The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 214

Jake Buer had been a professional for 14 years.

The once-powerful arm that could hurl pitches at 103 miles per hour was now showing its wear and tear, its limit reduced to a mere 92 miles.

From America to Korea.

How did he find his place, and how did he build his career here?

In the center of his display case, the Choi Dong-won Award [an award given to the best pitcher in the KBO League, named after a legendary Korean pitcher] he received the previous year took pride of place. It was a dynamic statue, and just by looking at it, one could imagine the greatness of Choi Dong-won, the pitcher who inspired the award.

A nobleman dies for the one who recognizes him.

What a profound saying.

The moment he thought he could no longer throw the ball effectively, Ellitz recognized his value. Passionate fans and a generous salary. Even a vibrant culture.

He wanted to bring a championship trophy to this great team while he still had the ability to pitch at a high level. If he could achieve that, he might overcome the inherent challenges of being a foreigner and secure his place in Ellitz team history as one of the greatest.

Lee Jung-hoon stepped up to the plate.

He was a decent hitter. And a respectful junior who knew his place. He made eye contact and offered a slight smile.

-Nod.

He nodded in return, acknowledging the greeting.

This is one of the perks of the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization].

You can develop close relationships with players from other teams.

Lee Jung-hoon seemed like someone who enjoyed having fun, so Jake had advised him to take it easy during the season and save his energy for the off-season. Lee Jung-hoon had sincerely thanked him for his concern.

And it wasn’t just empty words.

Last winter, after the season ended, Lee Jung-hoon had invited him out for drinks several times. He even insisted on paying the bill one out of every three times, showing a commendable sense of reciprocity. How could Jake not appreciate him as a senior player?

But that’s then, and this is now.

Personal friendships end here.

The game is the game.

Third at-bat.

It was time to adjust to the timing. In the previous two at-bats, Jake had primarily relied on fastballs and two-seam fastballs. Now, he would mix in changeups more frequently.

Three pitches.

By aggressively throwing pitches within the strike zone, the count reached 0-2.

Fourth pitch.

He aimed for a changeup that would barely graze the edge of the strike zone.

It followed a similar trajectory to a two-seam fastball, but with a slightly delayed timing. This should be enough to fool Lee Jung-hoon, who was known for aggressively swinging at incoming pitches, anticipating a mistake.

However, the ball didn’t quite hit the edge of the zone as intended. It drifted a little closer to the center.

Lee Jung-hoon’s bat swung a fraction of a second early, 맞춰 anticipating the timing of the two-seam fastball. That was all it took. Jake had completely thrown off his timing.

Ground ball to the infield. Or a swing and a miss strikeout.

Lee Jung-hoon gritted his teeth.

The magical technique of momentarily pausing the bat before swinging to create a hit, as Choi Soo-won had demonstrated in the past, was beyond his reach. It was simply impossible for Lee Jung-hoon, or any ordinary hitter, to send such a weak hit into the outfield.

-Boom!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

Lee Jung-hoon retreated to the dugout after a swing and a miss strikeout.

“Man, does the ball look like it’s being pulled from behind? That guy’s changeup is insane today?”

“Really? Wasn’t the home run Soo-won hit in the second at-bat a changeup?”

“Hey, that guy’s changeup is crazy today. Choi Soo-won’s bat is always crazy, so is that even comparable? Anyway, it seems like he switched to focusing on changeups for the third at-bat.”

“Then he’ll throw two-seam fastballs more than fastballs, so we should anticipate the two-seam.”

“It would be nice if you could actually anticipate it.”

A brief exchange with Kang Ra-on, who was walking out of the on-deck circle.

Choi Soo-won emerged from the dugout and entered the on-deck circle. He appeared as calm as ever. Even on the verge of setting a record, he didn’t seem nervous at all. Well, he had been the same way on the day of KBO’s first perfect game. What could Jake say? It was as if he was calmly accepting something that was already his.

It was a sight that Lee Jung-hoon found difficult to comprehend. Even with something as trivial as a computer game, most people would feel some nervousness before completing it, but Choi Soo-won displayed such composure.

‘No, maybe it’s not a clear for that guy, but more like the feeling of clearing the first quest of Stage 1…’

Lee Jung-hoon quickly put on a cheerful face.

“Too bad. If the two-seam had really come in there, it would have been a guaranteed home run.”

“In that case, it will help if you pull the center of gravity back a little more and go swoosh.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Of course, he had no intention of actually remembering it.

It had always been like that. Choi Soo-won often gave advice that sounded more like nonsense than actual guidance. Guys like Jo Yu-jin or Lee Joo-hyuk, who somehow managed to follow his advice, were truly amazing.

Perhaps Lee Jung-hoon was simply too old to try something new. But if sticking to what he had been doing resulted in a 4.4 billion won contract for 4 years, then he believed that the best course of action was to continue working hard as he always had.

-Clang!!!

And at that moment, Kang Ra-on pulled Jake Buer’s two-seam fastball.

A hit that slipped through the gap between 2nd and 3rd base.

One out, runner on 1st base.

Choi Soo-won stepped into the batter’s box for his third at-bat.

Jake Buer on the mound felt a chill run down his spine.

Was it because he had given up two consecutive home runs earlier?

Or was it because he had allowed a runner to reach first base?

No, it was something else.

