Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 70

70. The Whirlwind Shaking the League (1)

Jang Su-young watched the game, constantly warming up his arms to keep them from cooling down.

Since his role was to pitch only when the team had a narrow lead, he wasn’t sure if he would even play in today’s game.

He had no choice but to keep a close watch on the constantly changing situation.

The only silver lining was that there was little chance of Jang Su-young being on the mound before the 7th inning.

If the team was leading after the 6th inning, he could start preparing to pitch again from then on.

If the score widened significantly or the game was reversed, Jang Su-young wouldn’t get to play even if he had warmed up. That’s the life of a relief pitcher.

That was why it was more difficult for relief pitchers to manage their condition than starting pitchers.

The game was tight at 0-0 until the 4th inning, but in the bottom of the 5th, the Wolves took a 2-point lead with a home run.

At the same time as the home run, the Wolves’ bullpen became a hive of activity.

The “must-win” players, those who had to protect the lead, began to prepare to enter the game.

Jang Su-young also got up from his seat.

He started warming up by lightly playing catch with the bullpen catcher.

Having already warmed up with catch ball and shoulder band exercises earlier in the game, he was able to quickly transition into actual pitching.

The speed gradually increased as he threw more.

“I think I can sit down now.”

Jang Su-young signaled the bullpen catcher to sit down and catch the ball.

“Hoo-”

If he threw too many balls before being called in, it could strain his shoulder and tire him out.

He had to concentrate on each ball to carefully manage his condition.

Pung.

“Nice.”

Pung.

“Good shot.”

He could feel it even without the bullpen catcher’s encouragement.

‘I think my condition is good today?’

The balance he felt while shifting his weight during his throws felt more consistent than usual.

Pung.

Not to mention the four-seam fastball.

Pung.

The slider was the same.

Pung.

Finally, even the forkball.

The ball flew as if it were magnetically drawn to the desired location the moment it left Jang Su-young’s hand.

‘I can be confident today.’

Jang Su-young’s expression after finishing his bullpen session was full of confidence.

“Su-young, your ball is really on point today!”

The bullpen catcher, who had just caught the ball, came up and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Isn’t the forkball especially good?”

“It’s really good. I think you can be confident out there. Just don’t overdo it.”

The bullpen catcher patted Jang Su-young on the shoulder.

The bottom of the 7th inning ended, and the top of the 8th inning began.

It was the Wolves’ defensive inning.

“Why aren’t they replacing me?”

Even though Jang Su-young had already finished preparing to go in, the phone in the bullpen remained silent.

In the meantime, the game continued, and the pitcher who had been on the mound since the 7th inning started pitching in the top of the 8th inning as well.

Jang Su-young approached the bullpen coach.

“Coach, we’re 2 points ahead, aren’t I pitching?”

“Just a little bit longer. You’ll be put in for the next batter.”

“The next batter?”

Not immediately, but the *next* batter?

If both batters got out, that meant he might only be on the mound after two outs?

Oh Seung-soo would be up in the 9th inning [as the closer, the pitcher who finishes the game].

Then there was a high possibility that he would only face one batter and then be taken out.

Could it be that he was being asked to block only left-handed hitters again today?

“Coach, my forkball control and velocity are great today. I’m confident I can get the win even if I face right-handed hitters.”

“Just wait a minute. You’ll get a call soon.”

“Coach, I’m really in good condition today.”

“I’m not the one who decides when to change pitchers. The manager and pitching coach decide.”

It seemed pointless to say any more.

“Hoo-”

Jang Su-young trudged back to his seat, feeling powerless.

He had no choice but to watch the game.

The pitcher on the mound got two outs without any problems.

As soon as the second out of the 8th inning was recorded.

Ring-ring-

“Yes, I understand.”

The bullpen coach nodded as he answered the phone.

As soon as he hung up, he made eye contact with me.

“Jang Su-young, you’re up.”

Jang Su-young stood up with his glove in one hand.

Anyway, he had to focus on the game now.

He opened the bullpen door and jogged slowly to the mound.

The pitching coach and catcher were waiting for him on the mound.

When he arrived, he received the ball from the pitching coach.

“Let’s throw a fastball and a slider.”

The catcher said casually and turned around.

“My forkball was really good in the bullpen today.”

The catcher turned around urgently at Jang Su-young’s words.

Then the catcher looked at the pitching coach as if asking for a decision.

“Okay, throw it once.”

The pitching coach nodded, looking into Jang Su-young’s eyes.

While the catcher returned to home plate, Jang Su-young prepared for his practice pitches.

Then he glanced at the manager watching from the dugout.

‘I’ll show you how good my condition is, so just wait.’

Since he was only going to face one batter anyway, he wouldn’t even throw five balls.

Then he had no choice but to put all his effort into each ball.

Pung.

Pung.

‘Perfect.’

Not only the power he felt in the ball, but also the fact that it hit every corner of the strike zone.

The fastball felt powerful, the slider sharply curved and fell near the plate, and the forkball dropped sharply in front of home plate.

