On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 132

Seamless transitions, so natural you wouldn’t even consider the meticulous practice behind them.

While Hwang Gi-deok’s scouting eye was sharp, Song Seok-hyeon’s framing was a step ahead.

“Hwang Gi-deok was caught out, but Kang Gyun-seung is no pushover either. He’s not just a .300 hitter with 30 home runs; he’s a second baseman who steals 30 bases. He hits well and is fast on the basepaths. Of course, his defense is excellent too.”

“He’s also great at executing plays. He’s the type of player every manager loves.”

Lee Chang-hoon threw a slider as his first pitch.

Kang Gyun-seung barely managed to check his swing, resulting in a ball.

The second pitch was a curveball right down the middle of the plate.

-Strike!

“He was caught off guard. His timing was off.”

“It looked like he was expecting a fastball, but Lee Chang-hoon went the other way.”

Song Seok-hyeon signaled for a changeup.

Kang Gyun-seung is being aggressive.

Having seen Hwang Gi-deok get out, he must feel a strong urge to get on base himself.

There’s no need to give an aggressive hitter a good pitch.

Thwack!

Kang Gyun-seung swung at the dropping changeup.

The ball, hit off the end of the bat, dribbled towards the shortstop.

The weakened ball bounced softly.

The shortstop charged in, scooped up the ball, and fired it to first base.

Kang Gyun-seung stretched his leg out, stepping past the base.

Thump.

As the ball arrived, the umpire shouted.

-Safe!

“Safe! He’s safe! Kang Gyun-seung’s speed turned that into a hit.”

“The shortstop needed to come in faster. That hesitation cost him a step. Jung Young-soo is a solid defender, but his lack of aggressiveness is a flaw.”

“Now they have a fast runner on first and a good hitter at the plate. They can attempt a steal or a hit-and-run. It’s a headache for the defense.”

“With a double play off the table, the Scorpions will try to get to second base by any means necessary. The Goats need to contain Kang Gyun-seung’s speed. Song Seok-hyeon has a good arm, but Kang Gyun-seung is fast enough. If the catcher hesitates even for a moment, it’s a guaranteed steal. I wonder if the rookie Song Seok-hyeon can handle this pressure and make an accurate throw.”

Kang Gyun-seung gradually increased his lead.

Lee Chang-hoon glanced at Kang Gyun-seung.

The left-handed hitter Jung Dae-han stepped into the batter’s box.

Only twenty-one years old, but already one of the league’s biggest stars.

He caused a sensation from his debut, becoming an idol in Daegu [a major city in South Korea].

His model-like height, perfect proportions, striking features, and slender build made him a popular figure in the news.

From his rookie year, he was involved in scandals with famous actresses and frequently appeared on television, becoming known as one of the most handsome players in Korean professional baseball.

He was famous for his looks, but his skills were also exceptional.

In his first year, his OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a key baseball statistic] exceeded .900, and he was evaluated as a complete player with 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and solid first base defense.

If Hwang Gi-deok is a fast all-rounder, Jung Dae-han is a hitting all-rounder.

A hitter with no apparent weaknesses.

He can get a hit on any pitch and is capable of hitting 20 or even 30 home runs.

Statistically, Jung Dae-han was a more dangerous hitter than Hwang Gi-deok.

‘Fastball, outside.’

Song Seok-hyeon called for an outside fastball as the first pitch.

A ball slightly outside the strike zone.

Lee Chang-hoon’s pitch missed even further outside, becoming a ball.

Instead of running, Kang Gyun-seung returned to first base.

“The Goats battery tried to bait Kang Gyun-seung by throwing a ball outside, but neither the hitter nor the runner took the bait.”

“That was practically a pitchout. They’ve wasted a pitch.”

A sign came from the Scorpions’ bench.

Hit and run.

It was a good time to steal since it’s difficult to throw two pitches outside in a row.

The pitcher, the catcher, and even the Goats’ bench knew it.

In most cases, the runner would go.

If the pitcher chooses a fastball out of fear of the runner, it becomes easier for the hitter to pick his pitch.

That’s the power of the Scorpions; even if you know it, you can’t stop it because they have fast runners.

After some deliberation, Song Seok-hyeon gave a sign.

Lee Chang-hoon moistened his dry lips and nodded.

The pitch Lee Chang-hoon chose after much deliberation was… a changeup.

“The runner’s going!”

