Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 92

Lee Joo-hyuk and I sat on a nearby bench for lunch.

I had asked the dormitory cooks to prepare a lunchbox with a diet that wouldn’t strain my back.

I couldn’t afford to become too heavy, nor could I be deficient to the point of affecting my condition.

Thanks to their willingness to accommodate my difficult request, I was able to have a meal perfectly suited for the current situation.

“Even though it’s only the first round, more people were eliminated than I expected.”

“Watching from outside, it seemed like almost half were eliminated.”

“Haa… I really feel for them. They must have come here with the same mindset as me.”

“I know.”

It was a basic first test, but the number of dropouts was surprisingly high.

I, too, couldn’t feel comfortable watching them return home with slumped shoulders.

Some lacked basic skills, but many participants were too nervous to properly demonstrate their abilities.

But those couldn’t be excuses.

The field doesn’t offer warmth or consideration for players who lack skill or are nervous.

The professional stage was such a place.

“Will luck with the matchups be important in the second test?”

“It probably will be. The outcome could vary depending on who the opposing batter is.”

Neither the pitcher nor the batter knows the other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Therefore, a strategy of maximizing one’s own strengths is more effective than trying to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.

“I’m confident throwing sliders against right-handed hitters, but it won’t be easy if there are many left-handed hitters.”

Worry settled on Lee Joo-hyuk’s face.

“Don’t forget that the key against left-handed hitters is to challenge them inside.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t try to throw a curveball for a strike; just throw it as a ball. In a game like today, hitters will be swinging aggressively, so if you get impatient, they might swing at the breaking ball.”

I had mentioned this several times during training, but with the test right around the corner, I couldn’t help but offer advice that sounded like a plea.

“And the most important thing.”

I looked into Lee Joo-hyuk’s eyes and said.

“There isn’t a hitter here today who can hit your pitches. You have every reason to be confident.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Joo-hyuk nodded, firming his resolve.

* * *

As previously announced, the second test was conducted as a simulation game.

Unlike the first test, which was an absolute evaluation, the second test was conducted like a real game, so comparisons with other players were inevitable.

However, simply getting a hit or striking out didn’t guarantee passing, and failing to do so didn’t necessarily mean elimination.

Professional club officials would comprehensively assess the players’ capabilities to determine whether to recruit them.

In addition to visible performance, qualitative aspects would also be significantly considered.

The players participating in the second test gathered again at the appointed time.

The official who had delivered the instructions earlier reappeared.

“Alright, we will now begin the simulation game. We will divide you into four groups. We will give all players as fair an opportunity as possible. However, please be aware that we may end the game early if we internally determine that an evaluation is complete.”

The official pointed to the board in front and continued.

“Your group assignments are posted up front. Please check them immediately and move to your designated areas. The games will start promptly.”

As soon as the official finished speaking, the participants rushed to the board to find their names.

Lee Joo-hyuk also checked his group.

He was scheduled to pitch third in Group 2.

“This is really a real game.”

Now was truly the moment of truth.

“Play ball!”

The simulation games began simultaneously on four fields.

A heavy tension filled every field, making it hard to distinguish from a postseason game.

From the pitchers on the mound to the fielders preparing to defend, and the batters in the batter’s box.

Not a single play could be taken lightly.

The players’ intense gazes conveyed the desperation that this moment might be their last chance to pursue their dreams.

The eyes of the professional club officials watching them also gleamed sharply.

Thwack!

“Strike!”

The pitcher and batter’s fortunes diverged with each call from the umpire.

Crack!

The batter, upon hitting the ball, sprinted towards first base with all his might.

“Safe!”

Only after confirming the first base umpire’s outstretched arms did a faint smile appear on the batter’s face.

And as if to show off his speed, he boldly attempted to steal second base the moment the pitcher threw the ball to the next batter.

“Out!”

The second base umpire made the call without hesitation.

The batter, covered in dirt, appealed to the second base umpire in disappointment, but the result remained unchanged.

He returned to the dugout, unable to hide his disappointment.

Instead, a smile spread across the catcher’s face, who had successfully thwarted the steal.

The pitcher now continued his pitching with relative ease.

Thwack!

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

The batter’s bat spun helplessly at the sharp breaking ball.

The pitcher clenched his fist on the mound, while the batter who had swung and missed had to trudge back to the dugout.

Crack!

The pitcher’s expression darkened as the ball soared high towards the outfield.

“Out!”

The center fielder, who had tracked the ball well to the end, caught it, resulting in an out.

The center fielder smiled and raised the caught ball, while the batter, who had hoped for a home run, shook his head in disappointment.

