Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 170

New Season Begins (1)

As the warm spring breeze began to blow, following the team’s spring training in February and exhibition games in March, the opening of the professional baseball season finally arrived.

Coincidentally, the Buffaloes’ opening game opponent was the Doubles.

Moreover, Kim Tae-soo, the manager of the Buffaloes, designated Go Ji-hoon as the starting pitcher for the opening game against the Doubles.

Thanks to this, the attention of all baseball fans was focused on the game between the Buffaloes and the Doubles.

└Opening game is already a *kkuljaem* [super fun] matchup ㅋㅋ

└Manager Kim Tae-soo is indeed a smart manager. Today’s game is guaranteed to explode in viewership ratings.

└The tickets for today are already sold out. Unless cancellation tickets come out, there won’t be any seats even if you leave now.

└Who will be the winner of the FA [Free Agent] war last season?

└Isn’t Go Ji-hoon going to grit his teeth and throw 150km/h [approximately 93 mph] today?

└Even so, that would be an exaggeration ㅋㅋ

From now on, Go Ji-hoon decided to stay at the agency’s accommodation only the day before his appearance to manage his condition.

Thanks to this, he was able to have a simple breakfast with Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo.

Unlike last season, when they had to face each other as opponents, there was no longer any tension at their meal.

There was no reason to be, since they had become teammates on the Buffaloes.

“Senior, how is your condition today?”

I asked Go Ji-hoon with a bright smile.

“It’s really the best. I slept well, so my body feels light.”

“How about Seok-hoon and Seong-joo?”

This time, I turned my head and asked Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo.

“I’m also great.”

“I’m going to hit a cool home run today.”

Not only Oh Seok-hoon but also Park Seong-joo looked bright.

“It feels special to think that the three of you are now really on the same team.”

When I first met Go Ji-hoon, it was awkward because we weren’t close, and it was even more uncomfortable because we were fierce competitors.

“And it’s also a public broadcast today. It’s a really good opportunity for Ji-hoon to get his first win with the Buffaloes.”

Park Seong-joo looked at Go Ji-hoon and clenched his fist.

“Thank you. I’ll try my best to pitch.”

Go Ji-hoon smiled at Park Seong-joo.

“Seok-hoon, let’s do well today and prevent Jung-hwan from coming out [as a relief pitcher].”

“I have to. It’s hopeless if we meet him in the first game.”

Oh Seok-hoon shook his head.

“As a fan, I want to see Jung-hwan pitching…….”

I said something close to a monologue,

“Senior! Our batting average drops when we face Jung-hwan. How important is one hit to the batting average at the beginning of the season?”

Park Seong-joo raised his voice.

“No, I mean, as a fan.”

“I’m sorry, but we have to prevent him from appearing when we play. How difficult is it to hit a ball over 150km/h at this time?”

Even for professional players, it was difficult to hit fastballs properly at the beginning of the season.

“It’s a shame, but I have to give up today.”

“Then where are you going to watch the game today, Senior?”

I wanted to see all the games of the agency’s players, but I couldn’t because I only had one body.

“I think I should watch the Jaguars and Pelicans game today. It’s Watson’s debut game, and Senior Seong-min is also there.”

“That would be good. I think Seong-min can start today. There’s no player as good as Seong-min in the Jaguars’ second baseman position right now.”

Go Ji-hoon nodded.

“I feel really good because our players are starting.”

“As expected, our Dream Agency players are all doing well.”

Park Seong-joo smiled brightly, expressing his pride.

We finished our meal while having these kinds of conversations.

After finishing cleaning up, the three players came out of their rooms with their luggage.

“Let’s win the game today with a good feeling.”

“Aja aja fighting!” [fighting!/go go!]

Go Ji-hoon, Oh Seok-hoon, and Park Seong-joo encouraged each other and left for the stadium.

I headed to the Jaguars and Pelicans stadium.

* * *

-Finally, the season of professional baseball, which we have been waiting for all winter, has returned.

-And the Buffaloes and the Doubles, who fought fiercely for the rankings until the end of last season, will face off.

-These two teams have played games where you couldn’t take your eyes off them even in the postseason.

-That’s right. The matches between the two teams were always fierce, but today there is another point to watch.

-That’s right. Today’s Buffaloes starting pitcher is Go Ji-hoon, who was the Doubles’ ace until last season. Shouldn’t Go Ji-hoon’s starting appearance be seen as a deliberate arrangement by Manager Kim Tae-soo?

-That’s right. He has enough skill to start the opening game, and Go Ji-hoon will definitely be motivated to win today’s game.

-The Doubles players and Go Ji-hoon know each other very well. But they have never faced each other directly, so there is no data at all.

-There are many points to watch in many ways. Who will be the winner of today’s game?

The relay camera constantly followed Go Ji-hoon, who was about to take the mound.

They were very busy trying not to miss anything from his warm-up to his trivial movements.

Meanwhile, the audience was filling the stadium.

As the stadium filled with spectators, it was time for the game to begin.

Go Ji-hoon walked to the mound for the first inning pitch.

“Waaaaa-”

“Go Ji-hoon! Go Ji-hoon! Go Ji-hoon!”

The Buffaloes fans gave generous support to Go Ji-hoon, who became a new team member.

Go Ji-hoon, standing on the mound, took off his hat and greeted the Buffaloes fans and the Doubles fans.