A fastball coming into the strike zone…

Jung Dae-han swung with all his might.

The ball came straight towards the bat, then dropped down and landed in Song Seok-hyeon’s mitt.

Song Seok-hyeon was already rising to his feet.

“Ha!”

With a shout, Song Seok-hyeon threw the ball to second base.

Kang Gyun-seung was already halfway there.

The second baseman was also moving towards the base.

Surprised by the catcher’s quick movement, Kang Gyun-seung reached for the base with a headfirst slide.

Thump!

Thwack!

The sound of the ball hitting the glove and the glove hitting the hand.

Kang Gyun-seung’s hand was on the base.

Kang Gyun-seung picked up his fallen helmet and looked at the umpire.

The umpire’s signal was…

-Out!

“Out! He’s out! Song Seok-hyeon successfully throws out the runner! Kang Gyun-seung was fast, but Song Seok-hyeon’s throw was even faster.”

“Was Song Seok-hyeon’s pop time [the time it takes for a catcher to receive the ball and throw it to second base] this good? We’ll have to check, but it’s definitely under 2 seconds.”

“The ball was really fast too, wasn’t it? I wish we could measure the speed.”

“Lee Chang-hoon threw a changeup and still caught Kang Gyun-seung… Song Seok-hyeon’s arm is really something. There’s a reason why other teams are hesitant to steal against them. I’d only heard about it, but I didn’t realize he was this fast.”

Success as a catcher.

Genius.

Having been thrown out, Kang Gyun-seung avoided the manager’s eyes and went to the bench.

The Scorpions’ manager, Lee Geon-hoo, sighed.

“What did you say his pop time was?”

“The fastest we’ve measured recently was 1.91 seconds.”

“I see…”

The manager stroked his chin.

“Try it one more time. Physical ability isn’t everything.”

“Yes, sir.”

The manager’s eyes turned to Song Seok-hyeon.

“His arm is that good too…?”

* * *

Bang!

Jung Dae-han hit Lee Chang-hoon’s fastball for a single to right field.

“A hit! Jung Dae-han pulls the ball for a hit.”

“That was a well-placed pitch on the outside corner, but he still managed to hit it. It’s not easy to hit Lee Chang-hoon’s fastball like that. Jung Dae-han is truly a genius.”

The pitcher, Lee Chang-hoon, stamped his foot on the mound.

He looked frustrated about giving up the hit.

Song Seok-hyeon stood up and shifted the infield defense back.

The batter stepping into the box was the home run king, Jo Yang-cheol.

A hitter with three home run titles.

He hadn’t won the title in recent years, but he was always a contender.

“Jo Yang-cheol steps into the batter’s box. He has a formidable presence. He’s been picking up his home run pace again recently, hasn’t he?”

“That’s right. That’s Jo Yang-cheol’s strength. His home run production is consistent.”

“The Scorpions were able to trade Yoo Seon-ho so boldly in large part because of Jo Yang-cheol.”

“That’s right. Giving up Yoo Seon-ho and Lee Ji-sung to acquire Lee Nak-gyun was a decent trade for the Scorpions, but there’s always the ‘what if.’ If Lee Nak-gyun can’t return this season, it’ll be a big loss. Nevertheless, they went ahead with it because they have a golden lineup of Hwang Gi-deok, Kang Gyun-seung, Jung Dae-han, and Jo Yang-cheol. If Lee Nak-gyun returns, the Scorpions will have a national-level lineup from the first to the sixth batter, including Lee Nak-gyun and Jo Cheol-woong. Of course, the key players are Hwang Gi-deok and Jo Yang-cheol.”

“A consistent home run hitter. He must be a tough opponent for any pitcher.”

“Definitely. Even for Lee Chang-hoon, Jo Yang-cheol is a difficult batter.”

The count was 2-0.

Jo Yang-cheol, having laid off both Lee Chang-hoon’s curveball and slider, adjusted his grip on the bat.

Song Seok-hyeon hesitated.

Jung Dae-han on first base is also a fast runner.

To catch Jung Dae-han stealing, the pitcher needs to throw a fastball.

Considering the steal, Song Seok-hyeon had called for two breaking balls, but the runner didn’t move, and the batter didn’t swing.

In a 2-0 count, the pitcher faces pressure to throw a fastball.

‘Fastball, outside.’

Having wasted two pitches, the pitcher has to pay the price.

