On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 270

“…Okay. Then let’s do that. I was just wondering if you had some kind of plan.”

“No plan is the plan.”

* * *

Kim Young-hoon, carrying a heavily drunk Kim Si-yoon on his back, opened the hotel room door.

He set Kim Si-yoon down on the bed and wiped away the sweat.

“Why did you leave so quickly? I thought I was going to die from the weight.”

As Kim Young-hoon was about to leave after laying Kim Si-yoon down, Kim Si-yoon grabbed Kim Young-hoon’s clothes tightly.

“Don’t go……”

Kim Young-hoon turned his head to see Kim Si-yoon mumbling with his eyes closed.

“Don’t go……”

Kim Young-hoon carefully removed Kim Si-yoon’s hand and covered him with a blanket.

After closing the hotel door, Kim Young-hoon went to find his own room.

Kim Young-hoon, without even washing up, sat on the edge of the bed and opened his phone again.

It was full of congratulatory messages and calls, but there was no contact he had been waiting for.

Kim Young-hoon looked at his phone for a long time before finally deleting a number.

“Live well, okay? At least you live happily.”

Catching Success

Swamp Baseball

[It’s going over! It’s going over! It’s gone!]

[It’s going over again! Back-to-back!]

[Where can the GOTs lineup take a break? This is too scary!]

Jung Dong-gyu clenched his fist and rounded the bases.

The score on the scoreboard was 11-8.

It was now the bottom of the 6th inning.

“I don’t know whether to be happy or sad……”

Ham Sung-hoon clapped while wearing a strange expression.

“Isn’t that a come-from-behind home run? You should be happy.”

Ham Sung-hoon chuckled at the head coach’s words.

“I don’t know if my heart can take it if we play games like this every day.”

“But isn’t that how we win, thanks to that?”

“That’s right. Thanks to that. We’ve come this far thanks to the lineup going crazy.”

No sooner had Jung Dong-gyu returned to the bench than Jung Young-soo walked on a walk [reached first base after four balls were thrown outside the strike zone].

The next batter was Kim Jung-deok.

As Kim Jung-deok stepped up, the GOTs fans’ cheers grew louder.

[Kim Jung-deok’s potential has really exploded this year. He’s receiving a lot of love from GOTs fans.]

[He’s truly a five-tool player. Fast, good hitter, good arm, and even has power. It’s rare to find a center fielder like this. He’s a different type of center fielder than Hwang Ki-deok.]

[When the GOTs traded with the Bulls, there was a lot of talk about whether they were giving too much, but looking at Kim Jung-deok’s performance this year, it’s understandable. A leadoff hitter with a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .500 slugging percentage. That’s really not easy.]

[It’s a win-win for both sides. The Bulls got three A-class relievers and even a starting center fielder. Of course, it was difficult to use them right away, but they started returning one by one this season. As the Bulls are currently in second place, they will only get stronger as the season goes on.]

The Bulls bench replaced the pitcher.

[The new pitcher is Kang Hwan-yoon. A match between former teammates is set to take place. He was a key member of the GOTs bullpen until early last year, but this year he has become a reliable pillar for the Bulls.]

The pitcher and catcher exchanged signs.

The catcher’s sign was a curveball.

The pitcher nodded and went into the set position.

“Hoo.”

The moment the batter swallowed hard, the pitcher threw the ball.

A 12-6 curveball [a curveball that breaks sharply downwards] that dropped sharply.

Kim Jung-deok’s body spun like a top.

Thwack!

The GOTs bench players stood up at the same time.

[It goes over the fence again! Kim Jung-deok’s two-run homer! Kim Jung-deok’s two-run shot explodes!]

“Yes!”

“Good job, Kim Jung-deok!”

The GOTs players cheered.

The Bulls bench sighed repeatedly.

“He’s a real gem, but……”

The head coach lowered his voice at the manager’s grumbling.

“You know that if the manager keeps making that face, the transferred players will be even more discouraged, right?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Why wouldn’t they know when you make a face like you’re regretting it every time we play the GOTs?”

