Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 3

Two innings, three strikeouts, perfect. That was my record for the day.

Why?

I was even questioning myself after throwing.

Woo-suk, the leadoff hitter for the Seonghun Hawks and in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], and one of my closest friends from middle and high school, even stopped me after the game to ask what I had done. He seemed quite urgent.

I grinned and replied,

“Effort, man, effort.”

I coolly left those words behind and walked out of the stadium.

That day, the internet was filled with articles about the game between the Seonghun Hawks and the Wonha Challengers.

There were stories about Woo-suk’s back-to-back home runs, our team’s youngest starting pitcher, Jun-hyuk, pitching well, and the bullpen blowing Jun-hyuk’s great pitching.

…And a brief mention of me pitching two perfect innings for the first time in a while.

That was just a general article about the game, and there was also a separate article about me.

The title was probably, ‘Kim Han-wool, First Perfect Game of the Season’ or something?

I only pitch 1 inning, 2 at most, and I haven’t had a perfect game until now.

Well, the comments weren’t bad. I have a good image among the team’s fans.

“Han-wool.”

“Yes.”

“What did you do?”

“Yes?”

Come on, Coach, don’t just jump into it like that…….

“No, I just can’t figure it out no matter how much I think about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your last appearance.”

“Ah…….”

He must be talking about the Hawks game.

“Well, even I can have days like that.”

“No… it’s just…….”

Hmm…….

“I was wondering if you changed your mechanics or something. You were talking about pulling your release point forward.”

He has an unnecessarily good memory.

“I didn’t really change anything… I just consciously tried to bring my release point forward.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well… alright. Don’t worry about the increased velocity. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

“Yes?”

“Why?”

“Ah, nothing.”

“Good. I like seeing you work hard. Keep up the good work.”

“…Yes.”

I stood there, watching the coach’s broad back as he walked away.

What? My velocity increased?

I immediately ran to Gyu-hak.

“Hey! Gyu-hak!”

“Yes?”

“Did my velocity increase?!”

Gyu-hak blinked his big eyes a few times, surprised by my sudden approach, and then answered,

“Yes… well. Are you talking about the last game?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes. I was wondering what you did.”

“How much?”

“Yes?”

“How many km did it increase?”

“Ah… it increased by about 2km on average?”

“…….”

Considering that the average fastball velocity of professional baseball pitchers in Korea is in the 140km range, it might not seem like a big number.

But considering that hits and outs are decided in 0.001 seconds, it’s definitely not a small number. Especially for me, with an average velocity of 125.7km this season, which is far below that.

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

“…What was my highest velocity in the last game?”

“Probably… 133km?”

“Which pitch?”

“Which pitch?”

“Which pitch to Choi Woo-suk was it when I struck him out?”

“…Why are you getting angry?”

“Sorry. I’m just in a hurry.”

“That… it was the third pitch when you struck out Choi Woo-suk.”

“Thanks.”

“Ah, hyung [older brother/term of endearment for older male friends]!”

I abandoned Gyu-hak and ran to the bathroom.

Bang!

I closed the stall door with a bang and sat on the toilet, lost in thought.

My highest velocity in my life was 135km. Is 133km, which is 2km slower, a big deal?

135km was when I was twenty years old. When I was in the best condition. Considering that my highest velocity this season is 131km…….

“…Stats?”

Suddenly, my stats came to mind.

Ding―!

Then, my stats naturally appeared in the corner of my vision.

[Player Stats]

Control ― Top

Power ― Bottom

Stamina ― Low

Fastball ― 27

Curveball ― 31

Slider ― 19

Splitter ― 23

Changeup ― 29

Sinker ― 25

Trait ― Detachment

“…….”

Compared to before the appearance, the fastball increased by 2, the slider by 1, and the sinker by 1. Was this real?

“…Ha, ahah, ahahahaha!!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I don’t know how or why this opportunity came to me. I don’t know how long this will be with me. But for now… as long as this is by my side,

“…It’s worth a shot.”

Wouldn’t it be worth a shot?

I smiled confidently and opened the bathroom door, only to run into the pitching coach from earlier.

“…Crazy bastard.”

“Yes, yes! I’m a crazy bastard! A baseball-crazy bastard!”

No matter what anyone said, I felt really good.

* * *

I rested for 3 days.

The manager told me himself that he wouldn’t put me in for 3 days since I had pitched in 3 consecutive games.

But I didn’t rest at all during those 3 days. I worked even harder at training, which I never neglected, and tried not to miss any of the other players’ plays.

Everything that used to be boring and annoying was now enjoyable. Why? Of course, because I could see my baseball skills improving numerically.

“Han-wool, get ready.”

“Yes!”

The score is 7 to 2, and yes, we’re losing.

It’s the same situation, the same reason as always, but my mindset is different. Is it because I have faith that the future can be different?

My hand gripping the glove and my steps towards the bullpen were full of energy.

“Hyung, take it easy today.”

“Flattery won’t get you anything.”

I ignored Gun-yeong’s useless words and started bullpen pitching.

I wondered if a quest would appear again like before, and if my stats would increase again after clearing the quest.

I was hoping, but the quest didn’t appear until I finished bullpen pitching and went to the mound.

Well, it would be too unbalanced if this happened in every situation. Let’s be reasonable. I’m already incredibly lucky with just this.

Today is an away game. Even though I’m on the mound, I don’t hear any cheers. Indifference is probably the answer.

Yes, I’m that kind of player. A scrub pitcher that only hardcore fans who know the team’s situation acknowledge.

I felt comfortable acknowledging it. The ball felt like it was extending more than usual, maybe it was just my imagination.

