Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 39

End of Pitching, Start of Hitting – Episode 38 (39/287)

“Good job. Your clutch ability is amazing. Is that 5 RBIs now?”

“I think so?”

“Your base running was perfect too. If you’d gone any further, you’d have been caught. Their right fielder has a great arm.”

Lee Jung-woo received praise from the first base coach as he stepped onto the base.

But his mind was elsewhere.

He didn’t really hear it.

Lee Jung-woo felt strange.

The fantasy he’d held until now had been shattered.

Major League—he’d harbored a vague longing for those short words.

Like all baseball players, Lee Jung-woo had thought of the Major League as another world.

It was a place he could never reach, so that kind of expectation had built up.

Even after regressing and becoming a challenger again, the solidified fantasy hadn’t disappeared.

And it hadn’t changed much even after being invited to the Major League spring camp.

But that was all shattered now.

In fact, it had started to crack little by little when he stole a home run from Roy Pennington, a Major League regular, in an intra-squad scrimmage.

The big league, which had felt so distant, had suddenly become too close.

But even so, he didn’t completely let go, thinking it was just another scrimmage, just a practice game.

Then, after facing pitchers in the exhibition game, even if only briefly, it cracked wide open.

And this at-bat completely shattered it.

For Lee Jung-woo, the Major League was no longer someone else’s business, not just the story of other geniuses.

Now, he was good enough to confidently join them.

He realized that only today.

‘I can make it in the Major League. Me.’

A strange desire surged within him.

He felt like laughing, but at the same time, he felt like he might shed a tear.

But he tried to suppress his emotions.

Indulging in sentimentality was a luxury.

He could do it after the game, while showering and washing away the sweat.

He could chuckle to himself alone before falling asleep in a soft bed.

Whatever it was, Lee Jung-woo knew he shouldn’t do it during the game.

‘Focus. The first inning isn’t even over yet. It’s ridiculous to be arrogant already.’

Clearing his head, Lee Jung-woo refocused on the game.

Just then, the fifth batter, Desmond, was coming to the plate.

His face was frozen, as he was also making his first appearance in today’s exhibition game.

He was consumed by tension.

‘He’s going to swing with his eyes closed.’

In this case, it’s one of two things.

Either he gets toyed with by the pitcher and gets chased out, or he gets lucky and hits one out.

Of course, the former is more likely than the latter.

‘I should help him out a bit, to leave a good impression.’

Lee Jung-woo gave a signal to the first base coach and increased his lead.

Since there’s no way for a runner on base to help the batter’s mentality, he’ll shake the pitcher’s mentality instead.

Even just half a year ago.

As a veteran pitcher with a long career, Lee Jung-woo knew what pitchers hated, so he shook the pitcher like a seasoned batter.

It’s not like he particularly liked Desmond.

He knew that he could get the attention of the coaching staff with this kind of minor play.

It was just an action for himself.

As he widened his lead.

The pitcher glanced at Lee Jung-woo, and because of the pitcher not focusing on him.

Desmond relaxed his tension.

And the ensuing match.

Even though there was a low probability of the runner stealing with two outs.

Perhaps the pitcher was annoyed by the characteristics of a prospect who wanted to stand out at any cost.

The pitcher managed Desmond while continuing to glare at Lee Jung-woo.

‘Good. Keep doing that—’

“Oops.”

As a pickoff throw came suddenly, Lee Jung-woo let out a folksy exclamation and slid back to the base, dusting off the dirt from his slide.

The first base coach silently gave him a thumbs up for his selfless play.

“Take it easy, kid. You’re not going to run anyway, right? Just relax and wait to go.”

“I think I’m bigger than you no matter how you look at it? And since I already got a hit, it would be even better if I added a steal, right?”

Lee Jung-woo continued to maintain his lead, not caring that the Red Sox’s first baseman was glaring at him.

Unfortunately, Desmond’s mental strength was a little weaker than the pitcher’s wavering mentality.

He was completely fooled by the pitcher’s changeup and swung vigorously, seemingly angry at himself for not seizing the opportunity given to him.

He ruffled his hair irritably.

“Take it easy. Otherwise, they’ll write that you have mental issues.”

Lee Jung-woo, who was trudging back to the dugout, advised Desmond, who still seemed full of frustration.

Desmond looked at him as if he was strange and asked.

