Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 112

All-Star Game (2)

The All-Star Game was more of an event to entertain the fans than a serious competition.

Even so, because the players showing the best skills this year were gathered, you could see plays that would make you exclaim in admiration.

Depending on their affiliated clubs, our agency’s players were divided into teams.

Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, and Jang Su-young were on one team, and Na Jun-ho, So Young-joon, and Choi Jeong-hwan were on another.

Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, and Na Jun-ho were named in the starting lineup, and So Young-joon was waiting to be subbed in from the bench.

Jang Su-young and Choi Jeong-hwan were scheduled to be subbed in during the second half of the game.

-Now, we are finally about to start the main game.

-As you can feel just by looking at the lineup, it’s truly a dream lineup that you can only see in the All-Star Game.

-A showdown between the best players in Korea, starting now.

Even though it was an exhibition match, the confrontation between Yang Hyun-jae and Kim Kwang-hyeok, who are considered the best starting pitchers in the country, was enough to attract interest in itself.

“Waaaaah-”

Whenever the names of the starting players of both teams were called before the start of the game, the fans gave a warm cheer.

“Play ball!”

Bang!

As expected of the pitchers who are performing the best this season, each ball they threw felt sharp.

Even though they weren’t pitching at full strength, exclamations burst out involuntarily.

Clack!

On the other hand, unlike the season games, most of the hitters were doing upper swings, aiming for home runs.

The same was true for hitters who had less than 10 career home runs.

However, they only resulted in high fly balls that went far into the outfield, but did not lead to home runs.

And now, Oh Seok-hoon stepped up to the plate.

-Now, Oh Seok-hoon, who is in contention for the league batting title, is stepping up to the plate.

-It’s a match between the best pitcher and the best hitter.

-What is the head-to-head record between the two players this season?

-It’s 2 hits in 6 at-bats. Moreover, both of those 2 hits were doubles. There were no home runs yet.

-Oh Seok-hoon is showing a fairly good head-to-head record. What will be the result of this matchup?

“Oh Seok-hoon home run! Oh Seok-hoon home run!”

As the player who ranked first in the fan vote, the stands became even more energized when Oh Seok-hoon stood at the plate.

“Waaaaah- Oh Seok-hoon! Oh Seok-hoon!“

When Oh Seok-hoon took off his helmet and waved it at the fans, cheers erupted that seemed to shake the stadium.

And now, the showdown between the two players began.

‘Full swing from the first pitch!’

Oh Seok-hoon grabbed the very end of the bat to swing it with all his might.

It was a batting stance that he could try because it wasn’t a real game.

Yang Hyun-jae’s windup began.

Matching his timing, he raised his right leg high, stepped forward, and swung the bat with all his might.

Oh Seok-hoon was full of confidence because he often matched Yang Hyun-jae’s timing.

Whoosh-

The ball passed by just after Oh Seok-hoon swung his bat.

“Strike!”

The umpire’s loud call was heard.

‘What is this? It was definitely a fastball.’

He turned his head and looked at the scoreboard, which read 130km/h [approximately 81 mph].

He threw an even slower ball than when he faced the previous hitter.

Of course, I thought he would choose a head-on match.

‘So, this is how you’re coming at me?’

It was a shot that ignited his competitive spirit [승부욕].

Oh Seok-hoon moved the position of his hands and gripped the bat in his usual way.

And then he waited for the next ball.

Bang!

“Ball!”

This time, it was a sharp slider that broke away to the outside.

‘Even breaking balls.’

It was a sharp ball that he had shown when throwing his finishing pitch [결정구] even in the regular season.

Yang Hyun-jae clearly signaled that he would not lose.

‘If so, then I can’t just lose either.’

As soon as he received the sign, Yang Hyun-jae started pitching.

Oh Seok-hoon also swung his bat vigorously without backing down.

Clack!

Finally, this time he hit it properly.

It was a hit that made his hands tingle.

“Waaaaah!”

Oh Seok-hoon, who sensed [직감한] a double or more, ran with all his might.

-He connected well. The ball is carrying well [쭉쭉 뻗어가네요] to the right.

