On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 76

After Song Seok-hyun’s home run, it was clear he was a formidable hitter.

Sooner or later, the opposing team would stop avoiding Kim In-hwan and start challenging him directly.

Could Kim In-hwan rise to these challenges?

If Kim In-hwan couldn’t perform, Song Seok-hyun’s efforts would be in vain, no matter how well he played.

Even the Phoenix lineup, with national team cleanup hitter Kyung Soo-in, was struggling to score.

Change of offense and defense.

It was Gote’s turn to defend.

Jeon Sang-heum had given up a solo home run but prevented any further scoring.

5-2.

As the top of the 3rd inning began, Gote’s offense started with the 9th batter, Park Shin-eon.

Anthony threw a fastball to Park Shin-eon right from the first pitch.

Clack!

Park Shin-eon lightly pulled the ball, breaking through the gap between third base and shortstop, safely reaching first base.

Next up was the leadoff hitter, Jung Byung-sun.

He was a top-class center fielder in the league, but his batting skills weren’t quite as strong. However, he had a good eye, resulting in a high on-base percentage compared to his batting average.

“This puts them in a situation with runners on first and second with no outs. If they can’t get Seol Jin-il out, it will lead to the cleanup hitters, number 3 and 4.”

“They absolutely have to challenge Seol Jin-il here. Facing the cleanup with runners on base is the worst-case scenario.”

Just like the commentators said, the Phoenix battery [pitcher and catcher] thought the same.

They had to challenge him.

Kim In-hwan was warming up in the on-deck circle, and Song Seok-hyun gripped his bat, taking deep breaths.

The moment the pitcher threw the ball, a sigh erupted from the bench.

“Huh?”

Rising Star (2)

Seol Jin-il’s bunt caught both Phoenix and Gote off guard.

It wasn’t in Gote’s strategy, nor was it in Phoenix’s plans.

“Run! Run!”

The catcher, Park Shin-eon, was the first to react.

As Park Shin-eon ran to third base, Jung Byung-sun stole second.

Pitcher Anthony Shane reached out with his bare hand to grab the ball rolling between first base and the mound.

“If he catches it like that…”

Before Song Seok-hyun could finish his sentence, the ball briefly touched the pitcher’s hand and bounced away.

“Bases loaded! Bases are loaded! Seol Jin-il’s surprise bunt! A bunt that surprised everyone!”

“That bunt was… exquisite. The Phoenix infield was clearly unsettled and disorganized. It seems first baseman Kyung Soo-in wasn’t prepared enough.”

“Kyung Soo-in’s lack of focus during defense is a recurring issue, but he never seems to fix it.”

Bases loaded, no outs.

Applause erupted from the Gote bench.

The strategy coach breathed a sigh of relief.

“Where did that bunt come from all of a sudden?”

Manager Ham Sung-hoon called the hitting coach closer.

“Seol Jin-il, you’ve seen him a lot in the minors, right?”

“Yes, I have.”

“What kind of player is he?”

“He’s a workaholic.”

“What do you mean by ‘workaholic’?”

“He’s the type who keeps going until he gets it right. Until two years ago, trade requests were pouring in. As a military-completed outfielder [completed mandatory military service] with no weaknesses in offense, defense, or running, he was highly sought after. His defense is definitely A-grade, and although his batting lacks power, he watches the ball well, so he doesn’t struggle against different types of pitchers. Above all, his arm is the real deal. Even if he’s not at Seok-hyun’s level, he’s one of the best arms in the league.”

“Then why hasn’t he stood out until now? I’ve heard the name, but I didn’t know he was that good. Hasn’t he ever been called up to the first team?”

“There were several reasons. First, he had injuries, and Nak-gyun’s arrival saturated the outfield, so there were few opportunities for a call-up from the minors. As a result, he lost interest and wandered a lot.”

“Was he slacking off?”

“Not slacking off, but he’s the type who struggles without motivation.”

“Then it seems like he has a weak mentality…”

“No, that’s not it. Rather, he has a bit of craziness. He doesn’t hold back and flies around. It’s hard to see him as mentally weak.”

“So, motivation is important?”

