On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 267

[The Wolves’ batters are completely out of sync right now. Their rhythm is totally off. The pitcher’s pace is way too fast.]

[It’s encouraging to see his signature changeup working again.]

[What’s interesting today is that his velocity has actually decreased a bit, right? His top speed is only around 142 km/h [approximately 88 mph]. But his changeup speed has dropped significantly to 123 km/h [approximately 76 mph]. While his fastball speed has decreased slightly, his changeup speed has decreased even more, making the changeup even more effective.]

The number three hitter, Wolves’ first baseman Jung In-ha, came up to bat but grounded out on a first-pitch 111 km/h [approximately 69 mph] curveball.

The Wolves fans were silenced, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on them before they could even get excited.

“Nice! Nice!”

“Chang-hoon, you’re awesome! You’re on fire today!”

“Good. Chang-hoon is good today.”

As Lee Chang-hoon returned to the bench after finishing the inning, his teammates were more enthusiastic than usual.

It was encouragement from the players to further boost Lee Chang-hoon’s morale, who had been in a slump recently.

Lee Chang-hoon sat next to Song Seok-hyun.

“Is that good enough?”

Song Seok-hyun smiled at Lee Chang-hoon’s words.

“Hyung [older brother/senior], you’re a genius. How did you do that in just one day?”

“It’s hard to increase your swing, but it’s easy to shorten it.”

“Still, there’s not much of a drop in velocity, and your control is even better. That’s what’s difficult.”

Lee Chang-hoon tapped his leg.

“It’s worth all the hard work I’ve put into strengthening my lower body. Because I’m pushing with my lower body strength, my arm swing can be a little smaller without losing power in the ball.”

“Your changeup and curveball seem to be more effective too.”

Lee Chang-hoon laughed.

“The key to breaking balls is how you snap your wrist. Since my arm swing is shorter, the breaking balls have become weaker, but it seems to be working better.”

“As long as you maintain your velocity, this style seems to suit you better.”

“I finally found my style in the middle of the season.”

Lee Chang-hoon, whose form had improved, regained his image as a reliable innings eater.

He never threw more than ten pitches to end an inning.

The Wolves batters swung as if hypnotized by Lee Chang-hoon’s slow, weak pitches, and most of them were off-timing.

“Why can’t they hit those garbage balls? They have plenty of time to watch and hit.”

“Focus, focus!”

The manager and coaches urged the Wolves batters, but the batters themselves were the most frustrated.

They could see the ball coming, but they just couldn’t get the timing right.

“I’m going crazy. What kind of sorcery is this?”

The other batters shook their heads at captain Kim Jin-wook’s words.

“Something’s subtly off.”

“His pitching form seems to have changed a bit, but how can we be this off?”

Unlike the pre-game predictions that Jang Gye-sung would win easily, the starting pitcher duel between the two teams ended with Lee Chang-hoon allowing two runs in 6.1 innings and Jang Gye-sung allowing three runs in 5.2 innings.

Jang Gye-sung’s performance wasn’t bad, but the problem was always the bullpen [relief pitchers].

[It’s going over! Over the right field fence! Over the right field fence! Kim In-hwan with a two-run home run! Kim In-hwan’s streak is terrifying this season!]

With Kim In-hwan’s home run as the lead, the Gotes hit three home runs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.

An overwhelming victory.

The Gotes suffered a come-from-behind loss to the Wolves’ fierce counterattack the next day, but they won the game the day after that with another easy victory.

A winning series against their Jamsil [stadium in Seoul] rivals.

Everything was good for the Gotes fans.

Until July came.

A Summer Cold.

July Jinx.

Players began to show signs of fatigue one by one on the heated ground.

“It’s hot, so hot. It’s not even Daegu [city known for its heat] here.”

There was no particular response to Yoo Seon-ho’s grumbling.

Since it was Jamsil but they were the visiting team, they only had a short practice time, so there was no time to be lazy.

While the players were warming up, Ham Seong-hoon looked at the ground with a gloomy expression.

“Manager.”

An Young-jae, who had been promoted to head coach, approached Ham Seong-hoon.

“I don’t think Ji-sung will be able to play today.”

Ham Seong-hoon frowned.

“Is it just today, or…?”

“I think he’ll need time in the minor leagues. It seems like the injuries he’s been enduring have taken their toll.”

“…Is that so.”

The head coach scratched his nose.

“I’m sorry. I should have checked his condition more carefully.”

“No, it’s my fault. I should have paid more attention, but I thought everything would be fine since he was doing so well. More importantly, we can send Jung-deok to Ji-sung’s position, but who would be good for right field?”

“I think Ha-young would be good.”

“Kang Ha-young? Do you think he’s okay? He’s so inconsistent.”

“He’s prone to injuries, but he’s originally capable of doing better.”

