Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 18

End of Pitcher, Start of Batter – Episode 17

The lingering feeling of hitting for the cycle didn’t fade easily.

Starting with a short interview with a local broadcasting station, several interview requests followed.

Among them was one from a Korean broadcasting company.

‘The first Korean to hit for the cycle in the minor leagues. Is that so important?’

Lee Jung-woo knew why they were so interested.

He understood how much Koreans valued being ‘the first’.

But he was still in the minors.

Even Single-A.

Was being the first there really that significant?

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t quite grasp why reporters were rushing to interview him for such a relatively minor achievement.

‘A proud son of Korea, a Korean did it. Something like that, I guess.’

He roughly understood the underlying motivation.

After the posting system [a system that allows professional baseball players to move to a foreign league] was eased.

Many Korean players who came overseas struggled.

So, the Korean media was trying to make news out of his success.

And appease the baseball fans back home.

He knew their reasons, but…

It felt like too much.

There were interview requests almost every day.

Occasionally, there were requests to film his training.

Most of them were from cable or YouTube channels, though.

Still, the calls were too frequent, and he worried it would affect his performance.

Lee Jung-woo finally took action, albeit belatedly.

‘I was stupid. I have an agent now. I was rejecting them all one by one.’

Lee Jung-woo blamed his own oversight.

He wasn’t the same pitcher who had to handle everything from contracts to the season without an agent before his regression [referring to his time travel or rebirth].

He had a legitimate agent now.

And he was doing a pretty good job.

“Then I’ll ask you for a favor, Mark.”

-You should have called me sooner. Anyway, how those guys got your number… they’re really something.

Lee Jung-woo found it a bit strange too.

He knew he had signed with Atlanta and was playing for the Rome Braves.

How did reporters manage to find his phone number and contact him directly?

Like Mark said, those hyena-like reporters were resourceful in many ways.

-Anyway, I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry. Just focus on playing well. If you keep up this pace, you might even make it to Double-A next year.

At Mark’s confident words, Lee Jung-woo added one request.

“Ah, but don’t be too heavy-handed. Just gently brush them off.”

Lee Jung-woo didn’t particularly like reporters, nor did he care much about how he was perceived in Korea.

But having some kind of relationship with Korean reporters could be helpful.

‘I just realized now. I’m not done with my mandatory military service. That’s the most important thing, and I almost forgot.’

Before his regression, he had ended his baseball career in the United States and returned to Korea.

He served in the military while waiting for the overseas draft [a system where Korean professional athletes can defer or be exempt from mandatory military service if they achieve certain accomplishments].

Thanks to a grade 4 classification due to a shoulder injury, he was able to maintain his skills.

‘This time, I have to get special consideration no matter what. Whether it’s the Asian Games or the Olympics.’

To achieve that, reporters were important.

They couldn’t provide direct help, but.

They could constantly remind the public that a player named Lee Jung-woo existed.

They could advocate for his inclusion on the national team.

So, although he didn’t really like reporters, maintaining a moderate relationship was essential.

‘If I become a major league starter, I’ll be on the team no matter what, even without their help. But that’s too optimistic right now.’

He was only in Single-A.

He’d likely start there next year too.

Unless he played well enough to dominate the minors.

At best, he might reach Double-A.

After that, it was uncertain when he’d be called up to the majors.

The Braves’ situation with fielders wasn’t great, so there might be an opportunity.

But they could also bring in someone from the outside.

‘Then the Asian Games next year are virtually impossible. All that’s left is the Olympics in three years. If I’m still in the minors by then, public opinion will ultimately decide my fate.’

To be honest.

He didn’t care about the rest.

Lee Jung-woo’s patriotism was…

Thoroughly self-serving.

Not enough to get emotionally invested in such things.

Lee Jung-woo wasn’t particularly sentimental.

Nor was he naive.

‘It’s best to maintain a good relationship until I finish my military service obligations.’

That’s why Lee Jung-woo could overlook their rudeness for now.

There would be no need for it after that.

