Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 226

226. The Place I Found Again (2)

Intensive training kicked off on the second day.

After the team gathered for basic warm-ups and stretching, they transitioned to physical conditioning.

The morning sessions were dedicated to running and weight training.

As expected, the players found it challenging to regain their fitness after the off-season.

However, physical fitness was crucial for a successful season, making it an indispensable part of their training regimen.

In the initial stages of the intensive training, the focus remained on physical conditioning. After about a week, they gradually increased the emphasis on technical training.

With the introduction of technical training, the players divided into pitcher and hitter groups.

I oversaw the hitters’ training, while Jung In-gyu took charge of the pitchers.

The hitters’ training commenced with batting practice.

Transporting a pitching machine to Guam proved impractical, so I had to throw the balls myself.

As I warmed up, So Young-joon stood at the plate, taking practice swings.

Once I was sufficiently warmed up, I began pitching.

Thwack!

“Oh, nice ball!”

Thwack!

“That was a great swing!”

Observing the trajectory of So Young-joon’s hits, I couldn’t help but admire his form.

He took about 20 swings to assess his current condition.

So Young-joon’s swing appeared as sharp as it had been during the regular season.

I approached So Young-joon, partly to give my shoulder a rest.

“Young-joon, your batting form is still on point?”

“Hmm… I feel like my weight transfer is slightly off,” So Young-joon said, taking another swing and tilting his head.

“The angle and power look good to me.”

“It’s not bad, but something feels different. I need to recapture that feeling I had when I was really in the zone last season.”

“Should we get Scott to pitch to you, then? Scott’s pitches are perfect for batting practice.”

So Young-joon glanced around, as if ready to call Scott over immediately.

“Hold your horses. Go do some other training for now,” I said, patting So Young-joon on the shoulder and sending him off.

Soon after, Park Sung-joo, Na Joon-ho, Seo Sung-min, and Donald Watson stepped up to the plate.

Seo Sung-min batted 10 times from the left-handed stance and 10 times from the right-handed stance, showcasing his switch-hitting ability.

After all the hitters had finished their batting practice, my arm felt like it was about to fall off.

Even throwing just 20 balls to each person added up to 100 pitches.

I resolved to find a way to bring a pitching machine to the next intensive training session.

On the other side of the field, the pitchers’ group began their training with a light game of catch.

Two players paired up and tossed the ball back and forth.

They focused on loosening their shoulders, gradually increasing the distance between them.

They also incorporated the training techniques that Go Ji-hoon had taught them during the last session, which emphasized control and balance.

“Let’s take a break and then continue training,” Jung In-gyu announced, and the players gratefully sat down on the ground to rest.

During the break, Choi Woo-jin approached Go Ji-hoon and asked, “Senior, can you teach me how to throw a changeup?”

“A changeup? Are you looking to add a new pitch to your repertoire?” Go Ji-hoon asked, turning to Choi Woo-jin.

“There are quite a few situations where my current pitches aren’t effective. I thought it would be good to have another option,” Choi Woo-jin explained.

“You throw a slider and a curveball now, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Since both are breaking balls with sharp angles, a changeup would be a valuable addition,” Go Ji-hoon agreed.

“I struggle a bit against right-handed hitters. I can throw a slider to left-handed hitters, but I don’t have a reliable pitch to throw to right-handed hitters. I’ve tried throwing a backdoor slider [a slider that starts outside the plate and breaks back over it], but that’s not easy either. I end up making a lot of mistakes.”

“That’s true. That’s difficult even for experienced players,” Go Ji-hoon said with a smile, patting Choi Woo-jin on the shoulder.

“I think I could solve that problem if I could throw a changeup like you, Senior. What do you think?”

“As an underhand pitcher, I used to struggle against left-handed hitters, but since I started throwing a changeup, it’s become much easier to compete. I think it would be a good pitch for you too.”

“Yes, I think it’s exactly what I need right now,” Choi Woo-jin said, a smile spreading across his face.

Go Ji-hoon walked away and returned with two baseballs.

“The most important thing about a changeup is to throw it with the same throwing motion and arm speed as a fastball. You want to deceive the hitter into thinking it’s a fastball.”

Choi Woo-jin listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word of Go Ji-hoon’s explanation.

“And you have to throw the changeup low in the strike zone. Because it’s slower than a fastball, it’s more likely to be hit for extra bases if it’s thrown high. So, you have to practice keeping it down.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind,” Choi Woo-jin replied, nodding to Go Ji-hoon.

Go Ji-hoon demonstrated his circle changeup grip and said, “I hold the ball like this. There are several types of changeups, but if you hold it like this and throw it, it will curve in the opposite direction of a slider. That makes it advantageous when facing opposite-handed hitters, and it’s also less stressful on the wrist.”

“Oh, that’s exactly the pitch I want.”

“Try holding it yourself.”

Choi Woo-jin carefully observed the position of Go Ji-hoon’s fingers and gripped the ball in the same way.

“Is this how you hold it?”

“That’s the basic grip, but try throwing it and find the grip that’s most comfortable for you. There will be one that fits your hand best.”

“Yes,” Choi Woo-jin replied, adjusting his grip.

“Then try throwing it once. I’ll watch your form.”