“I understand. Let’s have Kang Ha-young play right field for now and call up a backup outfielder from the minors.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The head coach left.

Ham Seong-hoon covered his face with his hands.

“When it rains, it pours.”

* * *

Short practice was over, and it was break time.

The players usually relaxed by eating snacks or chatting.

The Gotes players also munched on snacks, but there was little conversation.

The reporters, who were wandering around to interview the players, only had a short interview with Ham Seong-hoon.

“The Gotes might have a tough time this year.”

As one of the reporters opened his mouth first, the other reporters added their opinions as if they had been waiting for it.

“They say the championship is decided by the heavens. Jung Hong-min has a sore shoulder, Go Jin-seok has an elbow injury, and even Jung Cheon-woon has shingles. What’s the point of having good hitters? You have to be able to hold on at least a little bit to do anything with your hitting. In my opinion, the Gotes are done for this year. Luck isn’t on their side.”

“Tsk, tsk. If you could win the championship with luck, how did the Phoenix and the Gotes win? Both of them struggled throughout the season and then exploded in the postseason.”

“So? Do you think the Gotes will win the championship? Should we bet on it? If you’re confident, go ahead. In my opinion, the goddess of fortune is in Busan [city in South Korea] this season. Astro Boys for the win!”

The reporters laughed loudly.

“Always the Busan native.”

“It’s not just wishful thinking, it’s objectively true. It’s common sense that the team that rises in the summer makes it to the fall, and the team that falls in the summer doesn’t make it to the fall, right? Look at the Gotes. They peaked in June and are now sliding down.”

“We’ll see. We’ll know after the All-Star break.”

“You can tell just by the atmosphere. The kids are unfocused. The Gotes have already collapsed inside and out. They don’t have the strength to rise in the summer.”

“But their hitting is still good.”

“What’s the point of having good hitting? They always give up runs from behind even when they score a lot of runs, which just drains their energy. Can’t you tell?”

A reporter with quite a bit of gray hair said.

“You don’t have to be affectionate just because you’re in charge of the team, but don’t be too harsh.”

“Ahem.”

“Have you forgotten that the Phoenix won the championship? You never know until the end of the game. Stop making predictions.”

“…Yes, yes.”

* * *

[It’s going over! It’s going over! It’s going over~! A three-run homer! Kang Je-gwan’s three-run homer explodes! The score is 8-7! A Kennedy score [a score of 8-7, referring to a close and exciting game].]

[Kim Jin-seok’s pitch was too high. When the ball is that high, a big hit is inevitable.]

[The Gotes are giving up a game they had in their grasp in the bottom of the 8th inning.]

[Are they going to change the pitcher? The timing is right for a change, but the Gotes don’t have a suitable bullpen right now, do they?]

[It looks like a change is coming.]

Song Seok-hyun got up from his seat and straightened his back.

Kang Je-gwan smiled broadly and exchanged high-fives with the Wolves players at home plate.

The changed pitcher gave up two more runs before finishing the inning.

Time to switch innings.

The fielders returned to the bench and sat down silently.

Even Yoo Seon-ho didn’t say anything this time.

The Gotes recorded a monumental team batting average of .300 and a team OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging] of .801 with their overwhelming offensive power, but their team ranking had fallen to 4th place.

The Gotes’ bullpen ERA [Earned Run Average] in July was 9.42.

That means they were giving up runs every inning.

Forkballer Go Jin-seok complained of elbow pain, and 34-year-old left-handed fireballer Jung Hong-min complained of shoulder pain.

Injuries to bullpen pitchers happen every season, but coincidentally, the timing overlapped.

Jung Cheon-woon, who played the role of workhorse between the starting lineup and the bullpen, also dropped out due to shingles, and three bullpen players disappeared from the first team.

A weak bullpen didn’t just mean an increase in runs allowed.

Come-from-behind losses.

As games that seemed winnable continued to be overturned, the players’ morale quickly waned.

The only consolation was that Song Seok-hyun and Kim In-hwan’s combined home run total was over fifty.

-Strike! Out!

[Strikeout! Lee Byung-hwan strikes out and roars! Game over! The score is 14-11. The Gotes chased until the end, but the Wolves’ bats were also very hot today.]

[At this rate, the Gotes’ 4th place is also in danger. The Gotes’ potential cannot be ignored, but this cycle of playing well when they play well and playing too poorly when they play poorly is not helpful in the competition for first place. They seem to lack stability.]

After the game, the players packed their bags and left one by one.

Kim Jung-ryul made a comical expression and shouted, ‘It’s cold, it’s cold!’, but there was no echo.

* * *

What became a lifeline for the Gotes was the All-Star break.

