Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 169

Dream Agency Training Camp (4)

Throughout the three weeks of training, I could definitely feel the players changing.

Not only had they built up the stamina needed for a full season, but they had also systematically carried out the specific training each player needed.

Among the players, Michael Scott showed particularly noticeable growth.

Training with Go Ji-hoon, he focused on improving his control over his breaking balls and achieved considerable results.

His slider and splitter, thrown to target left-handed batters, became much sharper than before.

Choi Jeong-hwan’s changes were also quite remarkable.

He still wasn’t able to aggressively challenge hitters inside perfectly, but he was definitely able to use the strike zone more widely than before.

Moreover, since his fastball’s velocity remained unchanged this season, there was plenty of reason to look forward to his performance as a closer this season.

I helped Donald Watson adapt to the new league by reviewing analysis data on Korean [domestic] pitchers with him.

I started by giving him information on the key players from each team, but even that took up all our time since there were dozens of them.

It was necessary to continuously provide data even after the season started.

And now, it was already the last night of the agency’s training camp.

When we returned to Korea the next day, it would be time to join our respective teams’ spring training camps and begin preparing for the season in earnest.

To enjoy our last night in Guam, we all gathered in the yard for a meal.

“Representative, today is already the last day,” So Young-joon said, taking in the night air with a sentimental sigh.

“You seem to be very sad about it?”

“I am sad. I just want to live like this. It’s so relaxing and nice.”

“Don’t you think it would be boring if all we did was train? It’s more fun to play games while listening to the cheers of the fans on the field.”

“That’s true, but this is good too. Spending time leisurely at a resort. This club here is amazing, and you can see the beach too.”

“Let’s come again next year.”

“Really?”

“If our players had a satisfying time, there’s no reason not to come back.”

“I’ll have to work really hard then.”

“If you hit a career high this time, I’ll double your free time.”

“Nice! Just you wait.”

So Young-joon clenched his fist and strengthened his resolve.

I finished my conversation with So Young-joon and moved to where the other players were.

Donald Watson was talking with Michael Scott, who was also a teammate.

I didn’t sense any discomfort, so they must have become close in the meantime.

I approached them.

“Watson, have you become close with the players?”

“The players have all been very good to me. And it was really fun. It was my first time training with so many players, and it was a good experience.”

Watson answered with a bright smile.

In the United States, apart from team training, most of the time was spent training individually.

“You’ve worked hard. It must not have been easy adapting to a new environment while training.”

“I was able to do it thanks to Scott’s help in many ways.”

After hearing Watson’s answer, I turned to Scott.

“Scott, you’ve worked hard too.”

“Thank you, boss. I think I was able to grow a lot thanks to our agency.”

“You’ll be able to do much better this year than last year.”

As I patted Scott on the shoulder and got up, Seo Sung-min quietly approached me.

“Representative, thank you for finding me a team.”

“Oh, you must have had a hard time waiting without any certainty while your senior waited for you.”

Waiting for months without any guarantee must not have been easy at all.

“I’ll work really hard and show you a good performance.”

“More than anything, it’s more important not to get hurt. You’ve been preparing hard for months, so it would be a shame if you got injured.”

From the beginning, if you try to overdo it with the thought of having to prove yourself, there was a very high possibility of getting injured.

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

While Seo Sung-min and I were talking, Go Ji-hoon, who had approached, sat next to me and said a word.

“Sung-min hyung [older brother/senior], when you compete against me, hit with your right hand.”

“I have to use my left hand when I play against you. How else would I handle your breaking ball?”

“Oh, I should have been on the same team as hyung. It’s good that I won’t have to face Seok-hoon and Sung-joo anymore, but hyung is the problem.”

“You brat, stop exaggerating. Can I even be compared to Seok-hoon and Sung-joo?”

Seo Sung-min burst into laughter at Go Ji-hoon’s words.

“I just hope it’s not at an important moment. If I meet hyung as an opposing team, it seems like it will be difficult to concentrate.”

“Same here.”

A smile was on the faces of both Go Ji-hoon and Seo Sung-min.

As I talked with the players, the last night in Guam was passing by.

The next day, we packed up the accommodation we had stayed in for three weeks and headed to the airport to board the plane back to Korea.

“Guam, see you again next year!”

Leaving behind the sky that made me feel good just by looking at it and the blue sparkling sea, I boarded the plane back to Korea.

The Dream Agency’s first training camp came to an end.

* * *

A few days after the players returned to Korea, they moved to their respective clubs to undergo spring training camp.

Meanwhile, Choi Woo-jin was able to receive training close to personal tutoring from Jung In-gyu in the empty training field.

“Woo-jin, your body has gotten a lot better.”

Jung In-gyu touched Choi Woo-jin’s shoulder and exclaimed in admiration.

“I think I’m getting stronger because I train with the agency’s senior players.”

“Oh? Wow. Your muscles are no joke now.”

