Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 74

Mason Looper was, by all accounts, one of the most successful players in Major League Baseball.

Since his major league debut, excluding his debut season, he had consistently performed at an All-Star level.

Throughout his career, he had been an excellent player, consistently recording an ERA in the low to mid-3.00s, pitching around 180 innings, and achieving over 180 strikeouts every year.

And last year, his free agency (FA) season, he recorded 16 wins, an ERA of 2.94, 208 strikeouts, and a WHIP [Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched, a measure of a pitcher’s effectiveness] of 1.09.

He reached his career high, and although it wasn’t the long-term contract he had hoped for, he still landed a lucrative deal.

He signed a 3-year, $85 million contract with the Braves.

Even among all the players in Major League Baseball, this was a pretty successful baseball life, but.

Mason Looper was afraid.

‘There’s nothing special about me.’

In his opinion, he was a so-called hexagonal player [a player with well-rounded skills across the board].

Decent control, good stuff [quality of pitches], fast speed, and solid stamina and durability.

His overall skills were well-balanced, with no particularly outstanding strengths or glaring weaknesses.

A player who was consistently good at everything. Some experts even called him a complete player, but.

Mason thought he was… ordinary.

‘I want to do better. I want to have my own special something.’

He wanted something like Nolan Ryan’s (Rocket Man) fastball, Pedro Martinez’s circle changeup, or Randy Johnson’s slider.

He felt the fear that comes from watching players gradually decline due to the inevitable effects of aging.

Before he got any older.

While he was still relatively young.

He wanted to achieve even greater heights.

And then, Jungwoo Lee appeared before his eyes.

“Well, we’re training anyway. It’s no big deal to show you.”

“Okay, I appreciate that.”

Jungwoo Lee.

A unique prospect with a slightly unfamiliar name, likely because he wasn’t from a country where English or a Romance language is spoken.

To be honest, he hadn’t paid much attention to him when they first met.

He had been hearing stories about how talented Lee was since the start of spring training.

It was interesting that such a promising shortstop had previously been a pitcher.

But everyone in baseball has a story, and Mason had seen countless prospects who were hyped up, only to fade away.

He never saw more than 95% of them again.

So he initially thought it was just a fleeting acquaintance, but.

He was surprised by Lee’s incredible defense and impressed by his powerful hitting.

After Lee was called up to the majors and they played together, Mason came to trust him implicitly on defense, along with their captain, Derek.

The guy he had a decent relationship with and occasionally received help from… the way that guy threw the ball.

Mason was just wandering around, trying to loosen up, when he saw it, and it struck him like lightning.

The thought that ‘that’s it’ hit Mason’s head like a thunderbolt.

So excited that he surprised himself, he rushed over and urgently asked him to throw it again.

He felt like he would know for sure if he saw it one more time.

Fortunately, Lee readily agreed. Mason stared intently as Lee got back into his pitching stance.

‘His pitching form is similar. His physique is almost the same. I’m taller, but our reach is similar.’

Mason observed everything about Lee Jungwoo as if he had already retired and become a scout.

He might be getting ahead of himself because he was so focused on the two-seamer [a type of fastball with slight horizontal movement], but.

Anyway, Mason thought that Lee Jungwoo and his physique were remarkably similar.

So he thought the pitch might suit him well too.

He looked at Lee Jungwoo with earnestness.

And when Lee finally threw one more pitch.

He was sure.

If he learned it well.

That could be a game-changing weapon.

‘Good ball. He’s only twenty-one. He said he switched to being a hitter last year, so he was only twenty when he was a pitcher, and he throws a two-seamer like that?’

In Mason’s opinion, Lee Jungwoo’s two-seamer had the characteristics of a pitch thrown by a seasoned veteran.

Because his fundamental pitching skills were still developing.

The raw power itself was only at the minor league, even rookie level, but.

The ball itself seemed to possess the refined qualities of a pitch honed over years of experience. It was as if his skills were clearly inferior compared to when he was younger.

On the other hand, the main pitch, which had been honed and refined with experience and know-how gained over a long period of time, had become even sharper. But because of his old and worn-out body, he couldn’t exert his full strength.

