On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 165

“Foul! It narrowly misses the right field line.”

“That was quite a distance out.”

“It’s a foul, but the ball missed by a hair’s breadth.”

“Whether a foul ball goes backward or forward is important. If it goes backward, it means the ball has power, but if it goes forward, it means the batter’s timing is off. Han Min-seok’s foul balls keep going forward.”

“It’s already the 8th inning. His stamina must be waning.”

Han Min-seok didn’t look back.

He simply received the ball from the catcher, put it in his glove, and took a breath.

‘Four-seam fastball. Outside.’

Song Seok-hyun raised his mitt.

Han Min-seok and Kim Seong-hyun lifted their legs together.

Thwack!

The ball was lodged directly in the mitt.

Song Seok-hyun remained still, holding the ball.

‘Ball. Outside.’

“That was a close one.”

“It’s a shame it slipped out a bit. If that ball had been a strike, they would have been more than 90% of the way to setting a new record.”

“1-1. It’s a favorable count for both the pitcher and the batter.”

“As expected of Kim Seong-hyun. Most batters would swing at a ball in that location, but he holds back. He’s a real headache, isn’t he? That’s how skilled he is.”

The third pitch was once again on the outside corner.

Kim Seong-hyun swung his bat.

-Strike!

“Swing! 1-2! Han Min-seok gets the second strike.”

“That changeup is great. A changeup in that location at this timing. It’s a masterpiece. Wow, the angle of the drop wasn’t huge, but it was a perfectly timed changeup.”

Kim Seong-hyun stepped out of the batter’s box and adjusted his gloves.

Song Seok-hyun closed his eyes.

“1-2. Kim Seong-hyun doesn’t seem like he’ll back down easily.”

“Of course. A pitcher’s new record isn’t welcome news for a batter. If a new record is set today, Kim Seong-hyun’s name will be mentioned repeatedly. Until another record is set, the strikeout scene will remain in the archives and be shown in highlight reels every year.”

Kim Seong-hyun stood closer to the plate.

Song Seok-hyun hesitated for a moment before giving the sign.

“He’s thrown three pitches to the outside corner. Fastball, fastball, changeup. I wonder what pitch he’ll throw this time.”

Song Seok-hyun held out his mitt.

The ball thrown by Han Min-seok dug straight into the mitt.

Thwack!

Song Seok-hyun held the mitt still.

‘Ball. Inside.’

“2-2. It’s not easy. Not easy at all.”

“That was deep. He must have felt a lot of pressure to throw the ball properly inside.”

“2-2. Both the batter and the pitcher continue their difficult battle.”

Song Seok-hyun exhaled.

“Han Min-seok’s control, which was good, is gradually faltering. Now, each pitch is crucial.”

“One more strike and it’s a new record.”

Song Seok-hyun’s fingers trembled slightly as he gave the sign.

Han Min-seok isn’t in a situation to exchange signs right now.

His body is reacting to the pitching tempo.

That means the catcher, Song Seok-hyun, doesn’t have time to think.

He needs to give the signs immediately.

Song Seok-hyun usually gives signs quickly, but at this critical moment, the fact that he doesn’t even have time to hesitate weighed heavily on his shoulders.

“Han Min-seok, windup!”

As soon as he saw Song Seok-hyun’s sign, the pitcher lifted his leg high.

The white rosin powder scattered as the ball was fired.

Kim Seong-hyun, who had lifted his leg, hesitated.

It was a borderline pitch, hard to tell if it was a strike or a ball.

“……?”

The ball, which was heading outside the strike zone, suddenly curved.

He saw it with his eyes, but there wasn’t enough time for his body to react.

One word popped into his head.

Backdoor slider [a slider that starts outside the strike zone and curves back in].

He had ruled out the option of using a backdoor slider against a right-handed batter because the pitcher’s control wasn’t good.

Thwack!

-Strike!

……Thwack?

Kim Seong-hyun turned around.

“The catcher, he missed the ball! He missed the ball!”

His mind was blank, but his body reacted.

Kim Seong-hyun’s legs ran towards first base.

“Ah, damn it……!”

Song Seok-hyun got up.

The ball had rolled behind the catcher.

Song Seok-hyun dove to grab the ball and looked towards first base.

The runner was about 2/3 of the way there.

-Out.

“Out! It’s an out! He got the out!”

“He protects the perfect game. Song Seok-hyun protects the perfect game.”

“That was a really close call. Kim Seong-hyun has every reason to be disappointed.”

“Ah, but Song Seok-hyun is raising his hand. It looks like he’s injured.”

The training coach came onto the field.

Song Seok-hyun frowned, clutching his left arm.

“What’s wrong? Where is it?”

“My wrist. I think it hit me pretty hard. I can’t feel any strength in my hand.”

“Your wrist?”

The coach touched Song Seok-hyun’s wrist.

“Ah!”

“You got hit in the wrist?”

“Yes.”

“Your wrist is pretty swollen. Let’s get you out of here. We’ll have to substitute you.”

Song Seok-hyun clutched his wrist and headed to the bench.

Han Min-seok stared at Song Seok-hyun with a dazed look.

“What’s wrong? What is it?”

