Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 21

A clean hit, destined to be a home run.

It soared over the short fence.

Had it been a Major League stadium, it would have landed in the upper deck.

“Huh, what is this…”

The opposing agent, who was catching, muttered in disbelief.

The pitcher on the mound also stared blankly at the ball, his face blank.

He’d taken a big hit.

He’d underestimated me, thinking I was just Single-A [the lowest level of minor league baseball].

His pride seemed wounded by the unexpected blow.

But.

That wasn’t the end.

Confidence.

Confidence that his changes were working surged from within.

It showed in his swing.

‘Fastball.’

Whack-

‘Slider.’

Thwack-

‘Changeup? I can hit it.’

Tap-

After that, Lee Jung-woo didn’t miss a single pitch.

He hit every ball that came his way, except for those that were too far outside or too high.

And every one of them was a hit.

The pitcher, who had been red-faced, slumped his shoulders.

First, it was disregard. Then annoyance, and then anger.

The pitcher, who had gone through them all, was now in despair.

‘I might have ruined a perfectly good pitcher. I feel a little bad.’

An overwhelming victory.

Lee Jung-woo literally crushed the pitcher.

Fast bat speed and power.

And improved plate discipline.

The contact created by these allowed him to easily handle even pitchers from higher leagues than himself.

He hit 9 out of the 15 pitches he had originally agreed to, and none of them looked like they would be outs.

In fact, three of them were massive home run-worthy shots…

“Good work.”

“…”

The pitcher walked off without a word.

The agent also threw off his catcher’s gear.

Still looking incredulous, he gave a short greeting and ran off the field as if fleeing.

“His mentality broke. Well, I guess it’s understandable… Good job, Lee. And thank you for your hard work, Mr. Lubin.”

“Oh, I didn’t expect this level of result either. It seems like Lee is a good fit.”

“Well, I guess so for now.”

The result of the match against High-A [an advanced level of minor league baseball] was like this.

Even Mark, who still couldn’t shake off his suspicious gaze, had no choice but to admit it.

Andrew Lubin shook his head, unable to believe that the results far exceeded his expectations.

Of course, he had to consider that the pitcher’s skills were not perfect because it was the offseason.

But still, the results were significant.

‘It was a good match. Thanks to it, I’m sure my choice was right.’

Lee Jung-woo watched the pitcher’s retreating figure as he fled the field in embarrassment.

He praised his choice.

He had felt that his skills had improved to some extent, but seeing it in an actual match was no joke.

The heavy, dull swing had become lighter.

Not that it wasn’t powerful.

But like the lightning-fast swings of the big league players he had seen on TV or in internet videos.

It had only been a month, but if it was this good, and when the change was complete, and after he had adapted, surely many things would change.

“Then let’s go too, to train.”

####

The general manager’s work began in earnest after the season.

Although the postseason was still in progress, it had nothing to do with the Atlanta Braves, who finished third in the division and failed to make the playoffs.

“Sigh, look into the players who are becoming free agents. Ray, see if we can’t sell those sons of bitches off this winter. Not just the fans, but I can’t stand to see their faces anymore either.”

General Manager Pratt cursed at the third baseman, who was so unstable that it was a miracle he didn’t have double-digit errors this year, venting his anger.

He was once a good player who was said to be a franchise star.

He had kept an eye on him this season, but it was beyond recovery.

“Well, other teams know that Ray is washed up….”

“His hitting is still decent, isn’t it? He hits some home runs too. Look for teams in the American League with designated hitters.”

“Yes, I will. Oh, the winter league for the prospects has been decided, would you like to review it?”

Pratt’s face, which had been irritated, softened a little at the aide’s words.

Although it wasn’t a great farm system [a team’s minor league affiliates], he felt a little better when he heard about the prospects.

He could reassure himself that things would get better someday.

Pratt, who had become similar to the fans as he worked as general manager, checked the documents that the aide handed him.

“Send the Hispanics to Central and South America, and the rest to Australia. Textbook.”

Just as he expected.

Since the agreements with the teams had already been completed, the prospects’ winter preparations were complete.

