Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 173

Seo Seong-min, now batting from the right side, swung his bat a few times, preparing to hit.

– It’s the first time seeing Seo Seong-min in the right-handed batter’s box. It feels quite unfamiliar.

– It’s his first time batting right-handed against a left-handed pitcher. Let’s see what kind of result he’ll produce.

The opposing pitcher seemed momentarily flustered by the sudden change in the batter’s position but quickly regained his composure.

“Play ball!”

The game resumed with the umpire’s call.

Whack!

“Strike!”

It was a strike thrown to the outside corner.

Seo Seong-min nodded, acknowledging the pitch.

The pitcher immediately followed up with his next pitch.

The pitcher threw his slider, the pitch he was most confident in.

Whack!

“Ball!”

The pitcher’s ball didn’t pass through the strike zone.

– It seems the pitcher was trying to throw a slider that breaks away from the far side of the strike zone, but he couldn’t get it to break as much as he wanted.

– Until last year, the sweeping slider from a left-handed pitcher was effective against Seo Seong-min. But batting from the right side, he can’t throw that ball anymore.

– It seems like a sure way to compensate for Seo Seong-min’s weaknesses?

– I heard it was a method recommended by Kang Hyun-woo, the head of Dream Agency, and so far, it seems to be effective.

Seemingly disappointed that his control wasn’t as desired, the pitcher tilted his head and prepared again.

Seo Seong-min also gripped his bat again, taking his batting stance.

The pitcher exchanged signals with the catcher and then threw the ball with all his might once more.

‘This time, it’ll be an inside pitch.’

Seo Seong-min, anticipating the trajectory of the ball, finally swung for the first time,

Tick!

Unfortunately, he didn’t hit the ball cleanly.

The first baseman chased after the batted ball flying into the foul zone until it went over the stands, unable to catch it.

1 ball, 2 strikes.

The ball count became unfavorable for Seo Seong-min.

– In a situation where the ball count is in their favor, the pitcher will try to win with a breaking ball, right?

– It’s clear that Seo Seong-min is weak against breaking balls. However, it’s a real shame that the left-handed pitcher can’t throw a sweeping breaking ball [a slider that moves horizontally across the plate].

The pitcher carefully exchanged signals with the catcher and then took his windup.

Soon after, the pitcher’s ball flew in.

It seemed like he was trying to throw a dropping breaking ball, but the angle wasn’t sharp enough.

‘I think I can hit this?’

Seo Seong-min boldly swung his bat.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed as soon as it hit the bat.

– Oh, oh! The batted ball is soaring!

– The left fielder is chasing after it until the end. Will he be able to catch it?

Seo Seong-min started sprinting, only looking at first base.

And as he approached the base, he dove headfirst, sliding.

Meanwhile, the 3rd base umpire, who had been watching the flying ball, began to rotate his finger.

“Home run!”

As the home run was declared, the Jaguars fans screamed at the top of their lungs.

“Waaaaa-”

“Seo Seong-min! Seo Seong-min! Seo Seong-min!”

The players in the Jaguars dugout couldn’t hide their joy, high-fiving each other.

– Seo Seong-min hits his first home run from the right-handed batter’s box since his professional debut!

– He records the first run of the Jaguars’ first season with a home run.

– Huh? Hahaha. But Seo Seong-min just slid headfirst into first base. He didn’t see where the ball went, so he seems confused about what’s going on.

– Seo Seong-min, it’s a home run! I want to go tell him.

– Someone next to him, a player or coach, needs to tell him.

Getting up from his slide, Seo Seong-min was busy looking around, trying to figure out what was going on.

He tried to find where the ball had gone, but there was no way he could see the ball that had already gone over the fence.

“What, what happened?”

While Seo Seong-min was bewildered, the Pelicans’ first baseman approached him.

“Senior, it’s a home run.”

“Huh, a home run?”

Seo Seong-min turned his head towards the 1st base umpire as if he couldn’t believe it.

The 1st base umpire confirmed that it was a home run by rotating his finger.

Only then did Seo Seong-min jump up, shake off the dirt-covered uniform, and start running around the infield diamond.

“Seo Seong-min! Seo Seong-min! Seo Seong-min!”

Not only the Jaguars fans but also the Pelicans fans gave him generous applause.

Watching this scene from second base, So Young-joon also clapped his hands quietly, trying not to be caught on the broadcast camera, congratulating Seo Seong-min.

“Congratulations, Seong-min, senior.”

“Thanks, Young-joon.”

Seo Seong-min smiled brightly at So Young-joon.

Seo Seong-min, who had stepped on home base after passing second and third base, returned to the Jaguars dugout,

The Jaguars dugout, which had been so heated just a moment ago, was silent.

Scott and Watson’s gazes were fixed on the field as if nothing had happened.

– The Jaguars players are quietly looking ahead as if nothing happened.

– It’s his first home run since the transfer, and it’s also his first home run hit with his right hand. It’s the perfect timing to do a no-interest celebration [a celebration where teammates act indifferent to the player’s achievement].

– When will the Jaguars players cheer?

Even while Seo Seong-min was quietly putting down his equipment alone, the no-interest celebration was not over.

Seo Seong-min was quietly organizing his equipment.

Only after the next batter was out,

“Seo Seong-min, nice shot!”

“Senior, congratulations!”

The Jaguars teammates cheered and approached him.

“Thank you. Thank you.”

Seo Seong-min was busy greeting his teammates.

“Unbelievable home run!”