-Oh Seok-hoon is already turning his body to go to second base.

-Right fielder Na Jun-ho is following until the end.

-Wow! He caught it. He dove as if he was about to fly and caught it. It was a fantastic play [명품 defense] that is hard to see even in the regular season.

Na Jun-ho raised his glove to show that he had caught the ball and stood up.

“Na Jun-ho! Na Jun-ho! Na Jun-ho!”

When the replay of the defensive play was shown on the scoreboard, the fans chanted [연호했다] Na Jun-ho’s name with exclamations of admiration [감탄사].

Oh Seok-hoon, who was running to second base, stopped in his tracks, holding his waist with both hands as if he couldn’t believe it.

It was a look that was half admiration for the defense that he couldn’t believe even after seeing it with his own eyes, and half resentment towards Na Jun-ho.

As Na Jun-ho, who was coming into the dugout, passed by, Oh Seok-hoon complained and spoke to him.

“Sunbae [senior/respected colleague], I hit a good hit this time, but isn’t it too much? You completely threw your body.”

“Seok-hoon, I’m sorry.”

Na Jun-ho smiled broadly and tapped Oh Seok-hoon’s butt once with his glove before returning to the dugout.

Now the offense and defense [공격 and 수비] were switched [교대됐다].

Kim Kwang-hyeok’s pitching against Yang Hyun-jae began.

Bang!

Kim Kwang-hyeok also showed off a powerful ball as if he didn’t want to lose in the battle of pride [싸움 of 자존심] with Yang Hyun-jae.

Bang!

“Strike out!”

The hitter, who thought he would throw at least one breaking ball to induce a swing [유인구], revealed his disappointment at being tricked [속았다].

He struck out with only fastballs without throwing a single breaking ball.

“Waaaaah-”

The fans, who saw the ball passing through the strike zone cleanly [시원시원하게], erupted with excitement [뿜어냈다 뜨거운 열기].

Now Na Jun-ho stepped up to the plate.

“Na Jun-ho home run! Na Jun-ho home run!”

All the spectators were waiting for Na Jun-ho’s refreshing [시원한] home run.

Kim Kwang-hyeok threw an even more powerful fastball against Na Jun-ho.

Bang!

This time, he was only throwing fastballs without mixing in a single breaking ball.

It seemed like he was trying to end the contest [승부] quickly and get nine strikeouts in three innings [9구 3탈삼진 – a perfect inning].

Na Jun-ho, who was tilting his head [갸웃], nodded as if he had made up his mind.

And now, Kim Kwang-hyeok’s ninth ball came flying.

Clack!

All the spectators stood up from their seats at Na Jun-ho’s swing.

“Uwaaaaa!”

Everyone anticipated [예감하고] a home run and cheered.

-It looks like it’s going over the fence? Finally, the first home run of today’s game…….

-Wow! Oh Seok-hoon almost climbed the fence and caught the home run ball.

-Did Spider-Man come to the baseball stadium? Oh Seok-hoon dug out [건져 올렸다] the ball that was going over the fence. If he hadn’t caught it, it would have been a home run.

-Oh Seok-hoon is succeeding in getting revenge [복수] against Na Jun-ho, who caught his hit [타구] earlier. He steals a home run after having a hit stolen [뺏기자 an 안타].

-Hahaha. Look at Na Jun-ho’s expression. He’s saying, ‘Do we have to do this even in the All-Star Game?’

This time, Na Jun-ho was waiting for Oh Seok-hoon, who was returning to the dugout with a resentful [원망스러운] smile.

Oh Seok-hoon bowed his head first and greeted [인사했다].

“Sunbae [senior/respected colleague], I’m sorry.”

“Seok-hoon, isn’t that too much, no matter what?”

“I just put my glove on it, and it came in.”

Na Jun-ho burst into [터뜨린] a chuckle [피식 웃음] and patted Oh Seok-hoon’s shoulder before returning to the dugout.

After another switch of offense and defense [공수교대], it was now Park Seong-joo’s turn to bat.

Unlike the other players, Park Seong-joo’s expression showed no smile.

He even felt the determination [결의] of a cleanup hitter standing at the plate in a situation where a big hit [한 방] was needed for the team’s victory.