It was like a ball that made you think, ‘If only I were a little younger, I could really unleash this.’

‘He was a genius as a pitcher too. There’s no doubt about it.’

Mason, who naturally couldn’t know the full story, was amazed by Lee Jungwoo’s natural talent.

If he hadn’t been injured and had continued to pitch.

Instead of being teammates, they might have been rivals on opposing teams.

“Are you done now?”

As if he felt Mason’s intense gaze.

Lee Jungwoo asked with a slightly sullen expression. Mason nodded and then.

He briefly studied Lee Jungwoo’s face.

‘If I ask him to teach me, will he actually do it?’

He couldn’t quite get a read on him.

Lee was mature for his age and didn’t show much emotion, but he seemed like a decent guy.

But being nice and being willing to teach a valuable pitch were two different things.

To be honest.

If Mason were in Lee’s shoes.

He would have scoffed.

He would have told him to get lost.

Of course, he was a veteran and Lee was a rookie.

He wouldn’t go that far, but.

He definitely wouldn’t readily agree.

‘Even though he’s doing well as a hitter now, he was a pitcher until last year. It must still sting.’

Not 10 years, not 5 years, but only 1 year. There was no way he was completely over it.

The emotional wounds in his heart must still be fresh.

So when Mason couldn’t easily bring himself to ask, Lee Jungwoo, who had been watching him for a moment, spoke first.

“Are you perhaps interested? Should I teach you?”

“What?”

Mason was genuinely surprised.

‘What, what is it? Did he read my mind? No, what is he thinking? Is Lee a much nicer guy than I thought? No, this isn’t just being nice, is it?’

A million thoughts raced through his head.

He expected to spend some time persuading and flattering Lee, even if he eventually agreed.

But now Lee was offering first.

He was rather taken aback.

But Mason nodded.

The desire to improve was greater and stronger than his immediate surprise.

That moved him.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I’m fine with it. To be honest, it’s a waste. It’s a really good ball. It’s just rotting away because it met the wrong owner.”

Mason couldn’t say anything to Lee Jungwoo, who smiled bitterly.

He sensed a deep emotion that Mason himself couldn’t even imagine.

Lee was still young.

Mason couldn’t even begin to guess how much frustration he had experienced to have such an expression.

“Don’t be like that. I’m fine now.”

Lee Jungwoo, who smiled softly as if to lighten the mood, was about to demonstrate the grip for a moment.

Then he turned his gaze to the bullpen catcher who was shouting at him.

But after getting injured, the power of his pitches had significantly declined.

To survive, he relentlessly pursued improvement.

During a friendly match against college students before the official demonstration game in Korea,

He analyzed the opposing pitcher’s techniques, adapted them, and integrated them into his own repertoire.

‘The effect was good. I played for five more years because of that.’

Of course, he remained a pitcher at the bottom of the league. But on his good days, he could induce ground balls as effectively as Greg Maddux [Hall of Fame pitcher known for his control and ground ball inducement].

The problem was that those days were rare, occurring only when the stars aligned.

“This… is amazing.”

“How about it, would you like to learn?”

Mason nodded eagerly at Lee Jungwoo’s offer.

Lee Jungwoo felt a sense of relief at his reaction.

‘I don’t know if it’ll suit him, but at least it won’t just rot away.’

If Mason rejected this opportunity, Lee felt he would lose all attachment to pitching.

####

“Lee is teaching Mason a two-seamer?”

“To be exact, it’s a one-seam fastball [a fastball with a specific grip that causes it to move slightly]. ”

“Whether it’s a two-seamer or a one-seam, the point is that Lee is teaching Mason something, right? Were they that close?”

“They were just a decent fielder and pitcher.”

Manager Mancini chuckled dryly.

He had seen veterans mentor rookies before.

But this was the first time he had witnessed a rookie with only a month’s experience teaching a veteran who had even been a free agent [a player eligible to sign with any team].

Moreover, the rookie was a hitter and a shortstop, while the veteran was a pitcher.

