Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 55

Pitcher done, batter up – Episode 54

[He’s caught again. Lee Jung-woo’s hitting is a bit sluggish today.]

[He’s taking a breather. Plus, the fatigue from returning from the Philadelphia road trip probably hasn’t worn off yet.]

[Yes, but both players are still producing good batted balls.]

[That’s right, they’ll break through the defense eventually.]

Unlike his usual high fly balls, Lee Jung-woo swung his bat horizontally, hitting the ball accurately. But this time, the batted ball was caught by the defense again.

So the Korean commentators rushed to sugarcoat it.

But the viewers’ reactions had long turned cold.

They heavily promoted it, even gave previews, raising expectations.

But what was broadcast was below par.

And the backlash came.

[Kwak Lee Duo Awarded Good Batted Ball Trophy]

[He’s just bad, but the hype is insane]

[They hyped him up to the end of the universe, but he can’t do anything]

[Are you even watching the defense?]

[Defense-well-done Award, 인정? (acknowledgement?)]

[What’s the point of good defense? The batter has to hit the ball well]

[LOL Lee Jung-woo is hilarious. He can’t hit, so he’s preventing Kwak Hyung-sun from getting on base too]

Like the saying “a lavish feast with nothing to eat,” the Korean Derby, which had gathered people’s expectations, showed a disappointing performance.

Every time Lee Jung-woo and Kwak Hyung-sun hit the ball, they were caught by the defense.

In particular, Kwak Hyung-sun had three batted balls caught by Lee Jung-woo alone.

The two players’ slump quickly diminished viewers’ interest.

While the PD [Production Director] was nervously biting his nails due to the low viewership ratings,

Lee Jung-woo, on the contrary, had a faint smile on his face.

‘Pull-hitting is still lacking. But the level swing is better than I thought. If I do it a bit more, I’ll get the feel for it.’

For the batter Lee Jung-woo, there was only one option.

Hitting it high by pulling.

He had learned it from the beginning, honed it after changing to a batter.

And the results were good, so he didn’t think of anything else.

But today, it seemed like he could wield a new weapon.

Because the level swing suited him better than he thought.

And Lee Jung-woo naturally didn’t know.

The on-site staff and the power analysts who were watching the game intently were thinking similarly.

“He’s a bit different than usual today, isn’t he?”

“He used to be a textbook power hitter, but today he’s doing level swings too.”

So far, the manager saw Lee as the most suitable batter for modern baseball after the flyball revolution.

His swing, which pulled and uppercutted, was focused on hitting the ball high.

He hadn’t played many games, but you could tell from the many extra-base hits compared to singles.

But today is a bit different.

He was intentionally level-swinging, producing quality batted balls with a lower height than before.

“Did he gain some kind of enlightenment?”

The manager thought Lee seemed to be learning something.

And perhaps the result would be more interesting than he thought.

####

Ian Field came down after the 7th inning.

It was 2-2, so he didn’t meet the winning conditions.

But it wasn’t a crucial game, and they weren’t on a losing or winning streak.

Having thrown 107 pitches, he came down from the mound without regret. But Mason remained.

The team, which had been repeating wins and losses, had gained momentum and had a chance to go on a winning streak.

He wanted to maintain that.

‘It’s a shame I gave up a run. But thanks to that guy, I saved a lot of pitches.’

Mason glanced sideways at the shortstop.

The young guy who had been showing his face since the exhibition game finally made it up here this year.

Now, he and Derrick were blocking the infield tightly for him.

‘He’s an interesting guy.’

He’s going through trial and error.

But from a pitcher’s point of view, Lee’s new batting was quite plausible.

Because he kept hitting the balls that were stabbing at his heart.

If the course was right, it wouldn’t be strange if they all became hits.

‘Well, there’s no “what if” in baseball. But I think he’ll hit a home run….’

Mason was a little greedy. But he soon shook his head.

Even if he’s a bit sluggish in hitting, he’s already doing 120% of his job in defense.

Whether it was a ground ball, a line drive, or a big bounce, he caught all the balls heading towards the shortstop position.

Thanks to that, he saved pitches, and Mason’s own pitch count was still 94.

Since he easily blocked the inning because of Lee, Mason thought it was greedy for him, the pitcher, to want more.

But even as he thought that, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of anticipation.

‘The angle is getting higher and higher. If he hits it right, it’ll go over.’

Then all Mason had to do was simple.

Believe in the home run that would eventually come.

And hold on until the end to become the winning pitcher.

‘It’s a bit ambiguous, but I can block at least 2 more innings.’

He still had strength left in his shoulder.

