A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 86

People with a Lot of Greed (2)

“It’s like two sides of the same coin,” the hitting coach said.

“Participating in the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby… from a player’s perspective, it’s definitely a great honor.”

It meant being selected as one of the best-performing players of the season.

And it meant being recognized for long-hitting ability among those top players.

The hitting coach slowly nodded and continued.

“But from the team’s perspective, the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby are quite burdensome events, aren’t they?”

There were concerns about the players’ physical condition and the risk of injury.

And especially in the case of the Home Run Derby, there was one point that made each team’s hitting coach extremely nervous.

“Are you talking about the batting balance?”

“As expected, Jiseop, you’re quick to catch on.”

That’s right.

The hitting coach tapped the table with the back of his pen.

“The Home Run Derby is literally an event where you only aim for home runs, right? Singles that break through the infield, doubles that hit the fence directly… these are usually commendable batting results, but they’re useless in the Home Run Derby.”

“…….”

“The game rules only recognize home runs, and you’re competing against the best players in the league, plus the cheers of the crowd filling the stadium… Isn’t it obvious how the players will react?”

They’ll swing only for home runs.

It’s a given that they’ll put more force into their hands when gripping the bat than usual.

Because they’re trying to utilize the bat’s center of gravity more, their swing trajectory tends to be wider than usual.

“That definitely increases the distance of the batted ball. And of course, the number of home runs will increase too. But…”

Jiseop, being a former pitcher, could easily guess what would come next.

“If you repeat that kind of swing dozens of times… you’ll lose your batting balance at some point.”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

The hitting coach sighed briefly.

“Of course, some people say, ‘If your batting balance collapses after swinging a few times like that, you didn’t have any skill to begin with’… Ugh, but that’s just not knowing enough. It’s so hard to maintain batting balance.”

It’s as difficult as pitchers controlling their pitches, right?

The hitting coach shrugged.

“In fact, there have been quite a few players who struggled to recover their batting feel after participating in the Home Run Derby. And sometimes, they end up ruining the entire second half of the season.”

The hitting coach’s concerns seemed to be along similar lines.

Ryu Jangho, undeniably KH Cannons’ best hitter.

And Lee Subin, a rookie slugger who is newly emerging after him.

What if these two hitters, who need to perform their roles in the second half of the season, lose their balance starting with the Home Run Derby?

“That’s why I’m telling you this.”

The hitting coach continued.

“I want Jiseop to be the batting practice pitcher for those two. And I want you to watch over them so they don’t overdo it…”

How about it?

Would you do it for me?

The hitting coach asked cautiously.

* * *

Jiseop decided to grant the hitting coach’s request.

It wasn’t that he felt no pressure at all, but it was difficult to ignore the hitting coach’s earnest eyes.

Besides, Manager Arthur Freeman actively encouraged him as well.

-If you take care of those two, there’s nothing more reassuring than that.

-Make sure our team’s key hitters don’t lose their batting feel in the Home Run Derby. Please pay attention to them.

He also promised to actively support anything needed for preparation.

He even added that he would treat him to a big meal after the All-Star Game.

“I understand, Manager.”

Jiseop nodded.

After finishing the conversation, Jiseop called the two players in question as soon as he arrived at work the next day.

“Did you guys settle it?”

At Jiseop’s question, Ryu Jangho and Lee Subin glanced at each other.

And then came the reply.

“The negotiations… have failed.”

It was Ryu Jangho who spoke.

“Hyung [older brother/senior], this guy… he’s greedier than he looks. He’s just a ball of greed. He’s already made it to the first team as a high school rookie, but why is he so attached to the Futures League Home Run Derby…”

“Did you say a ball of greed? It seems to me that you’re the one who’s more so, Sunbae [senior],” Lee Subin didn’t back down either.

“You’ve been going to the All-Star Game every year, haven’t you? You’ve been to the Home Run Derby several times too… But you can’t yield to a junior who’s just made it to the first team?”

Tick-tock. Bickering.

The young hitters of KH Cannons didn’t back down an inch and confronted each other.

It wasn’t unexpected, so Jiseop calmly raised his hand and separated the two.

“Okay, let’s do this then,” Jiseop continued.

“First of all… I can throw batting practice for both of you.”

The two players’ faces lit up.

But before they could say anything, Jiseop quickly added a prerequisite.

“However, just know that my goal isn’t to lead you to win the Home Run Derby.”

“…Then what is it?”

Looking at Ryu Jangho, who was tilting his head, Jiseop opened his mouth in a strong tone.

“Maintaining batting balance.”

At Jiseop’s words, the atmosphere of the two guys changed ever so slightly.

“I want you to play as the team’s core hitters in the second half of the season as well. Home Run Derby? I don’t care who wins.”

“…….”

“So, I’ve decided. If I see you guys overdoing it with your desire for home runs from the mound… I’m going to put the ball down and get off the mound at that moment.”

“Off the mound… you mean?”

Lee Subin’s eyes widened.

“There will be a lot of people watching, right? It’ll be broadcasted too. But you’re going to get off there…”

“You don’t seem to believe me? Then try it out later. See if I really get off or not.”

When Jiseop made such a threat, the two players swallowed hard.

“If you’re okay with these conditions, I’ll be your batting practice pitcher. If you don’t like it, look for someone else now.”

