On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 123

“Strike! Three-pitch strikeout!”

“I don’t think he expected a curveball there. It was a curve right down the middle.”

“Does Yoo Sun-ho still need more practical experience?”

After Yoo Sun-ho’s strikeout, the inning ended with two consecutive groundouts.

Yoo Sun-ho turned to Song Seok-hyun, who was returning to the bench, and asked,

“Seok-hyun, how do you hit his pitches so well?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Can you see something?”

“I just watch his mouth, feet, and hands like you said, Sunbae [senior/older colleague].”

“You’re not trying to guess the pitch type?”

“I time it for the fastball. If something feels off when he throws, then I think it might be a breaking ball.”

Yoo Sun-ho chuckled.

“You think really simply.”

“You have to be simple at the plate. I do all my thinking here and just swing away at the plate. That’s my motto.”

Song Seok-hyun was already putting on his catcher’s gear and heading to the field.

Yoo Sun-ho lightly tapped his head.

“Aigo [Korean expression of frustration], Sun-ho, Sun-ho. Why do you overthink so much?”

Rising High as a Catcher

Ace of Ace

-Strike! Out!

-Strike! Out!

-Strike! Out!

K’s [strikeouts] were lined up in the third base stands at Jamsil Stadium.

Jo Jin-hee went down the mound after holding them to one run through the 6th inning.

“Jo Jin-hee! He struck out nine today, tying up the GOAT lineup.”

“That’s what an ace does. Look at how he completely shut down the opposing lineup. The only blemish today was that one home run.”

“Song Seok-hyun fought hard today, but unfortunately, he didn’t get enough support from those around him.”

“It can’t be helped. Jo Jin-hee is especially strong against left-handed hitters. Today, GOAT had three lefties, all in the top of the lineup: Lee Ji-sung, Kim In-hwan, and Yoo Sun-ho. With the 1st, 3rd, and 5th hitters not performing well against Jo Jin-hee, GOAT’s offense was stifled.”

“Yoo Sun-ho and Lee Ji-sung came over in trades, but Song Seok-hyun is still lonely today.”

“It can’t be helped. Yoo Sun-ho and Lee Ji-sung need time to get their condition up to par.”

“Jo Jin-hee’s great pitching was dazzling today, but Jung Cheon-woon was also excellent, right? He had a quality start, going 6 innings and allowing 3 runs against the top-ranked Pegasus.”

“It would have stood out more if the opponent wasn’t Pegasus, but it’s still a good performance to look forward to the next game.”

In the top of the 7th, pitcher Kim Jung-ryul came to the mound.

“Kim Jung-ryul is coming in with the team down 3-1.”

“Manager Ham Sung-hoon used to be a manager who was careful with his must-win pitchers, which drew a lot of criticism. He usually didn’t bring them in unless they were winning, but today he’s bringing in a pitcher even though they’re losing, and against Pegasus of all teams.”

“What could that mean?”

“He thinks they have a chance to win today.”

Pegasus’s lineup started with the number 2 hitter, Shim Chang-gyu.

Shim Chang-gyu gripped his bat and widened his stance.

“He’s widening his stance. Is he trying to hit a hard ball?”

Kim Jung-ryul had no particular expression.

His eyes were only on Song Seok-hyun’s fingers.

‘Sinker.’

Whether it’s outside or inside, it doesn’t matter.

Just throw it low.

Song Seok-hyun’s mitt pointed at home plate.

Kim Jung-ryul slowly leaned forward and bent deeply at the waist.

Kim Jung-ryul’s hand brushed the ground.

Whack!

-Strike!

Shim Chang-gyu tilted his head and adjusted his stance.

“That sinker was sharp.”

“That’s Kim Jung-ryul’s specialty, right? It seems there’s a reason why his ERA [Earned Run Average] is in the 0.00s recently.”

“The number of games isn’t high, but an ERA in the 0.00s means something.”

Ham Sung-hoon clenched his fist.

Pitching coach Yeon Woo-shik said,

“Jung-ryul is in the best shape right now, but isn’t bringing him out now a bit much?”

“Even if our starters are struggling, our bullpen is better today. Jung-ryul has had a lot of rest, so I’m thinking of letting him go until the 9th, depending on the situation.”

