Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 20

A two-run homer erupts when the team is losing 0-1.

“Hanwool!”

“Yes!”

Just as Sunghyun stepped on third base, the call came. Winning situation, no appearances for the last four days. I expected the call even if we were losing by a large margin.

The situation I had already anticipated just turned out better.

I immediately put my glove on my left hand and picked up the ball.

“Gunyoung!”

“Yes!”

I called Gunyoung right away. Gunyoung, probably having geared up the moment the ball went over the fence, dangled his catcher’s mask around his waist and sat behind home plate.

Shoulder okay, elbow okay, waist okay, hips also okay.

Standing behind the pitcher’s plate, I threw the ball to Gunyoung, who was still standing. Definitely a different quality than before.

*Thwack!*

How much more comforting a sound could there be for baseball players?

Not just anyone can be a bullpen catcher. They arrive much earlier than the players who need to move the most. They take on all sorts of chores so that the players can immediately engage in training.

Moreover, during the game, they must always be on standby to receive the bullpen pitcher’s balls, just like now, and when the game ends, they do the remaining finishing work.

They are the ones who come to work earliest and leave latest.

“…Gunyoung.”

“Yes!”

“Let’s grab a bite to eat after this.”

“Yessir!!”

Decisively, it’s a poorly paid job.

It’s something you can never do without a tremendous amount of dedication to the team and love for baseball.

“Hi, fastball!”

*Wham!*

“Sinker!”

*Thud!*

“Good, good! Nice ball!!”

It’s not just about receiving; you have to receive well.

You have to catch the pro pitcher’s brutal fastball and unpredictable breaking ball accurately in the ball pocket, a single-ball zone! To boost the morale of the person throwing. All sorts of screams disguised as encouragement and fighting are a bonus.

“Hanwool, let’s go up.”

“Yes.”

Looks like the inning is over already. The bullpen door opened.

“See you out there!”

“…….”

I see Gunyoung taking off his mask and grinning.

“Hey, Gunyoung.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s eat *samgyeopsal* [Korean grilled pork belly].”

“Yessss!!”

You crazy bastard.

I chuckled and headed to the mound. Since it’s an away game, there’s no cheering even when I, who plays the role of the team’s bullpen ace, appear. It’s quite the opposite.

“Hoo…”

But my mentality is strong. My mentality, tempered by being hit for nine years, is arguably the strongest pitcher mentality in the world.

Kim Hanwool 2017 Season – 46 games 52 innings 1.73 ERA 6 wins 0 losses 28 holds 4 saves 57 strikeouts 32 walks 0 hit-by-pitch WHIP 1.19

Control – Top Tier

Stuff – Average

Stamina – Low

Four-seam fastball – 51

Curveball – 43

Slider – 31

Splitter – 37

Changeup – 42

Sinker – 40

Traits

Detachment – I’m okay with any batted ball or situation.

Discomfort – Makes the opposing batter feel uncomfortable when looking at the pitcher in the batter’s box.

The trait called Detachment. To be honest, when I first saw it, I thought, ‘What the heck…’ but it made my already strong mentality even stronger. Thank you.

The trait called Discomfort. When I first saw this, I also thought, ‘What the heck…’ But in the world of professionals, where even a subtle difference that even the person himself doesn’t notice determines safe and out, the value of the word ‘discomfort’ itself was enormous.

The score is 2 to 1, a one-point difference. The batting order is leadoff hitter Song Inho. His batting average hovers in the mid-.200s, but his on-base percentage needs to be increased by about .080. His contact itself isn’t very good, but he’s offsetting it with good plate discipline.

“Swing.”

But such a hitter is comfortable for me.

“Foul!”

On days when my condition is good, I feel like I have control down to the centimeter, so what’s plate discipline? What if the contact isn’t good?

“Swing, out!”

I finished with five pitches and waited for the infielders to finish their huddle. I checked the returned ball again to see if there were any damaged spots and returned to the mound.

Second batter, first baseman Kim Youngguk, left-handed hitter.

Unusually, he’s not the power hitter that comes to mind when you think of a first baseman. To put it bluntly, he’s a slap hitter. Moreover, he’s short and has a small build.

