The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 127

127. What Homerun Means to Him (3)

Honestly, it wasn’t rational.

My dad had already brought home braised short ribs, so giving them to me again was essentially a takeout of a takeout. Besides, it wasn’t some famous restaurant; it was just a slightly upscale franchise, the kind you can find in Busan too. I could just go and get takeout myself.

But still, I took it.

In my 20s, I believed a rationally functioning world was beautiful, but in my 30s, I realized that sometimes, the irrational can be more beautiful.

Whether it was the rational reason of having a hearty braised short rib breakfast or the irrational reason of it being a magic braised short rib imbued with my father’s love, my condition was excellent.

And another good thing was that Jjoyou was catching my pitches today.

“Looks like the manager recognizes my true worth….”

“He probably just thinks Gyocheol *hyung* [older brother or male friend] can’t catch breaking balls.”

“What are the chances he saw my dazzling improvement in hitting and made the decision based on that?”

“Hmm? What’s your batting average? About 10%?”

“Hey! 10%! It’s 0.160. If you round it up, it’s practically 0.200.”

In the last game Dilton pitched,

Jjoyou finally recorded his second hit, raising his batting average to the mid-0.100s. Han Gyocheol was at 0.235, so it was a meaningful number, especially considering it was still early in the season. Either way, Choi Jinwoong, the starting catcher, still needed about two more weeks to return. This also meant that Jjoyou only had two weeks left to take Han Gyocheol’s spot as the second option.

In that sense, starting in a game with me instead of Dilton was quite significant. It meant the manager was giving him a chance. Of course, my words had some influence. When the pitching coach subtly asked me about it two days ago, I readily nodded.

“Yes, of course, I welcome it. After all, we’ve worked together for three years, so I can’t help but feel comfortable. Hitting? Oh, that was a mess even in high school. But it’s okay because I’m good at hitting.”

It was true.

He was somewhat helpful in our third year, but throughout our second year, his separated upper and lower body hitting form caused me great suffering. It wasn’t just a matter of performance. Beyond the results, just watching it made me feel suffocated.

Anyway, my second start was filled with good things.

And the opponent was the KBO’s [Korean Baseball Organization] strongest lineup, the Suwon Dolphins.

Some said that if last year’s Dolphins went to the NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s highest baseball league], they could contend for the postseason. Of course, I think that’s nonsense. The difference in pitching is too significant. But one thing I agree with is that in terms of hitting alone, they are NPB level. No, perhaps even beyond simple NPB level, they are one of the strongest in the NPB.

Their leadoff hitter, Kang Iljin, is one of the best table setters in the league, and the cleanup trio is undoubtedly the strongest in the league. Even the bottom of the order has the power to hit around 10 home runs in a season, especially in this era of pitching dominance. Moreover, even Jang Jingyu, who is batting ninth today, has a bat that could easily handle the second spot in most teams.

Our team’s hitting is also quite good, but honestly, the only players I can guarantee a starting spot on that team are Noh Hyungwook, me, and Kang Raon.

Leadoff hitter Kang Iljin stepped up to the plate.

A twenty-three-year-old infielder who hasn’t served his military duty. These days, they usually send promising players to the military first, but with talent like Kang Iljin, it’s a different story. The Dolphins plan to get him a military exemption. First, a bronze medal or higher at the LA Olympics next year, or a gold medal at the Doha Asian Games three years later. Considering Kang Iljin’s career so far, being selected for the national team is a very possible scenario, even if medals are uncertain.

He’s been overshadowed by the power of Baek Gangho and Park Juwon, but Kang Iljin’s stats from last season were 0.313/0.404/0.398. Considering that there were only 13 players in the league with a .300 batting average last year, and Noh Hyungwook, our team’s highest hitter, had 0.299, he’s definitely a player you can’t ignore. And that hasn’t changed much this year; Kang Iljin’s efforts were crucial until Park Juwon hit a game-winning home run yesterday.

First pitch.

Outside course.

My command was quite good when I threw practice pitches before the game. And even at this moment, with the stadium full of people focused on me, that good command continued.

-Thwack!!!

“Strike!!!”

He was standing so close to the plate that he couldn’t even swing.

156.1 km/h.

Kang Iljin raised his hand and stepped away from the plate for a moment.

I wanted to continue pitching right away without giving him a chance to think, but it was a bit of a shame.

Second.

Since he bravely stood close to the plate, I gave him a brave pitch as well.

-Thwack!!!

Deep inside course. But it was a bit deeper than I thought.

Kang Iljin was startled and stepped back.

“Damn….”

[Deep inside course. Kang Iljin is startled and steps back.]

[Ah, Choi Suwon seems to have a tendency to lose control of the ball, as we saw in his last game. He needs to be more careful when pitching inside. A 155 km/h pitch is practically a weapon.]

Since I threw a beanball as the first pitch in my last appearance, it wouldn’t be strange if there were loud boos if this were an away game. But isn’t that just how pitching is?

The batter stands in the box with the fear of an inside pitch, and the pitcher throws inside with the fear of cracking the batter’s skull. So, if you’re afraid of getting your head cracked, don’t stand deep in the plate, and if you’re afraid of cracking someone else’s head, don’t throw inside.

Besides, this pitch wasn’t technically inside the batter’s box.

Kang Iljin just flinched because he thought a 157 km/h pitch was coming towards his head.

Anyway, I thought today was one of those days where my condition was great and my command was pretty good, where the ball goes exactly where I want it to, but I guess that only happens in cartoons or movies.

Third.

