On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 125

-Strike!

“Wow, that backdoor slider is something else. No right-handed batter will be able to hit that today, huh? He’s gained confidence, really gained confidence. Isn’t this all because of you, Song Seok-hyun?”

“Why me?”

“Because you couldn’t hit that earlier, so he’s throwing with confidence.”

“Why is that my fault?”

“Oh, just because you’re good at baseball, you’re getting cocky now?”

While Kim Jung-ryul and Song Seok-hyun were bickering, Choi Jae-wan fouled off two pitches, maintaining a no-ball, two-strike count.

Jung Yong-wook stood up to signal for a specific pitch to Choi Jae-wan, who was stubbornly holding on.

High fastball.

Even though the speed is slow, the ball has good spin, so it feels like it’s rising.

Jo Jin-ho threw the ball.

The ball comes over the batter’s shoulder height.

Clang!

Choi Jae-wan hit the pitch with a short swing right back to the pitcher.

“Third base runner! Home! Home! Second base runner too! Home! Home! At home~~~.”

Kim In-hwan slid and touched home plate with his hand.

Jung Yong-wook tried to block with his mitt, but Kim In-hwan had already passed.

“Safe! Choi Jae-wan hits a timely two-run double! They make a comeback in an instant.”

“Choi Jae-wan! He’s roaring. He makes a big celebration.”

“He might be the MVP of today’s game?”

“He showed good defense and then hit a potential game-winning hit.”

Manager Ham Sung-hoon applauded.

That’s it.

Choi Jae-wan is slowly breaking out of his shell.

The talent that had been suppressed by Kim In-hwan and Song Seok-hyun is finally blooming.

Choi Jae-wan isn’t a power hitter, but he has the makings of one.

The umbrella effect [where one player’s success elevates the performance of the entire team] is affecting the entire lineup.

The Gotes’ season starts now.

Right now, from now on.

Success as a Catcher

Team

-Strike! Out!

“Kim Jung-ryul! Strikes out the last batter!”

“The Gotes start the weekend series against the Pegasus with a pleasant one-win lead.”

“That sinker he threw at the end was really great.”

Kim Jung-ryul roared on the mound.

Song Seok-hyun went to the mound and bumped fists with Kim Jung-ryul.

“Congratulations on the win.”

“Wasn’t I awesome today?”

“Yes. Your pitches were absolutely brutal today.”

“It works. The ball is slow, but they can’t hit it. Haha, why did I bother throwing so fast that my shoulder would fall off?”

Kim In-hwan approached Kim Jung-ryul.

“Congratulations on the win, hyung [older brother or respected senior].”

“Thank you, thank you.”

The shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman came to congratulate Kim Jung-ryul on his victory.

Kim Jung-ryul’s cheekbones rose as he laughed heartily.

“Cancel your plans for today! Hyung’s buying meat!”

“Hanwoo [premium Korean beef]! Hanwoo! Hanwoo! Hanwoo!”

“I’ll buy you everything you want to eat, so follow me!”

“Kim Jung-ryul! Kim Jung-ryul! Kim Jung-ryul!”

Kim Jung-ryul ran ahead, and the players ran behind him in step, like a train.

Ham Sung-hoon nodded as he watched this.

“Now it feels like a team.”

Battery coach Kim Tae-woo replied to the manager’s words.

“The atmosphere has been too down lately.”

“Really… I’ve waited a long time, and it’s worth the wait.”

“Manager, you’ve worked hard. You’ve had a lot of worries, right?”

“It’s all my fault. I should have built up the depth more firmly… If it weren’t for Seok-hyun, this season would have been really bleak.”

“Isn’t that all our luck? Luck is also a skill in the pros.”

Before they knew it, the outfielders and bench players had gathered to form a long train.

Kim Jung-ryul frowned at the line of players following him, but Kim In-hwan grabbed Kim Jung-ryul’s belt and wouldn’t let go.

“Hey! There are too many people! My wallet will be empty!”

“Kim Jung-ryul! Kim Jung-ryul! Kim Jung-ryul!”

“Hey, you crazy bastards! Am I a corporate card? How can I buy you all Hanwoo!”