Lee Jung-woo’s trip to Australia was decided that way.

Pratt, who had been smiling contentedly as he thought about the prospects, shuddered as he recalled the fans shouting at him to get lost every time the players made mistakes.

‘Sigh, I have to develop prospects. I don’t want to see those guys anymore.’

Pratt desperately hoped that one of the prospects would suddenly succeed and change the Braves’ and his own situation.

####

It feels like yesterday that I set foot in Miami in early September, but it’s already late October.

Time disappeared in an instant. But it was worth it.

Most of it was practice and practice, weight training and Pilates, and practice, and more practice.

Anyway, the schedule was tight, especially after the practice game that gave Lee Jung-woo confidence.

Mark must have learned something.

He even scouted players who were training nearby. Busy days continued, so time passed quickly in the blink of an eye.

‘Well, considering the schedule, it’s bound to feel fast. It was even tighter than when the season was in full swing.’

Time seems to disappear when you’re focused on something.

Lee Jung-woo, who had been pushing himself that hard, was very different from when he had just flown to Miami right after the end of the season.

“Pantsless again?”

“Before going to the airport, I have to check one last time.”

“Lee, you’re making me develop a taste I didn’t have before. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“I have to do this to be accurate.”

The pantsless Lee Jung-woo was very different from his former, slightly slender self as an athlete.

It had only been a short time, less than two months, but perhaps because of the hard training, or perhaps because Lee Jung-woo himself was born strong, he exuded the aura of a great general.

“Oh… the meat prices aren’t a waste, are they?”

“To be this good in just two months, Lee definitely has a natural physique.”

When that was combined with Lee Jung-woo’s distinct and masculine appearance, he looked like an American hero from a comic book.

And with Mark, who was relatively small, standing between Lee Jung-woo and Andrew Lubin, who was a former player and a trainer specializing in hitting, he looked like a cicada on an old tree [insignificant and easily overlooked].

But he wasn’t aware of it.

He could only admire.

“At this rate, you could be Captain Korea.”

Mark was in awe of Lee Jung-woo’s perfect, desirable physique, even as a man.

Andrew Lubin also smacked his lips.

“Hmm, you might even attract women like this… Come to think of it, the way that red-haired woman at the gym looked at you was unusual. Is there anything going on?”

Lee Jung-woo snorted and shook his head at Mark, who poked him in the ribs with a sly expression.

“No.”

“Really? Really nothing? It wasn’t just any look… Didn’t you get her number or something?”

“I said no.”

Actually, there was something.

Not that he got her number.

But she would wink at him.

Or openly admire his body.

And as time passed.

She would approach him, asking him to teach her, subtly touching his shoulder or thigh.

But if he told Mark about it, he would make a huge fuss.

So, Lee Jung-woo quietly shut his mouth and stepped onto the scale in his underwear.

“You’re really enjoying it. This scale is made in China, but it’s well-made. It’s been used hundreds of times and hasn’t broken.”

“214 pounds (97kg). It’s 4 pounds more than originally planned. I’d say the bulking up was successful.”

Before leaving.

Lee Jung-woo, having checked his weight one last time, stepped off the scale and closed his eyes tightly.

He was filled with emotions.

‘Hoo. It’s really over. Now I just have to maintain it.’

This isn’t just fat gained from eating a lot.

It’s armor made of muscle.

How much sweat did he shed to complete this?

How many cows did he kill?

If you combined the weight of the beef he ate, you could probably build a barn.

As those efforts flashed through his mind like a slideshow, Lee Jung-woo’s eyes welled up slightly.

“One pound more than yesterday. Good job.”

“Thanks. It would have been tough without Mark. And Lubin, too.”

In other words.

This autumn was thanks to the efforts of Lee Jung-woo and the trainers, but.

In reality, it was Mark’s work.

He was able to have a successful offseason thanks to Mark preparing everything.

Mark smiled awkwardly and waved his hand at Lee Jung-woo’s expression of gratitude, then checked his watch and nodded.

“We can leave right away. You’re all packed, right? You brought your bat and glove, too?”

“How many times are you going to ask? I packed everything, so don’t worry.”