“I need to be careful.”

“You led this trade, and we benefited more. Just don’t forget that.”

“I know, I know. I know.”

Manager Kumanishi smacked his lips.

“I thought it would take a few more years to break out of his shell, but if I had known he would grow so quickly, I would have hesitated.”

“It’s a synergy effect. Look at that team. Any hitter who goes to that team can’t help but be stimulated.”

“That’s true. It’s the most…… Ugh, of any team I’ve seen.”

Manager Kumanishi hung his head.

After Seol Jin-il’s hit, Kim In-hwan’s double followed.

The next batter, Song Seok-hyun, walked to the plate with his bat on his shoulder.

“It’s a terrible nightmare. The team I hate facing the most.”

No sooner had Manager Kumanishi finished grumbling than Song Seok-hyun sent the first pitch to the center of Jamsil Stadium [a famous baseball stadium in South Korea].

The players on the field turned their heads to look at the ball high in the sky.

* * *

“Good, good. Well done. Everyone worked hard.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The first game of the three-game series against the Bulls at Jamsil ended with a win for the GOTs.

The post-victory interview belonged to Kim In-hwan.

“Kim In-hwan, you already have forty-eight home runs. You’re aiming to break your personal record as well as the league’s most home runs. At this pace, the 50-home run mark is just around the corner. How do you feel?”

Kim In-hwan wore an embarrassed expression.

“First of all, I think I was lucky. The team’s lineup is good, so I get a lot of opportunities, and changing my batting form this season suited me well.”

“Song Seok-hyun is closely following behind with forty-six home runs. Although the recent trend in the league is favoring hitters over pitchers, these two players’ records are particularly noticeable. Is there a special reason for this?”

“Well, I don’t know a special reason. I just do my best on the field every time, and the results follow.”

“You’re being modest.”

Kim Jung-ryul, who was watching Kim In-hwan’s interview, scratched his cheek.

“To be honest.”

Song Seok-hyun, who was next to him, asked.

“What is it?”

Kim Jung-ryul put his arm around Song Seok-hyun’s shoulder.

“Isn’t it thanks to us that you two are setting new home run records?”

“……Thanks to you?”

“The bullpen collapses all the time, so the opportunities for you guys to step up to the plate have increased significantly. You guys are already going crazy with your recent pace, and with the number of at-bats increasing, it’s like we’re setting the stage for you to set home run records. Isn’t that right?”

Song Seok-hyun burst into a hollow laugh.

“Senior, you’re joking, right?”

“Ha, I’m just saying. Honestly, how can our guys face you guys? If it weren’t for you guys, we’d be getting rocks thrown at us every day.”

“Your performance is overwhelming, senior. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Me? I’m the only one who’s good, only me. What does that mean? Even if it’s somewhat even, I can still get a save opportunity, but honestly, this season I have no idea. The pitching and hitting balance has collapsed, but the lineup is grabbing us by the collar and dragging us along.”

“The mound will come up now.”

“There’s only a month left until the end of the season.”

“……We’ll make it to the postseason. I believe so.”

“I asked the kids, and they’re just praying now? They’re just praying that you and In-hwan hit home runs and win.”

“……You’re kidding, right?”

“80% truth?”

Kim In-hwan’s interview ended.

Kim Jung-ryul patted Song Seok-hyun on the shoulder.

“In my opinion, the bullpen is done for this year. So, you have to hit it over even harder. Fighting!”

Kim Jung-ryul left.

Song Seok-hyun scratched his head.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

Kim In-hwan approached Song Seok-hyun.

“I was just going to go with you, hyung [Korean term for older brother or older male friend]. Did the interview go well?”

“Well, I just said what I always say.”

“Ha, hyung.”

“What?”

“I think we need to work harder.”

“We’re working hard…… We do it every time. Why? Is something wrong?”

“It’s not that something’s wrong. It’s just that our team situation is like that. The bullpen isn’t being reinforced, and the manager is using the pitchers evenly to prevent overuse……”

“So, is the manager giving up on this season a bit? I think we need to use the bullpen a bit.”