Scott and Watson also approached Seo Seong-min and gave him a high-five.

“Thank you.”

Seo Seong-min replied in short English,

Scott, who was smiling, showing his white teeth, hugged Seo Seong-min, genuinely grateful that he had scored the first point.

“Seo, that was really the best swing.”

“Scott, I really hit a home run just now, right?”

Seo Seong-min asked with a dazed expression, still unable to believe it.

“It was a perfect home run. I’ll make sure Seo’s home run becomes the winning run.”

Scott gave Seo Seong-min a thumbs up.

At the top of the 6th inning, with the Jaguars leading 0:1, Scott stood on the mound.

Perhaps because they were leading, Scott’s expression seemed relaxed.

Whack!

“Strike!”

Whack!

“Strike!”

He confidently threw strikes, and it seemed like there would be no difficulties, but

Clang!

Clang!

The Pelicans’ 1st and 2nd batters hit consecutive hits, creating a situation with runners on 1st and 2nd base.

– For the first time in today’s game, a situation has been created where runners are in scoring position.

– It’s rare for Scott to get hit with consecutive hits. He’s suddenly faltering.

– It’s a situation where he has to face the 3rd and 4th batters in a crisis.

To break the tension, the Jaguars’ pitching coach went up to the mound with an interpreter to talk.

After a brief conversation, the pitching coach returned to the dugout.

And then Scott’s pitching continued.

As it was a crisis situation, Scott’s expression was serious.

He threw the ball with all his might,

Clang!

The batted ball was soaring, flying close to the fence.

At the same time, center fielder Donald Watson was fiercely chasing after the batted ball.

– The batted ball is soaring. It might go over?

– Huh? Did he catch it?

Watson, who had his eyes fixed on the batted ball, stretched out his arm without any hesitation and threw his body towards the fence.

Bang!

He bounced back from how hard he collided.

Nevertheless, Watson, who regained his balance without falling, took the ball out of his glove and immediately threw it towards 2nd base.

The runners had no choice but to return to their original bases.

– He caught it! Watson ran towards the fence like a charging bull and caught it.

– If he hadn’t caught it right away, the runner on 2nd base could have come all the way home. Watson’s good defense prevented a run.

Scott on the mound raised his fist, expressing his gratitude to Watson for showing good defense.

– The Jaguars’ crisis is not over yet. The next batter is the 4th batter, So Young-joon. If you had to pick one player that the Pelicans can rely on the most, it would be this player.

– It’s the biggest crisis for the Jaguars, but from the Pelicans’ point of view, it’s necessary to take advantage of this opportunity to score.

While So Young-joon was approaching the plate, Scott was lost in thought, fiddling with the ball in his glove.

As it was an important situation, smiles could not be found on either player’s face.

Whack!

“Strike!”

Whack!

“Ball!”

Tick!

Tick!

So Young-joon stubbornly fouled off pitches, making it difficult for Scott.

After nearly 10 pitches,

Clang!

The batted ball hit by So Young-joon’s bat flew in the direction of Scott.

The launch angle was low, but it was bouncing off the ground and flying at a high speed.

Scott tried to catch the batted ball by reaching out his glove from the mound, but unfortunately, the ball didn’t go in.

Meanwhile, the runners on 1st and 2nd base ran towards the next base at the same time.

However, there was a player who threw his body towards the ball that had passed Scott.

– Oh! Second baseman Seo Seong-min dove and caught the batted ball.

Seo Seong-min, still down, threw the ball to the shortstop, who stepped on 2nd base.

“Out!”

And the shortstop threw the ball with all his might towards the 1st baseman.

So Young-joon ran to 1st base with all his might, but

“Out!”

The ball arrived at the base just barely before him.

– The Jaguars are turning a double play here!

– Seo Seong-min was close to 2nd base, but the batted ball was traveling so fast that it was really difficult to catch. It’s amazing that he caught it and even got an out.

– Seo Seong-min’s performance is amazing in today’s game. Not only did he score the first point with a home run, but he also played an important role in overcoming the crisis of giving up a run with good defense.

So Young-joon couldn’t hide his frustration while breathing heavily.

“Wonderful, nice!”

Scott, who overcame the crisis, shouted loudly and enjoyed himself as he entered the dugout.

After the change of offense and defense, it was Watson’s turn to bat again.

– Watson showed a good performance in defense, but he hasn’t gotten a hit yet.

– The Jaguars fans, as well as domestic baseball fans, are all looking forward to Watson’s big hit. Will we be able to see that in this at-bat?

Whack!

“Ball!”

Whack!

“Strike!”

Watson carefully worked the count, but

Tick!

“Out!”

The mis-hit ball resulted in an out, and Watson’s hit could not be seen this time either.

And it was Seo Seong-min’s turn to bat,

“It’s a player substitution.”

Suddenly, Seo Seong-min’s name was removed from the lineup on the electronic scoreboard and replaced with another player.

– Huh? Seo Seong-min has been replaced. What’s going on?

– Is there an injury? We haven’t noticed anything strange so far.

– That’s right. We will let you know as soon as we have confirmation.

The game continued without Seo Seong-min.

“What? Suddenly a substitution?”

Watching the game, I was busy moving with General Manager Jo Gwang-hoon to figure out the situation.

Weeing-

Only after receiving a call from General Manager Jo Gwang-hoon could I find out what had happened to Seo Seong-min.

Although the game was in full swing, I had no choice but to hurry to meet Seo Seong-min.