He had already been cursed at more than enough before his regression.

He wasn’t afraid.

####

Even after the media commotion.

Lee Jung-woo continued to improve.

Although overshadowed by the cycle hit.

His strong defensive performance validated the coaching staff’s faith in him.

Since then, he had often switched between designated hitter and third baseman, consistently performing well.

Lee Jung-woo, who quickly gained their trust, finally played as a shortstop in the last game in August.

‘They’re just giving me a taste. They’ve already decided to develop me as a shortstop.’

He roughly understood their intentions.

Most of the players were being rotated through different positions.

The team wasn’t focused on winning games at this point.

The season was almost over.

They wanted the players to develop and be ready to work harder next season.

Since they were planning to groom him as a shortstop anyway.

They wanted to give him experience.

“You can do well, right?”

“I’ve been learning. I have to do well.”

“You rascal, just play as well as you did when you first played third base. Then that spot will be yours next year.”

After listening to the defense coach’s encouragement.

Lee Jung-woo went onto the field, feeling like the coach’s words were a prediction.

He delivered an impressive play.

‘It’s coming. This—I have to run.’

A line drive that looked like it would break through the 3-You gap [the area between the third baseman and shortstop].

Lee Jung-woo dove as if flying and stretched out his glove with his left hand.

He was sure he could catch it.

‘Please reach, reach!’

Was it because his heart was so focused?

The ball barely touched the tip of his glove.

Lee Jung-woo quickly closed his glove to secure the catch.

A play that turned a clean left-field hit into an out.

Lee Jung-woo was certain.

He seemed to have a natural talent for defense.

He had done pretty well when he was defending on the mound as a pitcher, but it seemed like that was just a hint of his potential.

“Lee! Lee! Lee!”

“You’re going to the majors!”

When he made the brilliant defensive play.

The few spectators raised their beer glasses and chanted Lee Jung-woo’s name, or rather, his last name.

In a short time.

He had shown good performances in both batting and defense, and fans were starting to take notice.

‘I have fans….’

This was a first, even before his regression. To have fans cheer for a pathetic relief pitcher with poor stats.

There weren’t many generous people like that.

He was usually happy if he didn’t get cursed at.

He was lucky if it wasn’t a double curse.

A double curse was practically a given.

Because he was Lee Jung-woo.

So, his heart fluttered anew.

‘Then I have to live up to their expectations.’

Lee Jung-woo waved his hand briefly and made up his mind.

They were shouting so enthusiastically.

He had to repay them.

He carried the momentum from his defense into his batting.

He calmly waited for the pitcher’s offerings and continued the game.

He hit the 7th pitch.

‘It’s coming, a curveball.’

A curveball that seemed like it would crash into the ground.

The end of the bat almost touched the ground as he swung with his entire body.

It wasn’t a textbook batting stance, but the result was what mattered.

The primary virtue of a batter was to hit the ball.

‘It looks like it’s going to pass the right fielder… but the catch will be fast.’

Bang-

The ball soared high.

Not quite high enough to clear the fence.

Lee Jung-woo, who threw away his bat, quickly assessed the trajectory of the ball.

He started running.

After passing first base.

When he stepped on second base with his outstretched foot, the ball arrived late.

“Waaaaaa!”

‘This is enough.’

After nodding in satisfaction.

Lee Jung-woo refocused on the game and prepared for the next batter.

That’s how the season slowly came to an end.

####

‘Is it finally the last game?’

September 3rd.

Game against the Savannah Sand Gnats.

With this game, the long season was truly over.

Because there would be no fall baseball for the Rome Braves, who failed to advance from 4th place.

‘You could say the transition to batter was quite successful.’

The sample size was small.

Thanks to the opposing pitchers who underestimated him because he used to be a pitcher and threw easy-to-hit balls, it was a bit of a fluke.

But the stats themselves were excellent.

For the months of August and September alone, he was one of the best hitters in the league.

He had also performed flawlessly in the games he played on defense.