“How did you hit that? It was coming in like a fastball.”

“I hit it by twisting the trajectory with my wrist. You try it too.”

Isn’t it easy?

Desmond chuckled at the answer that seemed like he was about to say that.

Lee Jung-woo had shattered the fantasy of the Major League, but he hadn’t realized that he was what they call a genius.

####

The game progressed quickly.

In the top of the third inning, Lee Jung-woo hit a double that slammed into the fence, adding two more RBIs. He put on his glove and went out to the field to play defense.

‘Both sides are on fire. It’s all extra-base hits.’

But there wasn’t much Lee Jung-woo could do.

Because both teams were hitting everything high, as if competing in long hits.

Only balls that the shortstop could never catch came out.

Lee Jung-woo was a little more bored than usual.

But he didn’t let his guard down.

Just then, the Boston’s fifth batter came to the plate.

‘Daniel Kerr. He hit a home run earlier. Is he aiming for another big one this time?’

The batter who had scored one RBI with a large solo home run in the previous at-bat.

As a left-handed hitter, the data said that most of his hits went to the right fielder’s side because he was an extreme pull hitter [a batter who tends to hit the ball to the opposite field].

The home run he recorded in this game was also a home run that soared over the right fence.

But somehow, he had a bad feeling.

‘I have a feeling one is coming my way….’

A professional player’s intuition is more accurate than you think, so if it vibrates intensely, it’s almost always right.

Lee Jung-woo, who knew this from long experience, loosened his ankles and prepared to run out at any time.

He watched the match with serious eyes.

‘He has great power. He doesn’t seem that big. Is he like me, with good wrist strength?’

Unlike his small stature.

Lee Jung-woo’s eyes narrowed as he watched the batter produce powerful hits.

The batter hit it.

[The batter hit it. A ball that bounced. Can the third baseman catch it?]

‘Can Poppin catch it? Let’s help him first.’

The ball that hit the ground and bounced slightly bounced quickly towards the third baseman.

After quickly making a decision.

Lee Jung-woo, who started quickly thanks to his prior preparation, narrowed the distance at an incredible speed.

[The third baseman can’t catch it! Lee catches it as is! Can he do it?]

The third baseman could have handled it.

But he ran to block it for sure. After catching the ball that the third baseman had dropped.

He jumped slightly.

‘I’ll turn and throw it like this.’

He rotated about halfway and fired the throw.

It wasn’t very fast.

But instead, the ball that flew very accurately was firmly embedded in the first baseman’s glove.

“Out!”

[Shortstop Jung-woo Lee shows off his crazy defensive skills! How does he catch that like that?]

[Judgment of the hit, catch, throw. The three elements perfectly match, and Jung-woo Lee catches the batter-runner.]

If it was a Major League game.

The aftermath would have been significant as it was a play that would have been posted on the homepage.

Even the Red Sox supporters in the stands applauded.

His fellow players looked at Lee Jung-woo with dazed expressions.

“You crazy bastard! You caught that?”

Super play.

Poppin, the third baseman who was dusting off the dirt from his dive at Lee Jung-woo, who had transformed a hit into an out, spat out an exclamation mixed with profanity.

“I just had a feeling. I started early.”

“Huh, you have to come up? Derek is Derek, but I think I need you too.”

“If you ever call me, I will work hard.”

Lee Jung-woo smiled slightly and returned to his position.

Towards him, the pitcher clapped wildly or gave a thumbs up, doing everything he could.

For Lee Jung-woo, who had left a clear impression in both the at-bat and the defense, the long-awaited match was approaching.

####

Top of the 5th inning.

This is his third time.

Lee Jung-woo, who was entering the plate for what was likely to be his last chance, smacked his lips as if he was a little disappointed.

‘Am I not going to face Adam Straight? I wanted to win this time.’

His goal in this game.

Adam Straight, who was originally supposed to pitch in the 4th inning, hadn’t even shown his face yet.

Perhaps because of the fierce slugfest that had left each other battered.

It seemed like it had changed a bit.

Lee Jung-woo, who had a strong desire to face the future Cy Young Award winner [award given to the best pitcher in each league] with his improved skills.

He was disappointed.

But he still went to the on-deck circle with composure.

‘No outs, runners on first and second. If I do well, it could be bases loaded?’

To get something else.

Lee Jung-woo watched the match with greedy eyes.

