On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 210

His expression didn’t change, but his hand trembled.

“Let’s do it the right way, Gye-seong. Huh?”

Catcher Shin Min-ho patted Jang Gye-seong’s shoulder.

Jang Gye-seong didn’t deny it.

It was a pitch thrown with all his might.

Even though it was slightly off, it almost cleared the fence.

He had thought that if he awakened, he could take on anyone in the world, but it was just greed.

-Strike! Out!

Han Min-seok, whose condition had improved, activated his strikeout instinct from the first inning.

Kim Ha-gyun and Jeong Su-yeong, both .300 hitters, couldn’t even touch the ball and struck out.

Jeong In-ha, the left-handed third batter, grounded out on a slider.

From the first inning, the game devolved into a pitching duel.

“The momentum of both teams’ starting pitchers is really something today. The Wolves and Goats both have lineups that could rival anyone, but today they’re not performing up to par.”

“Isn’t it that both teams’ starting pitchers are left-handed? They’re especially strong against left-handed hitters. But look at the lineups. The Goats have left-handed hitters in the important 1st, 3rd, and 5th spots. The Wolves have left-handed hitters in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots. When it’s time to score, left-handed hitters who are weak against left-handed pitchers come up, so the offense can’t connect.”

“It’s not that left-handed hitters are *always* weak against left-handed pitchers, but both pitchers have a particularly good record against left-handed hitters.”

“Both Jang Gye-seong and Han Min-seok are close to three-quarters [a pitching motion where the arm slot is between sidearm and overhand]. In other words, they throw the ball like left-handed sidearms, and there aren’t many pitchers of this type. Moreover, the breaking ball breaks more to the outside, making it difficult for left-handed hitters to face them. Jang Gye-seong’s slider is already well-known, isn’t it? Han Min-seok’s slider has also become sharper recently.”

“But, if that’s the case, shouldn’t right-handed hitters come out instead of left-handed hitters?”

“Yes, that’s also a method. But first of all, the Goats don’t have right-handed hitter resources to replace Lee Ji-seong, Kim In-hwan, and Yoo Seon-ho. These three players are the core of the offense and defense. The Wolves also have all left-handed hitters in the cleanup [the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots in the batting order, typically reserved for the team’s best hitters], don’t they? Replacing left-handed hitters means taking out the cleanup, but if you take out the three best hitters on the team, who would go to the plate?”

“You’re saying the substitutes are weak.”

“In the end, the current hitters have to solve it. Even if it’s difficult, they have to overcome it with their own skills.”

No score in the 1st inning, no score in the 2nd inning, no score in the 3rd inning.

In the top of the 4th inning, it was Song Seok-hyun’s turn.

Jang Gye-seong safely threw one ball outside the strike zone.

Whack!

Three consecutive balls out of the zone.

Song Seok-hyun stared at Jang Gye-seong.

Jang Gye-seong pressed down on his cap to avoid his gaze.

And the fourth ball.

This time, it was also a ball that slightly missed the outside corner.

Clang!

The batted ball flew like a bullet.

The ball flew directly towards the right field fence.

The launch angle was only about 15 degrees.

As the right fielder prepared for a fence play, the ball continued to fly without falling, just kept going.

“Home run! It’s a home run! Song Seok-hyun’s solo home run explodes!”

“Wow, can the ball go over with that angle? It was a really fast ball.”

“I thought it would hit the fence at best, but that ball clears the fence.”

“Jang Gye-seong is also shaking his head. He has a point. That should have been a double at best, but it’s ridiculous that it goes over.”

Song Seok-hyun put down his bat and jogged towards first base.

Jang Gye-seong took a deep breath and exhaled even more forcefully.

He had forgotten.

That Song Seok-hyun’s bat was an inch longer and heavier than others.

The area just outside the strike zone was Song Seok-hyun’s sweet spot.

If he was going to throw it outside, he had to take it *way* out.

A borderline pitch that would be good if it went in and okay if it didn’t when Song Seok-hyun didn’t even swing was a reckless move.

“Ugh, I hate this.”

Jang Gye-seong chuckled at the sincerity that came out without him realizing it.

Since the bat is heavier and longer than others, he is bound to be weaker against inside pitches.

Even though he knew it, Jang Gye-seong didn’t have the confidence to challenge Song Seok-hyun inside.

He’s a hitter who hits home runs out of the park in Jamsil Stadium [a stadium known for being difficult to hit home runs in].

What pitcher would want their ball to go over the fence for an out-of-the-park home run and remain as a record forever, never to be erased?

The pitchers who were hit for out-of-the-park home runs by Song Seok-hyun are edited into highlight reels throughout the season and appear on the internet and TV non-stop.

Regret that he should have thrown it inside and disappointment that he should have taken it out completely alternated, tormenting Jang Gye-seong.

“Focus! Let’s focus!”

“There’s no tomorrow! Today is the last day!”

