Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 103

Pitcher’s done, batter’s up – Episode 102

Even after Lee Jung-woo’s impressive display, a sense of unease lingered.

It wasn’t a real game, just batting practice.

But soon, an opportunity arose to completely dispel that feeling.

‘A practice game. It’s about time.’

After a few days of light training as a warm-up,

the national team, having assessed the players’ stamina and condition, arranged a practice game to sharpen their competitive edge.

The opponent was the Seoul Devils, a professional Korean baseball team.

“I hope this is mutually beneficial.”

“Yes, we also hope to learn from this game, and that the national team gains valuable experience as well. We appreciate your cooperation.”

As the managers exchanged greetings, Lee Jung-woo glanced at the Devils’ bench.

The Devils, the team that had released him before his regression, evoked unpleasant memories.

Of course, now he was a sought-after Major Leaguer, not just a mediocre pitcher, so he wasn’t easily affected by such emotions.

‘But what’s with this? Scheduling a practice game with the Devils? Looking at their lineup, they seem to be in top form. And judging by the roster, it looks like their starting players are all participating.’

Lee Jung-woo looked at Manager Do Myung-woon.

A professional first-string team seemed like a tough opponent for the national team, which hadn’t even had time to fully coordinate.

While the national team, composed of the best players from each club, could potentially dominate most professional teams based on individual skill alone,

the reality was more complex.

And the fact that their opponent was the Devils added another layer of complexity.

“Damn it, we’re screwed. The coaches are going to rip us apart.”

“Ugh, facing the Devils in the league wasn’t bad enough, now we have to face them in the national team too?”

“I heard Josh is starting? Is my batting average against him even .200?”

“Wow, facing our team as an enemy, our guys are seriously tough.”

The players grumbled amongst themselves.

Some seemed resigned to defeat.

And for good reason.

‘They’re currently first in the league. The gap between them and second place is over ten games, isn’t it?’

This season, the Devils were a dominant force in Korean professional baseball.

They were having an overwhelmingly successful season.

‘Third in team batting average, sixth in RBIs [Runs Batted In]. Their lineup is impressive, but their starting pitchers are the real strength.’

It was almost unbelievable.

The Devils’ starting pitchers were incredible.

The fact that a five-man rotation was functioning smoothly in Korean professional baseball was already noteworthy.

And they were all performing well.

Average ERA [Earned Run Average], wins, strikeouts, innings pitched—all the Devils’ starters were ranked high in the league.

The foreign pitchers had already accumulated nearly 15 wins each.

Even though they weren’t as outstanding as the starters,

the bullpen was also strong.

From middle relief to closer,

the entire bullpen was balanced, with no apparent weaknesses.

‘The more I look at their stats, the less they resemble the Devils I remember.’

Lee Jung-woo chuckled in disbelief after reviewing the pitching staff’s impressive performance.

The Devils he remembered weren’t a pitching powerhouse but a team that relied on their hitting to compensate for their pitching.

‘The difference between my memory and reality is significant. To think that a team with such a strong pitching staff used rejects like me before my regression.’

Perhaps they would soon collapse, or maybe key players would get injured.

One of the two.

In any case, because they had such a strong pitching staff,

the hitters looked grim.

‘A ten-game lead over second place means they’ve practically dominated the league. They must be feeling the pressure from being constantly beaten throughout the season.’

Lee Jung-woo looked at Manager Do Myung-woon.

Perhaps this practice game would backfire and demoralize the players.

He didn’t know if the manager or the association had arranged it,

but it was a practice game with potential drawbacks.

‘But if we win, the impact would be significant. They’d gain confidence from defeating the dominant team in the league. The Devils probably agreed to it because winning against the national team would give them symbolic value.’

Lee Jung-woo nodded.

The hitters might be discouraged, but

this was the perfect opponent for Lee Jung-woo.

‘I came here leaving the Major League behind. It has to be this challenging to be fun.’

####

Josh Young.

The Devils’ current ace,

who was putting up dominant numbers in Korean professional baseball.

Korean baseball fans often called him the “Demon King” because he played for the Devils and had a somewhat intimidating appearance. He was looking forward to today’s game.

‘Phew. I’m glad Roger gave up his spot.’

It was just a practice game.

Frankly, it was a meaningless game that wouldn’t affect his career,

but he really wanted to play in this game.

Because of one hitter on the opposing team, Lee Jung-woo. Any baseball fan would know him, the best rising star of 2034.

Josh wanted to face him directly.

‘I’m going back to the Major League next year. Before that, let’s see what you’ve got.’

He yearned for the Major League.

After getting married and having children,

he had come to Korea for his family,

but he still longed for the Major League.

There was hope.

‘The club often said that some foreign players have returned to the Majors after having good seasons in Korea. Now is the time.’

Why couldn’t he do the same?

Not only foreign players, but many Koreans also had successful seasons and went to the Majors through posting [a system where a Korean team allows a player to negotiate with MLB teams]. And Josh was at least as good as them.

That’s why he threw with all his might, determined to build his career here and somehow return.

That was what made Josh, the Demon King of the Devils.

