Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 127

127. Finding a Way (3)

Not long after I suggested Seo Sung-min become a switch hitter, the Doubles announced their list of players to be released, which included Seo Sung-min.

Perhaps because of that, Seo Sung-min trained like a madman for the next few days.

From right-handed and left-handed batting to the basic fielding skills needed for infield and outfield positions.

Watching him train was like watching all the training that fielders do.

Even though it was the sweltering summer and could be physically demanding, he didn’t care at all.

Even indoors with the air conditioning running, training like that on a hot day where you sweat just standing still was impossible without a strong resolve.

-I definitely want to return to the pros next year.

-I’m excited at the thought of being able to compensate for the weakness that has plagued me for so long.

I watched Seo Sung-min sweating alone on the training field.

These days, he was mainly focusing on right-handed batting practice.

Tic!

Tic!

Tic!

It was still hard to say that his right-handed batting accuracy was very high.

But,

Thwack!

Thwack!

When he made solid contact, the ball flew far with a resounding boom.

Perhaps because he was naturally right-handed, he seemed to have more power than when batting left-handed.

Clack!

Clack!

It seemed that his accuracy was gradually improving with each swing.

By the way, when is he planning to rest?

“Seonbae [senior/mentor], why don’t you take a break?”

Only after hearing my words did Seo Sung-min’s batting stop.

“How long have you been here?”

“It’s been a while. I was watching in admiration because the training was so intense.”

Seo Sung-min, who had finally put down his bat, wiped the sweat streaming down his face and approached me.

“Suddenly batting right-handed is not easy after all. I think I need to practice hitting the ball more.”

“Your power seems much better when you hit with your right hand, though?”

“I guess it’s easier to put power into my swing since I’m right-handed.”

“Are you going to become a right-handed slugger at this rate?”

“Oh, I don’t have any desire to be a slugger. I just hope I can be in the lineup.”

Seo Sung-min shook his head and laughed.

“Seonbae [senior/mentor], can I film your training and upload it?”

“A video?”

“Yes.”

“Would people want to see me training? I’m not Seok-hoon or Seong-ju.”

Seo Sung-min tilted his head as if he was puzzled.

“Professional teams will be watching our channel too. We need to actively let them know that Seonbae [senior/mentor] is taking on a new challenge.”

“If that’s the case, then it would be good to do it.”

Seo Sung-min nodded as if he finally understood.

I urgently contacted the filming team.

Since the intention was to show his training, we started filming with just simple equipment.

We included scenes of him training in both the right-handed and left-handed batting positions, along with subtitles stating that he was planning to challenge himself as a switch hitter.

As soon as the video was uploaded, we could see the fans’ reactions.

└Switch hitter out of the blue?

└His batting isn’t working out, so he has to try something.

└He couldn’t hit well with his left hand, so how would it be any different with his right hand?

└Agreed. He swings at breaking balls from left-handed pitchers with his eyes closed. If it doesn’t work even after playing baseball his whole life, he should just give up and learn another skill.

└Still, Seo Sung-min covers both infield and outfield positions in defense, so if his batting improves even a little, wouldn’t he be useful? His salary probably wouldn’t be that high either.

└Saying he covers infield and outfield is an exaggeration. He’s only good at a few positions in defense. It’s more accurate to say he’s just standing there in the other positions.

└He should just practice batting left-handed more. He’s just making more work for himself unnecessarily. Even Kang Hyun-woo is pushing it too far this time.

└He’s trying to support his family, so just close your mouth and cheer him on if you’re not going to help him out.

└Would there be a team for Seo Sung-min to play on? Unless it’s a hopeless team, there’s no point in taking him.

└I want to bring him to our social baseball team. He’d crush it.

The reactions were generally negative.

I had expected it to some extent.

Nevertheless, I didn’t feel good.

This was why it was difficult for switch hitters to grow.

‘It’s hard enough to do well with one hand, so how can you try to master two at the same time?’

Perhaps it would be a wiser choice to focus and concentrate on one thing and practice it twice as much instead of practicing two things.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the wrong method.

At least I was sure that this attempt would be effective for Seo Sung-min right now.

* * *

I visited Professor Park Jung-joon to check on Go Ji-hoon’s condition.

It was the first time I had seen him with such a bright expression since I had known him.

“Ji-hoon’s body has gotten a lot better.”

He nodded, seemingly proud as he reviewed the test results again.

“That’s really the news I’ve been waiting for.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

If the treatment had taken more than three months, it could have caused problems with meeting the FA [Free Agent] requirements.

That would have been the worst-case scenario.

“I can’t say he’s completely recovered, but as long as he doesn’t overdo it, there shouldn’t be any major problems until the end of the season.”