It was something intangible that the batter now at the plate was exuding.

Perhaps ordinary people would have simply attributed it to the aura of immense talent. But Jake Buer, who was acutely aware of the hierarchy based on age and experience, could sense something more.

The atmosphere that Choi Soo-won was projecting was not the mere challenge of a talented young upstart. It was the aura of a master who had forged something extraordinary by harnessing his overflowing talent.

Yes, it was closer to something that only a seasoned veteran could display.

***

My heart is pounding.

But I did my best to calm my racing heart.

You have to set records when you have the chance.

I’ve had several experiences where I missed the opportunity.

Especially when it comes to home run records.

In my last season before going back in time, I didn’t hit a single home run.

61.

Excellent.

But that excellence of the 61st was rendered meaningless because it failed to add one more to it. Perhaps if I had hit my 62nd home run then, no matter how wonderfully he had performed as both a pitcher and a hitter, I would have been the one to win the MVP [Most Valuable Player award].

Yes, it was just a difference of one. No, it wasn’t. The word ‘just’ can never be attached to that one. It doesn’t fit.

Because that one is everything.

The difference between a great player and a legendary player.

What separates a star from a superstar lies in that single difference.

There were still many games left this season.

Unless something extraordinary happens, it’s almost certain that I’ll hit more than 58 home runs.

But would that be enough?

3,000 hits is a great record. But Derek Jeter’s 3,000 hits had a special quality that went beyond mere greatness. And it wasn’t because Derek Jeter was a superstar.

Rather, it was exactly the opposite.

It wasn’t that he was special because a superstar got 3,000 hits, but he was able to become a superstar because he made his 3,000th hit special.

The stage was already perfect.

The ace who won the league’s best pitcher award last year.

Two consecutive home runs.

Home stadium.

A heightened atmosphere.

It was truly a table set perfectly.

And here I am, kicking it away and just being satisfied with the season home run record?

Jake Buer on the mound prepared the ball.

First pitch.

A ball slightly outside the zone.

-Swoosh!!

I stared at the pitcher without loosening my stance.

Second pitch.

This time too, a ball slightly outside the zone.

Again, I stared at Jake Buer without loosening my stance.

-Oooooooo

Sajik Stadium.

The jeers of the fans who gathered to support me stimulated the opposing pitcher.

But was it not enough? Or perhaps it was too much.

-Swoosh!!

The umpire’s hand did not go up.

A light sigh.

I briefly loosened my stance, performed my routine, and then took my stance again.

Fourth pitch.

It’s going out.

A great hitter would have walked, accepting the base on balls. But I was already a great hitter to the point of being sick of it. So, today it would be okay to take it one step further. To live up to the name of ‘the greatest hitter since Ted Williams,’ as some of my loving fans had said.

-Whoosh!!

“Strike!”

[4th pitch!! Ah… a swing and a miss. A swing and a miss by Choi Soo-won!! Jake Buer has induced a swing from Choi Soo-won! The count is 3-1.]

I calmly took my stance again.

And slightly raised my chin.

‘Try throwing it again.’

The wavering figure of Jake Buer on the mound came clearly into view.

The stadium, packed with spectators, was silent.

The match that could have ended with the fourth pitch was forcibly extended due to my will.

Fifth pitch.

The pitcher, his mind shaken, threw the ball.

A pitcher in good condition doesn’t always throw his best ball, and a pitcher in bad condition doesn’t always throw his worst ball.

The location of the ball thrown by Jake Buer was excellent.

An outside low course. A ball that barely grazed the border line.

Perhaps the ball he intended to throw out of the zone slightly drifted inside?

If I didn’t swing, it would be a strike.

Even if I hit it, it was a great course that would be hard to turn into a hit.

That’s why I swung the bat.

Strongly and quickly.

And accurately.

-Clang!!!

The ball flew.

Fast and strong.

High into the sky.

[He hit it, he hit it!! A strong hit!! Will it go over!! Will it go over!!! It’s over!!!! Home run!!! Choi Soo-won, a home run!! His 56th home run of the season!! Three consecutive at-bats!! Choi Soo-won sets a KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] record with three consecutive home runs!!]

[Oh my goodness!! I mean, to force it like this, I don’t know what to say. It wouldn’t have been strange to just walk. But I have no intention of just walking to first base. I’m going to walk all the way home. Choi Soo-won!! It’s Choi Soo-won!!]

The spectators, excited by my home run, all jumped up from their seats. Unidentifiable screams mixed from all over the stadium. It was truly a cauldron of excitement. That huge torrent of emotion filled the stadium.

“That crazy bastard!! He finally hits his 56th here.”

“Ugh!! Choi Soo-won, you crazy son of a bitch!!”

“Hey, grab his legs. Grab his legs!!”

The teammates in the dugout all rushed out with the momentum to give me a celebratory toss.

“Wait, just a moment.”

“No, what do you mean wait? Honestly, even they will acknowledge this.”

“No, that’s not it. There’s still one more left, right? If we do this now and then do it again later, it’ll be awkward. Calm down your excitement. Let’s do it later. Later. You’re not thinking of ending the baseball game like this today, are you?”

“What?”

The game is still the bottom of the 6th with one out.

If even one hitter succeeds in getting on base by the bottom of the 8th, I will have a fourth chance.

Yes, I was still one step short of greatness.