A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 462

The Overly Talented Newcomer of the Baseball Team Chapter 462

99. Last Man Standing (1)

Black and Yellow.

Or Yellow and Black.

On that very day when Chun Jin-woo and Coach William Doran were solidifying their plans at the Montgomery Biscuits.

New York Yankees’ ‘Natural Disaster,’ Vincent Hiyama, was once again taking Major League Baseball by storm.

It was a shutout victory.

Three consecutive shutout victories, to be exact.

Wowwww!!!

Wowwww!!!

Against their traditional rivals, the Boston Red Sox, and moreover, a shutout victory achieved at ‘the graveyard of visiting teams,’ Fenway Park.

Except for a double off the fence allowed to Boston’s main hitter, Ryu Jang-ho, there were hardly any well-hit balls, making it a near-perfect victory.

Amidst widespread news of enraged Boston fans throwing trash onto the field, causing a commotion.

Major League Baseball commentators appearing on game review programs wore somewhat bewildered expressions.

-We are now living in the era of Vincent Hiyama… Yes, I think I can confidently say that.

That was the assessment of a legendary pitcher inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

-Actually, it’s true. In modern baseball, excelling in both pitching and hitting is amazing in itself. It’s also astonishing that he shows top-level performance in both. But the most impressive part for me, as a former pitcher, is…

Stamina, incredible stamina.

The legendary pitcher emphasized this point several times.

-As the influence of relief pitchers has increased, complete game starting pitchers have practically disappeared from Major League Baseball these days. In the past, we often heard news of complete games, but recently there’s hardly any, right? We even see cases where relief pitchers cover an entire game.

Thus, the era of the bullpen has arrived.

An era where multiple relief pitchers combine their strengths to take responsibility for innings.

In this era, the great record of three consecutive shutouts has an even more special meaning.

-In a way, I wonder if it’s a record that was possible because the Yankees value traditional approaches…

The host smiled gently.

-Now, fans’ attention seems to be turning to a great record that hasn’t been seen since the 1980s. What do you think? Four consecutive shutouts… Is it possible?

-I can’t say the chances are high. A shutout victory is never an easy feat.

The legendary pitcher replied.

-But as I said earlier, Vincent’s stamina this season is truly remarkable. Look at today’s game too. He threw a 99 mph fastball even in the bottom of the 9th inning, didn’t he?

-That’s right. I was also surprised. That kind of speed even with over 110 pitches.

-Exactly!

The legendary pitcher nodded.

-I don’t know what method he used, but Vincent has become a pitcher who has improved significantly compared to last year this season. Assuming this pace is well maintained, I think it’s worth looking forward to it.

-Aha! According to the news that just came in, the New York Yankees have decided to give Vincent an extra day of rest than usual. If this happens…

Coming Sunday.

The third game of the season against Tampa Bay.

The host clenched his fist.

-Everyone, mark it on your calendars now! On that day, Vincent Hiyama will challenge for his fourth consecutive shutout at Tropicana Field!!!

Don’t miss it!

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

At that very moment when the host’s voice was spreading across the United States via TV waves.

“Hmm, that’s an interesting hypothesis.”

Having returned from his trip to Montgomery, Jiseop was meeting with David Wilson for a cup of coffee.

As he placed the empty plastic coffee cup on the table, David Wilson voiced his thoughts.

“So, you’re saying that all pitchers are born with a predetermined pitch that they can throw well?”

He looked at Jiseop.

“And you’re saying that Vincent Hiyama has found that pitch?”

* * *

It was a story whispered by William Doran, the pitching coach of the Montgomery Biscuits [a minor league baseball team].

A hypothesis circulating among experienced coaches in the minor leagues.

“Yes, that’s what Coach William Doran said.”

Jiseop was still feeling the fatigue from the long-distance flight.

He continued, rotating one shoulder.

“Everyone has a different physique, right? The degree of muscle development is also different, and the range of motion of the joints is also different… Therefore, the opinion was that the appropriate pitch for each person is predetermined from the beginning.”

“What does ‘appropriate’ mean here?”

“It means that they can acquire the pitch much more easily. At the same time, it means that they can create a better quality pitch than other pitches. And most of all…”

Swish.

Jiseop raised his head.

“By minimizing the burden on the muscles, they can throw more pitches while reducing the risk of injury.”

“As a result, it seems like their stamina has greatly increased? Listening to it, it’s a perfect explanation for the current Vincent Hiyama.”

“It’s definitely a bit old-fashioned.”

David Wilson smiled faintly.

“Talent is important, good players are predetermined from the beginning… These were the habitual phrases of old coaches. But…”

“But?”

“Listening to Kim’s story, it reminds me of Mariano Rivera. Kim, do you remember? Mariano Rivera, the legendary closer for the New York Yankees.”

“Hehe, how could I not know him.”

Mariano Rivera.

A player who reigned as the best closer in Major League Baseball from the mid-90s to the early 2010s.

He has many splendid records, including the most career saves in Major League Baseball, 13 All-Star selections, and 5 World Series championships, but only one fact is enough to describe this person.

The fact that he was unanimously inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. The first record in Major League Baseball history, and still the only record to this day.

David’s point was that the legendary pitcher, who left behind that tremendous career, had a similar experience.

“I heard that Mariano Rivera had a tendency for his four-seam fastball to curve slightly to the side from the first time he threw the ball.”

“Ah, I think I’ve heard that too. The catcher who was receiving the ball told him that he had that tendency.”