“I really worked hard.”

Choi Woo-jin smiled brightly with pride, and I approached out of curiosity.

Looking at his shoulders and thighs, I could definitely feel that he had become more solid.

“Oh, it’s really completely different from a while ago.”

“If you think about me last year, you’re going to be in big trouble now.”

Choi Woo-jin said, unable to hide his pride.

“Your velocity must have increased a lot too?”

“Originally, even if I did well, I wouldn’t exceed 134km/h to 135km/h, but when I measured it the other day, it even came out to 140km/h.”

“Really? The training camp must have been effective.”

“I think I’ll do well if I just follow how Seo Sung-min and Go Ji-hoon train.”

“Of course, you can’t fail if you do that.”

“Representative, Coach. But, can your velocity increase by more than 10km/h [kilometers per hour] in a month or two?”

Choi Woo-jin tilted his head and asked me.

“10km/h in a month or two? Even if he’s a young player with high potential, is that possible? Coach Jung, have you ever seen such a case?”

Even if he was a young player with high growth potential, it wouldn’t be easy to change that much.

Just in case, I turned to Jung In-gyu, but his expression was not much different.

“Well… I haven’t seen it myself, but if there’s a trigger, young players sometimes grow in unbelievable ways. But to have that much change in a month or two is not normal, is it?”

“My friends told me that there’s a player they know who’s like that. I don’t know how he did it, though.”

Choi Woo-jin tilted his head and looked at me and Jung In-gyu and asked.

“Hmm… Aren’t they just training hard behind the scenes and only saying that? You know, those kids who say they play every day but then you find out they practice all night.”

“I guess that’s it?”

“It seems difficult to get that much better so suddenly. Unless they’re using drugs.”

“Hey, what? They lied to me.”

Choi Woo-jin pouted and expressed his betrayal.

“Woo-jin, just keep doing what you’re doing now. There’s no need to compare yourself to other players.”

“Okay.”

Even as he nodded at my words, his sense of betrayal towards those friends did not seem to diminish.

“Woo-jin, shall we start training again now?”

“Yes, Coach.”

Choi Woo-jin, who picked up his glove, began training under Jung In-gyu’s coaching.

I watched the scene from the side.

Thwack!

Thwack!

“Nice ball!”

Seeing how much he had grown in just two months, a deep smile spread across my face.

* * *

In the meantime, the clubs’ spring training camps were completed, and exhibition games continued after returning to Korea.

Oh Seok-hoon, Park Sung-joo, So Young-joon, and Na Joon-ho, who were considered starting-caliber hitters in their respective teams, were busy adjusting their condition and preparing for the regular season.

If they didn’t get injured, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to be named in the opening game’s starting lineup.

Michael Scott and Go Ji-hoon were increasing their number of pitches little by little while playing exhibition games.

In particular, Michael Scott tried to get a feel for the actual game by actively using breaking balls against left-handed hitters as he had trained.

Even considering that the hitters’ batting senses were not at their peak, he gave us hope that he would show a much better performance than last season.

Choi Jeong-hwan announced his start as a closer by appearing in the 9th inning regardless of the save situation.

Perhaps because it was still an exhibition game, it was on a different level than the tension of the regular season, but he was able to finish the 9th inning without giving up a run during the exhibition games.

Jang Soo-young’s 9th inning appearances were not much different.

As befitting his second year as a closer, he showed much more stable pitching than last year.

Seo Sung-min fiercely participated in the games from the exhibition game to be named in the opening game’s first-team lineup.

Perhaps because it was the moment when a switch hitter appeared in the league after a long time, the attention of baseball fans and the media was focused on him.

Responding to this, Seo Sung-min showed decent results standing in the right-handed batter’s box against left-handed pitchers.

Above all, he played a solid role in the Jaguars’ infield by showing smooth defense while moving between second base and first base.

As I confidently told General Manager Jo Kwang-hoon, Seo Sung-min’s starting position was becoming a foregone conclusion while playing the exhibition games.

Donald Watson, who had newly set foot on the Korean stage, spent time adapting to the league by participating in all exhibition games.

Since he had the best recognition among foreign players who had set foot on the Korean stage so far, much attention was focused on his every move from the exhibition game.

There were no parts to point out as problems in center field defense or base running, but he was not finding his sense of hitting, perhaps because he had not yet adapted to the style of Korean pitchers.

However, since hitters have a harder time adapting in the early stages compared to pitchers, it was a natural thing to experience.

Still, the fact that he hit a solo home run at the end of the exhibition game was a consolation.

With all the exhibition games completed, the day of the season opening finally arrived.

Go Ji-hoon and Michael Scott were selected as the starting pitchers for their respective clubs’ opening games, and Seo Sung-min was also named in the first-team lineup.

It goes without saying that the other players who were already active as starters in each team were named in the starting lineup.

Now, finally, it was the moment when another new journey was about to begin.