“Aside from the craziness, if he adapts a little, he’s good enough to be a regular on the first team.”

Seol Jin-il dusted off the dirt from his uniform.

Anthony Shane glared at Seol Jin-il, clenching his teeth.

Bases loaded, no outs, and the cleanup trio was up to bat.

Seol Jin-il was a player they had to get out no matter what.

Thump, thump!

Kim Chang-hyun looked at Anthony and gestured downward, downward.

A signal to stay calm.

Like a veteran, Anthony took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“Kim In-hwan is coming up to bat with the bases loaded.”

“At this point, it’s hard to avoid a showdown with Kim In-hwan. The next batter, Song Seok-hyun, has already proven that he’s not an easy out, hasn’t he? Plus, he hit a two-run home run today.”

“Phoenix probably wants to induce a double play here, even if it means giving up a run, but I don’t know if they can do what they want.”

“The infielders have moved in. They seem determined to induce a ground ball.”

Kim In-hwan turned his head as he stepped into the batter’s box.

Song Seok-hyun was in the on-deck circle, swinging his bat and warming up.

-Hyung [older brother/respected senior], don’t think. Full swing. If it comes into the zone, swing hard no matter what, and if it’s ambiguous, just let it go. Don’t think about the pitch mix or the situation.

That was Song Seok-hyun’s answer when Kim In-hwan asked him how to attack Anthony.

Kim In-hwan had begged Song Seok-hyun, who predicted pitches like a possessed shaman, for any secrets, but Song Seok-hyun shook his head.

-Everyone has their own style. Hyung, you have to go with your style.

“My style…”

Kim In-hwan muttered.

My style.

My style…

Recently, since Song Seok-hyun had been batting behind him, pitchers had openly avoided Kim In-hwan.

Thanks to Kim In-hwan narrowing his zone and batting carefully, he had been getting on base, but now it was time to compete.

‘Curveball, drop it.’

Phoenix catcher Kim Chang-hyun called for a breaking ball, prepared to block it even with the bases loaded.

Anthony threw his signature 12-6 waterfall curveball.

-Ball, low.

“Kim In-hwan lets one go.”

“That curveball was quite sharp, but Kim In-hwan didn’t react.”

“Has Kim In-hwan’s eye improved?”

“His on-base percentage has increased a lot recently. Maybe it’s because he’s wearing glasses.”

Kim Chang-hyun tilted his head.

Kim In-hwan had started his engine.

He started his engine, but the timing was late.

It didn’t feel like he was picking the ball.

-Changeup, low.

Kim Chang-hyun tested Kim In-hwan again with another pitch.

Whack.

-Ball, low.

Kim Chang-hyun was convinced.

He started his engine again this time.

But he stopped halfway.

He wasn’t picking the ball.

He was trying to swing at any similar pitch from the start.

They hadn’t noticed Kim In-hwan’s change because they had been treating him almost like he was being intentionally walked.

“Hoo…”

Kim Chang-hyun’s eyes alternated between Kim In-hwan and Song Seok-hyun.

Even if they walked Kim In-hwan, there was Song Seok-hyun.

He was a hitter with a good feel today.

They had no choice but to compete here.

He had thrown two breaking balls outside.

Then…

‘Fastball, inside, low.’

They had to aim for a double play.

Anthony took a deep breath.

An inside pitch to a power hitter could lead to a major accident if it was a mistake.

Inducing a ground ball with an outside breaking ball was the best option, but the breaking ball wasn’t working, so they had to throw an inside fastball.

“Sss…”

Anthony squeezed the ball tightly with his fingers, as if to crush it.

Anthony’s maximum velocity was less than 145 km/h [approximately 90 mph].

A pitcher who relied on control and breaking balls had no choice but to increase the spin on his fastball to compete inside.

Anthony stretched his leg as far as possible and snapped his wrist.

‘The course is perfect.’

Kim Chang-hyun held out his mitt.

It was a well-placed inside pitch.

It was a course that would be called a strike unless the umpire had an unusually small zone.

It would be difficult to get a solid hit unless the batter technically pushed the ball to the opposite field.

Especially if the batter was Kim In-hwan…

Swish.