But considering his batting average, which you can expect to be in the low .300s at any time, and the scoop that catches all sorts of throws, the manager’s choice here isn’t a bad one.

Gyuhak’s sign. Inside fastball. Call.

“Ball—”

Did it miss a bit? I received the ball again with a dazed expression and prepared for the second pitch. Outside sinker.

*Tick—*

“Foul!”

And one ball missing outside.

*Tick—*

…Forcibly touched it and it became an infield ground ball heading straight to the third baseman. He calmly caught it and the first baseman caught it for two outs.

And third batter Kim Hongjoo. His power is genuine, but he reveals many weaknesses in contact and plate discipline. Originally, he should be in the 6th or 7th spot in the batting order, but he’s hitting at 3rd because of the team’s terribly weak depth.

*Crack—!*

Waaaaa—!!

“Oh my…”

Even though it was slightly off the sweet spot, I was horrified to see it soaring so high in the sky. It’s a relief it went past the foul pole. I shouldn’t give him something to hit. I have to coax him gently.

The outside curve I threw, thinking he would come out aggressively in a situation where I caught one strike first, became a ball, and then the inside sinker I dropped became a foul.

1-2. What should I throw? Inside fastball, high fastball, outside curve, outside slider, dropping forkball. Good. Let’s go with that.

In the lifting position following the windup, I glanced at the back of home plate. Gyuhak’s white mitt visible near his left knee. If I aim there and throw a forkball with all my might,

“Swing, strike!”

It goes nicely and then suddenly drops to the ground. The bat comes out without fail. After a splendid block, he quickly picked up the ball, but Kim Hongjoo didn’t show any intention of running to first base and immediately turned around and headed to his dugout.

“Out.”

He wasn’t tagged separately, but the umpire called him out and headed to our dugout, taking off his glove.

“Who’s pitching in the 9th for us?”

“Hyojai *sunbae* [senior/mentor] won’t be able to.”

“Hmm…”

Unlike me, he pitched three consecutive games in the previous weekend series. Even if a young pitcher, or a pitcher in his prime, came up today, there would be controversy over overwork, but it’s even harder for an old-timer around 40 years old. Even if he comes out, it’s questionable whether he’ll be able to perform at his best.

“…Is it me?”

“There’s no one else but you.”

“Right?”

“Go warm up.”

“Okay.”

I was about to head back to the bullpen, but I turned back to Gyujin *hyung* [older brother/close male friend], who was wearing an icing tee and looking at the ground.

“*Hyung*.”

“What.”

“Pick one. Do you want Yongho to get completely embarrassed and the victory to fly away, or do you just want to win normally?”

“What are you talking about.”

Hehe.

“I said it.”

Ignoring his contemptuous gaze, I headed to the bullpen. In the meantime, one out has already been recorded. At this rate, I’ll have to go up again in 5 minutes, 10 minutes at the most.

“Coach, am I going up in the 9th?”

“There’s no one else but you.”

“Yessir.”

As expected. During the few minutes of rest given, I didn’t throw the ball but stretched here and there to increase my range of motion.

One two, one two.

In the meantime, our team’s out count was steadily increasing. By the time the stretching order moved from the shoulder to the waist, there were two outs, and by the time I picked up my glove and started throwing the ball slowly, there were three outs.

Back to the mound.

While the infielders were huddling after the practice pitches, I fiddled with the rosin bag. I turned my head slightly and made eye contact with Gyujin *hyung*.

I gave him a thumbs-up at his suspicious look, wondering what kind of nonsense that bastard was going to do.

Fourth batter, Jo Taepung. Just a typical right-handed hitting shortstop who plays baseball alone on a lower-ranked team.

The following 5th batter is catcher Lee Jaemyung. As a classmate of Lee Hyojai *sunbae*, his hitting physique itself is not that outstanding, but facing him with the strong game-reading skills unique to catchers is quite difficult.

Once these two pass, the remaining 6th, 7th, and 8th hitters are not particularly noteworthy. The cards that will come out as pinch hitters are also not very convincing. Judging that it was worth a try, the bottom of the 9th inning defense began.

“Ball.”

*Tick—*

“Ball!”

*Crack—*

Waaa—!!

