Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 11

Saying ‘the current me’ makes me sound like I’m something special, but really, there’s not much to it. If we put aside my overall career stats and just look at this season, I’m basically… a B+ grade swingman in the league, maybe?

My earned run average has gone up a bit because I’ve had a few rough days as the season has progressed. Now, at the end of May, two full months into the league, my stats are as follows:

18 appearances, 2 starts, an ERA of 2.88, 25 innings pitched, 2 wins, 1 loss, 6 holds, and 1 save. I’ve only allowed 9 walks in 25 innings, and I’ve struck out 23, which is just under one strikeout per inning. My WHIP [Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched, a measure of a pitcher’s ability to keep runners off base] is 1.16.

I’m maintaining a steady pitching performance.

Thanks to the unusual weather causing repeated rain cancellations, I’ve been able to relieve some fatigue. It looks like it’s going to rain all day tomorrow, so I’ll probably get another day off. I sat down in front of my computer for the first time in a while.

I logged into Full Count, the online baseball game that feels like it made the current me. And I saw an announcement.

– June 6th Update

“Oh…….”

A natural click.

– The Monthly MVP Shop player list has been updated.

– Sangsoo Tigers ― Hong Seok-jin

– Visco Runners ― Kim Do-hoon

…

…

And on the very last line,

– Wonha Challengers ― Kim Han-wool

Huh… me?

I quickly accessed the game from the homepage and went to the MVP Shop.

The game company selects the monthly MVPs internally, choosing a team MVP each month and releasing that player as an MVP-grade player.

The stats are ridiculously good. For A and S-grade pitchers, a top-tier fastball stat might be around 50, but an MVP-grade player starts in the high 60s, or even the low 70s. It’s a cheat. A cheat.

However, whether you call it a given or a matter of course, not just anyone can get these players.

Let’s say there are 100 random item boxes. You can open the boxes with a special virtual item called an MVP Voting Ticket.

Each time someone uses a voting ticket, the number inside the item box goes from 100/100 to 99/100. If you’re lucky, you might get the player you want on the first try, or if you’re unlucky, it might take all 100 boxes.

What’s even more amazing is that this count is shared by all users. In other words, even if I use 99 tickets and get it down to 1/100, someone else could use just one ticket at the perfect moment and snatch the player away.

And finally, the shocking truth that each MVP Voting Ticket costs 2,500 won [approximately $2 USD] in cash! But don’t worry, buy 10 and get 1 free! 10+1!

What the hell.

In other words, it’s about 25,000 won [approximately $20 USD] for 11 tickets, and 225,000 won [approximately $180 USD] for 99 tickets. But since it’s hard to guarantee you’ll get the player even if you spend 100 tickets, in reality, you can expect to invest several times that amount.

“Sigh…….”

It’s not like I’m living hand to mouth, but I do try to save money. So, with a ‘let’s give up’ kind of feeling… no, let’s just check my stats. Checking is okay, right?

Ding―!

Name ― Kim Han-wool

Team ― Wonha Challengers

Control ― Top Tier

Four-seam Fastball ― 63

Slider ― 42

Curveball ― 48

Forkball ― 38

Sinker ― 46

“…Jackpot.”

What is this? Is this… me?

Even at the worst, fastball stats are usually around the high 60s, but maybe because my fastball has such a bad reputation, I only got 63, not even in the mid-60s.

But look at the stats for those breaking balls.

For other pitchers, their other breaking ball stats are terrible, probably as a reaction to their ridiculously high fastball stats.

Usually, the highest is in the late 30s, and I’ve even seen some as low as the early 20s. But my highest is a 48 curveball.

Plus, it’s not a common combination like a national forkball, national sinker, or national two-seamer, but a sinker-forkball combo! I looked at the stats of other pitchers. A festival of national forkballs, national sinkers, and national two-seamers. I looked at the popularity on the right side of the screen.

Overwhelmingly in first place!

It’s a player card that isn’t greatly affected by team deck effects [synergy bonuses from having multiple players from the same team], my form is known to be cool, and since not many people use me, there’s also rarity, and even my pitches are a sinker-forkball combo!

Heh…….

At this point, it’s worth spending money, isn’t it?

I checked my remaining cash. 2,800 won [approximately $2.25 USD]. The price of one MVP Voting Ticket.

“…….”

A moment of contemplation. Should I spend it? They said they’d raise my salary anyway, right?