The absurdity was akin to watching slapstick in an old silent movie.

“What do you think? Is it okay?”

“We’ll have to wait and see. I don’t know yet.”

At the pitching coach’s words, Manager Mancini’s expression turned serious.

“Is there any chance that Mason might lose his feel while doing that? Pitchers are sensitive. I’m a little worried.”

At the concerned question, the pitching coach shook his head dismissively.

“He’s a veteran. If he thinks it’s going to be a problem, he’ll stop immediately. If he were a stupid player, he couldn’t have become an ace in the first place.”

“Ah, yeah, that’s right. I overreacted.”

As the team continued its good momentum, more eyes were watching.

Manager Mancini admitted that he was a little sensitive.

He quickly dismissed his worries.

On the contrary, the fans were somewhat bewildered.

####

[What the heck is that?]

[Am I seeing things? Is Lee really teaching Mason?]

[Is this photoshopped?]

How did they even capture what was happening inside the training ground?

The photo, posted in an article titled [Lee is doing everything for the Braves?], embarrassed the Braves fans.

What on earth was going on?

Their ace was learning a pitch from the team’s rookie shortstop.

They couldn’t comprehend it.

Fans of other teams, envious of the Braves’ recent success, reacted with exaggerated amusement.

[The Braves are really going crazy.]

[lololol Lee is so great. Is he moonlighting as a pitching coach? He’s amazing?]

[To get coaching from a guy who switched from pitcher to hitter because his shoulder is shot, that’s why the Braves’ starting pitchers are screwed up]

[Mason, if you’re going to learn, you should learn from Charr here. Why are you learning from that guy?]

[I knew it. Even if they’re doing well these days, they’re going back to 3rd place.]

American baseball fans were confused and dumbfounded.

Korean fans across the Pacific were experiencing an unexpected surge of national pride.

[KIA~ That’s Lee Jungwoo!]

[Don’t you know YJY (Ya Jal Jal, abbreviation of ‘a talented guy is good at everything’)? Originally, a guy who is good at one thing is good at everything ㅇㅇ]

[Mason: Mr. Lee! Please teach me a little baseball too!]

[A shortstop who switched from pitcher to hitter and hits .400 in the major leagues, and a major league 90-win pitcher learning a pitch from that shortstop? What kind of hybrid is this?]

[There are also baseball ignoramuses who oppose the national team selection, saying that such an amazing major league shortstop needs to prove himself. How about this?]

[That’s funny too]

[Lee Jungwoo, please come to the Asian Games and teach those Rezza bastards some baseball]

[Honestly, if you look at Lee Jungwoo’s throws, he’s better than most Rezza pitchers ㅇㅈ?]

[SS ㅇㅈ On top of that, he even has a pitch that Mezza is learning. If he comes to Korea, he’ll probably have an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] in the 2s]

Lee Jungwoo himself would have laughed and dismissed it as nonsense if he knew.

The level of interest in Lee Jungwoo in Korea was very high.

There was a stark contrast to the reaction in the United States. And to top it off, fuel was added to the fire.

A new article surfaced.

[Is Lee Jungwoo going to the All-Star Game? Rumors are rampant that he is preparing to participate in the Home Run Derby!]

[Is this real? He’s participating in the Home Run Derby?]

[It’s not impossible. The captain was elected as the All-Star captain again this time, right? Since the All-Star captain selects the Home Run Derby players, if he’s greedy, he might have picked both Lee Jungwoo and Joey. It’s being held at Dodger Stadium. David Bohn will definitely be picked.]

It was an article that slightly exaggerated reality.

But that alone had already excited the fans.

Lee Jungwoo had to face some backlash.

####

[Lee’s Home Run Derby appearance? It’s practically a foregone conclusion within the club.]

[Is Derek just the captain of Atlanta? He must respect his colleagues.]

[A Home Run Derby for a hitter who hasn’t even hit 10 home runs is a ridiculous story]

The article, which spread rapidly, became an attack aimed at Lee Jungwoo and the Braves.

Major League fans reacted sharply to the possibility of a rookie with only a month’s experience participating in the Home Run Derby, a festival for the fans.

