On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 16

“No, it’s not that I’m uncomfortable, but I was worried I might be bothering you.”

“No, it’s okay. If you have time, let’s go together. How about a walk around the neighborhood?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

An unplanned outing was set.

Song Seok-hyun walked, following Kim In-hwan half a step behind.

Kim In-hwan didn’t say much as they walked.

After a while,

Kim In-hwan spoke as they waited for the signal at a crosswalk.

“Now that I think about it, I’m sorry. I didn’t properly introduce myself, and I didn’t ask you anything about yourself.”

“Ah, no. It’s okay, haha.”

“I heard from Hyung [older brother/senior]. You came in as a rehab player. That must be tough, right?”

“It’s okay. Senior Jung-ryul is doing such a great job that I’m satisfied. Thanks to him, I even got to come to overseas training camp. Haha, it’s great.”

Kim In-hwan shook his head.

“You must have heard what the rehab group is like. It’s just called rehab; it’s basically the third team, and you know the club doesn’t really prioritize it, right?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that.”

“It must be hard for you too. Everyone’s having a hard time.”

The traffic light turned green.

The two crossed the crosswalk.

Kim In-hwan was silent again.

When they arrived not far from the accommodation, Kim In-hwan said,

“But why did Jung-ryul suddenly decide to come to training camp?”

“Ah… Didn’t he tell you, Senior?”

“He didn’t say much. He just told me to come no matter what.”

“Well…”

Song Seok-hyun hinted at the kind of training Kim Jung-ryul had been doing for the past month.

“The yips [sudden, unexplained loss of skills] overcoming training is quite effective. I think he saw some hope.”

“It’s effective…? No, more than that, there’s such a thing as yips overcoming training?”

“Yes, it’s briefly introduced in domestic books, and my friend remembered it. So I searched the internet and found drills. The reason we came to Japan this time is also because the developer of the yips overcoming training is a former coach of a Japanese professional team.”

Kim In-hwan stopped walking.

“So? Who is that coach?”

“I don’t remember the full name, but it was something like ‘Hiroko? Hiroto?’ Senior Jung-ryul said he would ask an acquaintance to find out, so I don’t know much more.”

“Really? Hmm…”

Kim In-hwan stood still, lost in thought.

Song Seok-hyun waited behind Kim In-hwan.

“Let’s go, back to the accommodation.”

Kim In-hwan increased his pace towards the accommodation.

Upon arriving at the accommodation, Kim In-hwan called Kim Jung-ryul separately.

Song Seok-hyun went into the room first to wash up and prepare for bed.

Click.

While Song Seok-hyun was looking at his phone, Kim Jung-ryul returned to the room.

“Seok-hyun.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“What did you talk about with In-hwan earlier?”

“With In-hwan, Senior? We just talked about this and that.”

“Really?”

Kim Jung-ryul smiled and returned to the bed.

“What’s wrong, Senior?”

“It’s funny; it’s been a while since I’ve seen that guy so fired up. He’s making a fuss about finding the coach quickly. He kept asking where Coach Hiroto is.”

“Ah, I also mentioned you earlier, that one of the reasons for coming to Japan was to find the coach.”

“The guy who was so down seems to be getting some energy now. If I had known this would happen, I would have told him sooner.”

Kim Jung-ryul hadn’t told Kim In-hwan and Kim Hyung-seok in detail how he was overcoming the yips and how he started training.

Would the two of them even believe it if he said he started training with the advice of the still-young Song Seok-hyun?

Even if they did believe it, he would be lying if there was no further progress from here.

Kim Jung-ryul came to the training camp with Kim In-hwan and Kim Hyung-seok because they were close, but there was another reason.

Kim In-hwan was a slugger whose aim was broken, and Kim Hyung-seok was a pitcher with chronic back injuries.

He hoped that Coach Hiroto, whom he found in Japan, might provide a turning point for the two of them, and that’s why he invited them.

Knowing that great expectations lead to great disappointments, he held back his words, but Kim In-hwan’s reaction was more enthusiastic than he expected.

“Um… But have you found Coach Hiroto’s whereabouts?”

“Oh, it was easier to find than I thought. Since he was a coach for a professional team, there were people who knew him through a few connections.”

“So, is he in Japan?”

“Yeah, he’s in Fukuoka. I don’t know exactly where in Fukuoka, or what his phone number is, so I’m going to wait a few more days. But I think I’ll find him soon.”

“I hope you find him soon.”

“Even if I find him, it’s still a problem. If he’s good, he’s probably already under contract.”

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t we try to get him to give us some guidance, even if it’s just a little? No matter how busy he is, he should have that much time.”

“I guess so?”

The next morning.

Song Seok-hyun woke up with an excited heart.

The first proper overseas training camp.

Although it wasn’t spring training, Song Seok-hyun was grateful for even this.

Song Seok-hyun got up and stretched.

“Ugh… Hoo.”

He turned his head to wake Kim Jung-ryul, but Kim Jung-ryul was not there.

“…Huh?”

Even after going to the bathroom, Kim Jung-ryul was not there.

He got dressed and went down to the restaurant, but he wasn’t there either.

“Oh, where’s Jung-ryul?”

Kim Hyung-seok, who came down to eat breakfast, asked Song Seok-hyun.

“I don’t see where he went.”

“At this hour? Where did he go at this hour? You did sleep in the same room last night, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“What? Where did he go so early?”

Kim Hyung-seok picked up the phone.

He called Kim Jung-ryul, but he was on the phone.