It was a cruel contest where someone’s pain was needed for someone else to laugh.

With each hit, the batter and runner sprinted to the next base, and the pitcher threw the ball with all his might.

The game proceeded fiercely.

As the heat on the field intensified,

“Agh!”

An incident occurred where the third baseman, trying to catch the incoming ball to get an out, collided with the runner who was running forward with all his might.

The third baseman fell, clutching his leg, and the runner lay on the ground, holding his shoulder in pain.

Eventually, an ambulance and medical staff entered the field.

Officials also approached the fallen players, looking concerned as they checked on their condition.

After a brief moment, both players got up and appealed to the medical staff that they could play.

However, they couldn’t completely hide their limping leg and the pain in their shoulder.

The medical staff determined that it was too much for the two players to continue playing.

Despite the two players repeatedly saying they were okay, the official sent a signal to the bench, requesting a substitution.

The player, who stood there for a long time in disappointment, eventually had to leave the field, tears streaming down his face.

It seemed like he didn’t want to believe what was happening to him at this moment.

Although the early substitution didn’t mean elimination, it was clear that he hadn’t fully demonstrated his abilities.

Afterward, one of the players sat in a corner and sobbed sadly for a long time.

Lee Joo-hyuk’s turn to pitch was approaching.

Lee Joo-hyuk went to the practice pitching area next to the field and began practicing.

If the number of pitches in the first inning exceeded 30, the opportunity to pitch on the mound would likely end with just one inning.

Therefore, to properly demonstrate his capabilities, he had no choice but to pitch each ball with all his might, as if he were a closing pitcher.

“Hoo-”

‘The first pitch must be a strike.’

Lee Joo-hyuk focused on getting the fastball into the strike zone.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

Whenever a ball went out of the strike zone, Lee Joo-hyuk shook his head and refocused.

‘Concentrate, concentrate.’

Thwack!

Thwack!

As his body seemed to loosen up to some extent, he finished his practice pitches.

If he threw any more here, he might lose stamina, and he might not be able to throw his best pitches when he actually got on the mound.

Lee Joo-hyuk’s gaze turned to the field.

The last out count was already up, and the opposing team’s fielders were returning to the dugout.

“Lee Joo-hyuk, is that you?”

“Yes, it is.”

“You can go up to the mound right now.”

“Hoo-”

Lee Joo-hyuk took a deep breath and slowly ran towards the mound.

Finally, Lee Joo-hyuk stood on the mound, the highest point on the field.

It wasn’t the mound of a stadium where professional players played, but there was nothing different about it.

‘Let’s show everything without regrets and come down.’

Today’s goal wasn’t a perfect record like no runs allowed or no hits allowed.

It was to play a game without regrets, as he had been preparing for the past few years, and come down.

Even if he got hit with a home run, he wanted to pitch without regrets.

Kang Hyun-woo, who was watching this scene from one side of the field, was visible.

His confident gaze and one word came to mind.

‘That’s right. There isn’t a hitter here today who can hit my pitches.’

Lee Joo-hyuk repeated the words Kang Hyun-woo had told him in his mind and stood on the pitching plate with his right leg.

The feeling was quite different from when he stepped on it in the practice pitching area.

Calming his pounding heart, he began his practice pitches.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Lee Joo-hyuk’s ball flew powerfully towards the strike zone.

‘My fastball control is good today.’

It felt like he was throwing consistently.

Now, the breaking ball.

What about the slider and curve?

Huh?

Unlike the fastball, it didn’t go into the desired course.

‘Not sure about this?’

The sound of his heart pounding seemed louder than before.

As his breathing became increasingly rough, it became more difficult to maintain his balance.

Thud!

Eventually, a ball even landed on the ground before reaching the catcher’s mitt.

It was just a practice pitch, but he couldn’t finish like this.

He was about to throw one last practice pitch cleanly for a strike,

“Play ball!”

The umpire shouted the call, signaling the start of the game.

The batter he had to face was already in the batter’s box, ready.

“Wasn’t I supposed to have one more practice pitch?”

Lee Joo-hyuk mustered the courage to approach the umpire and said.

But the umpire’s expression was firm.

“You’re out of practice pitches. Start pitching.”

He had miscalculated the number of practice pitches because he was focused on practicing.

With no other choice, Lee Joo-hyuk took a new ball from the umpire and went up to the mound.

‘My fastball control was good, so let’s be confident and do it.’

“Hoo-”

Lee Joo-hyuk took a deep breath with the ball in his right hand and stood on the pitching plate.

It was time to pour out everything he had prepared so far and show the value of the player Lee Joo-hyuk.