Everything was so perfect that he didn’t want to forget today’s feeling, from his balance to the feeling in his fingers.

“Your ball is looking great today. Just throw it calmly.”

After finishing his practice pitches, the pitching coach came over, patted him on the shoulder, and returned to the dugout.

Jang Su-young touched the ball in his glove and put his foot on the pitcher’s plate.

The batter in front of him was, as expected, a left-handed hitter.

“Play ball!”

When the umpire called for the game to resume, Jang Su-young exchanged signs with the catcher.

‘Fastball inside.’

It was a pitch to show, to confuse the batter.

Even if it wasn’t a strike, it was to make the batter aware of the inside part of the plate by throwing it as close as possible to him.

Pung.

“Strike!”

The ball Jang Su-young threw pierced the lowest part of the strike zone.

It was a ball that was difficult for the batter to touch, and even if he had swung, it would have been a foul ball.

‘Okay. It was perfect.’

It was a pitch that landed exactly where he wanted it to.

The batter in the batter’s box shook his head, looking back at the trajectory of the ball that had just passed.

And the second pitch.

‘One more inside.’

The catcher gave the same sign as before.

If he threw it like he did just now, there was almost no chance of getting a hit.

Pung.

“Strike.”

The batter held back his swing, but the ball passed through the strike zone again this time.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was the same scene as before.

0 balls and 2 strikes.

It was an absolutely advantageous count for the pitcher.

‘Slider that curves to the outside.’

The catcher’s pitch selection was straight out of the textbook.

If he threw a slider that broke away from the batter who had just seen two inside fastballs, it would definitely look like it was too far outside to hit.

‘If I’m in this condition today, I think I can get a strike even if I challenge him head-on with a fastball.’

He couldn’t help but feel regret.

Still, he had to be careful.

The score was only 2 points apart, and if he gave up a home run, the lead would be cut to 1 point.

He was sure that Oh Seung-soo could close it out, but…

He couldn’t jeopardize the rest of the game just because of his own ambition.

‘Hoo- Let’s go by the book.’

But there was only one thing he was going to be greedy about.

That he would strike out the batter with only three pitches.

Jang Su-young could be sure the moment he released the ball.

Hoo-oong-

“Strike out!”

As expected, the opposing batter’s bat pathetically swung through the air. He regretted his decision for a moment, looking at the sky as if frustrated that he had been completely fooled.

As the inning ended, the Wolves players who had finished their defense ran towards the dugout.

Jang Su-young also walked slowly to the dugout.

‘The forkball was good today… I guess there won’t be another chance to show it?’

If he had a chance in the 9th inning, he was confident that he could close it out perfectly.

He watched the game with anticipation.

As expected.

As the top of the 9th inning began, the pitcher was replaced by Oh Seung-soo.

Only then did Jang Su-young put down the glove he was holding.

‘Ha…….’

He slumped down and could only watch Oh Seung-soo pitch with a bitter expression.

The atmosphere in the stadium was completely different from Jang Su-young’s feelings.

“Waaaaa-”

The fans cheered enthusiastically every time Oh Seung-soo threw a ball.

The cheers grew louder as the out count went up one by one.

In that way, Oh Seung-soo easily got the out count against three batters and finished the game.

Then he did a celebratory routine with the catcher to commemorate the save.

“Oh Seung-soo! Oh Seung-soo! Oh Seung-soo!”

The fans cheered, chanting Oh Seung-soo’s name.

The team won the game without giving up a run.

Jang Su-young also added one hold [a statistic for relief pitchers who enter a game with a lead and maintain it] to his record.

0.1 innings, 1 strikeout, 0 runs, 1 hold.

But today, Jang Su-young only threw 3 balls in the game.

* * *

I was waiting for Jang Su-young in the lobby on the first floor of the hotel.

It wasn’t far from the stadium, so I was able to meet him not long after the game ended.

I waved my hand when I saw Jang Su-young coming in through the revolving door.

“Sunbae-nim [senior colleague]!”

Jang Su-young hurried over when he saw me.

I got up from my seat to greet him.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“No problem. Of course, I had to come.”

And I was able to shake hands with Jang Su-young.

I was hoping to get some helpful information from his information window [referring to a game mechanic or ability to see a character’s thoughts/stats],

-I want to pitch more innings than now.

-I want to become a closer and show my abilities for sure.

Unfortunately, it was what I had already expected.

I was about to carefully bring up the first thing I had planned to say while sitting face to face, when

“Sunbae-nim, I want to pitch a lot.”

Jang Su-young immediately got to the point as if he had been waiting.

“I understand completely. Let’s talk about it.”

“What’s the best way to do it?”

“You’ve talked to the coach about it, right?”

“Of course. I’ve been talking about it steadily since last season… He just says he understands, but nothing has changed so far. I think it’ll be the same this year.”

“Hmm…….”

“Sunbae-nim, is there any way?”

I could feel the desperation in Jang Su-young’s expression.