On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 49

Kim In-hwan looked for Song Seok-hyeon as soon as he arrived at the bench.

“Hey, it’s working.”

“What is?”

“It just works when I look and swing without thinking.”

Song Seok-hyeon laughed, clearly not believing him.

“It works because you’re the senior player. Who else hits home runs like that? Your power is rare, even in the major leagues.”

“It’s amazing. The ball really flies when I connect.”

“You know there’s nothing wrong with your batting form, right? Just watch the ball and hit it. You can let it pass if it’s a ball you can’t hit.”

Kim In-hwan added another home run to his record that day.

Four at-bats, two hits, two home runs.

Kim Jeong-ryul also pitched two innings and finished the game without allowing a run.

Song Seok-hyeon came in from the eighth inning and stood in the batter’s box but struck out looking.

When Song Seok-hyeon returned to the bench after his strikeout, Kim In-hwan asked,

“Why didn’t you swing when it was 0-2?”

“It was a ball that was dropping low.”

“Why didn’t you swing if it was close?”

“Unless it’s a crucial moment, I usually don’t swing at anything outside my zone.”

“But you told me to swing at everything I see?”

“Everyone has a different style.”

That evening.

Kim In-hwan was not called up to the first team.

The decision was made for him to stay as a backup member for a few more days because Choi Dae-gyu’s injury wasn’t serious.

Kim Jeong-ryul hinted at this to Kim In-hwan and tried to comfort him.

Kim In-hwan’s reaction was unexpected.

“That’s good. I didn’t want to go up to the first team right now anyway.”

“You don’t want to go to the first team?”

“I want to get a little more seasoned before going up. I just got a feel for things.”

The next game was against the Pegasus.

As usual, after morning training and during a break, the opposing team, Pegasus, entered the baseball field.

Song Seok-hyeon was watching the opposing team when he spotted someone and rubbed his eyes in surprise.

“Jeong Yong-wook?”

Battery coach Kim Tae-woo saw Song Seok-hyeon and smiled.

“Did you see someone you shouldn’t have? Why are you so surprised?”

“Why is Senior Jeong Yong-wook here?”

“He was resting with the second team after the home collision last time. He’s preparing to go up to the first team.”

“Is he playing in today’s game then?”

“Maybe? Well, I don’t know if they’re just putting his name on the roster or if he’s actually playing today.”

Song Seok-hyeon stared intently at Jeong Yong-wook.

He wasn’t very big, and he had a common face that you could see anywhere at an engineering college. With his glasses and slightly receding hairline, it was hard to believe he was a baseball player.

Unlike his appearance, Jeong Yong-wook was the best catcher in the league and a living legend who continued the lineage of the greatest catchers of all time.

His ironclad blocking and deceptive framing [skillfully influencing the umpire’s perception of the strike zone] alone were enough to call him the best catcher, but he also had long-hitting power.

He had three seasons with more than thirty home runs, and his career OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a key baseball statistic] was .872.

“You’re going to burn a hole in him. Stop staring.”

At the coach’s words, Song Seok-hyeon turned his head.

“Coach.”

“Why?”

“If Senior Jeong Yong-wook plays today, could you let me play a lot of innings tomorrow, even if I’m not the starter?”

The coach grinned.

“You little punk, already want to test yourself?”

“I just want to play in the same game as him.”

“You’ve been resting for a few days too, so it’s about time for you to start. I can’t say for sure. But if Jeong Yong-wook plays today, I’ll talk to the manager as you said.”

“Thank you, Coach.”

Song Seok-hyeon repeatedly bowed to the coach.

Jeong Yong-wook slowly walked out and was warming up.

Song Seok-hyeon was glad that he hadn’t been called up to the first team yet.

If he were in the first team now, he would be watching the game as a substitute’s substitute.

He wouldn’t even dream of a head-to-head match with Jeong Yong-wook.

If you compared Jeong Yong-wook and himself now, there would be an immeasurable difference.

He knew there would be a comparison, and he wanted to measure himself against Jeong Yong-wook.

