Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 231

The Beginning of Change (1)

– Baseball fans, the wait is over! The baseball season you’ve been anticipating all winter has finally arrived.

– I always feel like today is the happiest day of the year because I can finally watch baseball again.

– That’s right. Besides, the opening game matchup is incredibly exciting. It’s a rematch of last season’s Korean Series between the Jaguars and the Wolves.

– The Jaguars were defeated in the last Korean Series, so they’re probably eager to get their revenge in today’s game.

– The starting pitcher for the Jaguars today is Michael Scott. Does this player even need an introduction?

– Last season, he led the league with 18 wins and had an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 2.93. Hopefully, he can replicate that success this season.

– Another key point is that Scott will be working with Han Gyo-jin as his battery partner [the pitcher and catcher duo] this season.

– Han Gyo-jin was a highly touted catching prospect. Today marks not only his first start with the first team since his debut but also his inclusion in the opening roster.

– Watching the teamwork between Han Gyo-jin and Michael Scott will be a crucial aspect to observe.

Four players from our agency are in the Jaguars’ starting lineup.

Donald Watson, the 5th batter and center fielder; Seo Seong-min, the 6th batter and second baseman; Han Gyo-jin, the 7th batter and catcher; and Michael Scott, the starting pitcher.

Olivia is also here at today’s game.

Olivia’s determination to attend the opening game, even though it’s an away game, remains unwavering.

When game time arrived, the Jaguars, as the away team, started on offense.

Bang!

“Strike out!”

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

Tick!

“Out!”

The Jaguars players persistently pressured the Wolves pitcher but ultimately failed to get on base.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Jaguars players took the field on defense.

As Michael Scott walked to the mound, the Jaguars fans erupted.

“Wow!”

“Scott! Scott! Scott!”

Even though it was an away game, the Jaguars fans, known for their strong support, filled the stadium with their cheers.

Donald Watson was in the outfield, Seo Seong-min was in the infield, Michael Scott was on the mound, and Han Gyo-jin was behind home plate.

It felt new and exciting to see four players from our agency on the field at the same time.

Scott began his pitching practice, firing the ball towards Han Gyo-jin’s mitt.

Bang!

148km/h [approximately 92 mph].

Bang!

150km/h [approximately 93 mph]!

Bang!

152km/h [approximately 94 mph]!

He completed his warm-up by testing his sliders, splitters, and curves, starting with fastballs.

The Wolves’ first batter stepped up to the plate, and the game began.

“Play ball!”

It was finally the moment for Han Gyo-jin to play his first official game with Scott.

The opposing batter was a right-handed hitter.

He was known for his good contact ability.

Having already analyzed how to approach him before the game, there was no reason for prolonged worry.

Scott checked Han Gyo-jin’s sign and nodded without hesitation.

As Scott’s pitch came in, the Wolves batter swung his bat, seemingly anticipating it.

Tick!

However, he was overpowered by Scott’s pitch and the ball flew backward, resulting in a foul tip.

– Scott often throws a fastball for a strike on the first pitch. It’s not a bad strategy for the batter to anticipate it.

– But Scott’s fastball has incredible velocity. It seems difficult for the Wolves batters to string together consecutive hits early in the game.

Han Gyo-jin signaled Scott for another fastball.

Scott nodded again without hesitation.

Bang!

“Strike!”

The 152km/h fastball zoomed into the high inside corner, leaving the batter frozen.

0 balls, 2 strikes.

Han Gyo-jin signaled for a fastball, this time higher in the zone than before.

The hope was that the batter would swing, but even if he didn’t, it would set up the next decisive pitch.

Scott took a deep breath and delivered the pitch carefully.

Bang!

“Ball!”

The batter’s bat twitched about halfway before stopping with difficulty.

Han Gyo-jin appealed to the first base umpire, requesting a check swing ruling [to determine if the batter attempted a swing].

But contrary to expectations, the ruling was that it was not a swing.

1 ball, 2 strikes.

Finally, it was time for the fourth pitch, the decisive one.

The ball left Scott’s hand and hurtled towards the outside low corner of the batter’s box.

The batter swung quickly, but after seeing the high ball earlier, he struggled to adjust to the low pitch.

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

– Michael Scott and Han Gyo-jin’s first pairing results in a strikeout!

– They relied solely on fastballs. You could really feel the power of Michael Scott’s fastball in that sequence.

Even when facing the second batter, the teamwork between the two remained solid.

Bang!

“Strike!”

Whoosh-

“Strike!”

He quickly reached a two-strike count with his powerful fastball.

Bang!

“Ball!”

Bang!

“Ball!”

After throwing a decoy ball to disrupt the batter’s focus,

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

He induced a swing and a miss with a splitter that appeared to be a strike before dropping sharply.

The encounter with the third batter,

Tick!

“Out!”

He secured the out with just one pitch.