“That long…? Is that okay? It’ll be tough for Jung-ryul when the lineup comes around again.”

“We’ll have to change him if he can’t. But shouldn’t we test him on a day like today? The potential of underhand pitcher Kim Jung-ryul. It’s even better if the opposing lineup is Pegasus.”

Yeon Woo-shik clicked his tongue.

They were closer to 7th place than 4th.

Even though he was an interim manager, he was developing players amidst heavy media criticism.

Was he bold, or did he have nothing to fear because he was an interim manager?

-Strike! Out!

“Kim Jung-ryul’s strikeout! Shim Chang-gyu swings and misses at the curveball that soars into the sky.”

“Kim Jung-ryul doesn’t just have a good sinker, his curve is good too. If he’s in this kind of condition today, Pegasus will have a hard time, too.”

Shim Chang-gyu stepped away from the plate and shook his head at the next batter, Kim Han-sung.

“It’s tough.”

Kim Han-sung swung upward at Kim Jung-ryul’s first pitch, but it was a fly ball to center field.

The 4th hitter, Kim Wook, took a breath and stepped up to the plate.

“Just give me one good one, junior [younger colleague].”

“I’ll try my best.”

At Kim Wook’s playful remark, Song Seok-hyun called for an outside changeup.

Whoosh!

“Swing and a miss! Kim Wook swings hard from the first pitch.”

“It looked like he was really aiming for it, but it was a 124 km/h changeup.”

Kim Wook adjusted his helmet.

“I asked for one good one, and our junior is being mischievous.”

“I did give you a good one. I think I served it up nicely.”

“Then give me a fastball this time. Okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

Song Seok-hyun raised his mitt.

Kim Jung-ryul threw the ball.

A ball that soared from low to high.

Kim Wook took a breath and swung his bat.

-Strike!

“Two strikes! He was completely fooled just now. Kim Wook saw an impressive curveball in the previous at-bat, so he waited for a curveball that would soar upwards again, but it was a fastball.”

Kim Wook laughed.

“I’ve been fooled by this course twice today.”

“I gave you a fastball.”

“Yeah, you really gave me a fastball.”

“Don’t you trust your junior too much?”

“I guess I didn’t trust you enough. In that sense, should we go for a fastball again?”

“Yes, of course.”

Kim Jung-ryul’s next pitch was a fastball that stretched to the outside.

Kim Wook abandoned his greed and lightly pushed it, but the bat cut through the air.

-Strike! Out!

“Three-pitch strikeout! Kim Jung-ryul strikes out the 4th hitter, Kim Wook.”

“That slider that goes out is really good. The angle is sharp.”

Kim Wook gripped his bat and looked down at Song Seok-hyun.

“I’m disappointed, junior. Lying and all.”

“That was a fastball just now, didn’t you know? It was a slightly curving fastball.”

Kim Wook smiled and returned to the bench.

The hitting coach scolded Kim Wook.

“What’s so good that you’re grinning like that?”

“It’s fun.”

“What’s fun?”

“I think it’ll be fun when we play against GOAT in the future.”

The 5th hitter, Kim Sung-hyun, went to a full count against Kim Jung-ryul but grounded out to the sinker without fail.

-Out!

“Kim Jung-ryul cleanly gets three hitters.”

“Watching Kim Jung-ryul is like seeing his old self. Kim Jung-ryul, the crown prince of GOAT.”

“He used to be a symbol of a right-handed fireballer, but now he’s an underhand pitcher. The world is a funny place.”

Kim Jung-ryul came down from the mound and held out his hand to Song Seok-hyun.

Song Seok-hyun lightly bumped his fist.

“How was my pitching today?”

“An ace is different for a reason.”

Kim Jung-ryul couldn’t help but laugh at the word ‘ace,’ which he hadn’t heard in a long time.

“You little rascal, flattering me.”

In the bottom of the 7th, Pegasus also brought up a pitcher.

Bullpen pitcher Jo Jin-ho.

As Jo Jin-ho warmed up, the Pegasus fans stood up and clapped.

“Jo Jin-ho! Jo Jin-ho! Jo Jin-ho! Jo Jin-ho!”