He didn’t really like complete games.

But today, he somehow wanted to keep pitching.

Also, he only threw 90 pitches in his previous appearance, so he wasn’t fatigued.

And there was a day off in between, so he could rest sufficiently.

That’s why he wanted to secure the victory for sure.

‘Let’s do our best.’

Mason believed.

Lee or anyone else, his teammates would make him a hero.

####

‘The level swing is definitely better for accurate contact.’

Of course, the power was a bit weaker.

But thanks to that, he hit the ball well.

And Lee Jung-woo thought that even though the distance would be less than an upper swing,

He could still give enough power to the batted ball with a level swing.

In fact, the more he got the feel for it, the more the distance increased.

‘Is it because I have a natural wrist strength, as Rubin said?’

I don’t know.

Maybe the level swing itself just suits my body well.

Lee Jung-woo, who was testing a new path, soon looked at the scoreboard.

2-2. Compared to scoring 16 points in the last game against the Phillies,

The score was seriously lacking.

But it was just that it seemed like it would explode but didn’t.

There was always a chance for a large number of points.

Unfortunately, it was Lee Jung-woo who broke the flow.

But he thought the end would be different.

‘Ian Field is down, and I’ve got the feel for it now.’

The opportunity comes in the bottom of the 9th.

Of course, they could come from behind in the 8th.

Anyway, there was a possibility that Lee Jung-woo would have another chance.

He aimed for that.

‘Originally, the best thing is to do well at the end, no matter what.’

Considering his poor performance at the plate today, it might seem like a brazen thought.

But Lee Jung-woo was serious.

“Lee, you’re not hitting well today, are you?”

“Well, there are times like this.”

When Lee Jung-woo was sitting on the bench, replenishing his energy.

Derrick quietly approached and sat next to him.

He was recording his first hitless game since being called up.

He wondered if he was intimidated, so he tried to comfort him.

But he was relieved to see him say it as if it were nothing.

Many rookie players are overjoyed or disappointed with each at-bat.

They get caught up in what they didn’t do well and fall into a slump.

In severe cases, they suffer mental damage and collapse.

He was a promising player who would become the core of the team, and he personally liked him.

Derrick wanted to comfort and encourage him.

But seeing Lee, who seemed stronger than he thought, he gave a faint smile.

“But you seem a bit different than usual today. Did you get a feel for something?”

“Yes, maybe. I’m not sure, but if I do it a few more times, it’ll become clear.”

Promising players who know how to develop themselves are rare. Very rare.

It’s great to have the ability to learn and absorb what someone teaches you.

But it’s difficult to figure out and learn something on your own.

That’s what the so-called geniuses did.

And among the people Derrick knew, there was only one player of that kind.

Joey Fredman. The guy who was unusual from the beginning eventually became one of the two pillars supporting the Braves with Derrick himself.

In fact, in terms of hitting alone, he was doing so well that it was a bit embarrassing to call them two pillars.

“Keep doing it until it works. You have that much time.”

Unlike himself, Lee still had unlimited time left.

Ten years, maybe more.

So he could fully endure crashing and breaking a few times.

Eventually, it would become the foundation for the future.

Derrick patted him on the shoulder.

And although he didn’t say it directly,

Lee Jung-woo, who received his heart, faintly raised the corners of his lips.

####

The opportunity came.

Even in a slightly burdensome form.

Bottom of the 9th, 1 out, runner on 2nd base.

The game was still 2-2.

In a situation where the game would go into extra innings if the bottom of the 9th ended like this.

Lee Jung-woo came to the plate.

‘Charlie Cole. The D-backs are making a gamble.’

Charlie Cole. A right-handed pitcher, he was the D-backs’ closer.

The fact that their key closer had come up was simple.

They meant to drag the game into extra innings and win it somehow.

Charlie Cole on the mound looked down at Lee Jung-woo with a stiff face, as most closers do.

‘His pitches are fastball, changeup, and curveball. But his fastball usage rate is almost 90%. His speed is 99 mph. The spin rate is usually 2300 plus or minus.’

Throwing 99 mph fastballs throughout the inning is threatening.

But the quality itself isn’t good.

The spin rate was only slightly better than the league average.

And the vertical and horizontal movement were just so-so.

In fact, maybe it was natural.

They had a stable starting lineup led by a powerful one-two punch.

If their closer was also excellent, they would be fighting for first place, not third place in the Western Division.

‘If I aim for the timing well, it’s enough.’

Lee Jung-woo looked up at the pitcher.

Perhaps because he hadn’t shown much at the plate in today’s game.