Of course, the Braves responded that it was baseless.

But the fire did not die down easily.

“No, if they’re just going to stick to their own opinions, why do they even read articles and news? They should just live alone in the mountains for the rest of their lives. Why the hell would I pick Lee! I’m a person with common sense!”

Derek displayed unprecedented anger.

He was already furious at the Colorado fans who were misled by ridiculous rumors.

Despite the club issuing a response, they judged as they pleased.

They were spewing profanity not only on social media but also at his family.

He had been holding back, but before the game started, he shouted at the audience as if he was about to charge out of the dugout.

The relay camera naturally didn’t miss such an interesting sight.

Derek was rarely so agitated.

As it appeared on the electronic display, the stadium became even more heated.

“I’m going to pick another bastard because you guys are assholes! Bernstein? Home Run Derby? Fuck off! As long as I’m elected as an All-Star captain, there won’t be anything like that!”

“Calm down, Derek. You know they’re just morons, right?”

“Why are you acting so un-captain-like?”

“Okay, okay, the game is about to start soon, so let’s relieve our anger with play. Let’s hit a cool home run. It’s Coors Field [known for being hitter-friendly due to its altitude] after a long time, right?”

Several colleagues calmed him down as he reacted violently.

He suppressed his boiling anger only after Lee Jungwoo, one of the parties involved, joined in.

What angered him were the home fans at today’s game.

Chants like [Stupid Derek and Arrogant Brat] were heard here and there.

Fierce pickets were found all over the stadium.

The Colorado Rockies fans, who considered the Atlanta Braves their rivals, were furious.

That’s because they were dominated by the thought that their proud home run hitter, Roman Bernstein, who hit 42 home runs last year,

Might have his place taken by a rookie whose face is barely remembered.

“Bernstein will punish you!”

“Woo-hoo-hoo! Die, Derek! That fucking ching chong bastard too!”

The players gradually began to get angry at the reactions that mixed in with somewhat racist slogans.

They understood their reaction.

But they felt wronged.

All the Braves players knew that the youngest was working hard to pitch with a sore arm to help Joey.

From their point of view, it was absurd to be criticized for not knowing well.

The atmosphere gradually became heated.

In particular, Mason, who had become close to Lee Jungwoo while learning pitches, even uttered vulgarities that he would not normally say.

“Those who aren’t even shit outside of Coors are terribly loud.”

“That’s why country bumpkins always show off how ignorant they are! Those ignorant bastards!”

“The Rockies are minor league level without Coors.”

In fact, they had even advanced to the NL Division Series [a round in the Major League Baseball playoffs] two years ago, so that wasn’t really the case.

But such facts were not important to a player already consumed by anger.

The manager and coach calmed them down in the heated atmosphere like a rivalry game.

Getting excited at Coors would only make them more breathless and lower the quality of their play.

There was nothing good about it.

In that situation, Lee Jungwoo was alone and detached.

His usual calm appearance only made the audience even angrier.

“How can the veterans be worse than the rookie! Learn from Lee! He’s so composed!”

Manager Mancini shouted to the players, pointing at Lee Jungwoo.

Then the players glanced at him and tried to calm their minds.

But Lee Jungwoo wasn’t doing this because he had a strong mentality or was composed.

From the moment he entered the stadium until now,

He honestly didn’t feel anything.

He was definitely angry at the discriminatory remarks towards him.

But more interesting thoughts than such trivial things had occupied his mind from the moment he left the hotel, or rather, from the moment he boarded the plane to Denver.

‘How far will the ball go if my abnormal power is combined with the Coors Field effect? It seems like it’ll be no joke.’

Based on his tremendous wrist strength,

If Lee Jungwoo himself, who boasts tremendous power, and Coors’ Field effect were combined,

Lee Jungwoo thought it would be quite fun.

That made him easily ignore the criticism directed at him.

Right now, Lee Jungwoo’s head was filled only with the Coors Field effect.

‘Okay, since I came to Coors Field, I have to get my money’s worth. I’m going to hit my 10th home run here.’