Instead of a sinker falling below the zone, a sinker straddling the zone pierced the gap between third and short. Trickery doesn’t really work on Jo Taepung, who maintains very evenly above-average tools that can come out when the batting is subdivided a little more.

I can’t give up a walk either, and I definitely can’t allow a long hit. I faced it with the mindset that it would be a great advantage to stop it with a single, and I saw a great advantage.

The opposing dugout called a timeout at the same time as the appearance of the following 5th batter, Lee Jaemyung. Jo Taepung is out and a fast runner is put in.

It’s also a loss of an excellent shortstop in defensive tools, but it’s a natural choice for Hanseong, who has to give up the game if they don’t score in this inning.

Steal? I can give it to them. I just have to not send them to home. Moreover, as long as Gyuhak, one of the league’s top strong arms, is holding out behind home, the opposing runner can’t run that easily.

I’m also in the top tier of the league in runner control and defense after pitching.

As for the compatibility with the batter, well, wouldn’t it be 5 to 5? A pitcher with too many cards, even if he’s a batter with strong game-reading skills. But the catcher who has to give that sign is ultimately a catcher who is younger than me by more than a decade.

The important thing in this situation is whether or not to bunt. Knowing that, Gyuhak immediately blocks the front of home plate and signals the fielders. The infielders will judge for themselves, and the outfielders will move back little by little.

First pitch sign.

*Wham—*

“Safe!”

It went to first baseman Giseong instead of catcher Gyuhak. Giseong’s first base mitt tagged the runner’s back in line with the pickoff sign, but his hand had already touched the base.

I ignored it and waited for the real first pitch. I didn’t see the batter’s movement because of the pickoff attempt. But Gyuhak would have seen it.

Inside high fastball for a ball.

I struggled to stop my eyes from twitching at the slightly unexpected choice.

“Ball!”

The batter showed no reaction. The opposing third base coach moved his hands busily, as if he was excited that the first pitch was a ball. Gyuhak responded by moving both hands in the same way.

The sign coming to me after that was the same course as before. As his right hand went into the glove, the batter’s body leaned forward. A blatant movement to bunt.

“Safe!”

Then I’ll try to pick him off again.

“Safe!”

One more time.

The pitching sign I received after that was no different than before. A ball heading high inside. But this time it’s a strike. I nodded and grabbed the stretch again.

The batter was putting his bat down completely while waiting for my pitch. A will to bunt no matter what. The ball headed where I wanted it to go. But the bat that should be visible is not visible.

*Crack—*

Waaa—!!

“What…”

Fake bunt and slash.

The ball, which had slipped through the gap between the first and second basemen who were moving with a 50% bunt defense, was caught by Sunghyun, who threw it to third base without looking back. The runner on first base didn’t push it and stopped at second base. No outs, runners on first and second.

“Timeout!”

Gyuhak came up to break the flow.

“Why did you come up?”

“What are you going to do?”

“What else can I do?”

Let’s see…

I checked the opposing lineup on the scoreboard.

“Strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, and it’s over.”

“Excuse me?”

“I just can’t get hit with a hit. One might be okay. The lower batting order and the pinch hitters are all about the same, so it’s okay.”

“…Yes.”

Is there a strategy? I’m just throwing.

“Ah, hey.”

“Yes?”

“…When I was checking you earlier. What was Lee Jaemyung *sunbae*’s stance like?”

“I saw that too. It was the same. The slash only went up when *sunbae* was throwing.”

“Ah, okay.”

You can’t ignore experience.

6th batter, Chae! Ji! Hoon!!

Waaa—!!

Not only is the tying runner on base, but the go-ahead runner is also out, so they’re very excited. Moreover, this is the opponent’s home team. The cheering squad was excitedly chanting the name of the next batter, expecting a comeback.

“Foul!”

I easily caught the first pitch strike. The next sign was an outside curve. The story is to hit it off-center and catch a double play. I nodded and threw the ball accurately towards Gyuhak’s mitt, and,

*Thwack—*

The batter pulled the ball as we wanted, and the batted ball headed towards third base…

“Damn it.”

The batted ball is slower than I thought. Third baseman Sunghoon *sunbae* ran as hard as he could and scooped up the ball, and threw the ball in a collapsing position without even looking properly at first base.

“Out!”