Even knowing the hitter is looking for a fastball, he has to throw it.

Lee Chang-hoon threw his fastest pitch of the game.

Bang!

The ball, hit by Jo Yang-cheol’s powerful swing, went foul, hitting the upper deck of the third base stands.
A massive foul home run.

“Jo Yang-cheol looks disappointed. He swung too hard that time.”

“He put too much power into it. When an outside pitch comes in that well, you need to drive it to the opposite field, but he was too focused on hitting a home run.”

“Still, that foul home run means the hitter has the timing down, right?”

“That’s right. His timing was good. Even for Lee Chang-hoon, it’ll be difficult to completely avoid Jo Yang-cheol’s sights.”

Lee Chang-hoon rubbed the rosin bag in his hands.

A hitter with power also has composure.

While the crowd’s attention was focused on Lee Chang-hoon and Jo Yang-cheol, a sign came from the Scorpions’ bench.

‘Hit and run.’

Now, when everyone is focused on the battle between the pitcher and the hitter, is the perfect time for a play.

Having received the sign, Jung Dae-han blinked slightly.

Kang Gyun-seung was caught out.

The catcher’s arm is good, just like they said in the strategy meeting.

Other teams would be hesitant to steal, but the Scorpions were different.

“You all know this, but I’ll emphasize it one more time. Stealing isn’t a battle against the catcher. It’s a battle of wits against the pitcher. No matter how good the catcher’s arm is, there’s nothing he can do if the pitcher gives him the timing. So don’t worry about the catcher’s arm, and run when you get the timing.”

Kang Gyun-seung was caught out, but a smile appeared on Jung Dae-han’s face.

If he succeeds in stealing here, he’ll be faster than Kang Gyun-seung.

It’s better to be the second-fastest runner on the team than the third.

It’s best to exclude freaks like Hwang Gi-deok from the start.

“Hoo.”

Jung Dae-han swayed his body slightly from side to side.

He’ll run 0.3 seconds before the pitcher lifts his leg.

Not too early, not too late.

The moment the pitcher’s body twitches slightly and his leg lifts is the start.

Once he decides to steal, time seems to slow down.

The sound of his heart pounding echoes in his ears.

Run.

Run.

Ru…n!

Swoosh!

At the same time as Lee Chang-hoon lifted his leg, Jung Dae-han took off.

Lee Chang-hoon’s pitch was a four-seam fastball.

Jo Yang-cheol swung with all his might.

Bang!

“Left field wall! Left field wall! Left field wall! Ah! Foul ball. It curved out a lot at the end.”

“That was really good timing, wasn’t it? It was a very slight difference. The bat was just a little too early.”

Jung Dae-han, already at second base, turned his body and braced himself with both hands on the ground.

The front of his uniform was already covered in dirt.

“Ha.”

Jung Dae-han laughed in vain.

“Jung Dae-han got a good start, but it’s a real shame.”

“The timing of the play was good, but the Goats twisted it once more. Instead of an outside fastball, they threw a high inside fastball. Usually, when you’re thinking about a steal, you try to induce an outside fastball. Jo Yang-cheol would have been focused on an outside fastball, so he wouldn’t have expected it to be inside, especially high.”
The Scorpions’ manager, Lee Geon-hoo, furrowed his brow deeply.

“Chief Jang.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“Didn’t you say the Goats’ pitch selection is done by the catcher?”

“Yes, he usually leaves it to the catcher.”

“I see…”

Lee Geon-hoo narrowed his eyes further.

He called for a play at a time when everyone was focused on the battle between the pitcher and the hitter.

If he had thrown a fastball, concerned about the steal, it would have been hit by Jo Yang-cheol, and if he had thrown a breaking ball, Jung Dae-han would have been safe at second, considering his start.

From the Scorpions’ perspective, any result would have been beneficial, but they threw a high inside fastball.

A fastball inside to a home run hitter with a runner on base.

The Scorpions’ play was foiled, and Jo Yang-cheol wasted a count.

It was a win-win situation for the Scorpions, but a twenty-year-old reversed it…?”

“I’d rather it was luck…”

“Sir?”

Before Lee Geon-hoo could finish speaking, Jo Yang-cheol struck out.

Swinging and missing at a slider that broke away on the outside corner.

Exclamations erupted from the bench.

“Too bad.”

“It’s always like this after a foul home run.”