He needed to know the level of the best player in the league to understand his objective position right now.

“Please come out today, Senior.”

Rising Through the Ranks as a Catcher

Simultaneous Hatching (7)

“Aha ha ha ha.”

Jeong Yong-wook yawned widely and put on his protector.

“Is it postprandial sleepiness [sleepiness after a meal]? I’m sleepy.”

Jeong Yong-wook smacked his lips.

“Mister, you can’t sleep here. You need to wake up.”

Lee Man-seong, the second team’s battery coach, nudged Jeong Yong-wook’s shin.

“Ah, what are you doing?”

“Cheer up, cheer up. How can you be so lazy about everything?”

“It’s spring. Everyone gets sluggish in the spring.”

“Don’t you get sluggish in the summer?”

“I get sluggish in the summer too, and in the spring, and in the fall, and in the winter~”.

“Oh, geez. Are you kidding me?”

Jeong Yong-wook straightened his back and stretched.

“Just put in a good word for me to the first team. Tell them my body is fine. That I’m okay.”

“That’s my business. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Hey, take it easy. Why are you being so difficult? Do I really have to play in the game?”

“You have to play in the game so I can check your condition.”

“Oh, come on, how long have we known each other? You should know just by looking at me.”

“You rascal.”

The coach sat next to Jeong Yong-wook.

“You’re thirty-two now. That’s retirement age for a catcher, you know. You need to take care of your body and retire, right? Why are you in such a hurry? If you want to play at the top level until you’re at least thirty-five, you need to manage yourself strictly now.”

“What’s the difference between now and thirty-five? I’ll just play hard while I can and then retire.”

“Think about your age. Don’t keep doing home blocking like a kid; just step aside a little. You’ll get a concussion. If you get a concussion, you can’t play baseball.”

“Oh, you old man. You act like you’re so much older than me.”

“Anyway, I can’t say good things about you unless I’m sure you’re in good enough shape to play. If you want to go up to the first team, show me properly here that you don’t have any aftereffects and that you’re in perfect condition.”

“Ah, hyung [older brother or close male friend]. So you want me to play the whole game?”

“Yes, if you can’t handle a second team game, you shouldn’t go to the first team.”

“I’m losing stamina, stamina. I need to save my stamina. I save my stamina in the second team to use it in the first team. The second team is just for managing my body.”

“Hey, these days even the young kids are good, you know? Do it properly. If there’s anything wrong with your body, be sure to tell me.”

The coach left.

Jeong Yong-wook sighed deeply.

“Oh, it’s my fate. Why do I have so many mothers-in-law [people who nag and interfere]?”

Jeong Yong-wook, who had already put on his catcher’s mask, shouted at the coach.

“Hyung! Just say that if the game goes well today, I’m fine! Got it?”

“We’ll see!”

* * *

Pegasus Game 1.

The Goat’s pitcher was Im Jin-pil.

A 24-year-old pitcher who had completed his military service and was responsible for the second team rotation.

He hasn’t made any significant achievements in the first team yet, but in the second team, he is called the Goat’s ace.

-Play ball!

The first inning belongs to the hitters.

Many pitchers find the first inning the most difficult.

Regardless of how well a pitcher performs, the first inning is the time for the hitter to get used to the pitcher’s pitches and for the pitcher to get used to the umpire’s strike zone.

Even good pitchers are often hit unexpectedly hard in the first inning.

Like this time.

“Haa.”

Starting pitcher Im Jin-pil took off his hat and wiped away sweat.

One out, runners on first and third.

A walk, a steal, and a hit created a scoring opportunity.

Fourth batter Jeong Yong-wook came to the plate.

“Ugh, seriously. Why is it the fourth batter? So annoying?”

Jeong Yong-wook rubbed his sleepy eyes and stood in the batter’s box.

“Let’s do this quickly. Don’t drag it out too much. Okay?”

Jeong Yong-wook greeted Jeong Ji-hwan, who was the catcher.