‘It’s not that I hate Korea. It’s the only place that welcomes me.’

A pitcher who performs well is welcomed even if he’s a foreigner, and he fit that description.

As a devout Christian, he had initially been uncomfortable with the nickname “Demon King,” but now he was used to it and even felt energized when he heard it.

But that wasn’t enough to give up on his dream.

The Big League, which he had briefly experienced.

Josh couldn’t forget the feeling it gave him.

That’s why he saw this practice game as a good opportunity.

Since his contract was ending next year and he was planning to return to the United States,

this was a chance to face a Major Leaguer before that.

It was also a good way to impress scouts.

‘He’s a hitter who’s making waves in the Big League, probably going to be Rookie of the Year this season. Showing a good performance against such a hitter, even in a practice game, would be perfect for attracting attention.’

Originally, another pitcher, Roger, was scheduled to play,

but he had gladly given up the opportunity at his earnest request.

Roger’s goal was a stable life, not a return to the United States.

‘Phew. Alright, let’s do this. A Major Leaguer? That’s me next year. Nothing to be afraid of.’

Josh confidently strode onto the mound.

His teammates looked at him with trust.

And the pitcher knew how to repay that trust.

‘Number 3. He was number 5 on his team, but he’ll be batting third here. They’ll want to use him as much as possible.’

The other hitters didn’t even register in his mind.

They were guys he had already dominated several times.

Josh’s eyes were solely focused on Lee Jung-woo, who was slowly warming up on the opposing bench.

And he had the skill to back it up.

“Josh! Calm down! Take it easy. It’s not a real game, why are you throwing so hard?”

“Okay, okay.”

After striking out the first and second batters with three pitches each, the catcher, thinking he was overdoing it, told him to calm down.

He answered, but it didn’t really register.

The hitter slowly rising from the on-deck circle, Lee Jung-woo.

Right now, Josh’s world contained only that one person.

Josh looked at the hitter with challenging eyes, and the hitter, who was approaching the plate, paused slightly.

He calmly accepted that gaze.

He had a nonchalant expression, as if he wasn’t thinking anything,

but it wasn’t the same for the person receiving that look directly.

‘Dammit… what’s with that atmosphere?’

It was suffocating.

Just looking at him felt like being choked,

and an overwhelming sense of pressure, like a dark aura, washed over him.

Josh, who had initiated the psychological warfare, involuntarily averted his gaze.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Why? He was much younger than him, and in terms of experience, he was the one ahead.

Was it because he was a Major Leaguer? Or was the success he had achieved creating a mental block?

Josh’s mind was confused, but he soon glared at the hitter again with determined eyes.

The hitter tilted his head as if to say, “What a simple guy,” and entered the batter’s box.

‘A Major Leaguer, nothing special. I’ve been there too.’

He encouraged himself with those words,

but there was still a lingering sense of pressure.

To completely erase it, Josh rejected the catcher’s sign and threw his most confident pitch.

A fastball thrown with all his might.

154 km/h [kilometers per hour]. A 96-mile fastball, the pitch that had made him the dominant pitcher in this league, was caught in the catcher’s mitt.

“Strike.”

Because it was a practice game,

the umpire didn’t make a loud call, but the other players buzzed.

“What? Isn’t that his top speed?”

“Wow, Josh is really on form. Isn’t this the first time he’s hit his top speed in the first inning?”

“Ah, we’re screwed. He gets even worse when he’s feeling it.”

“It’s a practice game, so he’ll be done by the third inning, right? Ah, please let that be the case.”

“If he’s done, can we handle the other pitchers?”

“Anything would be better than that damn foreign bastard.”

The national team hitters all clicked their tongues, and some even despaired.

The humiliation and nightmares they had suffered during the season were revived.

Some were even grateful that he wasn’t playing a full game because it was a practice game.

That atmosphere gave Josh confidence.

Yes, he was strong.

A powerful pitcher.

At least here.

‘I am the king.’

He threw the ball again with all his might,

and a beautifully breaking slider flew as if to hit the hitter’s body before breaking into the strike zone.

Two strikes.

A sense of elation washed over him, having cornered a Major Leaguer, a hitter who was at the peak of his game.

Yes, it works, it still works even against Major Leaguers.

It might be because he was taking it easy since it was practice, but it still works.

He believed that.

‘You’re going to strike out too!’

With strong determination,

he threw the ball.

And that firm belief was shattered.

“Huh?”

The guy who had been expressionless all along

swung his bat for the first time.

The best fastball he had thrown since coming to Korea.

Josh couldn’t admire it for long.

Because the ball disappeared behind him.

Whack-

A delayed sound of impact, like an echo, rang in his ears.

It must have rung out much earlier,

but strangely, it lingered in his mind.

Watching the hitter casually toss his bat and walk away,

Josh uttered the first Korean word he had learned since coming to Korea.

“Shibal [a Korean curse word].”

That unfamiliar word best described his feelings right now.

####

The practice game was over.

The victory went to the national baseball team.

The players, who had won after a narrow one-point game of 7-6, cheered,

but they couldn’t hide a slightly uneasy feeling.

