On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 234

Jung Yong-wook shook his head and returned to the bench.

“Doesn’t he seem extra cranky today?”

Jung Yong-wook responded to Kim Wook’s question.

“He must be having one of those days.”

The next batter was shortstop Kim Hyung-woo.

Kim Hyung-woo sent a fast, inside-tailing ball over the pitcher’s head and reached first base.

Following Hong Seong-wook’s ground ball, there were two outs with a runner on second.

“Next up is Song Min-joon. The most dangerous ninth hitter in the league, wouldn’t you say?”

“His career slugging percentage is over .500. His batting average this season is only .230, but he’s a player who could hit a home run at any moment. If he connects, clearing the fence is nothing for him.”

Song Seok-hyun brought his mitt close to his body.

Han Min-seok threw a slider.

Han Min-seok’s changeup, his third pitch, was unremarkable, but he could adjust his slider, his go-to pitch, to be short or have a wide break.

A cutter-like slider that breaks inside is the perfect pitch to induce groundouts.

Power hitters especially tend to react to similar pitches coming inside.

Just like Song Min-joon now.

Crack!

Again, the ball broke the bat.

With two outs, the runner on second immediately ran.

“The third baseman missed the ball! The ball slipped under the third baseman’s glove! The runner on second rounds third and heads for home! Home! Home! Safe! He’s safe! Song Min-joon’s timely double! A perfect hit brings the score to 2-0. The Pegasus are slowly pulling ahead.”

“The Pegasus were lucky just now. If it had been a normal hit, it would have been an out, but the bat fragment made the third baseman hesitate. The ball also took an irregular bounce, resulting in a passed ball [a play where the catcher fails to catch the ball, allowing a runner to advance]. The ball just trickled away.”

“The Pegasus are scoring in every inning.”

Third baseman Park Jong-il signaled an apology to the pitcher.

Han Min-seok nodded once.

It was a tricky ball.

Most third basemen wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

The next batter was Choi Young-seok.

After a full count against Han Min-seok, he walked.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Shim Chang-gyu came up to bat.

Tap!

“A surprise bunt! The third baseman, the third baseman catches it, oh? Oh? Ah! A bad throw! A bad throw! The runner on second scores! The runner on first goes to third! The batter stops at second! The score is 3-0. It’s now 3-0.”

Park Jong-il stood there with a blank look on his face.

Even the Goat fans were filled with sighs and lamentations.

The commentator said.

“This is mostly Park Jong-il’s defensive error, but Shim Chang-gyu’s decision was also great. How often do you see a bunt with two outs? Park Jong-il must have thought the same thing. It was a bunt at a completely unexpected time, and the bunt course was good. Even if he had thrown it properly, it would have been a close play. It’s highly likely that the Pegasus bench signaled the play, but it’s still difficult to execute the plan, right? Shim Chang-gyu’s ability to execute the play is truly remarkable.”

The next batter was Kim Han-sung.

One of the top power hitters in the league.

Song Seok-hyun went up to the mound once.

“Are you going to throw inside more, or just focus on the outside?”

Han Min-seok glanced at third base in response to Song Seok-hyun’s question.

“I have to throw both.”

“You trust me, right?”

“I have to trust you. What else can I do?”

Song Seok-hyun returned to home plate.

The first pitch was an inside fastball, foul.

The second pitch was an outside changeup, ball.

The third pitch was an inside high ball, ball.

The fourth pitch was an outside changeup, swing and a miss.

“2-2. An important count for both the pitcher and the batter.”

“Kim Han-sung should definitely focus on one type of pitch. Han Min-seok’s pitches are really sharp today.”

Han Min-seok’s pitch was a back-door slider that came in from the outside.

Kim Han-sung was a little late on the timing, but he hit the ball squarely.

Bang!

“The ball is going far! The fence! The fence! The fence!”

It was a slightly jammed hit, but Kim Han-sung’s power was exceptional.