“Yes, Rivera got a hint from there and practiced a cutter [a type of fastball that breaks sharply to one side] with a similar trajectory, didn’t he? Considering that the choice of that pitch was a complete jackpot…”

It’s not a completely unfounded story.

There’s a possibility.

David stroked his chin and continued.

“So, Kim’s opinion is… that we should introduce that method to our Tampa Bay too?”

“Yes, I was hoping we could try it once.”

Jiseop nodded.

“Originally, it was a story that I was interested in simply to find Vincent’s weaknesses… But as I came this far and thought about it, I thought it was an idea that was a bit too good to just pass over.”

“That’s right. The quality of the pitch also improves, and the stamina is also strengthened. If applied properly, it would be a great idea. The problem is…”

“Kim, you know, right?”

David Wilson winked.

“Finding the perfect pitch for a player… It doesn’t seem easy.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

According to Coach William Doran, minor league coaches in the past observed the catch ball of promising players.

Just throwing the ball comfortably. Throwing the ball naturally. They observed the spin on that ball to find the appropriate pitch.

Slider or cutter for players whose ball naturally curves horizontally. Curve or forkball for players whose ball sinks to the bottom.

The problem arose here. There was no truly ‘natural catch ball’ for players who had already made it to the Major League.

“Because there are no pitchers who just throw a ball without any intention.”

David Wilson clicked his tongue.

“Everyone intentionally puts spin on it and tries to apply the things that the coach or front office has pointed out. Instructions to ‘throw naturally’ won’t work for those players.”

“Haa, I see… Is that so?”

It was at this moment that Jiseop took a sip of the coffee left in his cup and smiled bitterly.

Was that so after all? Was it an idea that was difficult to introduce at the Major League level?

Then how did the New York Yankees succeed? Was there another secret to Vincent’s increased stamina?

“Hmm…”

As his worries deepened, he felt the fatigue accumulated from the Montgomery trip returning.

His shoulders stiffened. At that moment, he unknowingly started rotating them again.

He felt someone’s large hands grabbing his shoulders and pressing down.

“Eek?!”

Jiseop, who was startled and turned his head, soon smiled.

It was ‘Professor’ Brett Evans. The oldest pitcher on the Tampa Bay Rays was massaging Jiseop’s shoulders.

“Kim, you seem very tired. It’s still early in the season, what are you going to do if you’re already like this?”

“Haha, no, it’s okay. It’s just because I’m coming back from a trip today…”

They were pitchers with good grip strength.

When they massaged his shoulders, it really had a tremendous effect.

Jiseop felt relieved thanks to it, but he couldn’t keep asking the oldest member of the team to do this.

“You can stop now. If the general manager sees this, he’ll give me at least an hour of nagging.”

Jiseop waved his hand while saying that, but Brett Evans didn’t show any reaction to this.

While continuing to massage the shoulders of his junior in the baseball world, he uttered a phrase in a light tone.

“How about having them throw the ball in a dark place with the lights completely off?”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean throwing the ball naturally. Lightly throwing the ball to check the player’s natural style.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Brett Evans smiled awkwardly.

“Without realizing it… I’ve been listening to your conversation since a while ago.”

* * *

Brett Evans, who tapped Jiseop’s shoulder, naturally joined the conversation between the two.

He put the coffee he brought for himself on the table and opened his mouth with a very serious expression, befitting the professor of Tampa Bay Rays.

“As Kim knows well, pitching is a task that involves surprisingly many senses.”

As befitting his nickname ‘Professor,’ Brett Evans was explaining step by step.

“Sight, hearing, touch… We use these senses to obtain information. We analyze this information with the experience and learning we have acquired so far. Finally, we throw the ball based on that analysis.”

Listening to Brett Evans’ story, Jiseop was reminded of the basics of the computer program he learned during his KH Cannons days.

It was said that calculations were performed based on the input data, and that became the output value.

It was unfamiliar to express it this way, but at least Brett Evans seemed to be aware of it that way.

“All these processes are organically connected. If even one part is disconnected, you won’t be able to pitch properly.”

“Aha, so that’s why you’re suggesting blocking the sight?”

David Wilson slapped his knee.

“If sight is blocked, there will be no input value, so it won’t connect with what you’ve learned so far?”

“Yes, I can’t be 100% sure, but it seems like there’s some possibility… What do you think?”

“That’s good! I think it’s good!”

David Wilson had an expression as if he had a ‘eureka’ moment.

“Kim, why don’t you try it once? I think it’s a pretty reasonable story…”

“Should I?”

As Jiseop showed interest, David Wilson immediately took out his tablet PC.

“Then I’ll put a proposal to the baseball operations department. We need the consent of the baseball operations department to borrow measurement equipment…”

David began to operate the tablet PC with skillful hands, but Brett Evans lightly waved his hand.

“Hey, David! Why are you making things so complicated?”

“Excuse me?”

David blinked.

“Complicated? Trying new training methods for players requires the consent of the baseball operations department…”

“I know that too. But the match with Vincent Hiyama is not far away, right? When are you going to make a proposal, explain it, and schedule it?”

“Th, then?”

When David looked at Jiseop with an expression that he didn’t know what was going on, Brett Evans opened his mouth.

“Isn’t it stated in our club regulations? If there is a player’s request, club equipment can be rented without the permission of the baseball operations department.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

Brett Evans was smiling softly.

“Throwing the ball in a dark room, so figuring out the natural style… I will support it.”

“E, Mr. Evans will?!”

When David Wilson tilted his head, Jiseop was also looking at the deep wrinkles around Brett Evans’ eyes.

42 years old this year.

A veteran who is about to retire soon.

What is the reason why he wants a new change?