“Oh, really? I’ll get ready right away,” Choi Woo-jin said with a bright smile, grabbing the ball and assuming a pitching stance.

Go Ji-hoon stood beside Choi Woo-jin and observed his pitching motion.

Choi Woo-jin took a few deep breaths, switched to the grip Go Ji-hoon had shown him, and threw the ball.

Whack!

Whack!

Whack!

Go Ji-hoon carefully analyzed Choi Woo-jin’s pitching form as he threw three pitches.

“Wait a minute,” Go Ji-hoon said, stopping Choi Woo-jin.

“Everything else looks good, but you’re using your wrist too much. Hold the ball closer to your palm. That will help you relax your wrist.”

“I thought I was being conscious of it, but I guess not,” Choi Woo-jin said, looking dejected.

“The changeup is a pitch that requires a lot of practice. It will probably take a while to master it.”

“But if I get good at throwing a changeup, will I be able to perform much better than I am now?”

“It will definitely be a big help. And you seem to have a natural feel for it, considering I just showed it to you. If you practice a little more, you might be able to try it out in a real game next season.”

“Oh, really?”

“Throw it again. Keep in mind what I just told you.”

“Yes!” Choi Woo-jin replied, resuming his pitching, with Go Ji-hoon closely monitoring his form and providing immediate feedback.

Seeing this, Choi Jung-hwan also asked Go Ji-hoon for changeup lessons, and they continued training together.

* * *

Meanwhile, Oh Seok-hoon was working through a rehabilitation training program with Lee Joo-hyuk in the indoor training facility.

Since he was still recovering from his hamstring injury, they decided to train separately to avoid overexertion.

Thanks to Professor Park Jung-joon’s customized rehabilitation program, Oh Seok-hoon was able to undergo training specifically tailored to his needs.

It was clear that if he diligently followed the rehabilitation program and focused on stretching before each game, he could minimize the risk of the hamstring problem recurring.

However, there was no guarantee that the risk could be completely eliminated.

This posed a potential obstacle to Oh Seok-hoon’s ambition to advance to the major leagues.

This issue had been discussed during a recent meeting with Kim Sang-wook of Sky Corporation.

Clearly, a change in approach was necessary.

I finished the hitters’ training and went to observe Oh Seok-hoon’s rehabilitation session.

“Agh! Ugh!” As I approached the training facility, I could hear sounds of pain and exertion.

Just hearing it made my body ache in sympathy.

That’s how painful and challenging rehabilitation after an injury could be.

I waited quietly until the training session concluded.

“Seok-hoon, let’s take a break,” I heard Lee Joo-hyuk say after a while.

“Hoo- hoo- hoo-” I could also hear Oh Seok-hoon’s labored breathing.

Only then did I approach them.

“Seok-hoon, Joo-hyuk. Is the training going well?”

“Did the manager come?” Lee Joo-hyuk noticed me first.

I made eye contact with Oh Seok-hoon, but he seemed too out of breath to greet me properly.

“Is rehabilitation training tough?”

“Hoo- It’s really tough. I’m never getting hurt again.”

“You’re going through a lot. You’ll get better soon,” I said, approaching Oh Seok-hoon and patting him on the shoulder.

Then I broached the subject I wanted to discuss.

“Seok-hoon, I wanted to talk about next season.”

“Yes. Hah, hah,” Oh Seok-hoon replied, looking at me between breaths.

“How about we adjust your play style a bit from now on?”

“In what way?”

“It’s going to be difficult to rely on speed as much as you used to. The club will likely want to avoid any risks of re-injury.”

“That’s right…….”

“And since hamstring injuries are prone to recurrence, I think it’s best to be cautious.”

“Hoo……. Then what should I do? My speed was my most reliable asset. Won’t I lose my edge if that disappears?” Oh Seok-hoon asked, his expression filled with concern.

“Let’s focus on your hitting from now on. With your hitting ability, you can definitely raise your batting average higher than it is now.”

Currently, a .300 batting average was nothing extraordinary for Oh Seok-hoon.

If he could concentrate solely on hitting and raise his batting average to .350 or higher, he could remain highly competitive.

“Do you mean give up stealing bases altogether?”

“I think it’s better to approach it that way.”

“I really wanted to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases [a 20-20 season is a significant achievement in baseball]…….”

Oh Seok-hoon sighed, looking disappointed.

“It’ll be difficult to steal 20 bases, but you’ll definitely be able to hit 20 home runs. And since you’re naturally fast, you’ll get plenty of doubles.”

“Hmm…….”

Oh Seok-hoon took a deep breath, still feeling regretful.

I turned to Lee Joo-hyuk and asked, “What do you think, Joo-hyuk?”

“Seok-hoon is already capable of hitting more than 10 home runs in a season. I think he definitely has the potential to hit more,” Lee Joo-hyuk replied, nodding in agreement.

“Then should we change the training method too?” Oh Seok-hoon asked, looking at me.

“It’s going to have to be different from what you’ve been doing so far.”

“…….”

Oh Seok-hoon fell into thought after hearing my words.

After a moment, he spoke. “What you said must be right since you’re the manager. I’ll prepare as you said.”

“Thanks, Seok-hoon. Coach In-gyu will create the perfect training program for you,” I said, patting Oh Seok-hoon on the shoulder again.