“He’s not in the room, right?”

“No.”

“I don’t know who he’s talking to this early in the morning. Let’s eat first. He’s on the phone, so I guess nothing’s wrong.”

Song Seok-hyun had breakfast with Kim Hyung-seok and Kim In-hwan.

Even after finishing the meal, Kim Jung-ryul did not come down.

He was still on the phone when they called.

It was almost time for morning training, but there was no contact from Kim Jung-ryul.

The three dressed and decided to wait in the lobby.

“…”

“…”

Kim In-hwan and Kim Hyung-seok were both silent.

Kim In-hwan had talked to Song Seok-hyun yesterday, but today he was silent, just like when they first met.

Whoosh.

Kim Jung-ryul came in as the hotel automatic door opened.

Song Seok-hyun got up from his seat and greeted him.

“You’re here?”

“Oh, yeah. Everyone’s here. Ah, it’s time to go to training. It’s already that time.”

Kim Hyung-seok got up from his seat.

“Where did you go so early? You have to be on time for training.”

“Oh, oh. Sorry. I had a call to make this morning. Anyway, it’s good, all three of you are here.”

Kim Jung-ryul said.

“I have a place to go for a while, so you guys train first. I’ll be back as early as tonight, or as late as tomorrow or the day after.”

Rising as a Catcher

CSR

The taciturn Kim In-hwan and Kim Hyung-seok.

The distant youngest, Song Seok-hyun.

During the training time without Kim Jung-ryul, the only words exchanged were one or two words per hour.

If it weren’t for the personal trainer Kim Jung-ryul had invited, Song Seok-hyun’s uniform would have been soaked with sweat for a different reason.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Batting practice began.

Instead of Kim Hyung-seok, the trainer threw the ball, and thanks to his experience, the height and speed of the pitches were good.

“Wow…”

Song Seok-hyun couldn’t close his mouth while watching Kim In-hwan’s batted balls.

Kim In-hwan seemed to be hitting lightly, but they stretched all the way to the warning track.

Song Seok-hyun had never lost to anyone in terms of power, but Kim In-hwan was on a different level.

The saying that his power is the best in KPBL [Korean Professional Baseball League] history was not an exaggeration.

“You’re amazing.”

Kim Hyung-seok also agreed with Song Seok-hyun’s admiration.

“You said you were a pitcher too, right?”

“Yes, until my first year of high school.”

“If you were a pitcher, could you compete with him?”

“It wouldn’t be easy.”

“The saying that even a graze is a home run is perfect for him. That’s why it’s a problem, that’s why.”

“Yes?”

Kim Hyung-seok didn’t say anything else.

Song Seok-hyun repeated Kim Hyung-seok’s words to himself.

Could it be that he’s saying it’s a problem because he’s too strong?

After Kim In-hwan’s turn, Song Seok-hyun stepped into the batter’s box.

Kim In-hwan wiped his sweat and sat down on one side.

“Hoo.”

Song Seok-hyun spread his legs shoulder-width apart.

Kim In-hwan’s eyes narrowed at this.

As the trainer threw the ball, Song Seok-hyun’s bat swung out horizontally.

Thwack!

The ball hit by Song Seok-hyun flew straight and passed over the left fence.

Kim Hyung-seok and Kim In-hwan’s expressions changed as they watched this.

“Ah… idiot.”

Song Seok-hyun tapped his head with his fist and took his stance again. This time, he spread his legs shoulder-width apart and waited for the ball.

Song Seok-hyun’s bat moved late this time.

The hitter’s contact zone is usually considered best to hit the ball in front of the hitter’s feet.

Song Seok-hyun hit the ball with the bat at the timing when he thought the ball had completely entered if there was a catcher’s mitt.

In terms of timing, it was a completely pushed hit.

“…!”

“…?”

Kim Hyung-seok and Kim In-hwan couldn’t close their mouths.

The ball, hit late, fell inside the right fielder’s line near the warning track.

The two didn’t speak.

They just made eye contact with each other.

After that, Song Seok-hyun’s batting was all about pushing the ball to the opposite field.

“Thank you!”

As batting practice ended, Song Seok-hyun greeted the trainer.

The trainer rotated his arms.

“You hit the ball well.”

“It’s thanks to you for throwing the ball well.”

“Your stance is unique, but you manage to hit it well. The ball seems to carry well too.”

“I need to get coaching soon. Is my form bad?”

“I can’t say that much. I’m just a conditioning coach. But seeing you hit the ball lightly, you have the basics.”

“Haha, thank you for the compliment.”

Song Seok-hyun returned to his seat.

He put down his bat and wiped his sweat with a towel.

Kim In-hwan handed Song Seok-hyun a bottle of water.

“Here.”

“Ah, thank you, Senior.”

“Yeah, drink it.”

While Song Seok-hyun was drinking water, Kim In-hwan shifted and stood up.

Song Seok-hyun put down the water bottle and was about to go pick up the ball.

“Wait a minute.”

Kim In-hwan grabbed Song Seok-hyun’s arm.

“Yes?”

“Wait a minute. Can we talk for a bit?”

Kim In-hwan took Song Seok-hyun to the bench and sat him down.

Song Seok-hyun straightened his back, not knowing what was going on.

Could it be a hazing ritual for a junior?

Since Kim Jung-ryul isn’t here, is he trying to establish the hierarchy in this gap?

Did I do something to displease him?

Song Seok-hyun’s head became complicated.

“Seok-hyun.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“What school did you go to?”