Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 254

New Player Draft (3)

Top of the 2nd inning.

The game continued with Sucheon High’s attack.

Park Yu-cheol, back on the mound, began his pitching.

Perhaps spurred on by Choi Woo-jin’s excellent pitching, he seemed to be putting even more power into his throws than in the 1st inning.

Thwack!

152 km/h!

Thwack!

153 km/h!

The increase in speed was undeniable.

However,

Thwack!

“Ball!”

Most of his pitches were missing the catcher’s intended target.

Thwack!

“Strike!”

Occasionally, he’d get lucky and the ball would clip the strike zone,

Thwack!

“Ball!”

But he couldn’t rely on luck alone to get through the game.

Thwack!

“Walk!”

Ultimately, he walked the lead-off batter in this inning as well.

– Park Yu-cheol’s control seems particularly erratic today.

– His fastball speed is normal, but he’s not hitting his spots. He might need to adjust his pitch selection.

The catcher, sensing Park Yu-cheol’s fastball command issues, subtly altered his signs this time.

Park Yu-cheol glanced at the runner on first, took a deep breath, and began his windup.

Judging by his motion and grip, he seemed to be attempting a curveball to disrupt the batter’s timing,

“Ouch!”

The ball slipped from his hand and grazed the batter’s body.

The batter pointed to the contact area, indicating it to the umpire.

After confirming, the umpire signaled for the batter to take first base.

Simultaneously, the runner on first advanced to second.

– Is Park Yu-cheol feeling the pressure? He seems much more tense today.

– Well, this game is crucial. Pro scouts are scrutinizing every pitch, so it’s understandable he’s a bit different than usual.

– He needs to relax to showcase his true potential.

The opposing team’s catcher then headed to the mound.

The catcher patted Park Yu-cheol on the shoulder, spoke to him briefly, and returned to home plate.

Zero outs, runners on 1st and 2nd.

Unlike before, when he meticulously checked the runners, this time he only glanced at them once and immediately delivered the pitch.

Thwack!

150km/h!

“Strike!”

Despite missing the catcher’s mitt, Park Yu-cheol’s fastball crossed the plate for a strike.

And the second pitch followed.

Tick!

The ball glanced off the batter’s bat and trickled weakly towards the shortstop.

The runners on 2nd and 1st sprinted towards the next base.

Meanwhile, the shortstop scooped up the ground ball and fired it to the second baseman,

“Out!”

The second baseman relayed the throw to the first baseman.

“Out!”

– Park Yu-cheol turns a double play! He was in a tough spot, but he got two outs in an instant.

– This is why pitchers with high velocity are so appealing. Without his fastball exceeding 150km/h, this outcome would have been unlikely.

Two outs, runner on 3rd.

Although he escaped a critical jam, the presence of a runner in scoring position remained.

After conferring with the catcher, Park Yu-cheol focused on the runner before delivering the pitch.

Thwack!

151km/h!

“Strike!”

Thwack!

152km/h!

“Strike!”

While his control wasn’t perfect, his fastball found the strike zone against this batter.

The low probability of the 3rd base runner attempting a steal of home certainly worked in his favor.

Thwack!

“Ball!”

Thwack!

“Ball!”

After throwing two breaking balls that were difficult to read – were they intentional or wild?

Whoosh-

“Strike Out!”

He successfully induced a swing with a high fastball.

– Park Yu-cheol faced a crisis this inning, but he escaped without allowing a run, thanks to his powerful fastball.

– Park Yu-cheol shouldn’t feel pressured to have pinpoint control. He needs to trust his power and throw with confidence, like he did in the latter half of this inning.

The score remained 0:0, and the game moved to the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Choi Woo-jin returned to the mound.

The batters facing Choi Woo-jin tried to swing aggressively, hoping to make contact before falling behind in the count,

Whoosh-

Tick!

It wasn’t easy to get a solid hit on a ball that not only painted the corners but also had good movement.

Whoosh-

“Strike Out!”

He got a swing-and-miss with a slider against a left-handed batter,

Tick!

“Out!”

He also induced a weak ground ball with a fastball that just missed the strike zone.

And he used a changeup as a finishing pitch against a powerful right-handed batter.

By mixing and matching his fastballs, sliders, curves, and changeups, he kept the opposing batters guessing.

Whoosh-

“Strike Out!”

Choi Woo-jin finished the 2nd inning without allowing a single batter to reach base.

– Choi Woo-jin’s pitching today is incredibly unpredictable. There are so many possibilities with each pitch.