“Jo Jin-ho is very popular. I don’t think there are many cases where a bullpen pitcher is this popular, even though he’s neither a starter nor a closer.”

“Jo Jin-ho is a symbolic player for Pegasus. He’s been playing as an all-around utility player since his debut, and he’s already in his 12th year, isn’t he? It’s rare for a bullpen pitcher who isn’t a closer to have such a long career. Moreover, his career ERA is in the 3.00s.”

“He’s really the best bullpen player who can do his part no matter where you put him, right?”

“That’s right. His ball isn’t fast, but his precise control and changeup are Jo Jin-ho’s trademarks. The fact that Pegasus brought up Jo Jin-ho today seems to mean that they’re determined to win.”

“Scorpion and Wolves are chasing closely, so Pegasus needs to step up.”

As soon as Jo Jin-ho came to the mound, he got GOAT’s lower lineup out with three groundouts.

He only threw 10 pitches to face the three hitters.

“This is why Jo Jin-ho is loved by Pegasus fans.”

“This makes the late game even more interesting. It’s a battle between two key bullpen players. I’m curious to see how the battle between the two same-age players will end.”

Top of the 8th.

Jung Yong-wook came out for Pegasus.

He had only one single today.

He lost his sense of hitting, caught up in Jung Cheon-woon’s pace.

“Junior. Let’s go easy on each other. You should have pity on a poor, old senior. Right?”

“Yes, I understand.”

The first pitch was a sinker that stuck close to his body.

Jung Yong-wook was startled by the ball that flew towards his knee and pulled back.

“Sorry.”

Kim Jung-ryul mouthed to Jung Yong-wook.

Jung Yong-wook chuckled.

“I’m disappointed. How can we catchers do this to each other?”

“Sunbae [senior/older colleague] Jung-ryul doesn’t seem to be in good condition today.”

“This pitch? Not good?”

The second pitch was also a sinker close to his body.

Jung Yong-wook looked at the gap between third base and shortstop and hit it, but it got caught on the end of third baseman Choi Jae-wan’s glove.

-Out!

“He gets the tricky hitter Jung Yong-wook.”

“He aimed well at the open space just now, but Choi Jae-wan played good defense.”

“Choi Jae-wan isn’t showing a good performance in the attack today, but he’s showing excellent skills in defense.”

“If the offense is lacking, you have to make up for it in defense.”

Jung Yong-wook shook his head.

Everything went wrong today.

If Jung Cheon-woon’s dark magic turns people inside out, Kim Jung-ryul’s ball is a mystery.

“Is that guy getting younger at that age?”

The 7th hitter, shortstop Kim Hyung-woo, aimed for the first pitch and hit it over the pitcher’s head.

The next hitter, left fielder Hong Sung-wook, touched the curveball at full count and grounded into a double play.

The Pegasus manager smiled bitterly.

“How many double plays is that today? Two? Three?”

He was winning, but he felt uneasy.

Bottom of the 8th.

The batting order was number 1 hitter Lee Ji-sung.

Lee Ji-sung stood close to the plate and kept fouling off Jo Jin-ho’s pitches.

Jo Jin-ho, who had a two-pitch repertoire of fastball and changeup, had no other options.

If the ball was fast, he could at least intimidate him, but Jo Jin-ho was a pitcher who competed on the outside.

“He’s giving up a walk. In the bottom of the 8th, GOAT sends out the lead hitter.”

“It’s troublesome when the fast-footed Lee Ji-sung gets out, right?”

As soon as Lee Ji-sung got out, he widened his lead.

Left-handed pitcher Jo Jin-ho looked at Lee Ji-sung with a dumbfounded expression.

-Safe!

When Jo Jin-ho checked, Lee Ji-sung dove back to the base.

Lee Ji-sung dusted off his uniform and widened his lead again.

-Safe!

Another check.

Lee Ji-sung got up again and dusted off his uniform.

Lee Ji-sung widened his lead again.

“Waaaaa.”

“Lee Ji-sung! Lee Ji-sung! Lee Ji-sung!”

“GOAT’s speedy Lee Ji-sung! Run, run, run! Sonic Boom!”