The situation had exceeded all expectations that this season would be a wash.

He felt relieved.

At least Lee Jung-woo didn’t have to worry about being sent down to the rookie league next season.

He was already preparing to bulk up both physically and mentally during the winter.

‘Then I have to make a memorable ending.’

Lee Jung-woo calmed his mind to finish the last game on a high note.

His condition was excellent.

Maybe it was because he felt secure.

He couldn’t feel any better.

‘I’ve hit six so far. Let’s add one more.’

Six home runs in a month.

His other stats were also good, so if this were the major leagues, he might have been named player of the month.

Well, most of those home runs came early on when he was underestimated, and as time passed.

The opposing teams, who understood his abilities, became more cautious, so his pace had slowed down a bit.

Lee Jung-woo wanted to increase his home run total as much as possible.

With the rise of sabermetrics [the empirical analysis of baseball], baseball had moved beyond the era of romance and embraced a more analytical approach.

But the fascination with home run hitters remained.

Thanks to sabermetrics, the value of home runs had increased even more than before.

‘It’s important to raise my ceiling for sure. Even if it’s not enough right now. Looking at the stats alone, I have to present myself as a promising home run prospect.’

The opposing pitcher was a curveballer who mixed changeups with a drop, relying primarily on his curveball.

That’s how he deceived batters. If you swung expecting a curveball, you’d be fooled by the changeup.

And vice versa, you’d miss the curveball.

His fastball was slow, with a maximum speed of 92 miles per hour.

Judging by his few walks, his control was good, but Lee Jung-woo excelled in head-to-head battles.

Just identify the pitch and wait, then hit it.

‘Hoo, let’s do this right.’

After lightly tapping both cheeks.

Lee Jung-woo stepped up to the plate and looked at the pitcher.

A left-handed pitcher; if he knew how to throw a slider, it would have been hell.

For Lee Jung-woo, who struggled with sliders, it felt like a magic ball thrown by a pitcher with the same arm angle.

‘So, the matchup itself isn’t bad.’

Lee Jung-woo nodded briefly and met the pitcher’s gaze.

He faced him indifferently.

Then the pitcher slightly distorted his face and looked away first.

Watching him adjust the signs with the catcher, Lee Jung-woo made a judgment.

‘Does the opposing team have enough information about me?’

He didn’t know.

Because he was a player who had only been playing for a month.

But they might know.

He had taken the league by storm with an impact that was second to none during that month.

They might be aware of him.

If so.

‘He also knows that I usually take the first pitch.’

Lee Jung-woo usually took the first pitch to get a feel for the pitcher.

If the opponent knew that too, he would want to get a free strike on the first pitch.

If he were the pitcher, he would just throw a strike.

‘Under the assumption that he understands me. Then he also knows that I’m good at hitting curveballs. So he won’t throw it as the first pitch. Then it’ll be a fastball, or a changeup with a bit more movement.’

Lee Jung-woo roughly visualized the strike zone.

He was aiming for a pitch that was slightly low in the zone, but still a strike.

Lee Jung-woo quickly made his decision, bounced his body slightly, and took his stance.

He made sure that the tightly held bat could be swung at any time.

And the first pitch was thrown.

‘It’s coming.’

The opponent wondered if it was possible.

He added some extra movement.

First pitch changeup.

It wasn’t an easy choice.

You had to have guts to do that.

That in itself was commendable, but in a situation where he had already read the opponent’s strategy.

The desired ball came.

“Hooheup-”

If you couldn’t hit that, you weren’t a batter.

Bbaack-

Lee Jung-woo didn’t hesitate and swung at the first pitch.

The sound of the ball cracking against the bat echoed crisply in the small stadium.

Lee Jung-woo gently put down his bat and casually rounded the bases as if he were taking a stroll.

‘A memorable ending. This is enough.’

####

After the league ended.

The players scattered.

The Arizona Fall League would be held in early October, so the selected players would have to fly there right away.

Players who weren’t selected had about two months until the Winter League opened.