-Home run derby [Home run 더비] winner Park Seong-joo is standing at the plate.

-Shouldn’t we expect another refreshing [시원한] home run this time, like before?

Yang Hyun-jae’s ball was no different in this inning.

Rather, perhaps stimulated by Kim Kwang-hyeok’s great pitching [호투], he threw a much more aggressive ball.

Bang!

Park Seong-joo, who stared blankly [우두커니 지켜본] at one ball, prepared to hit again without a slight change in expression.

Yang Hyun-jae threw another powerful ball.

Tick!

Park Seong-joo swung his bat, but it was completely mis-hit [제대로 빗맞으며] and flew into the stands.

-Are those two doing a Korean Series separately?

-It feels like I’m watching a different game suddenly.

And now the third pitch.

Park Seong-joo swung his bat with conviction [확신].

Clack!

As soon as the ball hit the bat, the left fielder and center fielder couldn’t move a bit from their spots.

It was clear to anyone that this was definitely a home run.

The batted ball [타구] went well over the fence, almost like an out-of-the-park [장외] home run.

“Waaaaaaa-”

The fans in the outfield ran to catch the home run ball.

-Finally! Finally, the first home run explodes [터집니다] in the All-Star Game.

-As expected, the league’s home run leader and home run derby [home run 더비] champion is different. It flew to the farthest part of the stadium.

-It’s a big hit [한 방] that makes your chest feel open [뻥 뚫리는] just by looking at it. I think everyone here had the same thought, right?

The stadium lights repeatedly darkened and brightened, making the atmosphere even hotter.

Yang Hyun-jae smiled with regret [아쉬움] and clapped for Park Seong-joo.

Park Seong-joo was jumping up and down [펄쩍펄쩍 뛰며] around the infield diamond as if he had hit a Korean Series walk-off [끝내기] home run.

He couldn’t easily calm down his excitement even after returning to the dugout.

As the game passed the early stages, all the starting pitchers were replaced [교체됐다].

Some of the hitters were also replaced with other players.

Now So Young-joon, who had been waiting on the bench, was also put into [투입되었다] the game.

-He’s being substituted [교체되네요] as a pinch hitter [대타] here. Pelicans’ shortstop So Young-joon is coming in [투입됩니다].

-Huh? But what is that?

As So Young-joon’s appearance [모습] was shown on the scoreboard, all eyes in the stadium were on So Young-joon.

“Wahahahaha.”

As So Young-joon walked out confidently [위풍당당하게], laughter burst out [폭소 터져 나왔다] in the stands.

“Where did he get something like that?”

The players who were watching on the ground couldn’t help but laugh.

He was wearing a flamboyant [휘황찬란한] outfit reminiscent of Hawaiian traditional clothing.

He was wearing a Pelicans mask [탈] on his head.

So Young-joon stood at the plate as if nothing had happened.

I thought he was going to compete seriously [승부], but fast-paced music started playing and a spotlight [핀 조명] shone on So Young-joon.

쿵쿵쿵쿵 [onomatopoeia for thumping music].

So Young-joon showed off his dance skills that he had honed [갈고닦았던] until now, in time with the music.

“Waaaaaaa-”

Thanks to the fans’ cheers [팬들의 환호성] that were gradually increasing [점점 커지는], So Young-joon seemed to have difficulty controlling [주체하기] the excitement [흥] that was gradually building up [점점 끓어오르는].

“So Young-joon! So Young-joon! So Young-joon!”

The fans in the stands [관중석] sent applause to So Young-joon’s passionate [열정 넘치는] dance.

So Young-joon, who barely stopped dancing [겨우 멈추고 춤을] and caught his breath [숨을 고른], nonchalantly took [능청스럽게 취하고] the batting stance as if nothing had happened.

-But can he swing in that kind of outfit?

-I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a sight [모습] in my life. I don’t think I’ll be able to see it in the future either.

The catcher and the umpire, as well as the pitcher who was standing on the mound, couldn’t easily hold back their laughter [참지 못했다 웃음을] while looking at the nonchalant [능청스러운] So Young-joon.