Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 235

235. Notable Player (1)

With the opening of professional baseball, the countdown for high school baseball also began.

Choi Woo-jin had been chosen as Suchen High’s starting pitcher for the first game long ago.

Even after completing the agency’s spring training, he continued training with Jung In-gyu’s systematic program.

Today, as usual, he was doing pitching training after weight training.

I quietly watched Choi Woo-jin training.

Thwack!

Thwack!

His main pitches, fastball and slider, were fundamentally sound.

Thwack!

Thwack!

And he was also practicing curveballs to disrupt timing and changeups learned from Go Ji-hoon during the last spring training.

He was focusing on improving the consistency of his pitches by practicing them evenly.

Jung In-gyu’s feedback continued whenever there was even a slight wobble while throwing the ball.

After throwing about 30 pitches, he was given a break.

I approached Choi Woo-jin and Jung In-gyu.

“Woo-jin, at this rate, you’ll be able to go up to the pros next year and make it to the first team, right?”

“Really?”

“I felt it when I stood at the plate last time, but I think you’ll be competitive enough.”

I couldn’t forget facing Choi Woo-jin’s pitches right after spring training.

Even though my batting sense was greatly diminished, I was completely clueless about how to handle Choi Woo-jin’s pitches.

As I confirmed during the agency’s spring training, even professional players had difficulty adjusting to them.

“But why did my velocity increase and then stop? Until recently, my velocity was gradually increasing, but suddenly there’s no change at all.”

Choi Woo-jin said with a sullen expression.

“You’re training hard now. Even if you can’t see it right away, it’s definitely getting better.”

“Still, the draft is not far away, so shouldn’t I show a clear increase in velocity before then? These days, they don’t seem to pick pitchers who don’t have fastballs.”

It was clear that velocity was an important factor in the draft.

But that wasn’t the only evaluation metric.

“There are many cases where pitchers’ velocities increase after becoming professional players. If you receive systematic training after joining a professional team, your velocity will definitely increase. Professional teams know that.”

Even if he couldn’t throw a fastball with a velocity of over 155km/h like Michael Scott or Choi Jung-hwan right away, it was clear that he could improve his velocity.

“I guess so…?”

Choi Woo-jin’s face was still full of worry.

“Of course. Until recently, you had difficulty reaching 140km/h, but now your maximum velocity is up to 145km/h.”

“That’s true, but…”

“It’s something you can definitely do if you work hard. Don’t worry and just train hard according to the program, and you’ll get good results.”

I smiled and patted Choi Woo-jin on the shoulder.

After a short break, Choi Woo-jin’s training started again.

Even in the sweltering heat, Jung In-gyu and Choi Woo-jin’s training didn’t stop.

As high school baseball started again, interest in the draft, which would be held in a few months, was also increasing.

Many experts were already predicting which players would go to which teams.

Choi Woo-jin was also one of the players frequently mentioned.

└It’s definitely not as exciting as last year since there’s no Ahn Beom-seok level player.

└Ahn Beom-seok was just a cheat code. It’s unreasonable to expect a player who can go to the major league straight from Korean high school baseball every year.

└If we go by the book, it’s safe to say that the top 3 picks in this draft are already decided. A right-handed fireballer who throws over 150km/h [93 mph], a home run hitter, and a potential catcher will be picked first.

└It would be a mental breakdown if a lower-ranked team went crazy and picked a random player.

└Even if they’re crazy, if they’re *that* crazy, send them to the hospital right away.

└Choi Woo-jin is also under Dream Agency, so isn’t he reliable? I think it’s worth gambling on him among the bottom three teams.

└He’s a left-handed pitcher and his control is top-notch, so Choi Woo-jin isn’t a bad choice, but honestly, it’s hard to call him the best prospect. His average fastball is 141-142km/h [87-88 mph] and his maximum velocity is 145km/h [90 mph]. I doubt he’ll be able to make it in the pros with that kind of velocity.

└Still, he’s a left-handed pitcher with good control, so I think he’ll be okay?

└If he shows a good performance this season, he’s almost certain to be a first-round pick, but it’s too much to be in the top 3.

└That’s right. He’s definitely a good player, but it would be a burden to pick him before a fireballer who throws over 150km/h [93 mph] and a hitter with the potential to hit 30 home runs right away.

└It’s impossible for Choi Woo-jin to be in the TOP 3, and I think he’ll be picked by a team in the next order.

└Then, in this draft, the Jaguars are the 4th pick, so is he the most likely?

└That would be better for Choi Woo-jin, lol [laughing out loud]. It’s better to go to a slightly better team than to have your career ruined by going to the perennial loser Pelicans.

└I heard that Choi Woo-jin is a fan of the Buffaloes, so I hope the Buffaloes pick him.

