Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 255

6th Inning, Top.

The game resumed with Park Yu-cheol pitching.

Thwack!

147 km/h.

Thwack!

146 km/h.

The velocity dropped by about 5 km/h compared to the beginning.

-Has Park Yu-cheol gotten a little tired? His pitching seems a bit different from what he showed at the start of the game.

-Since it’s an important game, he must have used more stamina than usual. And with over 90 pitches, he’s probably feeling fatigued.

-Then he needs to pitch with the thought that this inning is his last.

Tick!

“Out!”

He managed to get an out by luckily inducing a weakly hit ball, but as the velocity decreased, the ball lost its power, making it easier for the opposing batter to attack.

Clang!

“Nice hit!”

The batter, who hit a clean single, easily reached first base.

1 out, runner on 1st.

Park Yu-cheol’s pitch count was 97.

Perhaps aware that this inning would be his last, he started pitching with all his might.

149 km/h!

150 km/h!

He succeeded in increasing the velocity compared to the beginning of the inning.

However, perhaps because he put too much force into it, the ball went in and out of the strike zone.

Thwack!

“Walk!”

In the end, he allowed another runner to get on base.

The runner on 1st moved to 2nd, creating a situation with runners on 1st and 2nd.

-Now Park Yu-cheol’s pitch count is 102. He only has 3 pitches left that he can throw in today’s game.

-Rather than filling up to the maximum of 105 pitches, I think they’ll replace him right away since he’s shaking now.

The opposing team’s pitching coach, who was walking out from the dugout, received the ball from the umpire and headed to the mound.

Park Yu-cheol couldn’t hide his disappointment and had no choice but to come down from the mound.

-He’s being replaced after all. Park Yu-cheol comes down from the mound in a 5.1 inning scoreless situation, leaving two runners on base.

-He had difficulty controlling his pitches in today’s game, but he overcame the crisis with fastballs exceeding 150 km/h and managed to lead the game.

-He must have wanted to show a good performance in the match against Choi Woo-jin, who is being mentioned in a similar draft pick order ahead of the draft. Park Yu-cheol must be feeling disappointed.

-It’s true that Choi Woo-jin has shown a more stable performance recently, including today’s game. But the two players are different types of pitchers. The decision will depend on which player each team needs.

The game continued with the bullpen pitcher who came up to the mound afterward.

Thwack!

“Strike out!”

He seemed to take a breather after getting an out, but

Clang!

“Run! Run! Run!”

With a long hit in a 2-out situation, both runners on base were able to step on home base.

The scoreless game finally changed to 2:0.

The Sucheon High’s attack ended, and in the bottom of the 6th, the opposing team actively used pinch hitters to target Choi Woo-jin and struggled to score points.

However, Choi Woo-jin’s pitching, who took the mound in the lead, felt even more stable.

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

He succeeded in inducing a swing and miss by throwing a decisive changeup against the right-handed home run hitter who was in the batter’s box as a pinch hitter.

And soon after, a player with good speed stood in the batter’s box.

Suddenly, he bent down and gripped the bat short.

Tick!

He attempted to get on base with a surprise bunt that no one expected, but Choi Woo-jin showed stable infield defense without panicking.

“Out!”

After that, Choi Woo-jin and the catcher realized that the opposing batters were getting more and more impatient and responded with a strategy that suited them.

They not only confused the batters by mixing various changeups according to the situation, but also induced weakly hit balls by using fastballs that often narrowly missed the strike zone.

Tick!

The ball, which couldn’t extend far and soared high into the sky, was easily caught by the second baseman.

“Out!”

-Choi Woo-jin cleanly shut down the 6th inning. It’s the first time he’s finished the 6th inning without giving up a run in today’s game.

-So far, there hasn’t been a single mistake in the balls Choi Woo-jin has thrown. In this situation, it’s difficult for the opposing team to attempt a proper attack.

Sucheon High failed to score additional points in the top of the 7th, and the score remained 2:0.

Now, the bottom of the 7th.

Choi Woo-jin was the pitcher heading to the mound this time as well.

-Choi Woo-jin is on the mound again in the 7th inning.

-He recorded 83 pitches through the 6th inning, so based on his performance in today’s game, I think he can definitely shut down this 7th inning as well.

-If Choi Woo-jin shuts down the 7th inning without giving up a run in today’s game, he will record his best personal official record.

-At this point, he can really make a strong impression in front of the scouts.

Choi Woo-jin’s pitching, facing the first batter of the 7th inning, still felt confident.

Thwack!

First pitch strike, of course.

Whoosh-

A changeup that the opponent couldn’t help but swing at.

Thwack!

“Strike out!”

Even a fastball that dug into the corner of the strike zone to the point where the batter couldn’t help but be surprised.

-Choi Woo-jin adds another strikeout. It’s already 10. It seems like no one can attack him today.

-His fastball velocity is fluctuating between 143 km/h and 146 km/h. Even though it’s not a very fast ball, the opposing batters are having a hard time attacking him because of his precise control and various changeups.