“Kim Jung-ryul! Kim Jung-ryul! Kim Jung-ryul!”

“Kim In-hwan! Let go of my belt! Let go~~!”

“Hanwoo! Hanwoo! Hanwoo! Hanwoo!”

The player interview wasn’t Kim Jung-ryul.

It wasn’t Choi Jae-wan, who hit the game-winning hit.

It wasn’t Song Seok-hyun, who hit a home run.

It was Jung Chun-woon, who recorded a quality start [pitching at least six innings and allowing no more than three earned runs].

“You didn’t get the win today, but you recorded a quality start against the Pegasus. Can we get a word from you?”

Jung Chun-woon fiddled with his headset and said.

“I also knew after I pitched. I didn’t know I would record a quality start.”

“What’s the secret to your good pitching today?”

“I just threw where the catcher told me to throw.”

“Was there anything you agreed on or trained separately beforehand?”

“No. I just threw where the catcher told me to throw.”

The commentator laughed.

“The tempo was quite fast today. You were also very aggressive. Didn’t you prepare for this in advance?”

“No. I just throw where the catcher tells me to throw.”

“Is that so? Do you have that much faith in the catcher? Song Seok-hyun is a really great hitter, but he’s still a young rookie catcher, so don’t you think you should lead him as a senior?”

Jung Chun-woon tilted his head.

“Seok-hyun is smarter than me, so isn’t it better for me to listen to Seok-hyun?”

“Ah… haha, I see. You have great trust in Song Seok-hyun.”

“I’m grateful that a friend who is smarter than me uses his brain for me. Ah, Seok-hyun, thank you. Please do it again next time.”

After the interview, the caster wiped his sweat with a handkerchief.

“There was nothing to get out of the interview?”

“I know. It’s too boring to do an interview like that.”

“Is that real? You were a pitcher, so you know if he’s sincere or not.”

“There’s no need to lie there. Even though there were some dangerous scenes today, Song Seok-hyun knew how to lead?”

“Can a twenty-year-old do that?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I thought the Gotes were going to close when Park Shin-eon was sold.”

“The Gotes are very lucky. Song Seok-hyun just popped out at this timing.”

“Isn’t that as good as Phoenix last year?”

* * *

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! My wallet is still empty even after eating pork!”

The players followed Kim Jung-ryul out of the restaurant in a line.

“Thank you for the meal, sunbaenim [senior]!”

“Thank you, sunbaenim!”

“Hyung [older brother/senior]! Thank you!”

Kim Jung-ryul rubbed his eyes with his fingers.

Song Seok-hyun went to Kim Jung-ryul and asked quietly.

“Sunbaenim, are you okay?”

“Keu, did they get possessed by gluttony? Why are they eating so much?”

“I’m sorry. I ate a lot too…”

Kim Jung-ryul put his arm around Song Seok-hyun’s shoulders.

“You’re okay. You can buy Hanwoo every day.”

Lee Ji-sung, who was behind them, licked his lips.

“I did well today too, don’t I deserve to eat Hanwoo too?”

“Yes, Ji-sung. You did well too. If you do like today, I can buy you pork every day.”

“Seok-hyun gets Hanwoo, but why do I get pork?”

“I’ll give you up to Korean pork, not just Spanish pork.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“Then you hit as well as Seok-hyun. Then I’ll buy you Hanwoo every day.”

“…Ehh, that’s a bit…”

Yu Seon-ho put a toothpick in his mouth and kicked Kim Jung-ryul’s butt with his instep.

“You’re being stingy, discriminating against us with food.”

“Ah, hyung. I have face too, how can you kick my butt on the street?”

“Oh? Your head’s getting bigger, huh?”

“Hyung, be careful. I might retire before you and become a coach.”

“Oh my, I’m scared. I’m so scared that my legs are shaking. Hey. Aren’t you being too protective of the catcher because you’re a pitcher? Didn’t you see Ji-sung flying around today?”

“I said Ji-sung did well too. But my best pick is Seok-hyun. If you’re upset, hyung, do as well as Seok-hyun. Then I’ll set you up on a blind date too.”

“Tsk. What connections do you have to set me up on a blind date?”