Kang Iljin, who seemed somewhat intimidated, swung his bat.

-Clang!!!

A weakly hit ball. Between second and third base. A weakly hit ball.

Kang Raon aggressively and quickly ran out to catch the ball….

[Ah!! It got through. A slightly deflected ball!! Kang Raon quickly chases after the ball, but it’s too late. In the meantime, Kang Iljin safely reaches first base.]

[Kang Raon’s defense is disappointing. He’s clearly one of the best shortstops in the league, but he occasionally makes these kinds of plays. This kind of basic mistake is something a shortstop should never make. If the shortstop’s defense is that shaky, the pitcher can’t throw with confidence. It’s a disappointing scene in many ways.]

Does it hurt more when you’re betrayed by someone you trust?

At least it felt that way at this moment. I couldn’t help but look at Kang Raon with a “*Et tu, Brute?*” expression. Honestly, when I was a fielder and made errors, I hated the pitchers glaring at me with fire in their eyes, but I unconsciously did the same thing.

Of course, I didn’t say anything. Keeping silent about a fellow fielder’s error is one of the most important unwritten rules. Well, most of the crazy pitchers don’t follow it, and most of them don’t even know it exists, but anyway, that’s how it is.

Next up, the second batter.

Kang Iljin on first base subtly provoked me.

-Thwack!!

A light pickoff throw.

Kang Iljin’s chest was dirtied with soil.

Set position.

In the major leagues, there are many cases where they don’t use the set position. It’s a bit ambiguous, but in the major leagues, expensive players are increasingly refraining from stealing bases, and the set position inevitably reduces the pitcher’s power, so considering the losses, it’s better for the pitcher to throw his best. That’s the atmosphere.

But the KBO is completely different. And based on my personal experience, being able to use both the windup and set position is a very useful weapon. Those guys were usually more annoying.

-Thwack!!!

“Strike!!”

154.4 km/h

But the power of the ball definitely decreases. It’s not just the speed. The problem is more with control than speed. Since the windup is a more familiar form, my command gets a bit messed up.

Ball.

And strike.

Fourth pitch with a 1-2 count.

-Clang!!

The batter pushed my pitch.

The ball flowed along the first base foul line. Senior Gyu-man grabbed the ball with a slightly staggering step. His eyes quickly scanned second base. A double play was impossible. The ball went straight into my glove, which was covering first base.

“Out!!!”

One out, runner on second.

A situation where a single hit would score a run. Baek Gangho stepped up to the plate. The twitch in his mouth made him look really unlucky.

Jo Yoojin’s mitt drifted outside the zone.

I don’t like it, but I agree. After all, the opponent is one of the top hitters in the KBO. He stayed in the KBO because he wasn’t satisfied with the amount, but 5 million dollars for 2 years for a designated hitter and first baseman who hasn’t proven himself in the MLB is definitely not a small amount. That clearly means that at least that team recognized Baek Gangho as a power hitter who could be successful even in the major leagues.

First pitch.

Since there’s already a runner on second base, I threw the ball with all my might from the windup position.

The ball slightly outside.

The batter’s bat followed.

-Whoosh!!

A leg kick from an extremely closed stance. A ferocious swing that looked like it would split the ball swirled through the air.

“Strike!!!”

156.8 km/h

Jjoyou quickly threw the ball back to me.

Matching that with quick timing. I threw the second pitch at him, who was unknowingly standing close to the plate, a high inside pitch as my gift.

-Thwack!!

“Strike!!”

He couldn’t even react properly to the 157.3 km/h fastball.

Honestly, even if I were at the plate, this pitch would have been difficult. The ball went in almost perfectly as I intended in my head. And the third.

Baek Gangho’s left leg rose high.

A huge leg kick. Tremendous power followed his bat.

Got it.

A bat that turns so powerfully from such an extremely closed stance can never be stopped.

-Whoosh!!

A fast curve that fell straight down in the middle of the zone.

Jjoyou caught the ball perfectly without dropping it.

“Out!!”

A very clean three-pitch strikeout.

Today’s game was finally showing signs of going well.

Jjoyou threw the ball. From third base to second base, to first base, and then back to me.

The ball that had made a full circle contained the desires of the infielders who were yearning for victory. I know that feeling well. Because it was my job as a first baseman to throw the ball back to the pitcher when he struck someone out.

And with their hearts in mind, I threw the ball at Park Juwon, the thirty-nine-year-old veteran who stepped up to the plate. With the fastest ball that old hitters have the hardest time hitting.

-Clang!!!

“Uh….”

[Park Juwon hit it!! To center-right. A slightly pushed hit that goes over the second baseman’s head!! Park Iljin on second quickly rounds third and heads for home!! Seo Kyungjun!! Catches the ball and throws it home!!]

“Safe!!”

1:0.

Unlucky. No, really. It wasn’t a pushed hit, it was a jammed hit. His bat speed couldn’t keep up with the fast ball. But because he had such natural strength and the course was good, it became a hit. In short, it was a situation where the BABIP [Batting Average on Balls In Play] gods helped him.

It was a frustrating situation for me, but what could I do? This is also part of baseball. And I finished the top of the first inning by cleanly striking out the next batter.

-Clang!!!

And in the bottom of the first inning.

The lightly hit ball lightly went over the fence.

1:1

A clean solo home run that made up for the run given up in the top of the first inning.

Well, the run given up in the top of the first inning wasn’t my earned run, but anyway, a run is something that you just have to make up for as much as you gave up.

That’s what a two-way player is for.

The Sajik Stadium was heating up.