrong?”

Kim Young-gon sat next to Park Sang-yeon.

“That catcher, Song Seok-hyun.”

“Yeah.”

“Besides the home run he hit earlier, he’s only swung once or twice today. Did you know that?”

“Really?”

Kim Young-gon said nonchalantly.

“I guess he’s just cautious.”

“Something feels off.”

“Why are you taking it so seriously? Is it because of the home run he hit earlier? That was my mistake.”

“No, it’s not just that…”

Just then, the coach called Kim Young-gon.

“Just a moment.”

Kim Young-gon left his seat.

Park Sang-yeon muttered to himself.

“The fact that he hasn’t swung and missed once is unsettling…”

Kim Young-gon went to the coach and immediately stood at attention.

“You’re looking good today?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Do you want to go a little longer? Your pitch count is still good.”

“Yes, I’ll go.”

“Okay, a shutout is out of the question, but let’s go for a complete game. You have to make up for the home run you gave up in the first inning, right?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“I’m saying this for your own good. You know our bullpen isn’t in good shape right now, right? Since it’s come to this, it’s better for you to secure the win with your own hands when the reporters are here. Don’t you think?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, just don’t make any mistakes like you did earlier. That’s all you have to do.”

Kim Young-gon returned to his seat and held the baseball in his hand.

He placed two fingers together on the seams of the baseball.

Slider grip.