– He might seem like an easy opponent because he doesn’t overpower hitters. But he has the control to throw any of his pitches for a strike, wherever he wants. He’s a bit like Go Ji-hoon of the Buffaloes [a fictional baseball team], in that sense. He’s by no means an easy pitcher to face.

– So, how should opposing batters approach him?

– Realistically, it’s difficult to get a good hit trying to anticipate all four of his pitches. The most effective strategy would be to pick a pitch or location beforehand and wait for it. Or capitalize on a mistake.

– What if the ball doesn’t come where you’re expecting, or he doesn’t make any mistakes while you’re at the plate?

– Hahaha. Then you’re out of luck. That’s what makes a pitcher like Choi Woo-jin so tough.

In the following 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, Park Yu-cheol and Choi Woo-jin engaged in a tight pitching duel.

Both pitchers kept the game scoreless, but their approaches differed.

Park Yu-cheol frequently walked batters.

However, he escaped trouble using the sheer power of his fastball.

Choi Woo-jin, on the other hand, didn’t issue any walks.

Even after allowing a hit, he navigated the situation by inducing weak contact and swings based on his excellent control.

He used his diverse arsenal of four pitches to win the mental battle against opposing batters.

As expected from a matchup between pitchers projected to be first-round draft picks, the score remained a tight 0:0 through the 5th inning.

Park Yu-cheol had thrown 90 pitches, while Choi Woo-jin had thrown 69.

* * *

As the bottom of the 5th inning concluded, it was time for field maintenance.

It was a break for the players, as well as the scouts who had been intensely focused on the game.

I stretched and enjoyed a moment of relaxation.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“CEO Kang, it’s been a while.”

I turned and saw Choi Min-sung, the Buffaloes’ general manager.

“General Manager, it’s been a while.”

I stood up and shook hands with Choi Min-sung.

– After watching today’s game, I’m convinced we need to draft Choi Woo-jin if we get the chance.

– I’m worried about retaining Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo, who are entering free agency.

“CEO Kang, you’re here to see Choi Woo-jin, I presume?”

Choi Min-sung asked and casually sat down next to me.

“That’s right. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching our players perform well.”

“Which team do you think Choi Woo-jin will end up with?”

Choi Min-sung asked nonchalantly.

“Even if I don’t know anything else, I doubt the Buffaloes will get the opportunity.”

“I suppose not? After watching today’s game, I have a feeling. It’s great for the team to have good results, but it’s a bit disappointing when it comes to the draft.”

Choi Min-sung replied, unable to conceal his disappointment.

“If you had the choice, who would you pick between Woo-jin and Park Yu-cheol?”

“Hmm… I don’t think it’s a difficult decision, is it?”

Choi Min-sung smiled and continued.

“Of course, I’d have to pick a Dream Agency player. Knowing that CEO Kang will continue to support and develop him is a huge advantage.”

“I don’t know what to say, you’re suddenly praising me.”

I replied with an awkward smile.

And Choi Min-sung carefully broached another subject.

“By any chance… what are Seok-hoon and Seong-joo’s plans for next year? Are they prioritizing a move overseas?”

“They’re players in their prime. Naturally, they’re interested in exploring that option.”

Moreover, there was no reason not to promote their interest, given that several major league clubs were actively scouting them.

“As a baseball fan, I support them going to the big leagues and challenging themselves… but as the Buffaloes’ general manager, I have to prioritize the team.”

“Of course, you should. And the players’ decisions might change depending on the terms of the offers.”

I gave Choi Min-sung a relaxed smile.

“I’m telling you this in confidence, just to you, CEO Kang. Our parent company has decided to provide significant financial support. They recognize the danger of losing key players this time.”

“To what extent?”

“It’s too early to give you specifics. But you’ll be surprised. Let’s just say it’s an amount that would be considered appropriate for the best players in Korea in their prime.”

Choi Min-sung’s words were filled with confidence.

“It sounds like I can be optimistic, given what you’re saying?”

“If all the 3rd and 4th hitters leave next year, there’s no way to immediately replace that kind of offensive power. I have to do everything I can to keep them.”

“I hope everyone finds a favorable outcome.”

“Then let’s meet again soon and talk. I’ll see you again.”

Choi Min-sung concluded the conversation and stood up.

“Yes, I’ll see you soon.”

I also rose and shook hands with Choi Min-sung again.

I sat back down and watched Choi Min-sung walk away.

Before I knew it, the field maintenance was over, and the game was about to resume.