Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 125

125. Finding a Way to Make It Work (1)

I started one-on-one batting practice with Seo Seong-min in earnest.

Thanks to Seo Seong-min’s diligent basic physical training, I was able to focus solely on the technical aspects.

-I am grateful to be able to train at the agency.

-I want to quickly create a good opportunity and share it with my wife.

It’s a relief that the player is feeling at ease and thinking positively…

I had hoped for a decisive solution to emerge from the information window [referring to a game analysis system or database], but unfortunately, there were no significant results.

I have no choice but to approach it using the method I’ve been considering.

I brought a box full of balls from the corner.

Seo Seong-min, who had finished his individual training, approached me.

“Senior, I’m thinking of doing a training session to improve my eye for the ball this time.”

“Okay.”

Seo Seong-min nodded, wiping away the sweat streaming down his face.

“You swing at the blue balls no matter what, swing at the white balls only when they’re strikes, and filter out the red balls.”

I thought that developing the ability to discern balls would be much faster than practicing swinging at breaking balls.

“Understood.”

“Then, let’s start whenever you’re ready.”

While I was setting up the balls in the batting machine, Seo Seong-min prepared to hit, swinging his bat.

I mixed the colors as randomly as possible when setting up the balls.

And after a while, Seo Seong-min raised his hand, signaling that he was ready.

Whirr-

Soon, the ball will pop out of the batting machine.

Thud-

The first ball was blue.

Seo Seong-min confidently swung his bat, having confirmed the color.

Crack!

The ball flew away with a crisp sound.

The blue ball that followed also.

Crack!

It was hit cleanly.

As expected, he was a player with basic contact skills.

But until now, it was just a warm-up, and now is the real deal.

Thud-

Finally, it was a white ball.

Seo Seong-min flinched for a moment, then let it pass without swinging.

But the ball passed through the strike zone.

It was a close call, so it was understandable that he was confused.

Thud-

Another white ball.

This time, Seo Seong-min swung his bat.

Tick!

But the ball flew far away from Seo Seong-min, so he couldn’t make proper contact.

Crack!

Tick!

From the moment the white balls appeared, poorly hit balls were noticeable.

Crack!

But he seemed to be gradually adapting to this as well, and his accuracy improved significantly.

Thud-

And finally, a red ball popped out.

Seo Seong-min instinctively tried to swing his bat but barely managed to stop himself.

Thud-

He managed to hold back from swinging at the red balls that came out in succession.

Crack!

Clean hits continued on the blue balls again.

It wasn’t a bad start.

Okay, let’s stop here for now.

“From now on, let’s do it like regular batting practice again.”

“Understood.”

“Swing aggressively at fastballs like before, and just filter out breaking balls that go out or drop. But you have to swing at breaking balls if you think they’re coming in for a strike.”

“Yes.”

Seo Seong-min nodded and took a deep breath.

I picked up the tablet and adjusted the settings of the batting machine.

The opposing pitcher is a left-hander.

It was the type Seo Seong-min struggled with the most.

I wonder if the training just now will be effective?

Whirr-

The machine started running.

Thud-

The first one was a fastball.

Crack!

As expected, the swing was clean.

I have a good feeling about this.

Now, breaking balls will gradually increase, but what will happen?

Thud-

Finally, a slider thrown by a left-handed pitcher.

It was Seo Seong-min’s biggest weakness.

Whoosh-

Even though it was a completely out-of-the-zone ball, Seo Seong-min’s bat spun in the air.

I guess it’s because it’s the first time?

Thud-

What about this time?

Whoosh-

This time as well, the bat spun in vain.

Thud-

Tick!

Perhaps feeling pressured by the missed swings, I could feel the lack of confidence in his swing.

Thud-

Now, Seo Seong-min’s bat couldn’t move even at the fastballs that were clearly coming in for a strike.

Because he hesitated on every ball, his timing started to get late even on fastballs.

‘Hmm… is this method not working either?’

I eventually stopped the machine.

Seo Seong-min walked towards me with a dejected expression.

“It’s still not easy.”

“It’s not something you can do overnight.”

“How should I train from now on?”

Seo Seong-min asked me with a worried expression.

“Keep up the basic training as you’ve been doing. I’ll think more about how to compensate for breaking balls.”

I still believed that it was better to capitalize on his strengths than to spend time compensating for his weaknesses.

But Seo Seong-min’s situation was clearly different now.

He was released because of such a clear and fatal weakness, so it was necessary to compensate for this part without fail.

I need to approach it in a different way than before.

What’s the best way to do it?

* * *

Just in time, Jung In-gyu came to the agency’s accommodation because he was near the area to attend a high school baseball tournament.

Jung In-gyu brought up the story of Michael Scott first.

“Representative, did you watch the game? Michael Scott is amazing.”

“Honestly, I didn’t know he would do this well.”

Since showing a good performance in his debut game, Scott has shown enough performance to be called the Jaguars’ ace, the first starter.

I was worried that his inning-eating ability would be poor due to his lack of experience as a starting pitcher, but he solved it by saving pitches per inning with aggressive pitching.

Once he gained confidence in his debut game, he showed pitching that didn’t run away even in subsequent games.

“He’s a player who doesn’t even have minor league experience, how did you find a player like that?”

“If you run around hard, you can do anything.”