But Joey hit an extra-base hit that rolled into the outfield.

Bringing in all the runners.

Lee Jung-woo, who came to the plate with a slightly deflated expression, narrowed his eyes.

‘Pitcher change. It’s Adam Straight.’

A pitcher walked from the bullpen to the mound.

It was Adam Straight, whom he had been waiting for so long, who had taken the mound.

Lee Jung-woo, who had been scanning him as he practiced pitching, nodded.

‘He’s a little taller than when I saw him last year. He’s also bulked up. He looks almost like I remember.’

Whether he had leveled up hard during the winter, he boasted a thick body like he knew.

Lee Jung-woo’s heart fluttered a little as he looked at him.

When they met in Single A [minor league level] last summer, he couldn’t even put up a fight and stepped down.

It was his turn to repay the promise he made for the future.

Lee Jung-woo, who slowly came to the plate, looked at him without even glancing at the catcher.

Adam Straight also looked at Lee Jung-woo without bothering to avoid his gaze.

From his appearance, Lee Jung-woo realized.

‘Does he not even remember a nobody like me?’

He doesn’t know himself.

Perhaps naturally so.

There was no space in his head to remember a Single A hitter who had faced him once and was miserably defeated.

Lee Jung-woo, who laughed at the sight of him not even remembering, unlike himself, who had been waiting for the match with him, bounced his body out of habit.

And took a stance.

‘I can just hammer it into his head now.’

He can do it.

Lee Jung-woo, who repeated that, focused on the match itself with a renewed serious face.

A violent pitching form that slams down his arm. The first pitch thrown by stepping on the ground with his long legs was hammered in.

“Strike!”

’95 miles [per hour]. If it’s this much in the exhibition game. It’ll be 97-98 miles in the regular league.’

The two-seamer [type of fastball] that showed a dynamic movement and was embedded on the outside was slower than the last time.

But it was quite fast considering it was an exhibition game. Maybe the speed has increased even more.

But this level of growth was already expected, so the shock wasn’t great.

Lee Jung-woo nodded indifferently and looked at the pitcher as if to show him more.

Whether he didn’t like that attitude, he frowned slightly and threw again.

The second ball was also a two-seamer.

“Ball.”

But unlike the previous one, the umpire resolutely declared a ball because it went in high.

The catcher didn’t protest either.

That made it one and one [one ball and one strike].

‘Changeup timing. Splitter? Curve? Changeup?’

Because he has so many weapons.

He couldn’t easily predict the pitch type.

Lee Jung-woo, who set the timing for the low course, tapped the ground with the end of his bat and then.

He stepped into the plate.

The pitcher, who was winding up dynamically again, shot the ball.

“Hmph-”

Then Lee Jung-woo widened his eyes. He felt it. What would fly.

The 70-point curve [curveball with a large break] that he boasts. Despite his strange talent, his basic hardware isn’t good.

The one he couldn’t even touch when they faced each other before was flying.

Drawing the trajectory of the flying ball.

Lee Jung-woo’s bat rotated to match it.

[It’s flying!]

Bang-

The launched ball flew endlessly like the caster who jumped up.

Because it was a ball that hit the sweet spot accurately, there was no hand feeling.

The ball he couldn’t even touch.

Today’s result was different.

Lee Jung-woo, who threw his bat away, slowly turned the base.

Unlike when he only frowned slightly when he scanned the mound, Adam Straight’s completely distorted face greeted him.

He liked it quite a bit.

‘Let’s see each other in a higher place next time.’

####

After the game.

Lee Jung-woo had countless interview requests.

Originally, he was just a promising prospect.

But now, he hit 3 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 home run, and 5 RBIs, and with a super play that would have dominated various sports sites if it was a regular league.

The level of attention was different from before when he beat the strong Boston Red Sox.

“Lee! Can I interview you?”

“Just one word, please!”

Even the people who didn’t even bother to look at an Asian baseball player.

They also asked for autographs or photos.

“It’s an unmarked uniform, but please give me a big autograph.”

“Ah… yes.”

Lee Jung-woo, who looked up at the huge body and bushy beard of the Viking, carefully and quickly finished the autograph, lest he offend him.

“Hehehe, Sanders, if he sees this, he’ll be jealous. I told him to watch a little more. He went back alone.”

That’s how the name Lee Jung-woo was slowly becoming famous.