Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 32

End of Pitching, Start of Batting – Episode 31

After finishing practice.

While walking to the locker room after a brief conversation with Derrick.

Someone approached and tapped Lee Jungwoo on the shoulder.

“Hey, rookie. You’re pretty good, huh?”

“Ah, yes.”

‘Who is this… Ah, that player.’

Lee Jungwoo, who had been wracking his brain at the vaguely familiar face, realized where he had seen him.

Braves’ fielding blooper reel.

He had definitely seen him there.

As a shortstop.

‘The guy who got caught the most after Ray Garza. His name was… Darren Robson, wasn’t it?’

“You’re doing great. Where did you learn that? You were a pitcher, right? Wow~ Are you going to surpass me later?”

Robson spoke to him in a friendly manner.

At first glance, he seemed like just a senior player with a good personality, but.

Lee Jungwoo wasn’t fooled.

‘He’s reacting exaggeratedly on purpose. How long have I been a pro? I’m not going to fall for that.’

An exaggerated reaction.

It seemed like he was trying to show someone, so Lee Jungwoo roughly understood.

He had seen it a lot before his regression.

A player with an unstable position deliberately taking care of other players.

Trying to solidify his position.

Robson was also a shortstop.

And Lee Jungwoo was a young prospect.

So he was deliberately trying to take care of him intimately, aiming for that.

‘If he was a genuinely good person from the start. He would have come and taught me from the beginning. Not suddenly coming now that the coach is paying attention.’

Lee Jungwoo looked at his face as he even put his arm around his shoulder and spoke to him in a friendly manner.

A person whose acting skills were as lacking as his defense.

He almost snorted in laughter, but.

Of course, he didn’t actually do it.

It wouldn’t be good to build a reputation for ignoring seniors.

“You’re doing great. Let’s work together later. Oh, right, you’re a shortstop. Well, so what? If you have any questions, I’ll teach you. Feel free to ask anytime.”

“Yes, I will. Well, I need to get to the locker room… I’m sweating a lot.”

“Ah, sorry, sorry. Go and change quickly.”

Lee Jungwoo, who slightly bowed his head and got away from him, couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Aside from being the starting shortstop.

To be honest, he was someone you could never trust in terms of defense.

If he had seen that blooper reel when he was a pitcher.

Lee Jungwoo was certain that he would never have thrown the ball towards the shortstop.

But who was teaching whom?

Lee Jungwoo scoffed.

‘Am I crazy to learn defense from you? There are plenty of other good examples.’

####

Of course, Lee Jungwoo never approached Robson to learn anything.

His mind was solely focused on Derrick.

In addition to showing chemistry, he had personal respect for Derrick.

First of all, he was good at defense.

He also had great loyalty to the team, and decisively, he had a good personality.

“Captain. How should I throw the ball so it’s easier for you to catch?”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a former pitcher, but your throws are always accurate, so it’s always easy. Just throw it as fast as possible without thinking about anything else. I’ll take care of the rest.”

A trustworthy face unlike someone else.

Lee Jungwoo nodded.

If Robson had this level of defense.

He would have built a friendship with him, regardless of his intentions or sincerity.

But wasn’t that not the case?

To Lee Jungwoo, Robson was a competitor to overcome someday, not a mentor.

When Lee Jungwoo thought of Robson.

Derrick made a slightly subtle expression and said.

“But like before. Your positioning isn’t very good, to be honest. To be exact, I should say it’s awkward.”

“Ah, I know that too. Maybe it’s because it’s not ingrained in my body. It doesn’t improve easily.”

“Well, positioning is ultimately about repetitive training. But you’re definitely improving, even if it’s slow. Keep up the good work.”

Derrick patted him on the back and encouraged him.

“When your positioning becomes perfect. You’ll be able to handle balls that you barely catch with a diving catch now easily later.”

‘A mentor is someone like this.’

Derrick, who sincerely taught him the basics and know-how.

And sometimes pointed out his shortcomings, was enough of a mentor even though their positions were different.

That’s why Lee Jungwoo quickly erased Robson from his mind and continued to hang out with him.

Watching their friendship naturally build up.

The defense coach’s eyes sparkled.

####

“So, you’re suggesting putting Lee as Derrick’s partner in this evaluation match?”

“Yes, Derrick is leading him a lot right now. But the potential is certain. His current skills are… frankly, amazing.”

The defense coach thought of Lee Jungwoo.

The incredibly good defense coming from his overwhelming athletic ability was drool-worthy.

His body trembled at the thought of him playing with Derrick in the big leagues.

However, there were also several things to fix.

Fortunately, Derrick unintentionally became his mentor, so he was quickly improving.

So the defense coach thought it was okay to keep the possibility open.