When Ham Seong-hoon asked urgently, the coach pointed to his wrist.

“The ball hit his wrist.”

“Wrist?”

“I think it was a missed sign.”

“Is anything broken? Is the bone okay?”

“We’ll have to check.”

“Okay. Send him to the hospital right away.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Il-hyeok! Seo Il-hyeok!”

“Yes. I’m getting dressed now.”

“Get ready right away.”

The Goat players rushed to Song Seok-hyun.

Song Seok-hyun repeatedly said, ‘I’m okay,’ and headed to the hospital with the coach.

In the car heading to the hospital with the training coach.

The coach asked.

“What happened?”

“I was giving the signs in a hurry, and I think there was a missed sign.”

“It looked like a slider from earlier.”

“I thought I signaled for a fastball, but I guess we didn’t have enough time…….”

“Sigh, so you blocked it with your wrist?”

“I thought I could catch it with my mitt, but the angle the ball broke was too sharp, so I couldn’t help it.”

“Still, you shouldn’t do that. If you injure your wrist, it’s a part with no padding, so you can get seriously hurt. The prognosis isn’t good either.”

“But it’s a perfect game. How could I break it?”

“……Sigh. That’s not wrong either, but.”

“Please turn on the radio. I want to hear how it’s going.”

“Just a moment. Which broadcasting station is it today…….”

The coach turned on the radio.

As soon as the radio came on, the commentator’s voice was heard.

-Ah! A walk! It’s a walk! The perfect game is broken!

Both the coach and Song Seok-hyun sighed.

* * *

Han Min-seok stared at his hand with a blank expression.

A straight walk.

The stands were buzzing.

“No. The momentum is broken. It’s ruined.”

“Ah…… why a walk there.”

Catcher Seo Il-hyeok walked to the mound.

Han Min-seok and Seo Il-hyeok made eye contact.

“Why are you spacing out?”

“Huh?”

“Get it together, man. Cover your mouth.”

Seo Il-hyeok patted Han Min-seok’s shoulder.

Only then did Han Min-seok raise his glove to cover his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t know. I’m just coming to my senses now.”

“Huh?”

“I was pitching a perfect game.”

“……You’re just realizing that now?”

“Yeah. I just thought today was a good day, that’s all.”

“You’re unusually carefree.”

“I know. It’s been a long time since I’ve pitched so comfortably without thinking. No, is this the first time?”

“Even though the perfect game is broken, the no-hitter is still intact. Can you do it?”

“How’s my pitching? Is my stuff good?”

“It’s a no-hitter. You have to throw it no matter what. Are you not going to throw?”

Han Min-seok chuckled.

“That’s right. I have to throw it no matter what.”

“The next batter is Kim Hyeong-woo. You know what I mean, right? He’s a left-handed batter anyway. Let’s get him cleanly and finish the inning.”

“Okay, okay. I got it.”

Seo Il-hyeok stepped off the mound.

Han Min-seok picked up the rosin bag.

“A no-hitter……. I’m going to pitch a no-hitter……?”

The game resumed.

At the plate was shortstop Kim Hyeong-woo.

“Han Min-seok’s no-hitter record continues.”

“He’s shaken after giving up a walk, but the next batter is Kim Hyeong-woo. A left-handed batter, it’s a good opportunity for Han Min-seok.”

“But he’s not someone you can take lightly. Kim Hyeong-woo is a player who carries on the lineage of Korean shortstops. He’s a Gold Glove winner with both defense and a .300 batting average.”

“It won’t be easy, but he has to push through. There are no weak links in the Pegasus lineup. Hong Seong-wook and Song Min-joon both have the potential for a game-winning hit. It’s better to face Kim Hyeong-woo than those two. It’s hard to expect a home run from Kim Hyeong-woo at Jamsil [a baseball stadium in Seoul known for being difficult to hit home runs in].”

Han Min-seok’s first pitch was a four-seam fastball.

Kim Hyeong-woo watched the ball go by.

“The ball is coming right down the middle. The batter let the first pitch go.”

“The pitcher gave up a straight walk. In this case, you have to watch the first pitch. Now the real battle begins. Once the pitcher starts forcing it into the zone, the batter has to go on the offensive.”

Han Min-seok licked his parched lips.

The catcher’s sign was a slider.

Han Min-seok closed his eyes once.

“Don’t think, don’t think.”

He came all the way to a no-hitter by throwing unconsciously.

He shouldn’t worry about how to face the opposing batter.

He’s a pitcher who overpowers with his stuff.

If his control is good, then what happens after is out of his hands.

Without thinking, flick.

Han Min-seok threw a slider.

“……!”

The ball heads straight for the middle of the zone.

Control is important, but control is the problem.

Kim Hyeong-woo swings.

Han Min-seok winces without realizing it.

Thwack!

-Strike! Two strikes.

“Strike! He gets two strikes.”

“The slider was really sharp. The angle of the break was really good.”

“The batter couldn’t help but be fooled. How does it break like that?”

Seo Il-hyeok caught the slider and breathed a sigh of relief.

The slider is sharper than usual.

The ball broke two or three balls more than he expected.

Unpredictable.