He successfully recorded three outs in the first inning.

– Scott finishes the first inning cleanly.

– Han Gyo-jin’s teamwork isn’t bad at all! The signs are exchanged quickly, and the first inning flew by.

Top of the 2nd inning.

The Jaguars’ offensive turn arrived.

The Jaguars’ attack began with the 4th batter.

Tick!

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

The 4th batter, leading off the inning, swung aggressively but failed to reach base.

The next batter was the 5th batter, Donald Watson.

Seo Seong-min was in the on-deck circle [waiting to bat next].

“Wow!”

“Watson! Watson! Watson!”

The Jaguars fans greeted Donald Watson with enthusiastic cheers.

– It’s Donald Watson’s turn to bat, who was the hottest foreign hitter last season.

– Early last season, there were rumors of him being released due to a severe slump. But ultimately, his skills, proven even in the major leagues, shone through.

– He’s fully adapted to the Korean league now, so can we expect great things from him from the start of the season?

– I think there’s a very high possibility. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he’ll do this season.

The Wolves pitcher, after receiving the catcher’s sign, was about to deliver the first pitch when,

Watson shortened his bat and adopted a bunt stance.

This forced the Wolves first baseman and third baseman to charge towards home plate.

Simultaneously, the second baseman sprinted to cover first base.

However, as the pitcher’s ball approached the strike zone, Watson pulled back his bat as if nothing had happened.

Bang!

“Ball!”

Watson’s sudden feint disrupted the pitcher’s control.

– Watson just toyed with the Wolves infield with that one bunt motion.

– Plus, he even drew a ball call. If the catcher hadn’t framed the pitch [caught the ball in a way that makes it appear to be in the strike zone] and caught the ball cleanly, it might have been called a strike.

– I think that’s a play only Watson can pull off.

Soon after, the second pitch came in,

Watson again took a bunt stance and then retracted it.

Bang!

“Strike!”

This time, too, the Wolves infield had to scramble.

Watson remained relaxed, as if nothing was happening.

1 ball, 1 strike.

While the Wolves battery carefully exchanged signs, Watson was deep in thought.

With the current count, there was a high probability the pitcher would throw a strike to avoid falling behind.

And as expected, the ball left the pitcher’s hand and headed towards the strike zone.

Watson swung his bat without hesitation.

Clang!

The ball rocketed off the bat and sailed over the shortstop’s head for a clean hit.

Watson easily reached first base.

“Wow!”

“Watson! Watson! Watson!”

– Watson gets a clean hit in his first at-bat of the season!

– His hitting looks good, and he seems to be enjoying playing against the Wolves.

Watson, upon reaching first base, pumped his fist towards the Jaguars fans before handing his protective gear to the coach.

Now, Seo Seong-min approached the plate.

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

– The next batter is Seo Seong-min, the only switch hitter [a batter who can hit from either side of the plate] in Korea.

– The Jaguars made a great signing last season. I initially thought he was just a backup second baseman, but he confidently claimed the starting position. It looks like Seo Seong-min will be the starting second baseman for the Jaguars again this season.

– Reflecting this, his salary jumped to 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD] instantly. What will he show us this season?

1 out, runner on 1st base.

Watson, on first base, carefully watched the pitcher’s movements, ready to steal second at any moment.

Aware of this, the pitcher threw to first base repeatedly to keep Watson close.

“Woah!”

“Hurry up! Are you going to play until tomorrow!”

The Jaguars fans filled the stadium with loud boos, making it hard to believe it was an away game.

Now the pitcher throws the ball,

Bang!

“Ball!”

Bang!

“Ball!”

Perhaps distracted by Watson, two consecutive pitches missed the strike zone.

He takes a deep breath and throws the third pitch,

Clang!

The ball off Seo Seong-min’s bat landed in front of the center fielder for another clean hit.

Meanwhile, Watson, who was on first base, advanced to second with ease.

“Wow!”

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

The cheers of the Jaguars fans grew even louder as they had runners in scoring position early in the game.

A smile appeared on Seo Seong-min’s face.

Now it was the turn of the 7th batter, Han Gyo-jin.

Han Gyo-jin took a deep breath and walked to the plate.

– Finally, it’s Han Gyo-jin’s turn to bat, getting his first start with the first team today.

– Han Gyo-jin has been recognized for his batting ability since high school. Even after turning pro, he showed his potential by hitting over .400 in the minor leagues.

– Why haven’t they called up a player like that to the first team sooner?

– Ultimately, defense is paramount for catchers. He’s been considered to have defensive weaknesses that made it difficult for him to play in the first team. But based on his defense in the last inning, I think he can be competitive enough.

– I see. It would be great if he performed well at the plate too. What will happen?

Still 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd base.

It was a situation where Watson, the runner on second, could score from second on a single.

Han Gyo-jin gripped his bat and waited for the pitcher’s offering.