“Yes, yes. I understand. I have to give you a good pitch since you’re here, Senior.”

Jeong Yong-wook loosely gripped his bat and shook his shoulders slightly.

Song Seok-hyeon’s eyes lit up at Jeong Yong-wook’s at-bat.

A slider, low and outside.

The pitcher threw the ball according to the catcher’s lead, but the result didn’t come out as the catcher intended.

In an instant, the count was 3-0.

Jeong Yong-wook said in a languid voice.

“I told you to do it quickly. If the catcher thinks too much, his head gets twisted.”

Jeong Ji-hwan raised his finger and pointed to his left thigh.

An inside pitch.

He couldn’t call for an obvious pitch like an outside fastball, even if it was a strike.

The pitcher nodded and threw the ball.

Bang!

Jeong Yong-wook leaned back, tilting one leg outward.

The ball went straight over the left fence.

A 3-run home run.

Jeong Yong-wook tossed his bat.

“See? If you don’t compete quickly, you’ll be the one getting cornered.”

Jeong Yong-wook trudged to first base.

Jeong Ji-hwan bit his lip tightly and gasped for breath.

Song Seok-hyeon nodded as he watched Jeong Yong-wook come home.

“Why do you look like you’re happy when it hit our team?”

Song Seok-hyeon shook his head at Kim Jeong-ryul’s words.

“No. That’s not possible.”

“The lead was too obvious just now. Right?”

“Um……”

Song Seok-hyeon shrugged his shoulders, conscious of the listening ears.

Pitcher Im Jin-pil gave up three points in the first inning but didn’t give up any additional points.

Second inning.

Kim In-hwan came out as the lead batter.

Jeong Yong-wook looked at Kim In-hwan in the batter’s box and chuckled.

“In-hwan.”

“Yes?”

“Did your batting form change again?”

“Ah… yes.”

“Tell them to take it easy, take it easy. You should refuse if you don’t think it’s right. You’re a guy who hits home runs even if you swing roughly; what kind of great hitter are they trying to make you into? Your club is too much. Right?”

“Ah, no. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. As a consolation, I’ll give you a fastball right down the middle. Hit it well.”

Jeong Yong-wook signaled for an inside fastball and also gave the sign to throw it right away.

As soon as Kim In-hwan finished speaking, the pitcher threw the ball.

Bang!

If there was a cannon sound, would it be like this?

With a loud sound that echoed not only through both benches but also through the stands, the ball went straight over the right fence.

Kim In-hwan looked at the ball he had hit and then looked at his bat.

“…Wow. It works again.”

Kim In-hwan greeted Jeong Yong-wook before going to first base.

“Thank you, Senior.”

Jeong Yong-wook burst out laughing at the harmless expression of gratitude.

Although he gave up a solo home run in the second inning, Pegasus managed to prevent any additional runs.

When Jeong Yong-wook returned to the bench, the battery coach asked,

“Why did you call for a fastball right down the middle from the first pitch?”

“Did you make a promise?”

“What promise?”

“I told him I’d give him a fastball right down the middle.”

The coach’s expression turned serious.

“Why would you make such a promise? Don’t do that even as a joke. It’s dangerous.”

“No, it’s not like that. He’s originally a slow guy, so even if I give it to him in the middle, he’s a guy who can’t hit it because he worries too much, but today he just rushed in like a madman and hit it.”

“Anyone would hit it if such a good ball came.”

“He’s a guy who hasn’t hit that ball until now. He doesn’t hit good balls and always gets cornered and hits balls that are falling out. I’ll have to be serious in the next at-bat.”

“Don’t let Kim In-hwan raise his stock. Who’s going to face him head-on?”

“Hey, what do you think of it, Jeong Yong-wook? I’ll face him head-on and strike him out. Then we’ll skip tomorrow’s game and call me up the day after tomorrow?”

“A bet?”

“It’s a kind of bet.”

“I won’t take it. How many strikeouts does Kim In-hwan have?”

“Okay. Then if he gets even one hit, I’ll follow your words without complaint.”