Their eyes were on the player surrounded by pitchers, receiving enthusiastic praise.

“Wow~ where did this guy come from? You were amazing today, Jung-woo.”

“It was nothing.”

“Damn it, if you ever play in Korea before you retire, you have to come to the Hawks. I’ll treat you well.”

“Is there anything you want to eat? Want to grab some late-night snacks together?”

“No, thank you, seniors.”

“What’s with the stiff ‘seniors’? Just call me ‘hyung [older brother or male friend],’ ‘hyung.’ Tell me right away if there’s anything you want, ‘hyung’ will buy it for you.”

The pitchers who had played in today’s game had transformed into passionate fans in just one game,

and Lee Jung-woo had become their idol.

He fielded all the batted balls that seemed to be hit squarely, and he effortlessly jumped up and caught even the balls that they thought he would never reach.

There wasn’t a pitcher who didn’t love such a shortstop.

Kim Hee-chang, who had pitched 3 innings as the starting pitcher in today’s game and allowed 1 run, couldn’t join the seniors and hovered from afar,

but he subtly gave Lee Jung-woo a thumbs up.

“Is that the same player as us?”

“No, he could play in the Major League just with his defense. What about his hitting-”

The hitters were dumbfounded.

Lee Jung-woo had such overwhelming defensive skills that he was loved by the pitchers,

but his hitting was also damn good.

As if to prove that what they had seen in training wasn’t everything, Lee Jung-woo swung his bat properly today.

4 hits in 4 at-bats, 5 RBIs, 2 home runs.

Watching him single-handedly wage a slugfest against the league’s strongest team,

the others were momentarily stunned.

Some players, feeling a sense of inadequacy, looked down at their hands and sighed.

Lee Jung-woo, subtly noticing the atmosphere, made eye contact with Song Young-joon, who was looking at him with a similarly dumbfounded expression.

‘See, I told you there wouldn’t be any problems.’

Song Young-joon nodded silently at the undeniable display of skill.

####

Before departure.

After finishing the last training session,

the coaching staff were organizing the training results.

“This is the optimal lineup right now. It may change depending on the conditions on the ground, but we expect this to be the strongest configuration.”

“It’s not much different from what I initially expected. We’re going with Jae-deok as the ace?”

“Yes, Kim Hee-chang is the best in terms of skill, and the results of the practice game are good, but he’s still young.”

“Well, it would be burdensome for him to play as a national team player at that age. It would be unfair to add more pressure to him.”

The current ace of the national team was Oh Jae-deok.

His regular season performance was good, and his pitching in the practice game was the most satisfactory.

Of course, Kim Hee-chang was slightly better in terms of skill,

but if the skills were similar, the player with slightly more experience would inevitably be given more weight.

Manager Do Myung-woon nodded satisfactorily and finished sorting out the players.

“The shortstop position is practically set.”

“Lee Jung-woo is too good. Kim Tae-joon and Jung Myung-yoon are also good, but… honestly.”

“Compared to Lee Jung-woo, they’re far behind. A Major Leaguer is in a different league.”

Manager Do Myung-woon chuckled, and the defense coach shrugged his shoulders.

It was perhaps an obvious conclusion.

Even before the call-up, the shortstop position was practically decided.

“But will his stamina hold up? I heard Atlanta requested stamina management.”

Lee Jung-woo’s only drawback was that he was a Major Leaguer.

It might sound absurd, but the pressure the club was putting on the association was considerable.

They were happy to send him to fulfill his military service obligation,

but they didn’t want the team’s key player to waste his stamina in a strange place or get injured while the season was in full swing.

“We have to at least pretend to manage his stamina to some extent. Braves is Braves, but the fans won’t be happy if we overwork him. He’s a national treasure. If there’s any talk of overworking him…”

“There will be a major backlash. Then, let’s have him play in the game against Taiwan in the group stage for sure. And exclude him from the games against Pakistan or Thailand, or use him as a designated hitter?”

“Designated hitter?”

“Then there’s no defensive burden, so it’s easier to manage his stamina, right? Once we get into the tournament, we’ll keep using him as a shortstop.”

“That sounds good. In fact, with Lee Jung-woo’s hitting, he’s a must-have in the Asian Games even if he doesn’t play defense.”

“I think so too. Even if it’s not Lee Jung-woo, Kim Tae-joon or Jung Myung-yoon are reliable on defense.”

When the coaches showed a positive reaction, Manager Do Myung-woon nodded satisfactorily and closed the file.

All preparations were complete.

The atmosphere was also positive.

They had won all four practice games. Especially in the first game, the Devils game, it was a close game, but

as time went on, they increasingly dominated the opposing teams.

With this, the training was quite successful. The defensive coordination was now smooth.

“We’ve completed the preparations we can do in Korea. How’s the situation at the venue?”

“It’s good. An employee who went to inspect the accommodation said it was satisfactory. The surrounding training facilities are also quite good, about the level of a professional baseball team’s second-tier team.”

“Good, it’s pretty perfect. Then everyone, get some rest. Let’s go win a medal.”