Song Seok-hyun said.

“I might be eating noodles soon…”

“Noodles? What noodles?”

Kim Jung-ryul poked Song Seok-hyun in the side.

“It’s not certain about the noodles yet, not yet.”

“Uh-huh, tell me. Do you have someone?”

“Ehehe, not yet. It’s not open yet.”

“Hmph. Are you discriminating against me because I’m a transfer student?”

“Ehh, that’s not it.”

“Tell me quickly or what?”

Kim In-hwan answered.

“Hyung, he’s been seriously dating announcer Peng Hye-ri for a while.”

“Hye-ri? Peng Hye-ri? She’s dating you? Why? Is she crazy?”

“Ehehe, hyung. Don’t call the person who will soon be your sister-in-law crazy.”

“What’s she lacking that she’s dating you?”

“Lacking? What’s wrong with me? Am I lacking anywhere?”

“I’m just saying that you don’t have a recognizable face.”

“No, this is enough, what. Look at you being jealous because I’m a bachelor.”

“Jealous? Hmph. Okay, okay. Don’t think I can’t date someone. Hey guys, who wants to go to the second round? Except for those with girlfriends, raise your hands if you want to hang out with me. The second round will be at a better place. You, get out. Go meet your girlfriend, you.”

“I was going to go anyway. I’m a man with a date, why are you like this.”

When Yu Seon-ho said he would pay for the second round, the players gathered again.

Only Kim Jung-ryul and a few married men were left out, and most followed Yu Seon-ho.

“Seok-hyun, why aren’t you going? Do you have a girl too?”

“I need to sleep…”

“…Are you a kid? You’re sleeping at this time?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, sunbaenim.”

Yu Seon-ho looked at Song Seok-hyun in disbelief and then laughed it off.

“Okay, okay. Who’s going to say anything to you? Okay. Go get some sleep. You have to hit one tomorrow too.”

“I’m sorry, sunbaenim. I’ll definitely attend next time.”

“Okay, you worked hard today. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

Yu Seon-ho waved his hand and left with the players.

Song Seok-hyun sighed as he watched Lee Ji-sung follow Yu Seon-ho.

“Lee Ji-sung sunbaenim is also a very self-disciplined person, but he’s following the after-party to the second round.”

Kim Jung-ryul said.

“Self-discipline is self-discipline, but sometimes there are things more important than self-discipline. Today is a perfect day.”

“What is?”

“What else? It’s the first day of first-team registration, and it’s the day we came back against the Pegasus. Where is there a better day to get closer like this? If you have a after-party and chat, you can cheer up again.”

Song Seok-hyun turned his head and looked at Kim Jung-ryul.

“Then did sunbaenim deliberately have a after-party today?”

“It’s both. I make an excuse to have a after-party on days like this. These after-parties are usually done by the veterans.”

“I’ve been with Yu Seon-ho sunbaenim and Lee Ji-sung sunbaenim so far, so I didn’t even think about having a after-party today.”

“You can’t learn that from studying. You have to do it by sensing it.”

“Yu Seon-ho sunbaenim knows everything and is going to the second round, then?”

“Does that person not know that much? He’s just big, but he’s a fox, a fox [sly and cunning]. And how many years has he been wearing a hat, that’s basic, you.”

Song Seok-hyun scratched his head.

“Then I should have followed too. Should I go now?”

“You don’t have to follow. Catchers are always excused. Song Seok-hyun always has a free pass in the Gotes. Who would touch you?”

“If someone hears that, they’ll think I’m very rude, tsk. Sunbaenim, are you going on a date now?”

“Me? No.”

“You said you had a date earlier?”

“Not today. I just said it as a joke.”

“Why? Because you didn’t want to go to the after-party?”

“That’s not it, you. I have to get out of the way so that Seon-ho hyung has a chance to cheer up. Wouldn’t hyung be a little uncomfortable if I was there?”

“Ah…”

Song Seok-hyun looked at Kim Jung-ryul with a new look.

“Did you think about all this?”

“What do you mean think? I usually do it that way. This much is just a sense, what.”

“You deliberately made a place for Yu Seon-ho sunbaenim to get closer to the juniors, a big picture…?”