But I shook my head. I need to save money. The salary increase this year is probably more of a bonus for not applying for free agency.

If I don’t perform well this year, I’ll probably be released. I may be performing at a B+ grade in the league right now, but the season isn’t even halfway over. Who knows what will happen in the second half.

“Sigh…….”

I chuckled at my own patheticness and bought one MVP Voting Ticket. Even if it’s just one, I spent it! It’s for my own satisfaction.

Ding―!

– ***211 has acquired Wonha Challengers player Kim Han-wool.

Just then, a notification popped up that someone had acquired me. It makes me feel good for no reason.

With a pleased smile, I clicked on my page and saw my stats. My character was throwing a ball next to it. And next to that was 100/100.

The mind games begin. The probability of getting the player from 100/100 is only 1%, but if it’s 99/100, the probability increases even a little bit.

If the number drops to around 30 or 20, you can witness the miracle of it disappearing in an instant. No one wants to waste money.

“Hmm…….”

It’s not going to happen anyway. Let me start it off. Everyone who wants to take me is grateful to me.

With that in mind, I pressed the vote button.

Ding―!

– ***021 has acquired Wonha Challengers player Kim Han-wool.

“…Huh?”

* * *

“Helloooooo.”

“Don’t drag out your greetings.”

“Yeeeeeeeees.”

“You crazy bastard.”

I overslept a bit because I was having fun playing after getting a good character, so I dragged my dazed self to the stadium.

I forced myself to hold back a yawn that was about to explode, so the end of my greeting was a bit drawn out. The pitching coach said something for no reason, but I didn’t back down and dragged out the end even more.

Today is the first day of the home series against Hanseong Winners and the first game of the week. If I get my condition right from the first day, the week will be easier. Of course, how would I know how many days I’ll be pitching this week?

But going to work after breaking that self-imposed rule felt new. I was incredibly tired and sleepy, but maybe that’s why my concentration was relatively better.

Our starting pitcher’s pitches, which are usually hit hard, and our team’s batters’ bats, which usually swing through the air, are clearer than usual.

Clearly. Our team is pretty bad, but… the opposing team is Hanseong Winners, who have been in 8th place, the bottom of the league, for three years in a row. Neck and neck, they were competing to see who was worse.

By some chance, in the bottom of the 7th inning, Sung-moon’s lucky two-run home run made the score 2 to 0.

The moment the bat hit the ball, I thought I’d be up in the top of the 8th, so I picked up my glove and headed to the bullpen without anyone telling me to.

On the way, sure enough, pitching coach Shin Young-joon told me to warm up in the bullpen. When I showed him my glove, he smiled awkwardly.

I went to the bullpen, gave a rough greeting to bullpen catcher Geon-young, gave a rough greeting to the team’s younger players, and put on my glove. I stretched my shoulder well on the way to the bullpen.

After stretching my legs and hips for a while, I put on my glove and caught the ball that the pitching coach tossed to me.

I briefly checked the ball for any strange spots. After confirming that there was nothing strange, I set up Geon-young and threw the ball lightly.

“Oh.”

“Why?”

“I feel pretty good today.”

I haven’t even started pitching properly yet. It’s just a simple catch, but I feel good today for some reason. It’s like the ball is extending even though I’m throwing it lightly. It feels like my velocity is coming out without me putting in any effort.

“Geon-young, sit down.”

“Ah, yes.”

I don’t know where his confidence that he could catch my ball without a mask went, but Geon-young now puts on his mask well. It’s sad that I’m feeling proud from this…….

Thwack―!

“Nice ball!”

“Han-wool.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t overdo it just because you’re in good condition.”

“I’m not using any strength at all.”

“Everyone says that. And then they suddenly collapse.”

No, I’m serious.

“I’m at 70% right now?”

“What…….”

“Fastball!”

“Fastball!”

I gave the sign with my glove and told him it was a fastball. Geon-young boldly repeated it and put his mitt up. The velocity is pretty good even though I threw it with less strength than usual. Oh, am I going to hit 140km [approximately 87 mph] today if I do well?

Thwack―!

“Good, good!”

“Curveball!”

“Curve!”

I threw a curveball, checked my sinker, and checked my splitter and slider. All good. Just as I was about to throw about 15 pitches, our team’s offense was over and the bullpen door opened.

– Your love is a wildcard, Folding is the hard part…….

Before I knew it, I even had an entrance song. I looked up the song because it was pretty good, and the title was ‘Wildcard’. I’m our team’s new wildcard or something. I hummed the lyrics and headed to the mound.