The ball, which seemed like it would drop, was quickly approaching the fence.

“The fence!”

Thud.

“Caught it! Lee Ji-sung’s catch! Lee Ji-sung caught the ball!”

Lee Ji-sung raised his glove once.

Han Min-seok breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lee Ji-sung jumped and caught the ball right in front of the fence. If it had gone just one more meter, it would have been a home run. The Pegasus must be disappointed.”

“The fact that the course was to center field is Kim Han-sung’s biggest regret. If it had been a little more towards the corner, it would have been a home run.”

“But the Pegasus scored two runs this inning, making it 3-0. The Pegasus aren’t making any losing trades today.”

Han Min-seok waited for Lee Ji-sung in front of the bench.

“You little rascal. The great Lee Ji-sung is still the great Lee Ji-sung.”

“Even I think you caught it well. Haha.”

Song Seok-hyun breathed a sigh of relief.

The worst was avoided.

If that last hit had been a home run, the momentum would have completely shifted.

In a game like the Korean Series, it’s hard to overcome a six-run deficit from the second inning.

Especially against the Pegasus, who have a solid defense.

Top of the 3rd inning, Goat’s attack.

The batter is second baseman Jung Dong-gyu.

Jung Yong-wook brought his mitt close to his body.

Bang!

“Two strikes with just two pitches. Kim Seong-hoon’s pitching is relentless today.”

The next pitch was a slider.

Jung Yong-wook sat slightly outside.

Kim Seong-hoon’s slider has a bigger break than a cutter, but it’s hard to distinguish from his fastball.

A pitch that right-handed batters can’t help but be fooled by, even if they know it’s coming.

Jung Yong-wook was hoping for a swing and a miss, but Jung Dong-gyu’s bat connected with Kim Seong-hoon’s pitch.

“To left-center! A ball that pierces left-center! Jung Dong-gyu quickly to first, steps on first and goes to second! Stops at second. Jung Dong-gyu’s double! The Goat are starting a counterattack.”

“Jung Dong-gyu is amazing. That ball was slightly outside. Sending that ball to left-center is no ordinary skill.”

Jung Yong-wook let out a hot breath.

“That monkey bastard.”

Jung Dong-gyu was usually ridiculed as a paper doll, a scarecrow, or a deflated event balloon, but he had a clear advantage over others.

Noticeably longer arms and legs than others.

Even though his batting average is low, he sometimes hits those outside pitches squarely.

Maybe his arms are so long that he’s only specialized in outside pitches?

The next batter is Jung Young-soo.

As a defense-oriented shortstop, there was no need to make the at-bat difficult.

Throwing three fastballs outside would result in at least two strikes.

-Strike!

“0-2. Two strikes. Kim Seong-hoon’s pitches are good. Even well-hit balls are going foul.”

The Pegasus battery chose an inside fastball as the finishing pitch.

Tap!

-Foul.

An outside slider also went foul.

Kim Seong-hoon frowned as the at-bat with the ninth batter dragged on.

Jung Yong-wook pointed to the ground with his finger.

It’s changeup timing, even though he doesn’t throw it often.

Bang.

-Ball.

1-2.

The next pitch was an inside fastball, foul.

Kim Seong-hoon took off his hat once.

“Jung Young-soo is persistent. He’s not giving in easily.”

“This is important. This is important. You have to value each pitch and each at-bat. It’s important to desperately hang in there like that.”

The Goat players applauded and cheered.

Kim Seong-hoon’s next pitch was an outside fastball, ball.

2-2.

Song Seok-hyun’s gaze turned to Jung Yong-wook.

In this situation where fouls keep happening, what pitch would a catcher call for?

Kim Seong-hoon chose the fastest pitch he had thrown today.

A 154 km/h fastball right down the middle, coming in at the batter’s elbow height.

-Strike! Out!

“Swing and a miss! Jung Young-soo held on well, but ultimately strikes out.”