To be honest, Jiseop was actually unsure at this point.

He would be their batting practice pitcher, but if they overdid it, the game would end immediately.

It was a slightly excessive condition, and he wondered if those two would accept it.

However, Ryu Jangho and Lee Subin’s trust in Jiseop seemed to be stronger than Jiseop himself had thought.

“I understand, Hyung [older brother/senior].”

“Let’s do that, Sunbae [senior].”

The two nodded so readily that Jiseop, who was watching, was quite surprised.

* * *

Thus, Jiseop became responsible for batting practice pitching for both players.

After the game that day, he went to the indoor training facility and started practicing throwing batting practice.

At first, he was just going to throw the ball into the net, but an unexpected helper appeared.

“Jiseop, you’re working hard?”

It was Cheon Jinwoo.

The starting catcher of KH Cannons.

He had thought that he had left work early after the game, but he appeared wearing catcher’s gear.

“I heard from Coach Ryu that Jiseop is working overtime because of Jangho and Subin.”

So, how could I just stand by?

Cheon Jinwoo pounded his catcher’s mitt with his fist and showed his white teeth with a grin.

“I’ll catch the balls for you. Even if it’s just batting practice… a pitcher gets excited when a catcher catches his balls, doesn’t he?”

“Thank you, Cheon Jinwoo.”

Jiseop bowed his head, and Cheon Jinwoo smiled, saying, ‘Hey, it’s nothing.’

Because he was such an experienced guy, he already knew exactly what kind of balls to practice.

“You don’t need to worry about the speed. Both of them are masters at timing… If you just throw with a consistent speed, they’ll hit on their own.”

Cheon Jinwoo flipped through the data given by the scouting team and continued.

“Jangho is the type to pull the ball, so aim slightly inside, and Subin likes to lift the ball, so aim a little low… Can you do that?”

“Of course.”

Although he couldn’t compare to Cheon Jinwoo’s experience, Jiseop was once known as a master when it came to batting practice.

When Jiseop nodded with a confident expression, Cheon Jinwoo tapped him on the shoulder.

“Okay, let’s throw some.”

Cheon Jinwoo put on his catcher’s mitt and walked behind home plate to take his position.

Jiseop fixed his gaze on him and picked up a white ball from the ball cart.

‘Hehe, this is an unexpected luxury.’

A slight excitement.

That was Jiseop’s feeling at this time.

A situation where a national team catcher was catching his balls.

It was something he could never have dreamed of during his active career was becoming a reality.

‘Okay, since I’m throwing anyway… should I throw a ball that will surprise Cheon Jinwoo?’

He was never really confident in his speed, either now or then.

However, during his active career, Jiseop had really worked hard to refine his control.

Let’s get the national team catcher’s recognition with that control.

Jiseop wound up.

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

The ball left Jiseop’s fingertips and was sucked into Cheon Jinwoo’s mitt.

The ball had become slightly dull because it was thrown after so long, but his control seemed to be still alive.

Because it was accurately stuck in the place where Cheon Jinwoo had put his mitt.

“Oho.”

Cheon Jinwoo nodded and stood up.

It was only for a brief moment, but Jiseop was secretly expecting something.

-Wow, your control is good?

-No, why couldn’t he come to the pros with this kind of control?

-If it’s this good, he might as well apply for a tryout next year?

He was hoping for some praise like that.

But,

What?

“Wow, Jangho and Subin… there was a reason why those two asked Jiseop to throw batting practice for them?”

“…Yes?”

“The ball looks delicious, it looks delicious!”

Cheon Jinwoo even swallowed his saliva.

“It’s the perfect ball to hit a home run! It’s a shame I’m not standing at the plate!”

“…….”

“With this kind of ball, I think we’ll have the first team home run king and the second team home run king… both from our team?”

“…….”

“Okay, let’s throw a few more at this pace!”

Fighting, fighting!

Cheon Jinwoo pounded his mitt with his fist and shouted.

Jiseop could only smile bitterly and pick up another ball.

‘A perfect ball to hit a home run, huh…’

Damn it.

That was my best pitch.

* * *

A few days later.

Jiseop was sitting in the stands of Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium, where the Futures League All-Star Game was being held.

“Wow, your schedule is no joke today?”

Go Changdeok, who was sitting next to Jiseop, clicked his tongue and said.

“You have to throw balls for Lee Subin here, and then go straight to Jangho and throw batting practice, right?”

Why did they make the schedule like this?

Go Changdeok grumbled, then shrugged and continued.

“Well, I guess the league office didn’t expect it? That a situation would arise where one person would throw batting practice for two players…”

“That’s right.”

Fortunately, the First League Home Run Derby was being held in Busan.

“It only takes two hours by car from Ulsan to Busan, right?”

“Yeah, if you hurry a little, you won’t be late…”

While Go Changdeok was having this conversation, a staff member from the league office appeared from below.

“The Home Run Derby will begin soon! Those who will be throwing batting practice, please come down to the field!”

People got up one by one at the staff member’s words.

Jiseop was about to get up with his glove, but Go Changdeok spoke to him from the side.

“Do well, Jiseop.”

He clenched his fist.

“If you make the Second League Home Run Derby winner and the First League Home Run Derby winner…”

Go Changdeok smiled strangely.

“Wouldn’t that be quite a topic of conversation?”