When I looked at the scoreboard, my number and name passed by next to the cheesy pitching form I took at the beginning of the season, the screen switched, and my picture and a brief history of me were introduced. My stats for this season as well.

In addition, the cheers of our team’s fans rang out with my appearance. Until last year, or even the beginning of this season, the fans’ reaction to my appearance was… Ah, he’s out again, about 80%. Good luck, 10%. And the rest were, who is he?

But it’s different now. About 90% are saying 5252!! [a Korean slang term for encouragement, similar to “fighting!”] Damn it, I believed in you!!! And the rest are, well… I don’t know yet, but I should believe in him for now?

Either way, it’s clear that my status has changed 180 degrees from before.

I went up to the mound, finished my practice pitches, and got the ball that Gyu-hak rolled around the infield after a long pack to second base. I checked the condition of the ball, stepped on the plate, and the umpire’s call rang out. The batting order is a bit tough. The cleanup starts from number 3.

The first pitch was a curveball that hung low in the center. For a moment, I almost laughed when I remembered Geon-young repeating, Curve! in the bullpen, but I struggled to hold it in and adjusted my grip. The curveball I threw as usual… no, the curveball was a low ball…….

“Strike!”

I thought it would be, but thanks to Gyu-hak’s fantastic framing [skillfully catching the ball to make it appear within the strike zone], I got a strike. The batter kept looking at me, trying not to show the umpire that he was dissatisfied, but that’s how I knew. He didn’t like that call.

He’s going to be there today. I thought I could easily get him out with my control and Gyu-hak’s framing, so I kept aiming for that spot. I made him foul one off with a curveball that seemed to be going to the same spot but fell a little lower, and then struck him out swinging with a forkball that fell in the same spot.

It bounced, but Gyu-hak, being a defensive catcher, easily blocked it and tagged him out for one out.

Number 4 was even easier. I don’t know what he heard, but he easily went out with a ground ball to third base on the first pitch sinker that curled into his body.

Number 5 was a bit difficult. He went to 6 pitches and then flew out to right field on a slider that ran away to the outside.

I easily finished the inning and returned to the bullpen. I finished the inning with 10 pitches, which was easier than I thought.

Thanks to that, the pitching coach came over and asked if I was okay to go for another inning, so I said, of course, of course, and was about to do a NeNe Chicken joke [a popular Korean fried chicken chain, implying he’s ready for anything] when I got hit on the back of the head.

“Let’s see…….”

New inning, I finished my practice pitches again and looked at the scoreboard. This inning starts with the 6th batter…….

“…I’m going to meet him.”

You son of a bitch.

I clenched my teeth without realizing it. I relaxed my expression and looked at home, and the play call rang out. Something like motivation-induced awakening. I struck out the 6th and 7th batters with three pitches each. And entering the batter’s box…….

– 8th batter, left fielder Lee Yong-ho.

You son of a bitch.

I didn’t try to show it, but my right hand holding the ball tightened.

Come to think of it, I haven’t thrown a single fastball today.

This is what’s good about having a lot of breaking balls. There are so many game plans that day.

For example, even with just a forkball, I can use it to get ahead in the count, drop it as a finishing pitch, not throw it because it’s not dropping today, or just show it, etc.

I didn’t really aim for it, but I hadn’t thrown a single fastball even as I entered the last batter of the 2nd inning.

I finished thinking for a moment and briefly scanned the batter. I showed my index and middle fingers on my left shoulder. Gyu-hak nodded and gave the sign between his legs. I nodded again and grabbed the grip.

Thwack―!

“Strike!”

The first pitch was a bold fastball on the inside high!

Lee Yong-ho seemed so surprised that he took about two steps back, even on the broadcast screen. He bit his lip as if his pride was hurt and stepped back into the batter’s box.

Seeing that, I showed my middle, ring, and pinky fingers to Gyu-hak. After the same process as before, the ball that was thrown was,

Poong!

“Strike, two!”

The slow curve drew an arc so slowly that I wondered if it even reached 100km.

Lee Yong-ho seemed to be appealing that it was a bit low, but that was the unique zone of today’s umpire, which I had confirmed with the 6th batter earlier.

After a meaningless appeal, I spread all five fingers again and showed them to my shoulder. After the same procedure, the ball that was thrown was,

Whack―!

Whoosh―!

“Swing! Out!”

“F***!”