“It’s amazing no matter how many times I see it. Amazing. The Jaguars fans are going crazy right now.”

Jung In-gyu, who is also an enthusiastic Jaguars fan, couldn’t stop smiling.

After a brief pleasant conversation, I brought up the story of Seo Seong-min to Jung In-gyu.

Jung In-gyu listened to my story with a serious expression.

“Actually, the most difficult thing to advise among our students is dealing with breaking balls.”

“That’s true.”

Rather, it was much easier to help with things like batting stance or mind games that fit the ball count.

“There are training methods… but wouldn’t it be difficult to overcome the weakness right away this winter by doing that?”

“I guess so…?”

“If it was a problem that could be solved in such a short time, where would there be a player who can’t deal with breaking balls? Everyone would be hitting well.”

“Then what’s the best way to do it?”

I sighed without realizing it when I didn’t hear the answer I expected.

“Seo Seong-min can handle several defensive positions, right?”

“That’s right. He’s played in every position except pitcher and catcher.”

“Then why don’t you reinforce his defense and push him as a utility player? Being able to cover both infield and outfield defense is a huge advantage. There wouldn’t be a player like that in the pro first team right now, would there?”

“Hmm…”

It wasn’t wrong.

“How helpful is it for a team to have a player who can be assigned to multiple positions? Even if there’s only one such player, it’s easier for the manager to use pinch hitters. And it would be difficult to send such a player to the minor leagues if possible.”

“That being said, Seo Seong-min isn’t exactly good at defense.”

If his defense was a definite strength, he wouldn’t have been released right away.

“So, I’m saying that you should make him train defense like crazy from now on. He can still do the basics, right?”

Is that really the best way?

He’ll be a half-baked player if he can’t hit.

“Isn’t there a way to improve his hitting? His contact ability is competitive, and his speed is good, so it’s a waste to give up on this ability.”

“So, I’m saying that aiming for a defensive replacement or pinch hitter role is a realistic way to have competitiveness.”

“Hmm…”

Jung In-gyu added a word as I didn’t seem to be able to finish my worries.

“You’ve seen a lot of players while living a pro life, but no matter how good a player’s power is to hit 30 home runs, he can’t survive in the first team if he can’t deal with breaking balls. How many of those kids were around us?”

“…That’s true.”

“And above all, isn’t it really lucky if you can become a first-team player even by doing that? I wouldn’t have any more wishes if I were in that situation.”

Jung In-gyu’s words were definitely not wrong.

Let’s think more about this problem alone for now.

“By the way, our school juniors are doing well this year too.”

They won even in the round of 16 of the high school tournament and were now ahead of the quarterfinals.

“Our team players have good teamwork. Usually, there are many cases where they try to do well with each other but can’t play as a team, but our school has a definite team-first mindset in that regard.”

Pride was felt in Jung In-gyu’s expression throughout the conversation.

“I should go see a game sometime?”

“Are you coming to see us if we go up to the finals?”

“Isn’t that obvious? No matter how busy I am, I have to go that day no matter what.”

“The finals will be held at the Seoul Dome Stadium. It’s a really great honor for high school players to play a game there.”

Jung In-gyu had an excited expression as if he was playing the game.

After a while, Jung In-gyu left because it was time to return to the team.

After sending him off, I slumped down in my chair.

Worry about Seo Seong-min did not leave my head.

Jung In-gyu’s advice was a good strategy, but it didn’t seem like the best way.

There seems to be a better way…

But I couldn’t think of that method at all.

What else should I do?

I think I’ve tried all the methods I know.

Should I get a little more advice?

Then who should I get advice from…

“Ah!”

Why did this person only come to mind now?

* * *

I immediately drove to the university baseball field.

Only after waiting for the university students’ training to end, I was finally able to meet the coach.

“Coach!”

“Oh, our Representative Kang has come all the way to this remote place again.”

The person I came to see was Coach Yoo Seong-hwan.

Wouldn’t the coach be able to give me a solution?

“There’s something I really want to ask the coach.”

“Anything.”

Yoo Seong-hwan listened to my story with a bright smile.

When I finished talking about Seo Seong-min, Yoo Seong-hwan let out a deep sigh.

“Seo Seong-min is a friend with many strengths. He’s a friend with a lot of natural talent.”

“What’s the best thing to do in the current situation?”

It was a difficult question to answer easily, even for Yoo Seong-hwan.

He pondered for a long time before carefully opening his mouth.

“Then, how about suggesting this method?”

Then I was able to hear one method that made my eyes light up.

“It’s a method I’ve never thought of… Is that really possible? It’s a type that’s hard to find among today’s players.”

Even if I broadened my view to the major leagues, it was hard to find a few.

“It’s usually difficult to try. You have to train several times more than ordinary players, so it will be incredibly difficult, and you have to have the support of the club’s leaders.”

“Hmm…”

“But Seong-min basically has good contact ability and power. If he compensates for that weakness, I think he can have enough competitiveness.”

“I 100% agree with that statement.”

When I heard Coach Yoo Seong-hwan’s explanation, I naturally nodded.

“And above all, that friend is diligent. I think being able to handle defensive positions that go back and forth between the infield and outfield is the result of constantly trying to survive. If he’s that kind of player, wouldn’t it be worth trying this too?”

“That’s right. I’ll suggest it once.”

It was definitely a method worth trying if he agreed.