On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 231

“……”

Bottom of the 1st inning. Pegasus’s at bat.

The scoreboard displayed 6-0.

Jo Jin-hee sat huddled in a corner, a towel draped over his head.

The commentator’s voice rose with excitement as the bottom of the 1st inning commenced.

“Bottom of the 1st. Pegasus begins their comeback attempt. The Goat’s performance in the top of the 1st was truly something, wasn’t it?”

“Absolutely incredible. Who would have predicted such an aggressive start from the Goat in the very first inning? Lee Ji-sung’s home run was definitely the highlight, though it’s still early in the game.”

“And what about Song Seok-hyun and Yoo Seon-ho’s back-to-back home runs? Those two are perfectly in sync these days, aren’t they?”

“In high-stakes games like the Korean Series, every hit is crucial, yet Song Seok-hyun and Yoo Seon-ho are knocking home runs out of the park more easily than they get singles. When they swing, it’s a home run. They show no mercy.”

“Today’s game is already full of surprises. Pegasus declared an all-out war and put their entire pitching staff on alert, but before they could even warm up the bullpen, the Goat’s bats exploded. Three home runs in the 1st inning alone.”

“Jo Jin-hee’s early exit is particularly devastating. It’s not just that he was pulled, but the manner in which he collapsed. Giving up three runs without recording a single out… considering Jo Jin-hee’s reputation, it’s almost unbelievable.”

“In this situation… is the game already decided?”

“Well, the Goat has certainly seized a significant early advantage, but we can’t be sure yet. It’s only the 1st inning. Remember, anything can happen in baseball until the final out.”

Once lost, the momentum proved difficult for Pegasus to regain.

Top of the 2nd inning, Seol Jin-il added a solo home run, extending the score to 7-0.

In the 4th inning, Song Seok-hyun’s two-run homer made it 9-1.

In the 6th inning, Lee Ji-sung cleared the bases with a three-run hit, bringing the score to 12-4.

Bottom of the 9th inning.

The scoreboard read 14-5.

The commentator and analyst watched Jung Chun-woon celebrate on the mound and declared:

“It’s over! Game 6 of the Korean Series. Pegasus versus the Goat. The Goat versus Pegasus in Suwon. Today’s game concludes with a resounding 14-5 victory for the Goat.”

“Today’s game is a perfect example of ‘all talk and no action’ [a saying meaning empty threats]. The Goat launched an overwhelming offensive right from the start and secured the win early.”

“Pegasus was determined to wrap up the Korean Series in Game 6, weren’t they? But it seems they couldn’t even deploy the strategies they had prepared.”

“Who could have foreseen such a relentless attack from the Goat right from the opening pitch?”

“Who would you pick as the MVP of today’s game?”

“MVP? Well……”

Lee Ji-sung beamed as he accepted the Daily MVP award.

Lee Ji-sung’s stats: 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 home run, 6 RBIs [Runs Batted In], and 2 stolen bases in 6 at-bats.

Even after the interview with the announcer, Lee Ji-sung playfully pinched his cheek.

A home run in the Korean Series.

An MVP award in the Korean Series.

He hoped it wasn’t a dream.

“You didn’t get the MVP, are you disappointed?”

Kim Jung-ryul asked, draping his arm around Song Seok-hyun’s shoulder.

“Honestly, Ji-sung *hyung* [older brother or close male friend] was unstoppable today.”

“That home run was incredible. The trajectory was amazing, wasn’t it?”

“Did I pull my weight?”

“You more than pulled your weight. Hehe. Now it’s just one game, one game left. Let’s win that one game decisively.”

Pegasus’s manager, Choi Sung-yeon, walked down the hallway, his hands clasped behind his back.

Unconditionally, unconditionally, unconditionally.

The word ‘unconditionally’ echoed in Choi Sung-yeon’s mind.

Success as a catcher.

Going all the way to the championship.

Korean Series Game 7, morning.

The players were still sound asleep.

It was the hour when the coaches began to stir, but Ham Sung-hoon had just finished a phone call.

“Even the chairman is coming……”

* * *

“Hey, hey, did you hear? They’re saying 3,000 people are coming today?”

“Should we be happy about this, or not?”

“They say all the employees from all the affiliated companies are being mobilized?”

The Goat players’ lunchtime conversation revolved around the chairman’s visit.

A cheering squad of 3,000 employees from all Jeonseong Group affiliates, along with the chairman’s immediate and extended family, were all being brought in.

It was an unprecedented event in the Goat’s history, and a rare occurrence even among other baseball teams.

“Ha.”

While the coaches ate together, defense coach Ahn Young-jae sighed.

Starting with Ahn Young-jae’s sigh, the coaches began to voice their concerns.

“This isn’t necessarily good news, is it?”

“Exactly. Imagine losing with the chairman, his family, and all the affiliate presidents in attendance. Can you imagine the fallout?”