“The accommodation will be provided, so don’t worry about that. If anything is difficult, contact me right away. And don’t cause trouble on your own like last time and have me hear about it from someone else.”

‘He’s still holding a grudge.’

Mark bringing up again how Lee Jung-woo had forgotten he had an agent and decided to switch positions without consulting him.

He’s a very capable agent, but.

In many ways, he had a lot of human qualities.

Lubin approached Lee Jung-woo, who was smirking, and asked with a slightly burdensome look.

“You’ll start training as soon as you get back, right?”

His expression seemed to demand a definite yes.

Although it was awkward.

Lee Jung-woo nodded.

“I have to. It’s better to train a little more before spring camp.”

“Then I’ll have everything ready.”

Lubin then grinned.

Lee Jung-woo shivered slightly.

Whether it was because he liked Lee Jung-woo, who followed his instructions well and showed clear training results.

Lubin, who had signed a formal contract as a full-time trainer rather than the existing term contract, seemed determined to push Lee Jung-woo hard.

Thanks to him, he was well-prepared, so he was grateful… but it was still a bit *b 부담스럽다 [burdensome] *.

Forcibly averting his gaze from him, Lee Jung-woo packed his luggage one last time.

He got into the car that Mark had prepared in advance.

“Let’s do well over there, too. Smash everything. Who knows? If you do well, you might start in the Fire Frogs.”

Just because he does well in the winter league.

The front office wouldn’t suddenly assign him to High-A [Advanced Single-A, a level in minor league baseball], but.

Still, it was a nice thing to say.

Lee Jung-woo nodded.

Because you never know, like he said.

“Yeah, I’ll give it a try.”

Mark smiled faintly as if that was exactly what he wanted to hear.

The engine started with a heavy rumble.

Its destination was Adelaide, Australia.

The winter league.

####

Because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia’s climate is different; when it is winter in other places, it is actually summer.

Therefore, November could be said to be around early summer based on the Northern Hemisphere.

But it wasn’t very hot.

That’s because.

“It’s winter compared to Miami, winter. Don’t you think?”

“It’s nice and cool.”

Compared to Miami, where the temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius all year round.

Adelaide, at most 25-6 degrees, was so cold that you could wear a *점퍼 [jumper, a type of jacket]* (with a bit of exaggeration).

Lee Jung-woo, satisfied with the moderately pleasant temperature, got into the pickup truck.

He thought about the team he would be playing for.

‘Adelaide Giants, huh…’

The Adelaide Giants, a team in the Southwest Division of the Australian Baseball League.

That was the team he would be playing for for the next 40 games.

A new place, a new team, a new league. Lee Jung-woo’s heart was pounding a little.

“Shall we go to the accommodation?”

“No, the stadium first.”

“Okay.”

The Australian Baseball League, ABL, is usually rated as Single-A to High-A.

Occasionally, major league veterans or AAAA-level players sign contracts and play.

In any case, it is a league that is similar to or slightly higher than the Single-A league that Lee Jung-woo played in.

But he wasn’t nervous or worried.

Just as the league is different.

He is also different.

‘It’s a short time, but the results aren’t light.’

A deep confidence that he had never seen before filled the inside of his body.

It’s a slightly unfamiliar feeling.

August and September were amazing, but.

He was afraid that it was a fluke that would be exposed someday.

He had never felt this confident because he thought it wasn’t his real skill.

But not anymore.

He still has a lot to learn and fill, but.

He has become a more complete player, at least more so than he was then, in two months.

‘I can do it.’

“We’re here. This is where you’ll be playing during the winter. How is it?”

“It’s good. It doesn’t feel bad.”

Diamond Sports Stadium. Home stadium of the Adelaide Giants.

Looking at it.

Lee Jung-woo thought.

‘40 games. It’s the perfect time to check my skills. Let’s do it right.’

Let’s really smash everything.

It’ll be tough, but it doesn’t seem impossible.

Lee Jung-woo smiled faintly and strode into the stadium.

That’s how the rising star who would shake the league entered the ABL [Australian Baseball League].