There was no room to worry about the runners on first and second base. It was a great play just to catch one count at first base.

“Hooeeeeeng! *Hyung*! Take me!”

There’s no reason to skimp on praise there.

“Shut up.”

“Yes sir.”

Instead of throwing the rounded ball after receiving it last, he handed it directly to me and chuckled. I also smiled happily and stood on the mound again.

7th batter Jung Sunghoon. A right-handed hitting power-hitting outfield prospect, but his defense is still a bit lacking… so he’s playing as a designated hitter. Power hitter? I really like that.

“Swing.”

“Swing.”

“Churaraak!”

I can never understand what the umpire’s strikeout calls are always saying. I struck out with four pitches and maintained two outs, runners on second and third.

8th batter, Lee!! Yong!! Hoo!!

Ah, it’s here. This moment.

Slightly, my head turned towards our dugout. I made eye contact with Gyujin *hyung*. He chuckled and shook his head.

Since the pitcher wasn’t preparing to throw the ball and was just looking at the dugout, the batter’s gaze naturally turned to the opposing dugout as well. He must have seen Gyujin *hyung*. His face contorted. Then, he smiled.

You?

It’s clear he hasn’t come to his senses yet.

*Ding—!*

[Vengeance]!

– How dare you? Repay the anger that has built up so far with a three-pitch strikeout! (0/1)

– Reward – Four-seam fastball +3

It’s a quest that appeared just in time. I really like the quest name more than anything else.

It seems like he’s feeling a little better because he hit Gyujin *hyung*’s ball.

Yes, if you look at the stuff alone, Gyujin *hyung* is several levels above me. A maximum speed of 155km and a maximum speed of 143km, even with a buff, are different from me. Yes. It’s different.

“Strike!”

But so what.

The ball that left my fingertips was slow, slower than you can imagine, and drew an even bigger arc. An 87km curveball.

I’m sure the manager and pitching coach watching me, as well as the commentators, were in an uproar. I can tell by looking at Gyuhak, whose pupils are still shaking even after I asked him back.

What should I throw next?

I pondered for a moment. What should I throw? What should I throw to make the batter feel even more terrible? I thought about it, rejecting and rejecting Gyuhak’s signs, and finally I showed one thumb. Gyuhak, can’t you manage your expression?

If the pitcher’s team dugout was surprised by the 87km curveball, and the catcher receiving the ball was surprised, wouldn’t the batter who had to hit that ball also be surprised?

Ah, correction.

Wouldn’t it be terribly frustrating?

“Strike, two!”

A fastball right in the middle. 131km.

I tried it once because the batter’s expression was still worth seeing, and it worked. After watching the slow fastball pass through the center of the zone blankly, Yongho’s expression was very, quite worth seeing.

I want to laugh. I want to snicker.

Not being able to express the laughter that comes from the depths of my heart was quite a torture.

But let’s hold back. Let’s suppress it. Let’s suppress it and laugh even brighter at the very end.

I waited for Gyuhak’s next sign. No, no, no, no. When the sign I wanted didn’t come out, I showed my index, ring, and little fingers on my left shoulder. He blinked his eyes and gave the sign again. Only then did I nod and grab the windup.

*Thwack—!*

*Whoosh—*

“Swing, out!”

“F***!”

Game over.

A slow high fastball of 138km.

Yongho, are you being fooled again?

Leaving behind my teammates who were running out with relief and joy, I looked for Gyujin *hyung*.

“You’re really a crazy bastard.”

“Ah, praise.”

He doesn’t skimp on praise because he thinks it’s funny himself. Even while high-fiving, I can’t take my eyes off the text floating above Gyujin *hyung*’s small head.

*Ding—!*

[Vengeance]!

– How dare you? Repay the anger that has built up so far with a three-pitch strikeout! (1/1)

– Reward – Four-seam fastball +3

Control – Top Tier

Stuff – Average

Stamina – Low

Four-seam fastball – 51+3=54

Curveball – 43

Slider – 31

Splitter – 37

Changeup – 42

Sinker – 40

Traits

Detachment – I’m okay with any batted ball or situation.

Discomfort – Makes the opposing batter feel uncomfortable when looking at the pitcher in the batter’s box.