“Why now, of all times, when there’s been no indication of this until now…? Especially since it’s Game 7 of the Korean Series. It’s a lot of pressure.”

Ham Sung-hoon, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“They’ve been holding back, worried about putting pressure on us. We’ve been on a losing streak since Game 2, right? Now that it’s a do-or-die match with only one game left, the chairman’s secretary called to say that he couldn’t bear to stay away any longer, regardless of the pressure.”

“So, the manager knew about this beforehand?”

“I received a call this morning as well. If that counts as beforehand, then yes. It seems the chairman made this decision spontaneously while watching our game last night.”

“It was a sudden decision, but how did they manage to secure 3,000 tickets…?”

Ham Sung-hoon chuckled.

“There was a secret order from the chairman to secure tickets for Game 7 of the Korean Series at any cost. Honestly, is it that difficult to get tickets when you’re a *chaebol* [large family-owned conglomerate] chairman?”

“Yeah, well. That’s true.”

Defense coach Ahn Young-jae said quietly.

“You all know the chairman’s personality, right? To put it kindly, he’s passionate, but to put it bluntly, he has a temper. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. If we lose today’s game, we’re all……”

Ahn Young-jae didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone swallowed hard.

He was the most senior of the coaches and had been with the Goat for 20 years as a player and coach.

Having witnessed the Goat’s rise and fall firsthand, his words carried significant weight.

Ham Sung-hoon addressed Ahn Young-jae.

“Coach Ahn.”

“Yes.”

“If we show our unease, won’t the players become even more anxious? I don’t think we should let it show, for the sake of a good outcome… What do you think?”

Ahn Young-jae nodded with a forced expression.

“I understand what you mean.”

“And the coaches have already exceeded expectations. Even if a new manager comes in, it won’t be difficult for the coaches to keep their positions. Don’t worry too much. No matter how fiery the chairman’s personality is, he’s not the type to arbitrarily reward or punish, is he?”

Ham Sung-hoon finished his meal and stood up.

Kang Yeon-tae, the youngest of the coaches, looked around and said:

“The manager must have gotten a heads-up, that’s why he’s so relaxed, right?”

Ahn Young-jae shook his head.

“No way. If that were the case, I would have heard something too.”

“But how can he be so carefree?”

“That’s just his personality. He’s always been like that. It’s not like he suddenly became confident.”

“Still, he’s achieved results, so he might have gained confidence even if he didn’t have it before.”

Ahn Young-jae looked at the coaches and said:

“Let’s keep a poker face, as the manager said. Anyway, if we want to win, we have to stay calm.”

“Yes, I understand.”

* * *

As the game time approached, the Suwon stadium was overflowing, even the parking lot was packed.

The fans had been gathering around the stadium for hours.

80% of their conversations were about baseball, and the remaining 20% was about the Jeonseong chairman’s visit.

“If the chairman is coming, doesn’t that mean we’re guaranteed to win? Isn’t that the confidence they have?”

“Exactly. They’re only coming because they’re confident of victory.”

“Wow, if we win this time, how many years has it been since our last championship?”

“If I had a child when we last won, they would have already finished their military service, wow.”

“I’m already getting teary-eyed.”

“Don’t jinx it. Don’t cry. Don’t ruin it from the start.”

“But aren’t the chairman and president coming from Pegasus as well?”

“Would Pegasus dare to come? It would be a disgrace if the chairman came all the way and they lost. It was the same with the Phoenix last time. A disgrace, a real disgrace.”

“It would be interesting to see Pegasus fail again this time. Are they just going to disband the baseball team?”

“Why should we care about their situation? If they disband, they disband. Let’s just watch the drama unfold from a safe distance.”

“Ah, let’s win the championship first. Why are you counting your chickens before they hatch?”

A winning streak followed by a losing streak, and now the final game.

The atmosphere within the Pegasus team was heavy and tense.

None of the players appeared anxious or nervous, but they maintained a serious expression and remained silent.

Déjà vu.

The memory of their devastating loss against the Phoenix last year was fresh in their minds.

After finishing practice at the home stadium, it was meeting time.

The pitching coach stood at the front, silent for a long moment.

“Yong-wook.”

Breaking the silence, the coach called out catcher Jung Yong-wook.

“Yes.”

“If you were calling the shots, how would you approach today’s game?”

Jung Yong-wook closed his eyes briefly and then opened them.

“If their strategy is to hit fly balls, wouldn’t it be advantageous for us to focus on inducing ground balls?”

“Yes. That’s right… but it’s not easy. It’s not easy.”

Jo Jin-hee, the pitcher from the previous day, hung his head.

Pulled after giving up three home runs in the first inning alone.

A humiliating performance in front of Major League scouts.

It was a disgrace, and yesterday’s game would undoubtedly affect his contract negotiations.

