Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 58

“Hey.”

“Yes, Sunbae-nim [senior in Korean; term used to address older or more experienced colleagues or mentors].”

“…No. Kyung-bae.”

“Huh?”

“What time do you get off work?”

“Why?”

“No… can I use this place a bit longer?”

The clock, which read 11 when I arrived at the training facility, was now approaching 12.

The members receiving lessons were finishing up and packing their things.

“Use it as you please. It’s mine. Why? You need me to catch for you?”

“Uh… hey, Hyun-jin.”

“Yes, Sunbae-nim.”

“Teach me how to throw a slider.”

“Excuse me?”

“Slider. I taught you how to throw a curveball. So, teach me too.”

“Me, you mean?”

“Who else would teach me if not you?”

“How could I dare to teach you, Sunbae-nim……”

“Hey! Shake it off, are you still like that? Hey! What’s with the Sunbae and Hoobae [junior in Korean; term used to address younger or less experienced colleagues or mentees] crap? If you’re gonna teach, teach! If not, then don’t! Make up your mind!”

“Yes, yes……”

“Okay. Kyung-bae, please suffer a little longer.”

“Roger!”

Thankfully, Kyung-bae readily put his mask back on.

Thwack!

Thwack!

As the pro pitcher started throwing again, the members who were about to leave turned back. They stopped and took out their phones.

“Hey, curveball!”

“Okay.”

Smack!

“See? This is a curveball.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll engrave it in my heart.”

“You don’t have to go that far.”

I threw only fastballs and curveballs to get my aim right. Once the grouping was somewhat formed, I stared intently at Hyun-jin.

“Ah, then would you like to try throwing a slider once?”

“Okay. Kyung-bae, slider!”

“Alright, slider!”

Thwack!

The ball broke vaguely as it came in. It was almost embarrassing to even call it a slider.

“How do I do it? Compared to the others, I can’t really use this.”

Hehe.

The guy let out a subtle, sly smile.

I used to get grilled by this Sunbae, and now I’m grilling him!

Seeing how excited he is, I feel like I might have done something unnecessary.

“How do you grip it?”

“Like this.”

Well, nothing special. A normal fastball grip, just slightly off.

“Like this, yes. And instead of lifting this part, try holding it down?”

“This part?”

“Yes.”

If you grip it like a fastball, there’s space on the thumb side.

Hyun-jin told me not to leave this part open, but to grip it tightly, like when throwing a curveball.

“Like this.”

“Yes.”

“No. How am I supposed to throw like this? Do I break it?”

“No. Just grab it like that and throw.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes. Like a fastball.”

“……”

It’ll break with just this?

“Hey, slider.”

“Alright!”

The catcher sat on the outside of the right-handed batter. Half in doubt, I tried throwing it.

Thud!

“Alright, nice!”

Because of the unfamiliar grip, my control was off, and it slammed into the ground.

But the change itself seemed definitely better than before.

“Yes, that’s it.”

“Without breaking or cutting? Is that how you throw it too?”

“Yes.”

“…Oh.”

I threw a few more.

Bang!

“Don’t break it.”

Bang!

“Your elbow is too low.”

Bang!

“You cut it too much.”

Bang!

“I don’t think you’re gripping it right now.”

Bang!

“Your left foot is too wide.”

Son of a b*tch, I quit!

Bang!

“Yes, that’s it.”

“What?”

“That was good just now.”

“……”

One more time.

Bang!

“Yes, that’s right. Throw it like that.”

“But this is… isn’t the break too small?”

“Are you talking about the amount of break?”

“It’s not even a cutter.”

“It’s okay. It’s a slider, so it’s actually better. If the angle is too big, the bat won’t come out. It’s better to throw it like a cutter and gain speed, even if the break is a little smaller. That’s the trend these days.”

“Sorry. I’m old, so I don’t know trends well.”

An old man who doesn’t know trends, ugh!

Myeongjin suddenly came to mind, but I quickly shook it off.

“Kyung-bae, that’s enough.”

“Is it done?”

“Yeah.”

“How is it?”

“Well, so-so. You need to practice a bit more.”

“I will.”

Ding—!

Oh. The settlement amount is about to come out.

[Seal Release!]

– Receive the slider from player Lee Hyun-jin. (1/1)

– Reward ― Slider +1

Seriously. Why are you always so stingy? Are you salt [salty is a slang term for stingy or bitter] ?

Ugh, did he say salt because it’s stingy, ugh!

Lee Myeongjin, you son of a b*tch, get lost!

This must have had a maximum of 5. Does that mean the completion is terrible?

– A temporary slider stat buff of +5 is added depending on completion.

I got a fixed stat of 1, so a temporary 5 was added, but if I had received the full fixed stat of 5, how much would I have received? It was a bit disappointing.

Still, I should be satisfied that I had the opportunity to change it to a proper slider.

“Um, excuse me……”

“Yes?”

Thinking that their work here was somewhat finished, the members who were receiving lessons slowly approached.

“Ah, Ha-wool.”

“Huh?”

