On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 95

Shin Gyu-won’s performance had overshadowed him, but like a true ace, he pitched enough innings to relieve the bullpen.

As both teams’ starters were taken out, Manager Ham Seong-hoon brought up reliever Lee Baek-chan.

A fireballer drafted in the first round last year.

He was a highly touted prospect with a fastball that was considered A-grade or higher in the league, but he hadn’t shown significant results in either the minor or major leagues.

A classic case of having a ‘chicken heart’ [lacking courage under pressure] was the problem.

“Let’s change the catcher to Seok-hyun.”

“Understood.”

Ham Seong-hoon brought in Song Seok-hyun as catcher for the chicken-hearted pitcher.

Lee Baek-chan was a pitcher plagued by worries.

Especially when a runner got on base, he didn’t know what to do.

Song Seok-hyun, with his strong arm and confident demeanor, was the best solution currently available for Lee Baek-chan.

Top of the 7th inning.

Lee Baek-chan went to the mound.

“The pitcher has changed. It’s Lee Baek-chan.”

“Lee Baek-chan was drafted with high expectations, but he hasn’t shown any clear results yet. His record isn’t very good in either the major or minor leagues.”

“But his pitches are really fast, aren’t they? There are many reports that his fastball has great power.”

“Even if the power is good, it has to lead to results. It’s useless if his control is bad or if he doesn’t have a supporting pitch.”

“Ah, the catcher has changed too. Song Seok-hyun is wearing the catcher’s mask.”

“Interesting. So both the battery [pitcher and catcher] are rookie-level players. Usually, when a rookie pitcher comes up, they use a veteran catcher, or if the catcher is a rookie, a veteran pitcher leads him, but the Goat just changes both the battery.”

“It seems that Acting Manager Ham Seong-hoon is young, so he’s bold.”

“Well, being bold isn’t always good. I don’t know what kind of results this choice will bring.”

Song Seok-hyun put on his catcher’s mask and settled behind home plate.

It wasn’t easy to get playing time as a catcher because of Park Shin-eon and Seo Il-hyeok.

He could play as a designated hitter due to the departure of other hitters, but he was, at heart, a catcher.

The position that takes responsibility for the game, the catcher.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Lee Baek-chan’s practice pitches were as good as expected.

The ball vibrated in the mitt.

A 148km/h fastball.

If he could control it, it would be a league A-grade pitch.

“The Fox’s lineup starts with number 2, Kim Hyeong-nam.”

“Kim Hyeong-nam is a hitter who can knock one out of the park. You can’t pitch to him carelessly.”

Song Seok-hyun gave the sign before Kim Hyeong-nam stepped into the batter’s box.

‘Fastball.’

Why should a pitcher whose strength is his fastball need to think complicatedly?

Just throw it.

Lee Baek-chan was briefly flustered but soon adapted.

Hadn’t he already experienced Song Seok-hyun’s style in the minor leagues?

Fast tempo, unconventional pitch selection, aggressive pitcher leading.

It was the opposite of his own cautious nature, but that’s why he trusted him more.

Song Seok-hyun always called pitches with confidence, which made Lee Baek-chan feel like his own confidence was rising.

“The pitcher throws it right away! Strike! The hitter swung as soon as he was ready.”

“That was almost right down the middle. The hitter swung and missed. He can’t miss that.”

Song Seok-hyun didn’t even give the next sign.

He just held out his mitt.

The pitcher’s fastball was good, and the umpire was generous with the outside corner.

Worrying was a luxury.

Lee Baek-chan smiled without realizing it.

Thwack!

-Strike!

“Strike! Bold! He attacks right away.”

“…Yes. He’s pitching boldly.”

Song Seok-hyun didn’t call for a single breaking ball.

The deciding pitch is…

-Strike! Out!

“The hitter can’t react! High fastball! He misses the high ball.”

“I think this is too risky. It would have been better to throw a breaking ball just now. Michael also had problems because he was too aggressive.”

“Lee Baek-chan and Song Seok-hyun’s battery are working quickly, quickly. There’s no time to breathe.”

The Fox’s number 3 hitter was Kim Gyeong-sim.

He didn’t have any outstanding strengths, but he was a solid all-around player.

-Foul!

-Foul!

“Two consecutive fouls. The bat keeps getting pushed back.”

“Lee Baek-chan’s pitches are good today. He was always a good pitcher, but his pitches seem especially sharp today.”

Song Seok-hyun held his mitt on the outside corner and stayed still.

Lee Baek-chan also threw the ball right away without thinking.

The hitter didn’t even have time to think.