He felt like he was being looked down upon a bit. Of course, it could just be his imagination.

Gripping his bat tightly, Lee Jung-woo provoked the pitcher by spinning his hands.

The pitcher, as if he thought it was presumptuous of a rookie to do such a thing, smirked.

Then he fumbled with the ball for a moment.

He wound up greatly.

“Ball.”

The first pitch was quite far outside.

It wasn’t so far that he couldn’t hit it, so he wondered if he should swing once.

But the timing and course seemed a bit ambiguous, so Lee Jung-woo refrained from swinging and checked the ball.

The 99 mph fastball wasn’t dirty as he had heard.

The pitcher soon threw the ball in succession.

98-99 mph fastballs were thrown, one low and one high.

That made it three balls.

Lee Jung-woo, who had checked the ball straight again, came out of the batter’s box for a moment.

[He checked it properly, right?]

[Yes, he watched the ball until the end. He has a good feeling.]

Lee Jung-woo lightly swung his bat, trying to gauge the pitcher’s thoughts.

‘Location… no, he just doesn’t have good fastball control. Is his body not warmed up enough?’

He was originally a pitcher with a high walk-to-strikeout ratio.

But now, something seemed off.

Still, the ball was quite fast. But it wasn’t so threatening that he couldn’t even graze it, let alone 100 mph.

‘At this rate, I can keep up with my bat speed enough.’

Perhaps it was because he was concerned about the way he was checking the ball.

The pitcher hesitated a bit and winked at the catcher.

The catcher glanced at Lee Jung-woo.

But with a calm face, he let out a low, short sigh.

‘Let’s take it easy. I have at least 3 pitches. Let’s wait slowly.’

Since the count was overwhelmingly in the batter’s favor, Lee Jung-woo relaxed.

On the next pitch, Lee Jung-woo took a swing as usual.

[Swinging strike. But the count is still good for Lee Jung-woo.]

[He checked his swing to get the timing. I can’t know for sure, but it seems like he’s got a feel for it to some extent?]

As expected of a former player, the commentator saw through the situation.

Like he said, Lee Jung-woo lightly swung, gauging the timing.

And he got a feel for it to some extent.

‘It’s close.’

It was a swinging strike, but the timing was the same, and the course was close.

Some of the D-backs players in the field were startled by the bat that almost grazed the ball.

Then they soon brushed their chests.

If they got hit, it would be over.

Everyone’s attention was focused on this game, which was like a tightrope walk.

‘I’m going to hit it this time.’

Since he had completely caught the timing.

Lee Jung-woo, who nodded calmly, glared at the pitcher again as if to kill him and took his batting stance.

The pitcher also shook his head a few times and soon took his stance.

The two people looking at each other. On the outside, they both had expressionless faces.

But their eyes were quite different.

Unlike Lee Jung-woo, who seemed to be looking at something worthless, Charlie Cole’s eyes were trembling slightly.

After hesitating for a moment.

Charlie Cole threw the ball in accordance with the pitch clock.

With 1 out and a runner on 2nd base, it would have been good to shake him up with a changeup and induce a double play.

But his choice was a head-on match this time as well.

A fastball that stuck high and tight to the body.

Lee Jung-woo pushed his bat straight out in his batting stance.

[He hit it! It’s big!]

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

“Go over! Go over!”

The ball, which was shot like a bullet from home plate, pierced the infield.

The D-backs’ center fielder chased the ball, which was rising straight like a plane taking off, to the end.

The spectators, who had a premonition of a home run, stood up one by one and shouted.

[It’s far! It’s far. Whether the defense catches it or not, the runner will have plenty of time to come in! This game is over!]

Lee Jung-woo chased the ball with both eyes until the end.

He had a rough idea because he was the one who hit it.

He hit it quite hard.

And judging by the course, even if Poppin, who was slow on his feet, started not too late, he would at least get a sacrifice fly.

But for sure, that wasn’t going over.

[The batted ball slams into the fence. Lee Jung-woo hits a walk-off single! Game set! The Braves win the first game of the series!]

[Lee Jung-woo showed a disappointing performance at the plate in today’s game. But he finally does it. He hits a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9th!]

The straight-out batted ball slammed into the top of the fence and fell.

Poppin, who was on 2nd base, stepped on home plate, panting.

When the players who had come out from the moment the ball was hit roughly beat him and made a fuss.

Lee Jung-woo leisurely came down from the ground, clenching and unclenching his left hand.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go over.

But this one showed potential.

‘If I get used to it a bit more, I can hit it over even if I hit it with a level swing instead of an upper swing.’

He was now certain.

That a new possibility had opened up.