Jang Gye-seong snapped out of it at shortstop Song Ji-hoon’s shout.

If they lose today’s game, the post-season is out of the question.

It’s only 1 point now.

He gave up a home run, but it’s still only 1 point.

“Alright, alright. Let’s do it.”

The next batter, Yoo Seon-ho, tasted hell.

He couldn’t even touch the ball that flew lower and faster than the previous at-bat.

Jang Gye-seong’s slider broke like a cutter, breaking the left-handed hitter’s bat, and the right-handed hitters’ bats were pushed back even on the fastball.

“Jang Gye-seong is applauded and comes down from the mound. 6 and 2/3 innings, 1 run allowed. He showed the poise of an ace today.”

“The next pitcher is Jang Dae-hee. Jang Dae-hee is also a good pitcher, right? I think he’ll hold on until the 8th inning here, and then put closer Jin Seok-nam in the 9th inning.”

Jang Dae-hee finished the inning by getting one hitter out with two pitches.

Han Min-seok recorded 6.1 innings of scoreless pitching and handed the mound over to Jeong Hong-min.

Jeong Hong-min, a left-handed specialist among the bullpen pitchers, struck out the Wolves’ cleanup with two strikeouts.

And the 8th inning.

Jang Dae-hee walked Kim In-hwan and then faced Song Seok-hyun.

“It’s an important moment. Jang Dae-hee has met the mountain called Song Seok-hyun.”

“Even if you avoid Song Seok-hyun, the next batter is Yoo Seon-ho. You have to make a good choice.”

With a runner on first base, Jang Dae-hee lifted his leg with all his might.

The catcher and fielders were also surprised.

As Kim In-hwan hesitated whether to run or not, Jang Dae-hee threw the ball with all his might.

Whack!

Safe at first due to catcher’s interference [when the catcher’s glove or body makes contact with the batter’s bat during a swing].

-Strike!

Song Seok-hyun was looking at Jang Dae-hee with his bat in his hand.

Both the pitcher and the batter had indifferent expressions, but the catcher was different.

His eyes were as big as lanterns.

“Ah, is it a mistake? A fastball went right down the middle.”

“Song Seok-hyun missed it. I don’t think he imagined that such a mistake would come in.”

“Who would have expected it? It’s rare for a pitcher to throw a fastball right down the middle from the first pitch against Song Seok-hyun.”

The Wolves’ manager Jang Tae-seop clutched his chest.

Such a clear mistake.

He even threw a mistake and his face is calm.

Thud.

Jang Dae-hee received the ball thrown by the catcher.

As Jang Dae-hee prepared to throw, Kim In-hwan watched.

The pitcher doesn’t care about Kim In-hwan at all.

Kim In-hwan is not a player who steals bases often.

With Song Seok-hyun behind him, he wouldn’t recklessly attempt to steal second base.

Kim In-hwan was torn between whether to run or not, as it was the first time a pitcher had openly ignored him.

The conclusion was… he ended up just widening his lead a little.

Stealing and getting caught out in front of Song Seok-hyun?

He didn’t know what kind of insults would fly.

Whack!

Jang Dae-hee’s second pitch was a slider.

It was a sharply breaking slider, but Song Seok-hyun watched it go by.

“Song Seok-hyun takes the slider.”

“Jang Dae-hee’s slider is good. It’s sharp.”

“Isn’t it amazing that a pitcher who just graduated from high school joined the Wolves, who are known for their deep roster, and immediately plays in the first team, and even as a first-team bullpen member? His ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] has also come down a lot, now at 3.56. He has also recorded 3 wins, 2 losses, 10 holds [awarded to a relief pitcher who enters in a save situation and maintains the lead], and 2 saves [awarded to a pitcher who finishes a game in a save situation] in 54 innings. With this kind of performance, he could actually aim for the Rookie of the Year award.”

“If it were another year, he would have been a strong Rookie of the Year candidate. Compared to past Rookies of the Year, he would have had a good chance of winning.”

“But Song Seok-hyun appeared. The biggest concern this year is how many awards Song Seok-hyun will receive. The Rookie of the Year award is now a given, isn’t it?”

“As a joke, there’s even talk that this year he’s not a Rookie of the Year, but a king who has become a god.”

“His stats are amazing. Batting average of 0.356. On-base percentage of 0.521, slugging percentage of 0.582, 33 home runs. This is also not a full-time record this year. Song Seok-hyun was called up from the middle of the first half, right? He also missed quite a few games due to injury in the middle, but he still achieved these results.”

“Jang Dae-hee is a good player, but unfortunately, he debuted in the same year as the best catcher of all time. It’s a shame, but what can you do? A star’s luck is something you’re born with.”

Jang Dae-hee and the catcher’s signs became longer.

1-1 [one ball, one strike].

The outcome of the game depends on whether it’s two balls or two strikes.

The catcher called for an outside slider, but Jang Dae-hee shook his head.

He also shook his head at the curveball sign.