Most of them would return home to see their families, whom they hadn’t seen during the season.

Lee Jung-woo was different.

The destination of his plane was not Korea but Miami.

25 games, 70 plate appearances, 66 at-bats.

24 hits, 7 home runs, 4 walks, 26 RBIs.

.364/.408/.818

The stats for the month were truly impressive.

Lee Jung-woo looked at them indifferently.

It wasn’t time to be self-satisfied with past achievements; that could wait until after retirement.

‘I’m sorry to my family. But now I have to build up my strength.’

First of all, he had raised expectations.

Now he had to meet them.

If not, it would have been better not to raise expectations at all.

If Lee Jung-woo showed a performance below expectations next season, a negative impression would be created.

After that, even if he showed good stats, people would think it was a fluke.

‘What I have to do right now is rest. But there’s one thing I can do while resting.’

What Lee Jung-woo needed now.

He knew exactly what he had to do this winter.

After a long flight.

Lee Jung-woo stepped into Miami International Airport and looked around.

A familiar face greeted him.

“Lee!”

“Mark.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to come out. Are you going straight to the accommodation?”

“Yeah, I’m going to.”

“You’re tired, aren’t you? I’ve booked a great place. Rest there.”

Lee Jung-woo answered a little awkwardly.

He had talked countless times on the phone, but seeing the agent he had left in the past face to face like this.

He felt a little strange.

Mark assumed that his awkwardness was due to flight fatigue, so he didn’t think much of it.

He picked him up in the car he drove.

“The batting trainer will come in a week. Rest until then.”

“Andrew Lavin, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. But are you sure about him? He doesn’t have much experience, so I’m a little unsure. Are you okay with him?”

“It’s okay, he’s perfect for me right now.”

Mark tilted his head at the vague words, then drove to the house he had rented so that Lee Jung-woo could live comfortably.

It was a bit expensive.

But he was willing to invest in his player.

“Your stats are good. I must have misjudged you. You’re fit to be a batter.”

“Yeah. I hope so too.”

“It’s definitely true. What player hits seven home runs in the season he converted? And you recorded a batting average in the high .300s. Your OPS was crazy too… wait, maybe not?”

Mark, who was laughing heartily, looked at Lee Jung-woo with a frightened expression.

Lee Jung-woo, who understood the implication, shook his head in amusement.

“Don’t worry, it’s not drug-induced.”

He himself had never touched drugs, even before his regression, when he was struggling and desperate.

Maybe it was because it was rumored that he still had the $2.5 million contract money, so he was considered a miser.

He had received countless offers to use performance enhancing drugs.

He had rejected them all.

‘What’s the point of recording good stats with drugs? It’s no different from self-consolation with grades recorded by cheating in a baseball game.’

Lee Jung-woo smiled cynically and roughly explained the reason for his great stats to Mark.

“It’s just a fluke. I’m good at hitting pitches with late movement. The opponents didn’t know that, so I accumulated a lot of stats in the beginning. If I just blank out like this, I’ll plummet from next year.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve prepared everything.”

Lee Jung-woo nodded at Mark’s words and went into the house after they arrived.

He checked the refrigerator first.

A large double-door refrigerator filled with high-quality beef, delicious beef, and thick cuts of beef.

To gain weight and increase muscle mass with weight training, beef was the answer, in addition to carbohydrates.

He was already feeling nauseous.

He knew the pain well because he had bulked up before his regression to increase his speed.

He had felt that eating was painful for the first time back then.

‘Just looking at it makes me want to throw up.’

“The batting trainer I hired this time also agreed that you need to bulk up. He said it’s ideal to gain about 20 pounds. I’ve specially sourced high-quality stuff, so chew and swallow hard. Good luck.”

Mark smiled and raised his thumb.

Lee Jung-woo slammed the refrigerator door nervously.

What he needed most right now.

Of course, it was bulking up.

To become a slugger.

192lbs, a little less because he lost weight while playing the game, 190lbs (86.18kg) was too light.