“What are you doing? Can’t you tell by looking?”

“Ah. Do you have a pen and paper?”

“Roger. Wait.”

“Um, that’s not all.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Could you… watch me throw a ball?”

The eyes of the middle-aged man, shining with anticipation as he showed his ball and glove, looked so pure.

The excitement and anticipation of seeing a revered figure in person.

“Uh……”

– Wow, you’re good at baseball. You should play baseball!

When I was young, just vaguely liking baseball, I happened to meet a professional player.

He stroked my hair and recommended baseball. He said I had potential and even gave me his contact information in case my parents opposed it.

Maybe my eyes at that time were similar to the eyes of that person now.

“Yes. Would you like to throw?”

“Thank you!”

Kyung-bae, who came out of the office with a pen and paper, blankly looked around his training facility.

What’s going on?

“Ah, you can go first if you need to.”

“No. I’ll help too.”

I was thinking of sending the excited Hyun-jin first, but he also stood next to me and gave one-point lessons to the social baseball players.

Thanks to that, these people hit the jackpot. We all sat around in the training facility and got to eat chicken and drink beer as a bonus.

* * *

Um… did he say to throw it like this?

Some time later.

“…Um. Slider.”

“Alright, slider!”

Reuniting with Hyun-jin was faster than I thought. The Dongseong game at Gocheok was right after the All-Star game.

Tick!

Not it.

“One more time.”

“Alright! Ball!”

Thwack!

“Hey, Geon-yeong. Is it breaking?”

“Yes. It breaks well.”

“How much?”

“…Well. Just moderately?”

Hmm.

I took the ball again and fiddled with it. The changed slider grip felt somewhat uncomfortable.

It felt like it wasn’t coming out of my hand well when I threw it.

I need to see it break when I throw it, but it feels more like it’s sinking rather than breaking.

Is this a slider?

“The slider is good, though?”

He says it’s good.

“No, it’s a bit……”

“Han-wool, let’s go up.”

“Now?”

“Yeah. Eun-gu is a bit tired. Just block the 6th inning. Ji-ho will go up from the 7th.”

“Yes.”

I thought I would go up after the inning change, but the entry was decided earlier than I thought. Following the pitching coach’s guidance, I quickly headed to the mound. After telling Eun-gu Sunbae, who apologized, that it was okay, I slowly surveyed the situation.

1 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd. The score difference is four points. The hold requirements are met.

Hyeok-jun somehow blocked it with two points until the 4th inning, but unusually, he threw too many walks, and his pitch count evaporated.

After that, Eun-gu Sunbae came on in the 5th inning and blocked it with three batters, but he seemed tired in this inning, getting hit with a walk and a double.

Instead of immediately standing on the plate, I fiddled with the rosin, buying some time to think.

The batting order to face is okay. Considering the crisis situation, I’m facing Jang Dong-woon from the 8th batter, so. I feel sorry for Eun-gu Sunbae, but it’s not my runner.

As I started practicing throwing, cheers erupted from the stands. Since it’s an away stadium, the cheers aren’t for me. It’s probably encouragement and support for the opposing batter.

Ignoring it all, I focused on my work.

After throwing a fastball, curveball, and sinker, I tilted my glove to the left. Gyu-hak’s eyes widened.

Really?

I’ll try throwing it for now.

Bang!

“…Hmm.”

It’s a bit unreliable… but seeing Gyu-hak’s reaction, it doesn’t seem bad. After throwing two more sliders, the practice throws were finished.

Ding—!

[The Aesthetics of Learning, Practice]

– Strike out 2 or more with the slider. (0/2)

– Reward ― Slider +2

The timing is good. Let’s use it. Then how should I throw it?

I glanced at Jang Dong-woon, waiting for me in the right batter’s box. At the same time, I nodded.

Tick—

“Foul—”

I was somewhat confident in facing him, so I tried throwing a changeup that fell in the middle from the first pitch, but a foul ball went towards our dugout.

Not bad timing. Of course, by my standards.

Making a thwack! sound, I snatched the semi-circular ball in the air. Stepping on the plate, I gently turned the ball, calculating the timing to throw the slider.

Fastball inside sign. I was about to shake my head out of habit, but I quickly nodded. I had a good idea.

“Ball!”

Do I really need to make it difficult for the 8th batter? I thought, but I have to do the quest.

It’s said to be 2 or more, but I only have 2 chances.

I shook my head until a sinker going backdoor came out. After shaking my head a couple of times, I got the exact sign I wanted.

Bang!

Ah, it’s a bit off…….

“Strike! Two!”

Wow.

It’s a cliché expression, but it’s exquisite. Just half a ball. Even one ball is too much. No matter how slow, it’s definitely not easy to pull and push a ball around 135km [kilometers per hour; approximately 84 miles per hour] exactly 3.5cm [centimeters; approximately 1.4 inches] as you want.

From the batter’s point of view, it’s a disappointing call, but the batter at the plate didn’t show any more emotion than that. It’s what he does every day.

Next design. Next design.