“Derrick is comfortable with him more than anything else. Thanks to Lee’s wide range of defense, Derrick’s stamina is preserved.”

“But what about Robson? There’s Funcle too. And other guys in the minors.”

The defense coach hesitated for a moment at the manager’s words.

As he said, there was already a starting shortstop and a second shortstop.

Their pride could be hurt.

But he saw the potential.

Lee Jungwoo’s defense showed the hope of the Braves.

“If Lee grows well… In a few years, our team’s center line can be filled with two Gold Glove winners.”

“You think that much of him?”

“Yes. I can assure you with my coaching position on the line.”

At the defense coach’s resolute words, the manager let out a low groan.

Robson wasn’t very skilled and lacked stability, but he had consistently shown his skills. He was a resource that could be used right away.

On the other hand, Lee had a lot of potential and talent, but he ultimately needed to be seasoned.

Since they each had their own strengths and weaknesses, he couldn’t easily make a decision.

“I’m not saying he should start. I’m just saying that we should keep him on the same team and check his sense of the game even as a substitute.”

When the manager still couldn’t make a decision, the defense coach delivered the final blow.

“We can’t keep going like this, can we? There’s no guarantee that a big-name shortstop will come to our team someday. There will be some problems for a while. But think about the future, manager.”

At his words, the manager made a decision after much deliberation. And that’s how the internal evaluation match roster was completed.

####

“Lee, the evaluation match roster is out. Let’s go see it together.”

“Ah, yes.”

After showering after practice. Robson, who happened to run into him, approached and spoke to him.

Lee Jungwoo, who nodded reluctantly at his suggestion, headed to the bulletin board with him.

Robson said to Lee Jungwoo with a confident expression.

“Even if you’re not on the list, it’s just an evaluation match. Don’t think too much about it.”

“Yes, I should.”

Lee Jungwoo reacted indifferently to the reaction that seemed to assume he wouldn’t be on the list.

Soon after, when they checked the list.

Their faces became a little subtle.

“Huh?”

“Oh.”

The players who checked the list either hardened their faces and sighed deeply.

Or rejoiced with bright faces.

Or they had a nonchalant expression as if it was natural.

Among them, Lee Jungwoo was pressing down on the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.

‘I’m not starting, but I’m on the list. How should I think about this…’

The intention was too well contained in the list divided into two teams.

Lee Jungwoo was listed as a reserve for Team A.

Among most of the players, including pitchers, who were a mix of rotation, minor leaguers, and starters.

There was that person as a second baseman.

‘They’re going to test me once.’

“Oh… you’re on the list? Congratulations.”

“It’s just an evaluation match anyway. Robson, you’re starting.”

“Well, I’m a starter. But… hmm.”

When Robson, who was also listed as a starter on Team A, groaned a little.

Someone approached from behind and stuck his face in.

“Oh, Lee, you’re on the same team?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“If you play as a substitute, just do as well as you did in training~ I’m getting old. I need to make defense a little easier.”

A man who put his arm around him in a friendly manner, Derrick Hunt. He was also a second baseman for Team A.

That revealed the intention.

‘They’re going to compare us once.’

The intention to check the chemistry between Lee Jungwoo and Derrick, who had become close rapidly after defense training, and Robson, the existing starting shortstop.

It wasn’t a practice game.

The roster changed from moment to moment, so it couldn’t have much meaning.

Still, it was half a success because the manager was somewhat expecting his teamwork with Derrick.

Besides that, he could properly face major league pitchers.

It was a good opportunity for Lee Jungwoo, who needed experience with good pitchers.

‘It will become clear with this evaluation match. Whether I really have a talent for hitting or not.’

Lee Jungwoo, who watched the list for a moment, said to Derrick.

“Derrick, if we get to play, let’s do well, us.”

“Of course, we have to. Just do what you’ve been doing. Then…”

Maybe you can come up in the fall.

Derrick swallowed the rest of his words.

But even if he didn’t say it out loud.

Lee Jungwoo knew what he was trying to say.

So did Robson, who had a very distorted face.

“Tsk.”

He stomped his feet a little harder with a slightly unpleasant expression and walked away.

‘His pride must be hurt because he has to compete with a player he didn’t even consider.’

Lee Jungwoo, who smiled faintly at him, headed to the training ground with Derrick again to practice his teamwork with him.

####

The internal evaluation match was simple.

Because it was no different from a regular game.

So some players prepared for the game with a light heart.

But most of them had a sense of tension on their faces.

Internal evaluation match.

It was just a practice game.

But if they showed disappointing play, they could be dropped to the minor league camp as is.

The exhibition game was just around the corner.

If that happened.

It was certain that they would feel an indescribable sense of deprivation beyond disappointment.

That’s why most players were maximizing their physical condition with tense expressions.

Among them, there was a player with an unpleasant expression.