Kim In-hwan’s bat could be heard starting up.

That’s it.

If he hit it, it would be a double play.

Kim Chang-hyun saw Kim In-hwan pulling the bat with all his might.

A little later than he had expected.

Bang!

“It’s up! Right field fence! Right field fence! Right field fence! Right field fence! It’s gone!”

Kim In-hwan threw his bat.

Kim Chang-hyun stared blankly at Kim In-hwan’s back.

The ball seemed like it would go over the foul pole, but it barely stayed inside the line.

He understood that hitting the ball late would bring it inside the line, but he couldn’t believe how it went over the fence even though it was hit late.

“Kim In-hwan! Kim In-hwan! Kim In-hwan! Kim In-hwan!”

“He! Ra! Cle! S! Kim! In! Hwan!”

“Gote’s Hercules Kim In-hwan! Fly, fly, send it flying!”

It was the news the fans had been waiting for.

Kim In-hwan’s home run.

A monster who could send a weakly hit ball over the fence.

He was a player with a lot of baggage, even earning the nickname ‘Blind Kim,’ but he was a player of love and hate for Gote fans.

The deeper the love and hate, the deeper the joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

The fans who had cheered for Song Seok-hyun’s home run were now screaming with madness at Kim In-hwan’s grand slam.

“Sit down! Sit down! It’s dangerous!”

“Don’t run there!”

“You’re spilling the food!”

The cheerleaders and cheerleaders who had been trying to boost the excitement were now trying to calm the fans down.

Even the Daejeon Stadium security team came to calm the fans down.

“In-hwan! I knew you’d hit one!”

“I love you! I love you!”

“I love you, Kim In-hwan! Kim In-hwan! Forever!”

It was only the third inning, but the already heavily drunk fans put their arms around each other and cheered and slurred at the same time.

“Did they bring patients with bipolar disorder? Seriously.”

The security team staff shook their heads and returned to their seats.

“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”

At home plate, the runners exchanged high-fives with Kim In-hwan, who had hit the home run.

Kim In-hwan, who usually restrained himself, couldn’t hold back his excitement this time and shouted.

“Yeah!”

Kim In-hwan pointed at Song Seok-hyun and winked.

“Expecting a back-to-back!”

The score was 6-5, extending the lead.

The atmosphere in Gote was incredibly hot thanks to Kim In-hwan’s grand slam.

Anthony on the mound was shaking his head, drained of energy.

“Ha…”

The catcher was also in a daze.

A big inning.

The momentum shifted to Gote in an instant with Kim In-hwan’s grand slam.

Kim Chang-hyun habitually called for an outside low fastball to the pitcher.

The most mundane, and therefore the safest, pitch.

Bang!

“It’s big! It’s big! It’s big! It’s big! Center field fence! It’s gone!”

Song Seok-hyun left his bat aside and slowly ran to first base.

The safest pitch is the most obvious pitch.

If Kim Chang-hyun had been sharp enough to notice that Song Seok-hyun’s bat was more than an inch longer than others, he wouldn’t have called for a fastball that came in ambiguously outside.

“Back-to-back! A back-to-back has been hit!”

“Gote is really scary today! They’ve scored 5 points in this inning alone, all with home runs!”

“Home runs that instantly fill the void left by Choi Dae-gyu, Lee Nak-gyun, and Kang Moon-gyu! Kim In-hwan’s power was already well-known, but who knew that Song Seok-hyun, this young player, would have such punching power?”

“Where did this treasure come from? Hahaha. Gote is the epitome of ‘blessing in disguise.’ As soon as an unfortunate incident occurs, one of the league’s best prospects is born. That player is twenty years old this year! And he’s a catcher! A catcher who bats cleanup! Gote fans must be full even without eating!”

The fans sang the team’s cheer in unison.

“There’s no place we can’t go. Even if everyone says it’s difficult, we step and step and climb up. You can only look up at us. In the end, we’re the ones who stand at the top.”

“The masters of autumn, the masters of Jamsil [a famous baseball stadium in Seoul], Gote, it’s Gote!”

As Song Seok-hyun stepped on third base, Gote fans clung to the fence and chanted Song Seok-hyun’s name.