-The Doubles fans may feel unfamiliar seeing Go Ji-hoon on the mound right now.

-It feels awkward to see Go Ji-hoon wearing a uniform of another team, not the Doubles uniform. I guess it’s because I’ve only seen the Doubles uniform for over 10 years.

After Go Ji-hoon finished his practice pitching, the Doubles batter, who was now his opponent, walked towards the plate.

Go Ji-hoon smiled faintly, but soon prepared to pitch with a serious expression.

“Play ball!”

Not long after the referee’s call was heard, Go Ji-hoon’s first ball flew towards the catcher.

Thump!

“Ball!”

Thump!

“Ball!”

The ball gradually deviated from the strike zone and was called a ball.

-Unexpectedly, two consecutive balls went in.

-Was Go Ji-hoon too forceful because it was his first game after the transfer?

-I think he’s trying to throw perfectly into the corner while being too conscious. It seems necessary to utilize the strike zone widely.

Go Ji-hoon tilted his head and took off his hat and put it back on.

Then, he stepped on the pitcher’s plate again and finished preparing to pitch.

Thump!

“Strike!”

Thump!

“Strike!”

Immediately after catching two strikes,

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

He succeeded in inducing a swing and miss with a slider that curved greatly.

The batter, who swung his bat wildly, stuck out his tongue and returned to the dugout.

-Go Ji-hoon succeeds in striking out the first batter in his Buffaloes debut.

-It’s a good start.

The fight with the following batter was not much different.

He induced a ground ball from the second batter and got an out count.

And he actively competes against the third batter,

Clang!

As the ball that was gathered in the center of the strike zone came in, the batter swung his bat with all his might.

The batted ball flew at a high speed to where third baseman Park Seong-joo was standing.

Park Seong-joo lowered his body and accurately placed his glove according to the bounce of the flying ball.

Then he threw the ball towards the first baseman with all his might.

-Wow! Park Seong-joo’s amazing super catch came out!

-The throw that followed immediately was also accurate.

-It lightens Go Ji-hoon’s shoulders with good defense.

“Waaaaa- Park Seong-joo! Park Seong-joo! Park Seong-joo!”

As the last out count went up, enthusiastic support erupted from the Buffaloes cheering section.

Go Ji-hoon was holding out his glove towards Park Seong-joo even as he entered the dugout.

The two clapped their gloves and expressed their joy to the fullest.

Now it was the Buffaloes’ attack inning.

Along with Oh Seok-hoon, who was named as the 3rd and 4th batters, Park Seong-joo also began to prepare for batting.

The Doubles’ starting pitcher’s pitching began.

Thump!

“Strike out!”

Thump!

“Strike out!”

The Buffaloes’ 1st and 2nd batters tried to attack persistently, but they failed to get on base.

Now 3rd batter Oh Seok-hoon was approaching the plate.

-Oh Seok-hoon, who won the Golden Glove in the outfield and the batting title last season, is at the plate.

-Oh Seok-hoon had a really hot season last year. He has now grown into a national-level player.

-If he finishes without problems until next season, he will meet the FA [Free Agent] requirements. There is also talk that he can advance to the major leagues?

-If he continues to do what he has been doing so far, it may not be impossible. I’m looking forward to seeing if another major leaguer can be born in the domestic league.

“Oh Seok-hoon! Oh Seok-hoon! Oh Seok-hoon!”

As befits the most popular player in the Buffaloes, the stadium was hotter than ever.

Clang!

As if to repay the fans’ enthusiastic support, Oh Seok-hoon delivered a powerful hit.

He made the most of his strength and speed, succeeding in reaching second base without difficulty.

Park Seong-joo’s turn followed Oh Seok-hoon’s hit.

-The batter who came out immediately is last season’s home run king, Park Seong-joo.

-I’m already looking forward to seeing how many home runs he will hit this season.

Park Seong-joo swung his bat as if he had been waiting from the first pitch.

Clang!

The batted ball flew at a high speed.

I was expecting a home run,

“Out!”

The center fielder caught it in front of the fence, ending the inning without giving up a run.

Park Seong-joo, who was heading to second base after passing first base, returned to the dugout with disappointment.

The first inning was over, and the Buffaloes’ second defense inning began again.

Go Ji-hoon’s pitching was more stable than in the first inning.

And now the next batter was Doubles catcher Yang Hee-chan.

-And now Yang Hee-chan is approaching the plate.

-Until just a few months ago, he was the catcher who formed the best battery with Go Ji-hoon for 10 years. I know they are very close personally. But now they are on different teams and will face each other.

-It’s the first match, so there’s no data at all. Then who should be more advantageous?

-After all, the catcher knows the pitcher very well. There is also a saying that players who have worked together for a long time can see their condition just by looking at their eyes or gait.

-I’m really curious about the outcome of the two players’ match.

The Doubles catcher Yang Hee-chan stood at the plate, swinging his bat and preparing to hit.

Then, when their eyes met for a moment, Go Ji-hoon and Yang Hee-chan smiled faintly.

“Play ball!”

As soon as the referee’s call was heard,

The two men’s eyes sparkled sharply as if nothing had happened.

Go Ji-hoon carefully exchanged signs with the catcher.

Then, he took a deep breath and threw the ball with all his might towards the strike zone.