A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 84

A Rookie on the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 84

Chapter 23: Vaccination Certificate (4)

A few days later.

KH Cannons Field.

Bboom! Bboom! Bbam-ppa-ba-bamm!

As the music signaling the start of the game echoed across the field,

Manager Park Jang-soo of the visiting team was calling out to his strategy coach in the dugout.

“Hey, Coach Jung!”

“Yes, Manager!”

The coach approached with hurried steps.

Manager Park Jang-soo slightly lowered his sunglasses and asked,

“Was the message delivered?”

“Yes, it was definitely delivered.”

The strategy coach’s gaze was fixed on the leadoff hitter, who was warming up in front of the dugout.

“I instructed him to bunt at any ball entering the strike zone, unless it’s completely out of reach.”

A surprise bunt strategy for the leadoff hitter.

Manager Park Jang-soo nodded with a satisfied expression, but a slight hesitation lingered on the strategy coach’s face.

“…Are you sure about this, Manager?”

“What is it?”

Manager Park Jang-soo turned his head.

The strategy coach carefully opened his mouth, watching the manager’s expression.

“The reporters were saying… that Cannons’ starting pitcher, Jimmy Morris… his bullpen pitching today was incredible.”

“Hmm, really?”

“Yes, he was easily throwing over 150 km/h [93 mph] even when he wasn’t putting much effort into it. And his control was always good.”

Meaning his condition was exceptionally good.

The strategy coach got to the main point.

“Trying a surprise bunt in this situation seems a bit… Wouldn’t it be better to approach him head-on?”

“Hehe, Coach Jung. I’m surprised to hear someone like you say that.”

Manager Park scoffed.

“Think about it. Why would Jimmy Morris be in such good condition today? Why is he able to throw pitches over 150?”

“Isn’t it because he got enough rest?”

Since he skipped a turn on the mound.

Manager Park nodded, acknowledging the strategy coach’s answer.

“But that’s not the decisive reason.”

“Then, what is it?”

“It’s the high, the high! The high from achieving a no-hitter, no-run game!”

Manager Park continued.

“He didn’t allow a single hit throughout the entire game. The media is making a huge fuss about it being a record after 22 years… So, how do you think that guy is feeling right now?”

“H, happy, I guess.”

“Just happy? He’s on top of the world! He thinks he’s the best pitcher in the world! His shoulders are naturally puffed up, and his nose is reaching the sky.”

So, he becomes overconfident.

And when he’s overconfident, his speed increases.

“In situations like this, it’s essential to break the pitcher’s spirit from the beginning.”

The leadoff hitter stepped up to the plate.

Manager Park watched his back and spoke again.

“And the best way to break a pitcher’s spirit… is with a surprise bunt.”

As soon as the manager finished speaking, the leadoff hitter attempted a surprise bunt on Jimmy Morris’s first pitch.

Thwack!

The ball dropped after hitting the bat.

In fact, at this moment, the strategy coach was inwardly clicking his tongue, thinking, ‘Oh dear, this is not good.’

Whether it was because the pitcher’s ball was too fast, or because his control was too perfect,

the bunt rolled almost directly towards the pitcher.

“Pitcher! Pitcher! Pitcher!”

“I got it, I got it!”

Following the catcher’s instructions, pitcher Jimmy Morris hurriedly came down from the mound.

The bunt had already lost its momentum and was almost stopped in its place.

The pitcher just had to pick up the ball and throw it to first base.

An easy play for anyone to see.

A free out count.

But,

that’s when it happened.

“Huh, wh-what?!”

“Whaaat?!”

Confusion spread across the faces of the Cannons’ infielders.

Pitcher Jimmy Morris failed to grab the stationary ball in one go.

“!!!”

Surprised, Jimmy Morris flailed his hands to grab the ball.

But perhaps because he was too flustered, Jimmy Morris ultimately failed to pick up the ball.

“L, leave it to me!”

Eventually, Chun Jin-woo, unable to watch any longer, ran forward and picked up the ball, but-

“Safe, saaafe!”

The batter-runner had already stepped past first base.

At KH Cannons Field, the home team fans let out a sigh of disappointment.

“Ugh, seriously! What are you doing! How can you not pick up a stationary ball!”

“Was your good performance last game just a fluke? Are you planning to start messing up again from today?! Huh!!!”

The Cannons players hung their heads at the home team fans’ outcry.

Manager Park Jang-soo couldn’t help but cheer at the sight.

‘Yes, yes!’

Manager Park clenched his fist.

‘It would have been best if a bunt hit had occurred… but the pitcher’s error is just as good!’

Baseball players are all sensitive, but the most sensitive of them all are the pitchers.

Even just coming down from the mound to field can shake their composure, but he failed to properly pick up a stationary ball, allowing a runner to reach base.

‘Now the pitcher is shaken. He can’t help but be shaken! A runner got on base because of his mistake…’

How should I attack him now?

Should I call for another bunt to further provoke the pitcher?

Or should I call a waiting sign and wait for him to self-destruct with walks?

Manager Park Jang-soo stroked his chin, considering the possible options in his head.

But at that very moment, Jimmy Morris, who had returned to the mound, started shouting something to his teammates.

“Hey, you, translator!”

Manager Park’s team also had a foreign player.

Manager Park Jang-soo gestured to the employee in charge of translating for the foreign player.

“What is the Cannons’ pitcher yelling about right now?”

“Ah, you mean that guy?”

The translator seemed to listen for a moment before turning his gaze to Manager Park.

“Let’s all focus. If there’s another error, the manager is going to be very upset… I think that’s what he’s saying.”

“What, focus?”

The strategy coach standing next to him chuckled.