‘Damn it, what’s going on? Who is that guy? Should I have paid attention to that guy too?’

Robson was a little annoyed.

He was only paying attention to the other shortstops that the general manager had newly brought in during this winter because they bothered him.

A guy he had never even thought of appeared as a competitor.

‘Are you going to weigh me against a minor league scrub? The manager must be crazy.’

He wasn’t an idiot.

If you look at the list, you can roughly figure out what intentions are contained in it.

The manager was now trying to compare Darren Robson himself with that minor leaguer from the East whose name was also strange, nothing else.

That made Robson feel unpleasant.

Did he do poorly last year?

Okay, he admitted it. He thought it was too much himself.

But this wasn’t it.

He was a major league starter.

And that guy was a minor leaguer, even Single A. He thought this didn’t make sense.

‘Hoo, let’s be patient. The fans’ reactions aren’t good right now, so it’s not good to fight with the manager. I just need to do my job well. No matter how lacking my defense is. I’m much better than that kid.’

Thinking that way, he mind-controlled himself and turned his head to look at the second baseman, Derrick.

Seeing him, the annoyance he had been trying to suppress soared again.

Why did the captain, who was always so great on his own, have to coddle a minor league kid and cause this mess?

Robson felt even more hateful towards the captain, who was always so great on his own, today.

“Let’s do well, Robson.”

When their eyes met, Derrick, who was tapping his glove with a warm smile as usual.

Robson, who turned his head away, stared at the front with burning eyes.

“He doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.”

Derrick, who scratched the back of his neck awkwardly at the cold reaction, also stared ahead. And so, their chemistry was slightly off again today.

####

Lee Jungwoo sat on the bench in a stiff posture like a newly enlisted soldier and watched the game.

He didn’t know when they were training together.

Everyone’s level was different when they actually played the game.

Everything fit together perfectly like a cogwheel. And there wasn’t a single player who moved carelessly.

Even Darren Robson was showing a more stable defense than he had ever seen before, so that said it all.

‘This is the major leagues.’

He had attended spring camp and even played as a starter in exhibition games in his past life.

But it felt different now.

It was as if a heavy pressure was weighing him down.

‘Can I blend in well among these monsters?’

When Lee Jungwoo, whose body was stiff from the deep tension, swallowed hard.

A low, heavy voice was heard as if whispering.

“The first pitch is an outside slider.”

Lee Jungwoo, who turned his head to check the direction he heard it from, frowned.

The owner of the voice was a big shot.

‘Joey Fredman.’

The Hank Aaron of our time [a legendary baseball player, known for his home run record].

Such a great man was watching the game with a serious expression.

Lee Jungwoo, who had never even been able to properly talk to him because he was usually overwhelmed by his taciturn and solemn atmosphere, watched him.

‘Is he predicting the game?’

It was rare but it happened sometimes.

In the case of predicting the future with excellent psychological warfare and strategy.

The great Greg Maddux also had a similar anecdote.

He predicted a line drive to first base.

He said that the coach would get hurt, so he had to call an ambulance in advance.

Or he said that if he threw a slider, the batter would forcibly pull it, and it would fly to the warning track, so he told the center fielder to prepare in advance. Stories like that were passed down like legends.

‘So if you’re at that level, is it easy to predict the game? But…’

Lee Jungwoo, who was lightly impressed by that, tilted his head.

It was a great sight, but there was something a little bothering him.

“Strike!”

The game started.

The opposing pitcher threw the first pitch, and it cleanly pierced the inside of the right-handed batter’s body.

That made it one strike.

But it’s a fastball.

‘Joey Fredman is a hitter who hits with his senses, not with strategy.’

“The next ball is a low changeup.”

The pitcher, who finished the interval, quickly threw the ball, and it was a high fastball that tricked the batter once more.

That made it strike two.

“The winning shot is a backdoor slider. Randleman will swing and miss.”

The batter swung wildly at the low changeup and stepped down from the plate.

“Damn it, nothing’s right.”

Lee Jungwoo, who saw Joey getting up from his seat and grabbing his glove, let out a hollow laugh.

He never thought that there would be such a side behind that solemn person.

But thanks to that, the tension eased.

Lee Jungwoo watched the rest of the game with a nonchalant expression as usual.

That’s when.

The opportunity came to him.

“Oh, that.”

“Oh my~ Robson kid is starting again. Is the pitcher okay?”

“No, how can he do that even in a practice game? That’s amazing too.”

The players were sighing.

Some of them were also sparkling their eyes while looking for an opportunity.

Some people had already expected it and smiled and gave up.

Darren Robson’s mistake had exploded.

The manager groaned lowly.

Soon after, he made a decision.

‘Good, that potential. Let’s see it once.’

“Lee, get ready.”