└The Buffaloes are 6th, so will the order go that far? If it comes to the Buffaloes, they have to pick him no matter what.

└And team leader Jo Gwang-hoon is a huge fan of Kang Hyun-woo. I think he’ll definitely pick him in the Jaguars’ turn.

└Even if he’s close to the agent’s representative, is that how he makes a choice that determines the future of the team?

└If it’s Jo Gwang-hoon and Kang Hyun-woo, it’s possible enough. And it’s not like his skills are lacking.

* * *

Finally, it was the day when high school baseball started again and Choi Woo-jin was scheduled to start.

I arrived at the stadium long before the game started.

I took a seat in the highest point of the stadium, in the center.

I wanted to see Choi Woo-jin’s pitching and also check the scouts’ reactions.

As the game time approached, people started to take their seats one by one.

The majority were the families of the students from both teams, followed by people who appeared to be professional team scouts.

The most noticeable thing was that more and more scouts were visiting the stadium.

I was lost in thought looking at the stadium when,

“Representative Kang Hyun-woo.”

I heard someone calling me.

I turned my head and saw a man wearing a Jaguars team jacket approaching.

“Oh? Yoon-seok, hyung [older brother/friend].”

He was Hwang Yoon-seok, who was working in the Jaguars’ scouting team.

He was also a senior player I knew fairly well from when I was a player.

How did he know I was here?

I stood up and shook hands with Hwang Yoon-seok.

-Struggling to decide on a first-round pick.

-Not confident about Choi Woo-jin.

“You’re an agency representative, why are you watching the game in a place like this?”

Hwang Yoon-seok said, sitting next to me.

“I was trying to watch quietly. It’s just tiring to be noticed. But how did you know I was here?”

“I thought you’d definitely be here today. I had a feeling you’d be sitting around here, and sure enough.”

“That’s amazing. Hyung, have you been well?”

“Nothing special for me.”

“I see you’re here to watch high school baseball, so you must have moved to the scouting team recently?”

I already knew and could have guessed from the information window, but I asked as if I didn’t know.

“Yeah. I worked in the power analysis team and moved to this position this time.”

“Is the job manageable?”

“I thought it would be a little easier to do scouting since I’ve been doing power analysis for a few years, but it’s a completely different field.”

Hwang Yoon-seok shook his head.

“Are you finding any satisfactory players these days?”

“I’m working hard, but it’s really difficult. It’s relatively easy to judge how well they’re doing now, but it’s really difficult to judge how much they can grow in the future. It would be nice if I could know a player’s potential right away like in a game.”

Hwang Yoon-seok shook his head.

“How about our Woo-jin? He’s under our agency. You can trust our agency’s players, right?”

I said with a smile.

“The team’s scouting team has been talking about him. He’s definitely a good player, but… I’m a little unsure.”

“Is it because of his velocity?”

“It’s hard to ignore. The velocity is an important part of evaluating a pitcher.”

It was clear that the team’s scouting team would be hesitant to insist on picking a player like Choi Woo-jin over a pitcher who throws fastballs.

“You know how good Woo-jin’s control is, right? And it’s hard to find a high school player who can manage the game like him.”

“I know that. Otherwise, there would be no reason to worry.”

“Hyung, how many players throw over 150km/h [93 mph] and retire without even debuting in the pros? And Woo-jin didn’t even reach 140km/h [87 mph] last year. He’s grown this much in a year, so he can definitely grow more in the future.”

“You think he has the potential to grow in the future?”

“Of course.”

I nodded with conviction.

“Hmm…”

But I could still feel that Hwang Yoon-seok’s expression hadn’t resolved his concerns.

Then I should add one more word.

“Anyway, the Jaguars can’t make a high pick this time, so there’s less pressure, right?”

Since the Jaguars’ pick was 4th, it was unlikely that they would be able to bring in the player who was considered the best prospect in this draft.

“That’s true, but the first-round pick is the most important. We have to pick the safest and most proven player.”

“Woo-jin won’t be pushed back to the second round. And there’s even less chance that the Jaguars’ turn will come back around.”

“Ha… I guess so?”

Hwang Yoon-seok leaned back, as if his head was complicated.

“And you’ll never regret it. You won’t have to worry about who will fill one of the domestic starting pitcher spots for the next 10 years.”

“Are you sure it’ll be okay? It seems like it’ll be difficult to persuade the team leader. Especially since it’s the first round.”

Hwang Yoon-seok tilted his head, still not sure.

On the other hand, a smile naturally appeared on my face.

“Hyung, team leader Jo will never object. You can trust our agency’s players.”

“Even if Watson and Scott are under Dream Agency, wouldn’t this be different?”

Hwang Yoon-seok tilted his head and asked with an incredulous expression.

“Hyung, trust me. And you won’t regret it.”

I smiled leisurely at Hwang Yoon-seok.