The Gotes produced the most All-Stars from the Western team, with first baseman Yoo Seon-ho, third baseman Kim Wook, left fielder Kim In-hwan, catcher Song Seok-hyun, pitcher Michael Fish, and Kim Jung-ryul being selected.

In the East, the Astro Boys produced a whopping 8 All-Stars.

There was talk in the media that sweeping the All-Stars was a problem, but it was difficult for anyone to stop the passion of the Busan fans.

An overwhelming first place until summer.

A four-game difference with second place.

The Gotes were also hanging on to 4th place, but now that the fans’ expectations had risen as high as they could go, they were having the coldest summer.

What became a welcome rain for the tired Gotes fans was the All-Star Game Home Run Derby.

Bang!

“Seven! The seventh home run is coming out!”

The Home Run Derby, where the team’s best hitters came out to compete for home runs.

It was a small event before the game started, but the participants were unusual.

There was no need to mention the Gotes’ Kim In-hwan and Song Seok-hyun.

Kim Han-sung of the Pegasus, who had been Kim In-hwan’s rival in power since high school.

Jo Yang-cheol, the number four hitter from Daegu, and Lee Nak-gyun, who came from Daegu’s home run king.

Kang Je-gwan, the Wolves’ number four hitter and the main character of 30 home runs in Jamsil.

Choi Dae-gyu, who is hitting 20 home runs in Wales.

Yoon Hyung-chan and Kyu Jae-yoon of the Bulls, who are ranked 3rd and 5th in the league in home runs.

Choi Jae-guk, the giant of Busan and 4th in the league in home runs.

Even Kyung Soo-in, the eternal national team’s number four hitter and winner of 8 titles in career hits for right-handed hitters.

Just naming the famous players was the best lineup ever.

The first Home Run Derby seemed to be getting boring as Kyung Soo-in only hit four home runs, but Gu Jae-yoon, the 5th hitter of the Gwangju Bulls, hit eleven, heating things up.

Not to be outdone, Kang Je-gwan, the 4th hitter of the Wolves, tied with eleven home runs, and Choi Jae-guk, the giant of Busan, poured oil on the fire by taking the lead with thirteen home runs.

“Ah~ Jo Yang-cheol. That’s too bad. Nine home runs. He stops at nine home runs.”

Jo Yang-cheol stepped back with an embarrassed expression.

Normally, nine home runs would be a record that could aim for the championship, but this year it was difficult to even get 3rd place.

The next hitter was Pegasus’ strongman, Kim Han-sung.

The other hitters stood next to each other and watched Kim Han-sung’s hitting.

“One! He starts with one home run from the beginning!”

Kim In-hwan quietly said to Song Seok-hyun with his arms crossed.

“He’s definitely big. Right?”

“Hyung [older brother/senior] is bigger.”

“…You’re saying my swing is bigger than that?”

“Oh, were you talking about the swing?”

“Then what were you talking about?”

Song Seok-hyun shrugged his shoulders once.

“It’s the Home Run Derby, so the swing is big.”

“He’s always big. I don’t know why he tries to hit so hard when he’s already strong.”

“I don’t think Hyung [older brother/senior] is one to talk.”

“I swing compactly.”

“It’s a bit strange to hear someone who swings upwards like Hyung [older brother/senior] say that he swings compactly.”

“Instead of swinging upwards, I go with rotational hitting. He has a wide stride, an upward swing, a kicking motion, and even a linear swing. It’s not like we’re measuring who can hit the farthest.”

Song Seok-hyun chuckled.

“You’ve become a doctor. When did you become so knowledgeable?”

“Why? It’s because of you. I can’t help but improve since I’m studying all the time.”

“Hyung [older brother/senior], you could be a hitting coach later.”

“Anyway. He’s too greedy. It’s a lesson to be learned. I can definitely feel it now that I’m watching from the side.”

“Okay, okay. It’s Hyung’s [older brother/senior] turn next. Get ready quickly.”

“Okay, okay. I got it. Are you after next?”

“Yeah.”

“Shall we bet? The loser buys a meal. Deal?”

“Deal. Good. I was thinking of getting some nourishment. I’m going to hit about twenty.”

“Seriously, twenty? Is that enough? I’m going to hit twenty-five.”

“Really? Then I’ll just hit one more than Hyung [older brother/senior].”

“Oh, is that so? Try hitting it if you can.”

Kyung Soo-in shook his head as he watched the two bickering.

“Kids will be kids.”

Kim Han-sung tied the home run record by hitting thirteen home runs.

The audience was once again heated up by Kim Han-sung’s tie record.

“The league’s number one home run king, right? Kim In-hwan is here!”

As Kim In-hwan appeared, baseball fans poured out their applause.

The best hitter in history when it comes to power.

A slugger who can hit it over the fence even with a graze.

Not only Gotes fans but also baseball fans paid attention to Hulk Kim In-hwan’s record.