“What a brazen guy! He’s the one who made the error, but he’s telling his teammates to focus?”

“Haha, you’re right.”

The strategy coach and the translator laughed in disbelief, but Manager Park Jang-soo couldn’t join in the mood.

‘Yeah, that’s a brazen thing to say. It’s a really brazen thing to say…’

Manager Park Jang-soo licked his dry lips.

‘Can a pitcher whose mentality is shaken… say something like that out loud? And in such a loud voice?’

At this moment, Manager Park didn’t know.

That KH Cannons’ starting pitcher, Jimmy Morris, had already received a ‘vaccination’ [a metaphorical term for building resilience].

And the effect of that vaccination-

Was very,

Amazing.

* * *

KH Cannons’ undisputed ace, Jimmy Morris.

He delivered an outstanding pitching performance that day.

Whoosh- Crack!

Whoosh- Crack!

Whoosh- Crack!

In the top of the first inning, it was true that the error that allowed the opposing team’s leadoff hitter to reach base was painful.

Because in the ensuing situation with two outs and a runner on second, he gave up a timely hit, giving them a 1-0 lead.

But after that, without any significant crisis, the Cannons’ ace steadily ate up innings [pitched consistently for multiple innings].

-Jimmy Morris is pitching incredibly well today! He has 9 strikeouts while only allowing 2 hits! He’s completely dominating the opposing lineup, isn’t he?

-That’s right. Usually, pitchers who have achieved great records tend to struggle in their next game… Haha, it seems that’s not the case for Jimmy Morris.

-Speaking of which, a high fly ball! Second baseman Ahn Young-chan catches it almost in place! Jimmy Morris finishes the 7th inning like this!

Through 7 innings, he threw 101 pitches, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, and 9 strikeouts.

‘A foreign pitcher who achieves a no-hitter can’t make it through the year,’ they said.

As if to say that such jinxes don’t apply to him, Jimmy Morris finished his last appearance of the first half with his best pitching.

“Good job, Jimmy!”

“You were the best today!”

Jimmy Morris, who had finished his appearance, sat down next to Ji-seop when the bottom of the 7th inning was in full swing.

“Hey, Ji-seop.”

“Hmm?”

Ji-seop was answering while keeping his eyes fixed on the field.

Despite Jimmy Morris’s great pitching, the score was still 1-0.

Since a runner had gotten on base a while ago, he didn’t have the leeway to turn his head to Jimmy Morris.

But Jimmy Morris is the type to say what he wants, regardless of the situation.

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

Ji-seop answered casually because he was focused on the game, but Jimmy Morris seemed to think he was just being shy.

“I heard the story? From that rookie infielder.”

“Rookie? Ah… Lee Soo-bin?”

“Yeah, that’s the guy. He said you told him all my pitches and courses. That’s why he was able to hit home runs.”

“Oh, really?”

Ji-seop clicked his tongue.

He thought he had thoroughly silenced Lee Soo-bin, but it seems there are no eternal secrets.

“Well, actually…”

“I know, I know! I was getting too cocky because of the no-hitter… so you were trying to humble me at the right time, right?”

That’s why I said thank you.

Jimmy Morris grinned.

“But one thing I’m curious about… How did you figure out my pitches and courses?”

Ji-seop felt his heart sink.

“Hey, how did you do it?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s strange no matter who looks at it. Who can figure out pitches and courses just by watching from the side?”

“…”

“Was it in the data? Or do I have some kind of habit? Like you can tell what pitch I’m going to throw by looking at my glove…”

Ji-seop stared ‘intently’ into Jimmy Morris’s eyes and knew.

That this guy would never back down easily.

Since having pitches and courses exposed is a very sensitive matter for a pitcher, it’s no wonder he’s acting like this.

But I can’t exactly say, ‘I can read your mind.’

“Well…”

After thinking for a moment, Ji-seop decided to make up an excuse.

“I don’t know what Lee Soo-bin said, but all I told him was the pitches and courses you often throw.”

“He said you told him every time you threw the ball?”

“No, I didn’t. What am I, a psychic?”

Ji-seop played dumb.

“The reason Lee Soo-bin hit home runs off you… was entirely due to his talent. I didn’t give him any great information.”

“Oh, really?”

Even while saying that, Jimmy Morris didn’t seem to be convinced.

Just as Ji-seop was starting to find this guy’s persistence annoying, a lifeline came down to Ji-seop.

Clang!

A refreshing sound of a hit from the field.

Lee Soo-bin, who was at bat with two outs and a runner on first, had hit the ball with all his might.

“Oh! That’s big! That’s huge!”

“Where is it, where is it!”

A pure white trajectory that accurately divided the dark night sky in two.

When that trajectory disappeared over the left field fence of the baseball field, a huge cheer erupted at KH Cannons Field.

-It’s a home run! A 逆転 [gyakuten – come-from-behind] two-run home run! KH Cannons’ rookie Lee Soo-bin is hitting his first career home run here!

-Lee Soo-bin, who had been silent for nearly 20 at-bats until today! He’s repaying Arthur Freeman, who believed in him until the end, like this!

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

Lee Soo-bin, receiving the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd with his fists clenched, is rounding the diamond.

“Wow, how did he hit the ball so far…”

Jimmy Morris opened his mouth in surprise.

Ji-seop poked him in the side and said.

“See? That guy’s talent is real, I tell you?”

“Wow, really…”

Jimmy Morris nodded as if he was finally convinced.

Ji-seop was relieved that this persistent friend had dropped his suspicions.

‘Phew.’

So he didn’t notice.

Lee Soo-bin, the Cannons’ rookie who had just hit his first career home run.

Was giving him a 멋들어진 [meotdeureojin – stylish, cool] salute.