The batter came up, and this time, Joo-ho, the backup catcher instead of the team’s starting catcher, gave the sign. I nodded and threw a curveball, which,

Tick―!

rolled slowly in front of the shortstop. A ground ball out, 1 out,

“Huh?”

but the first baseman missed it. It was a bouncing ball, but it wasn’t a difficult short hop, and it was a big bounce.

“S, sorry.”

“No, no. It happens.”

I don’t expect much defense from Gi-sung in the first place. His defense is definitely below the league average, but his offense is solid. It’s okay.

I smiled and nodded, then stood at the plate again and checked Joo-ho’s sign. A sinker that drops inside. He wanted to induce a double play with an infield ground ball.

Good. Two outs at once.

I nodded and threw the ball. The ball, which fell in the perfect spot and at the perfect angle, induced the batter’s ground ball as desired.

It’s just that the course wasn’t good.

The ball, which rolled through the exquisite spot between the shortstop and third baseman, was caught by the left fielder instead of an infielder and relayed to the infield, and the runners were on 1st and 2nd base.

It’s okay, it happens.

“Time!”

“Time!”

Joo-ho called time and came up to the mound, sensing something was wrong.

“Why.”

“Senior, the next batter is Senior Hong Seok-jin.”

This isn’t good.

Hong Seok-jin, the 3rd batter with the best eye in the league, from the Sangsoo Tigers, who are running away with first place in the league.

His contact isn’t that great, and he doesn’t have good power or speed, but his eye is better than Park Hae-jin, who is the best hitter in the league.

He’s a bad match for me.

“…And then it’s Park Hae-jin.”

Next is Park Hae-jin, who is even worse, the best hitter in the league.

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s go with the fastball as much as possible.”

“Yes.”

No outs, runners on 1st and 2nd. The next batter is a bad match for me.

He’ll probably get on base with a high probability, and then I’ll face the best hitter in the league in a bases-loaded situation with nowhere to run but the dugout.

“…Damn it.”

Did I get too cocky?

I cursed for a moment, but I decided to focus.

No matter what I do here, the situation won’t change on its own. I have to change the situation. Even if I’m just a scrub pitcher in the league, I know that much after being in this for so long.

The umpire called play, and I looked at Joo-ho’s sign in the stretch position instead of the windup. Fastball as agreed in advance. Inside.

Tak―

“Foul!”

Another fastball.

Tak―

“Foul!”

One more.

Tak―

“Foul!”

One more.

Tak―

“Foul!”

I threw four fastballs from the first pitch, but they were all foul balls. It’s a count where I should be absolutely advantageous, but I feel like I’m being chased. It’s uncomfortable.

A slider sign came out, breaking inside to the left-handed batter. It was accurate to the low inside zone, but,

“Ball.”

He easily picked it off. Then a fastball this time.

Tak―

“Foul!”

Another foul. His contact itself isn’t that good. Seeing him only hit foul balls after easily hitting my pitches for years, now that my power has changed a little.

“Ball.”

He easily picks off the high fastball. The count is 2-2. I also threw a sinker that breaks outside.

“Ball!”

Another ball. The count is 3-2. How did I get here from an absolute count of 0-2?

The uncomfortable look on my face doesn’t seem to disappear. If the relay camera is showing my face, there will be a pitcher who will swear at any moment.

What should I throw? What should I do?

Outside fastball.

Tak―

“Foul!”

One more.

Tak―

“Foul!”

At this point, I want to just hit him and send him out. That kind of batter really has something that pisses off pitchers.

He’s playing baseball like a jerk!

Hong Seok-jin was taking away the best compliment a pitcher can give to a batter from me.

What should I do? What should I throw? It feels like anything I throw will be a foul ball, or he’ll pick it off. Then,

I spread my ring and pinky fingers on my right hand and brought it to my left shoulder. It was a signal that I would choose the pitch to throw.

Let’s throw a curveball that I haven’t thrown once today, and the highest among my stats right now.

Where?

Low in the center of the zone.

If it’s here, it’ll be a ground ball to the first baseman. He’s not a very fast runner, so it’ll be an easy double play, and let’s face Park Hae-jin with two outs and a runner on 3rd. I can walk him.

Thinking that, Joo-ho also nodded. I changed my grip and threw with all my might to give the ball as much spin as possible.

The curveball, which drew a slightly sharper arc than usual, fell exactly low in the center of the zone.

I could see Hong Seok-jin’s bat coming out. No, it came out and stopped.

“Base on balls!”

Ha…….

They’re not calling that a strike?

I’m sorry to Joo-ho, but Joo-ho, practice your framing. How can you catch that as a ball?

The runners trudged to the next base, and Hong Seok-jin took off his equipment and went to first base. And the best hitter in the league, Park Hae-jin, came in.

Home run king, league bomber, home run machine, etc.

Unlike his various heinous images and records, he was waiting for my pitch with a relatively simple form.

Hoo… let’s focus.

Ding―!

Here, the quest was activated.

[Crisis Escape Number One!]

– Finish the bases-loaded crisis with 1 run or less. (0/1)

– Reward ― Four-seam fastball +3

Suddenly?

The text appeared in large letters on the left side of the batter’s box. Ah, so this is what it feels like. I felt terrible, but I didn’t lose hope. I can do it, I can stop it. A small nod followed.

Joo-ho’s sign came out. It’s bases loaded. There’s no need to go to the set position, worrying about blocking steals. To gather all the strength I have, I raise both hands above my head again and take the windup.

As my hands come down in front of my face, my left knee comes up. My butt moves powerfully towards the catcher, and all the gathered strength is concentrated at my fingertips.

Let’s get a strike with a fastball first, and the ball I threw with all my might,

Ttaak―!!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa―!!

“…….”

It was a 135km life fastball that went cleanly over the fence.