-Foul!

The third ball was also a foul.

A foul that went straight back.

The fourth pitch was a slider that started in the center and then dropped.

The hitter’s bat swung over the slider as it dove.

-Strike! Out!

“Lee Baek-chan’s slider is also sharp today.”

“Maybe it’s because they’re a young battery, but they’re playing really fun baseball. They’re relying on simple power. Fastball, fastball, slider. It’s predictable, but if the pitches are good, it’s a combination without weaknesses.”

The next hitter was number 4, Choi Jae-guk.

A slugger who hit 30 home runs even in Sajik Stadium [known to suppress home runs due to its large size].

His huge, muscular physique, reaching 190cm, was intimidating.

Even when Choi Jae-guk came to the plate, Song Seok-hyun’s sign was the same.

Outside fastball.

Thwack!

-Strike!

Choi Jae-guk took the pitch.

The ball had more life than it looked from the on-deck circle.

The ball seemed to jump out of his hand.

The moment he decided to give up trying to hit a home run and just hit a ground ball, given how wide the umpire’s strike zone was today, he saw the pitcher shake his head once.

“Hmm.”

He only needs to throw it outside, but he’s shaking his head?

Choi Jae-guk’s mind briefly raced.

Did he shake his head to call for a changeup?

Or is he so confident in his fastball that he just wants to challenge him with it?

Choi Jae-guk’s thoughts were immediately interrupted.

He instinctively backed away from the fastball coming inside.

‘Ball, inside.’

“That was a dangerous pitch just now. The hitter almost got hit.”

“It was way inside. I think he threw the ball too close because he was afraid of getting hit.”

Choi Jae-guk smiled wryly.

He’s throwing inside here?

Even though the umpire is generously calling strikes on the outside corner?

“Hmm.”

Park Shin-eon frowned with his arms crossed.

It’s a completely different style from his own.

Song Seok-hyun’s pitch calling is aggressive and unconventional.

Once they get the upper hand, the hitters can’t regain their composure, but if the momentum shifts, they could get burned.

“Dangerously……”

Park Shin-eon clicked his tongue.

Lee Baek-chan kept shaking his head while exchanging signs with Song Seok-hyun.

The hitter called time to break the rhythm.

Song Seok-hyun requested a time-out from the umpire and headed to the mound.

“Hyung [older brother/term of respect],”

“Seok-hyun, let’s take it easy. Why do you keep throwing inside?”

“Hyung, why are you letting Choi Jae-guk intimidate you? Even if Hyung throws inside, he can’t hit it.”

“Let’s go easy, easy. There’s no need to make it a battle.”

“I believe in Hyung’s fastball. Why doesn’t Hyung believe in his own fastball? They can’t hit Hyung’s fastball unless it’s right down the middle.”

“It’s not that good.”

“Isn’t it better to get a hit throwing the pitch I call than to get a hit throwing the pitch Hyung chooses because Hyung keeps shaking me off?”

“Why is that?”

“Then you can blame me, not Hyung’s pitching.”

“Huh?”

“Hyung, trust me and throw it. Blame me if you get a hit. Don’t think on the mound. Just throw with confidence. I’ll catch all the runners even if they get on base.”

Song Seok-hyun, who was about to leave the mound, hesitated and added one more thing.

“Even if you hit the hitter, I’ll block the hitter. Hyung can just run away.”

Song Seok-hyun went down the mound and returned to home plate.

Lee Baek-chan shook the rosin bag in his hand.

Why is that young punk doing this?

He laughed in disbelief.

Trust him blindly.

“Lee Baek-chan is smiling.”

“What did the two players talk about?”

This time, Song Seok-hyun called for a slider on the outside corner.

Lee Baek-chan’s slider broke early and went outside for a ball.

The next sign is…

‘Fastball, high. Inside.’

A sign for a high fastball inside against the number 4 hitter.

It was absurd, but he felt strangely comfortable.

There’s no way a pitcher would choose to throw that kind of pitch, right?

Even if he gets hit, it’s just one run.

He couldn’t help but laugh at Song Seok-hyun’s ridiculous call.

“The pitcher is smiling again.”

“Is he having some funny thoughts?”

Lee Baek-chan wound up.

The fastball headed inside.

The hitter swung with all his might.

Success as a Catcher

Madman (3)

-Strike! Out!

“Swing and a miss! A swing and miss strikeout!”

“Is he throwing a fastball in that location? Haha, amazing.”

“Lee Baek-chan is pumping his fist.”

Lee Baek-chan’s strikeout was featured as a game highlight, and the inning ended.