-He’s already gotten two outs in the 7th inning. If he gets just one more out here, it will be the game where Choi Woo-jin pitches the most innings in an official game.

Tick!

The opposing batter swung aggressively and struggled to hit a single.

2 balls, 2 strikes.

Choi Woo-jin carefully exchanged signs with the catcher.

And he carefully changed his grip inside the glove and threw with all his might.

‘Okay!’

Even before the ball reached the catcher’s mitt, you could tell from Choi Woo-jin’s expression that he had thrown the ball he wanted.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the changeup Choi Woo-jin threw had perfect movement and rotation.

Of course, it was difficult for the batter to make a proper hit.

Whoosh-

The moment he confirmed that the batter’s bat was swinging in vain, Choi Woo-jin raised his clenched left hand.

“Strike out!”

-He got a strikeout with an amazing changeup! It’s the moment Choi Woo-jin pitches 7 innings with 11 strikeouts for the first time in today’s game! Moreover, he finished today’s pitching without giving up a run.

-He put on a perfect showcase in front of the professional team scouts. He might have been nervous about having to show his best at the end, but there was no sign of that at all. He’s clearly showing that he has plenty of guts.

-The draft will be held in a few days. With this, some teams may have to change their plans. It will be interesting to see which team’s uniform the two players will wear.

In the following 8th and 9th innings, Sucheon High finished the game without losing the lead.

Thanks to that, Choi Woo-jin was able to record a pleasant victory.

* * *

It was the night before the professional baseball rookie draft.

Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, Go Ji-hoon, and So Young-joon, who had returned after finishing the game, were taking a rest.

And Choi Woo-jin, who was facing the draft tomorrow, was also with them.

Oh Seok-hoon, who was sitting next to him, smiled at Choi Woo-jin and asked.

“Woo-jin, are you very nervous?”

“I wasn’t very nervous until yesterday, but I’m a little nervous today.”

“Which team do you want to go to?”

“It would be nice to go to the Buffaloes. But even if it’s not, it would be good enough if it’s a team with our agency seniors.”

“I really hope you come to the Buffaloes.”

Oh Seok-hoon said, stroking Choi Woo-jin’s shoulder.

Park Seong-joo, who was listening next to him, clapped his hands and joined the conversation.

“Woo-jin, you have to come to the Buffaloes. That way, I won’t have to face you. After seeing you last time, I thought you would become an even more difficult pitcher in the future.”

“But aren’t the seniors not going to be with the Buffaloes next year? They might go to the Major League.”

“Even if they go, they’ll come back someday. I have to avoid meeting you even then.”

So Young-joon, who was listening to the conversation next to him, approached Choi Woo-jin and put his hand on his shoulder and said.

“Instead of going all the way to the Buffaloes, I should tell our manager to pick Woo-jin first? The Pelicans can nominate first, but it doesn’t make sense to miss such a good pitcher.”

“Ah… the Pelicans…?”

You could feel that Choi Woo-jin was struggling not to show his emotions, but it was impossible to completely hide his true feelings.

“Why? You don’t want to come to the Pelicans?”

“No! Why wouldn’t I want to go? It’s a really good team.”

Choi Woo-jin waved his hands vigorously and jumped up and down.

“What’s so good about the team?”

“Well, that’s… the fans cheer enthusiastically… and the players are full of fighting spirit… ha.”

Choi Woo-jin lowered his head, as if he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Yeah, just go to a team that plays baseball well. It’s nice to be cheered on, but it really doesn’t feel good to be playing when other teams are busy with the postseason.”

So Young-joon took his hand off Choi Woo-jin’s shoulder and sighed deeply.

“I’m just going to leave it to fate. I can’t do anything about it anyway.”

“No. I can change it enough if I call right now. The Pelicans are number 1.”

So Young-joon said, twitching the corners of his mouth.

“Ah… senior.”

“I’m just kidding.”

So Young-joon raised the corners of his mouth and patted Choi Woo-jin’s shoulder.

“I’m planning a party tomorrow when Woo-jin comes back after the draft. Is everyone available?”

At my words, So Young-joon clapped his hands and rejoiced.

“I’m always welcome to a party. Moreover, it’s the moment when our Woo-jin is starting a new beginning.”

“What about Ji-hoon, Seok-hoon, and Seong-joo?”

When I asked and turned my head, the three players nodded.

“Then let’s have fun tomorrow night. It must be hard to play the season, so let’s relieve some stress for a while.”

With my words, the players went back to their rooms to rest.

And finally, the morning of the draft dawned.

Choi Woo-jin put on his cleanly laundered Sucheon High uniform and finished preparing to leave the dorm.

The players, including me, came out to the gate to see Choi Woo-jin off.

“Woo-jin, I’m sure there will be good results.”

“Yes, I’ll bring good news!”

After saying goodbye, Choi Woo-jin headed to the hotel where the draft would be held with his parents.

The players, who had moved straight to the training ground from the morning, finished training earlier than usual and were waiting for the draft to begin.
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