“I don’t know. They’re intensively training the bullpen in the minors, so I think they’re planning to make a move in the postseason.”

Kim In-hwan sighed.

“We’re breaking home run records every day, but the team isn’t moving forward.”

“That’s why they call our baseball swamp baseball.”

“My wife says it’s like a dogfight.”

“……That’s about right.”

Song Seok-hyun stood shoulder to shoulder with Kim In-hwan.

“There’s still a month left in the season. Let’s do or die and make it to at least 3rd place. Still, even if we only make it to 3rd place, that’s something.”

Kim In-hwan stopped walking.

“Hey, but.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve gotten taller? Your shoulders were similar to mine…… You’ve gotten quite tall?”

“Me?”

Song Seok-hyun shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m still young. No, I’m young. I might even grow to 185cm.”

“Wow, it’s good to be young. You grow taller after coming to the pros? Amazing.”

The two people’s home run show continued the next day and the day after that.

Kim In-hwan reached the 50-home run mark, and Song Seok-hyun also set a tie record with Kim In-hwan.

The pitching and hitting balance is currently said to be the best in the league, but the GOTs’ firepower far exceeded that of the Bulls.

While Kim In-hwan and Song Seok-hyun were alternately leading the home run race, a three-game series against the Phoenix was scheduled at Jamsil.

The Phoenix’s starter for the first game was Kim Young-hoon.

From the start of the game, the GOTs batters complained incessantly.

“When is he going to retire?”

“I get a headache on the days Kim Young-hoon comes out.”

“I actually like it better. Even if I don’t hit well, no one says anything, which is nice.”

“Oh, it’s nice to be so carefree.”

Yu Seon-ho gestured to Song Seok-hyun.

“It’ll be difficult for you two to hit a home run today.”

“I’ll have to aim for a hit.”

“Ha, I’m just going to finish the game quickly today and get some rest. Ugh, my head. Ugh, my head.”

Song Seok-hyun stared at the opposite bench with a stiff expression.

On the opposite side, Kim Young-hoon was sitting with his eyes closed.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

Kim In-hwan looked back and forth between Song Seok-hyun and the Phoenix bench and asked.

“No, nothing. It’s nothing.”

“You always look serious when you face Kim Young-hoon senior. Are you that prideful? About not being able to hit?”

“No. It’s not that…… I’m just thinking a lot, thinking.”

The game start time was fast approaching.

The GOTs’ starter against Kim Young-hoon was ace Fish.

Fish shut down the Phoenix lineup with nine pitches and no runs.

Bottom of the 1st inning, GOTs’ attack.

Kim Young-hoon created a ground ball with his first pitch, a 144km/h slider.

-Out!

“Kim Young-hoon is taking it easy today.”

“Looks like he’s pacing himself? It’ll be manageable in the early innings.”

The GOTs players’ expressions brightened a little.

Second batter Seol Jin-il struck out on a slider at 2-2.

This time it was a 142km/h slider.

[Kim In-hwan steps up to the plate. He already has fifty-three home runs. One more home run will tie the league’s home run record.]

[It’s unlucky that he’s meeting Kim Young-hoon today. But Kim Young-hoon’s pitches aren’t as fast as usual today? Now is a good time to aim for a big one while he’s pacing himself.]

Song Seok-hyun watched Kim Young-hoon from the on-deck circle.

More precisely, he was watching Kim Young-hoon’s shoulder and elbow.

Kim Young-hoon’s face was calm.

[Pitcher’s first pitch!]

Bang!

-Strike!

“Wow, damn it!”

Kim In-hwan stepped away from the plate to catch his breath.

The ball came close to his body.

The speed on the scoreboard was 162km/h.

Kim Young-hoon smiled slightly.

“……”

The GOTs bench was once again enveloped in silence.

Even Manager Ham Sung-hoon shook his head.

“I’m going crazy.”

Three-pitch strikeout.