Giving up a home run to a singles hitter in a crucial game….

Major League Baseball may be at the forefront of sports science, but it’s not forgiving when it comes to superstitions and jinxes.

The reputation of being a pitcher who falters in important games could make Major League scouts hesitant.

“There is a way.”

The players focused their attention on Jung Yong-wook’s words.

“We can dictate the game if we’re willing to pay the price.”

“Price?”

“We need to aggressively challenge the inner part of the plate, even if it means throwing *beanballs* [pitches thrown intentionally at the batter’s head] at the opponent. That will force the batters to back away from the plate, making it easier to target the outside corners.”

“Beanballs……”

The players fell silent.

Although never officially confirmed, there was suspicion that they had intentionally thrown beanballs at the Goat batters in Game 1.

However, it was overshadowed by the fact that two of the Goat’s starting players had to leave the game due to injuries sustained against Wales, and by the Goat’s dominant victory in that game.

It was a one-time incident, so it was overlooked, but if it happened again, the backlash would be significant.

“Their bats are hot right now. If we stick to the basics, we’ll be outmatched in terms of power. Even if we give up home runs, challenging the inner part of the plate will lead to more ground balls. Even if beanballs happen, I believe our team’s defense can easily turn double plays.”

Pitching coach Kim Ki-gwan nodded, his face stern.

“Yes. So, that’s the conclusion you’ve reached… Any other opinions?”

Silence.

Jung Yong-wook didn’t add anything.

There was no way that the Pegasus strategy analysis team and coaches hadn’t considered this plan.

The fact that they specifically asked him for a solution meant they wanted to use his voice to endorse it.

Be prepared to throw beanballs and crowd the batter to induce ground balls.

After Game 1, tensions between the Goat and Pegasus players had already flared.

If Game 7 unfolds similarly to Game 1, they need to be prepared for a bench-clearing brawl.

Even if the game is important, no player enjoys bench-clearing brawls.

Usually, these brawls end with everyone just shouting, but in a game like today, it wouldn’t be surprising if several players were injured.

As a coach, it felt like pushing the players into a dangerous situation, so they created this scenario hoping the players would decide for themselves.

“I’ll do it.”

The players stirred.

It was Kim Sung-hoon, the scheduled starter for today, who spoke.

If Jo Jin-hee is the league’s top starter and the national team’s best left-handed pitcher, Kim Sung-hoon is the best right-handed pitcher.

A master of fast, heavy four-seam fastballs and horizontal sliders that can break bats.

Kim Sung-hoon’s strength lies in his effectiveness with outside pitches.

His weakness is his reluctance to challenge the inner part of the plate.

Kim Sung-hoon had improved his control significantly since turning pro, but he had been known to throw beanballs more than once or twice from his school days to the early years of his professional career.

His fastball, among the fastest and heaviest in the league, not only resulted in simple beanballs but also often led to injuries.

It was bad luck, but there were also players who retired quietly after being hit in the wrist, and players whose performance plummeted for months after being hit in the head.

Kim Sung-hoon was usually quiet and introverted.

As he became more self-critical, he dedicated himself to improving his control with relentless effort.

His four-seam fastball, exceeding 150 km/h [~93 mph], and his high-speed horizontal slider, exceeding 140 km/h [~87 mph], were so powerful that opponents couldn’t touch them even if he only pitched outside.

His third pitch, the changeup, wasn’t his best, but it was effective against hitters thanks to his outstanding four-seam fastball.

Kim Sung-hoon was introverted but stubborn, so even if coaches or senior players ordered him to pitch inside, he wouldn’t budge.

In a situation where he could be disgraced even if he won, Kim Sung-hoon was the first to agree to Jung Yong-wook’s plan, and other players added their voices one by one.

“Yes. I’ll do it.”

“It’s not like we’re going to hit them on purpose, we’re just going to pitch a little closer to their bodies, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“It’s not like we’re hitting them for free, and it’s good if they get to first base without getting a hit. It’s not bad for them either. It’s just a strategy, a strategy.”

Legend Jung Yong-wook initiated the conversation, and the taciturn ace Kim Sung-hoon agreed, and things progressed smoothly.

The players’ conclusion was to trust the team’s defense and pitch aggressively, even if it meant risking beanballs.

After the meeting, Jung Yong-wook approached Kim Sung-hoon.

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking because you’re doing something you usually wouldn’t do. Are you really okay with throwing beanballs now?”

“I just won’t hit them. I’m confident I won’t hit them. If I do hit them… well, it can’t be helped.”

Jung Yong-wook laughed.

“Yeah, that’s right. That’s what a pro should do. A pro does everything they can. As long as it’s not cheating, right? Isn’t that right?”

“Jin-hee is already in a tough spot, so I have to do my best too. We have to win the championship this year, right?”

“That’s a good attitude. You’re not just saying that, are you? You’re confident?”