I waited for an outside fastball. But before that, a sign for the completion puzzle came out right away. Thinking briefly, I thought it would be better now.

A slider running away from the outside. I was originally thinking of throwing one more fastball.

I slightly checked the 3rd base runner and took a windup. Even though I had an uneasy feeling, I decided to try it. Whoosh! The ball was shot.

Will it work?

“Swing, out!”

Ding—!

[The Aesthetics of Learning, Practice]

– Strike out 2 or more with the slider. (1/2)

– Reward ― Slider +2

It works?

It escaped from Jang Dong-woon’s bat with a cool trajectory, leading to a swing and a miss. I watched the batter, who looked like he was about to say, “Ugh!” as he went into the dugout.

I glanced at the scoreboard. 129km.

Not bad. How long has it been since I threw a ball I liked?

Expressing satisfaction, I glanced at the opposing dugout. I made eye contact with Hyun-jin. I don’t know what he’s thinking. A somewhat complicated expression.

Hey, think about how much our hitters suffered because of you.

The next batter was Kim Seok-ho, whom I had recently faced in the All-Star game.

Since it’s 2 outs and 1st base is empty, I felt a little more comfortable. It would be good to go with the exact same ball combination as when facing Jang Dong-woon.

“Ball—”

So I threw an outside changeup. He got caught on a check swing, but the 3rd base umpire raised both hands. I thought it was fortunate that it didn’t go behind thanks to Gyu-hak’s blocking.

It started off twisted from the beginning, unlike what I thought, but I shook it off. It’s something that happens every day.

Since a left-handed batter came out, let’s do that. I spread three fingers in the middle, put them on my hat, and attached them to my elbow. The catcher’s fingers move busily again.

Bang!

Backdoor slider!

The right leg, which was pulled out due to the follow-through, flailed in the air. After putting it on the ground with effort, I received the ball with satisfaction. Similar to Jang Dong-woon, but it has to be a little different.

First, let’s put the focus on the outside.

It’s time to throw an outside fastball. It’s also time for my control and Gyu-hak’s framing to shine.

I checked the 3rd base runner again and wound up. The motion, which I had been repeating for decades, was without a single error. As desired, the ball flew accurately to the full outside zone…….

Ah, no!

Tick!

The short moment when Kim Seok-ho’s bat went towards the ball was seen in slow motion. The ball hit the end of the bat and rolled onto the ground, and Seong-hoon Hyung [older brother or close male friend; term of endearment and respect] ran towards the ball.

“Don’t catch it!”

Did the voice of my heart come out without me knowing? I thought I’d be branded as an image beggar now, but Seong-hoon Hyung let the ball go according to the call.

“Foul!”

Huh.

While looking at the 3rd base umpire raising both hands again, my head turned to home at Gyu-hak’s name suddenly popping out.

My head turned back to 1st base. The batter, who had already stepped on 1st base, trudged back to home.

“…Ah.”

“Why are you blankly saying ah?”

“…Hyung.”

“Why.”

Rear, rear head…….

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

The situation was somewhat understood. The batted ball, with a slow but strong spin, seemed to have crossed the line on its own.

It seemed like the call was to let it go because Kim Seok-ho, who is fast, couldn’t be caught even if he was caught.

Sigh…….

Thanks to that, I got one more chance. Not only that, but I also got a chance to finish it this time. Calming my pounding heart, I stood on the plate again.

After shaking my head about three times, I didn’t get a sign I liked, so I spread three fingers in the middle again and put them on my glove and shoulder.

The catcher’s fingers flashed, flashed, flashed.

I roughly understood and took a deep breath. I grabbed the grip as Hyun-jin had taught me. Eliminate the space on the thumb side, and throw it like a fastball!

Thud!

It slammed into the ground, and the desired sound didn’t come out.

“Swing!”

But the desired result came out. Gyu-hak quickly picked up the ball and tried to tag, but the back of the batter who had already started was too far.

Since it was 2 outs, I didn’t worry about the 3rd base runner and threw it comfortably to 1st base, completing the 3 outs.

At the same time,

“Shaa!”

Ding—!

[The Aesthetics of Learning, Practice]

– Strike out 2 or more with the slider. (2/2)

– Reward ― Slider +2

Control ― Top

Power ― Medium

Stamina ― Medium

Four-seam ― 59

Curve ― 52

Slider ― 36+5+2=43

Splitter ― 41

Changeup ― 48

Sinker ― 46

Traits

Detachment ― Accepts any batted ball or situation.

Uncomfortable ― Makes the opposing batter feel uncomfortable when looking at the pitcher in the batter’s box.

Comfortable ― Makes those who look at him feel comfortable.

Temporary ― Slider buff +5

On the way back to the dugout, I glanced at Dongseong’s dugout. Specifically, Hyun-jin.

When I pointed at him with my finger, he clapped quietly so that the other teammates wouldn’t know. Then, as soon as his teammate approached, he sat down and stood at attention as if nothing had happened.

I smiled at how cute he was and went back to the dugout to enjoy high-fives.