“Then would it be okay for him to play in a game soon?”

“It would be good for Ji-hoon to play even one more game in the remaining season, right?”

Park Jung-joon put down the test results and looked at me.

“Of course. It’s an important situation for Go Ji-hoon personally, and the Doubles team is waiting for Go Ji-hoon to return.”

“Well… I’m sure you know this without me having to say it, but if he throws too many pitches right away, there’s a very high chance that his condition will worsen again. No matter how difficult the situation is, I hope you’ll control the number of pitches he throws in the remaining season…”

“I’ll be sure to tell the player and convey it accurately to the club.”

“I feel a little relieved now that you’ve given me a definite answer.”

“Is there anything else you’d like to say?”

“And as I always say, Ji-hoon’s pitching form puts a strain on his body, so you need to keep managing it carefully. Of course, he must continue to receive treatment without fail.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And if his condition worsens even in the middle, you must come to me immediately without hesitation.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Park Jung-joon seemed relieved only after my strong answer.

I immediately told Go Ji-hoon the story I had heard from Park Jung-joon.

Of course, I didn’t leave out the warning that he shouldn’t be too greedy.

Go Ji-hoon said he would do as I said.

But just in case, I planned to continuously update the information window and check his condition while he was training.

After that day, Go Ji-hoon did not miss going to the hospital for treatment while training for his return to actual games.

Thanks to the steady treatment and controlled training volume, fortunately, there were no situations where he felt strain on his body during the pitching process.

In that way, Go Ji-hoon’s physical condition was gradually getting closer to being able to handle actual games.

* * *

The regular season games were proceeding as fiercely as the weather was getting hotter as it went into the second half.

In particular, the fierce competition between the Buffaloes and the Doubles for 3rd and 4th place was a sight to behold.

Just when the Buffaloes were on a losing streak and there was suspicion that they might give up 3rd place, the Doubles also fell into a losing streak, making the game even more complicated.

Since then, the Doubles, who had difficulty adding victories, were in a position where they had to worry about their game against the 5th-place Vikings.

As if to show the Doubles’ urgent situation, Kim Gyu-sang, the Doubles general manager, contacted me and said he wanted to meet me urgently.

“Representative Kang, welcome.”

I shook hands with Kim Gyu-sang and sat down facing him.

-I want to confirm whether Go Ji-hoon can really be brought back.

-I’m deeply concerned because the closer is not certain.

Kim Gyu-sang’s information window showed the urgent situation of the Doubles without any exaggeration.

The serious weakness of the Doubles right now was that the bullpen pitchers who came on after the starters were weak.

There were more than one or two games where they were leading until the middle but were reversed at the end.

In particular, there was no suitable player to reliably take responsibility for the 9th inning.

It was a collective closer system in which the pitcher with the best condition among the bullpen pitchers was responsible for the 9th inning on a daily basis.

Due to domestic conditions, it was difficult to recruit players who could be used as bullpen mainstays during the season, so the weakness could not help but be felt more greatly.

It was virtually certain that they would be able to advance to the postseason, but if they could not make up for this weakness, it would be difficult to expect a higher ranking.

As soon as I sat down, Kim Gyu-sang opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“The reason I asked to see you, Representative Kang, is not for any other reason. I have something I want to ask you about Go Ji-hoon.”

“What is it?”

“Ji-hoon and the training team say it’s okay for him to return now… Considering what happened last time, I’m cautious in many ways.”

It had only been a few months since a player had collapsed after being put on the mound because he said he was okay, so it wasn’t an excessive reaction to be worried.

“There will be no problem with him pitching now. Instead, please control the number of pitches he throws so that it doesn’t put a strain on his body.”

“That’s not a difficult thing, but…”

Kim Gyu-sang looked at me and continued.

“Ji-hoon himself is such an ambitious player, so that part is difficult. Even on the field, it’s not easy to recklessly restrain the ace pitcher for fear of breaking his spirit.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll talk to him enough.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Unlike the content of his answer, Kim Gyu-sang’s expression still felt uneasy.

I switched to a new topic.

“You’re starting to think about next season, right?”

The moment to proceed with Go Ji-hoon’s FA [Free Agent] negotiations was approaching.

“Of course, I have to. The season is almost over.”

“Looking at this season, it seems like you’ll have to reinforce the pitching side in the winter?”

“I think I’ll have to. All positions are important, but the pitching part is never easy.”

Kim Gyu-sang sighed deeply.

“First of all, I’ll support Go Ji-hoon so that he can play without any problems, so you don’t have to worry.”

It was not a bad situation at all that the player’s original team, ahead of the FA player, needed to reinforce the pitchers.

If only the remaining season’s performance is supported, wouldn’t it be possible to firmly seize the handle in the winter?