The catcher put his mitt on the outside corner.

This time, Jang Dae-hee lifted his leg with all his might and threw his body forward.

His arm turned over his body, which he threw so hard that he thought he would fall.

Whack!

-Strike!

“Wow! The speed just now was 152km/h [approximately 94 mph]! 152km/h came out. Was Jang Dae-hee’s ball this fast?”

“It was a perfectly placed ball on the outside corner. You can’t hit that. It was a really exquisitely placed ball. Song Seok-hyun could only watch it! Is Jang Dae-hee showing such a good performance? If this happens, I don’t know what will happen next year. If Jang Dae-hee shows the same performance as today, he will show a great performance as a bullpen or starter.”

“Song Seok-hyun is cautious. He’s cautious against Jang Dae-hee.”

Catcher Shin Min-ho glanced up at Song Seok-hyun.

The stance is definitely his unique stance to start, but today he’s standing like a stone statue.

He’s just swaying his body a little like a thoughtful willow tree, but there’s no intent to swing.

Why in this situation, in this situation?

The catcher called for an outside slider.

1-2 [one ball, two strikes].

Two breaking balls are counts that you can use comfortably.

This time, Jang Dae-hee lifted his leg and threw the ball powerfully.

Whack!

“Oooooooo!”

“What, you ×××!”

“Are you trying to start something? Hey, you trash ××!”

The Jamsil Baseball Stadium was filled with curses.

Song Seok-hyun was out of the batter’s box, with his butt on the ground.

Catcher Shin Min-ho looked at the ball he had caught once and then looked at Jang Dae-hee once.

Jang Dae-hee was just standing there with an indifferent face, without any gestures.

“That was dangerous just now. It almost hit the batter’s body.”

“It was a ball that almost went into the batter’s box. Song Seok-hyun would have been hit if he hadn’t dodged quickly.”

“Is Jang Dae-hee suddenly shaking? Suddenly, that kind of ball comes out here.”

If Song Seok-hyun hadn’t dodged, he would have been hit.

Kim In-hwan was watching the reactions of the bench and the coach, waiting for a sign whether he should run out or just stay put.

Song Seok-hyun, the person involved, got up from his seat and dusted off his butt as if nothing had happened.

Catcher Shin Min-ho apologized instead.

“I’m sorry. The ball must have slipped.”

“It’s okay. Well, it can happen.”

Song Seok-hyun took his stance.

The Goat fans were still pouring out harsh curses without holding back.

The level of abuse increased as Jang Dae-hee did not make any gestures of apology.

The umpire gestured to the spectators behind the catcher to be quiet, but that didn’t work.

The atmosphere was so fierce that the game was temporarily stopped.

Song Seok-hyun stepped back from the plate and looked at Jang Dae-hee.

Jang Dae-hee also looked at Song Seok-hyun.

Song Seok-hyun recalled a conversation between a father and son that he had overheard at Jamsil Baseball Stadium a while ago.

“What?”

It was the voice of Jang Dae-hee’s father, Jang Hyeok-jin.

A legendary hitter in Korean professional baseball who played for the Bulls and Wolves.

After retiring, he also succeeded in business one after another.

There were more than ten successful businesses in various fields, from franchise food businesses to screen golf, matchmaking companies, baseball equipment companies, baseball field rentals, building rental businesses, and real estate investments.

A frank personality, charisma that embraces people, a brilliant mind, and steel stamina.

Jang Hyeok-jin was a person who was supported by his abilities as much as he was driven by greed.

It was a natural course for such Jang Hyeok-jin to be enthusiastic about his son’s education.

A son who resembled him and had good athletic sense.

He thought that he was a son who would once again unfold his dream that he had to retire early due to overwork and unscientific training.

Jang Hyeok-jin was poor when he was young, so he couldn’t eat properly, and because he didn’t have money, he had to be mindful of others and was beaten by seniors, coaches, and managers while playing baseball.

So, from the time he started letting Jang Dae-hee play baseball, he gave everything as if he was making up for it.

Instead of himself, who was busy with business, he hired a former professional baseball coach at a high price to give him private lessons.

Not only did he provide health food all year round, but there was not a day when meat was not on the table.

Not only that.

He won over the elders of the baseball world and became the president of the amateur baseball association at a young age.

He created a foundation to sponsor children, and he sponsored baseball equipment all over the country.

From the time Jang Dae-hee entered middle school, Jang Dae-hee was literally treated like a crown prince.

Not only was his skill outstanding, but his father was a professional baseball legend, the president of the amateur baseball association, a sponsor of amateur baseball equipment, and the chairman of a baseball foundation.

There was no one who had not received Jang Hyeok-jin’s money or baseball equipment, and there was no place where Jang Hyeok-jin’s influence did not reach.

Jang Dae-hee did not dislike his father’s excessive interest and affection.

He enjoyed the fact that even the manager and coach were mindful of him.

Everything was good.

Until Song Seok-hyun appeared.