“His bat couldn’t follow the ball at all just now. It was right down the middle.”

“Kim Seong-hoon is picking up the pace. His pitches are really fast.”

Song Seok-hyun felt drained.

If the pitcher’s pitches are good, the catcher’s job is reduced.

With Kim Seong-hoon, there’s no need to calculate complicatedly.

“Lee Ji-sung is at the plate. Lee Ji-sung is coming up. His momentum is scary, right?”

“His long-hitting ability has recently come alive. Just the fact that he hit a home run against Jo Jin-hee is enough. Do I even need to explain further?”

Jung Yong-wook adjusted his stance.

Now, he can’t just think lightly and go for the easy win.

He needs to build up the count one by one with outside fastballs.

Because once the outside pitches become familiar, they become more vulnerable to pitches that cut inside.

Jung Yong-wook’s mitt was pointed outside.

The first pitch was an outside fastball.

-Ball.

Kim Seong-hoon frowned.

The pitches are starting to miss little by little.

There are two reasons why control fails during a game.

Either the body has lost strength, or the body has become tense.

Jung Yong-wook signaled Kim Seong-hoon to calm down and then held his mitt out again on the outside.

The moment Kim Seong-hoon was about to throw the ball, Lee Ji-sung’s left hand grabbed the middle of the bat.

“A surprise bunt! A surprise bunt!”

Tap.

Lee Ji-sung bunted towards third base and then ran as fast as he could.

Third baseman Kim Wook ran in, caught the ball, took one more step, and threw the ball.

At the same time, Lee Ji-sung stretched his foot towards the base.

Bang!

Lee Ji-sung’s foot touched the base, and Kim Wook’s ball went into the mitt.

The first base coach spread his arms wide and appealed for safe.

The umpire’s arm twitched.

Korean Series Game 7 (4)

-Out!

“Out, it’s out. It was a close play, but the ruling is that the catch was slightly faster.”

“The Goat are appealing, but there’s nothing they can do. They have to abide by the umpire’s decision.”

“Two outs, runner on third. A single hit will score a run.”

As Seol Jin-il stepped into the batter’s box, Jung Yong-wook sat close to the plate.

He’s a batter who hits the first pitch well.

Bang!

Seol Jin-il flinched at the inside fastball.

It was a pitch that came in half a ball deeper than his zone.

-Strike.

“Huh?”

Seol Jin-il looked at the umpire with a bewildered expression.

He was about to say something to the umpire, but Jung Yong-wook spoke first.

“Alright, alright, let’s focus.”

Jung Yong-wook’s framing is his trademark [skill of subtly influencing the umpire’s call].

He was saying that there was no point in protesting because it wouldn’t do any good.

“Hoo.”

Seol Jin-il had no choice but to step back half a foot from the plate.

If they called that pitch a strike, it would be difficult for even a bad-ball hitter like himself to get a hit.

Followed by an outside fastball, then a slider.

-Strike! Out!

“Swing and a miss! Swing and a miss! The Goat couldn’t capitalize on a good opportunity. The Goat’s attack ends with a swing and a miss in the 3rd inning.”

“Kim Seong-hoon seemed a little shaky, but he’s still the same. Kim Seong-hoon’s true skills haven’t gone anywhere.”

Seol Jin-il lowered his head and returned to the bench.

Yoo Sun-ho patted Seol Jin-il’s stomach and said it was okay.

Seol Jin-il silently grabbed his glove and ran to the outfield.

“I’ve never seen him act like that before.”

Bottom of the 3rd inning, Pegasus’s attack.

The lead batter is fourth hitter Kim Wook.

Song Seok-hyun carefully chose the first pitch.

Kim Wook’s performance has been poor in recent games against the Goat, but he shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Kim Wook is a smart hitter, despite his size.

He’s not a natural power hitter, but he’s also a hitter who doesn’t miss the pitches he’s aiming for, having hit 40 home runs before.