The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 274

274. The Legend of a Bygone Era? (10)

According to popular opinion, Anthony Volpe was the next franchise player for the Yankees, a man worthy of being called a ‘genius.’

However, he knew he didn’t truly deserve that title. He felt he lacked the extraordinary qualities possessed by the so-called geniuses he had observed.

Right now, he just needed to focus on what was ahead.

Just looking at Choi Su-won on the mound, he could tell.

Twenty years old.

Considering he came to America alone at such a young age, he was frankly shocked by what Su-won was trying to do to Aaron Judge today.

How many starting pitchers would get on a position player’s bus and tell the team’s best franchise player to move? He was more than a little crazy, but it felt natural. It wasn’t just about skill; it was the inherent disposition he possessed.

Bryson Stott, at bat, raised his bat and traced a cross on home plate. It’s a fairly common pre-batting routine for players.

Popular opinion held that Bryson Stott’s skill was half a level below Anthony Volpe’s, but that wasn’t necessarily true. Looking at objective stats alone, his numbers weren’t significantly worse than Volpe’s. It was simply that Volpe had a slight edge in hitting, while Stott was a bit more talented on defense.

Choi Su-won on the mound went into his windup.

He’d definitely improved in the few weeks since meeting Kuroda Hiroki. Anthony Volpe interpreted this bizarre development as a sign of Choi Su-won’s genius. Geniuses, after all, often gain insights from things ordinary people overlook, allowing them to move forward in leaps and bounds.

-Clang!!

Bryson Stott’s bat connected with Choi Su-won’s pitch.

A foul ball sailed into the third base infield stands.

The second pitch was also a foul, narrowly missing the foul line.

Ball count 0-2.

Despite the consecutive fouls, Bryson Stott’s bat was clearly tracking Choi Su-won’s fastball. How fast was it right now? Anthony Volpe instinctively glanced up.

‘Ah, the speed isn’t displayed here.’

Considering his highest speed was 98 miles per hour in his last appearance, and it was still the top of the first inning, probably around 95 miles? He threw a slow curve for the third pitch, then another fastball for the fourth, bringing the ball count to 1-2.

In Anthony Volpe’s experience, top prospects usually first encounter frustration in the AA league. This held true for both pitchers and hitters. In that sense, Choi Su-won’s ability to dominate the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], which is somewhere between AA and AAA level, at the age of 19 was undoubtedly remarkable.

“Well, his fastball is good enough to work even in the majors right away. The breaking ball is a bit lacking… The curve is decent, but it’s tough to rely on just that. If he had followed a normal development path, he probably would have stayed in AA for about a year or so.”

This was the evaluation Jose Trevino, the catcher, gave after catching Su-won’s pitches during early spring training.

In fact, the biggest difference between Single A and Double A is the quality of breaking balls. If you can effectively use them, you become a pitcher above AA level, and if you can consistently hit them, you become a hitter above AA level.

This dynamic was somewhat altered because the KBO, while slightly exceeding the AA level overall, had its own unique characteristics. The number of players who throw 100-mile fastballs from Rookie ball to Single A is far greater in the US minor leagues than in the KBO. On the other hand, the KBO arguably has better breaking balls in some respects. Ultimately, it’s a matter of relative scarcity. So, for Choi Su-won, who threw a 101-mile fastball, the KBO was arguably an easier league than most AA leagues.

“I think when he was playing in the KBO, he could get away with just throwing a fastball when things weren’t going well. He tends to overpower hitters. Of course, if you can consistently throw a 100-mile fastball for strikes, it will work to some extent… Anthony, you know it well. You have to adapt to some extent to play here.”

So how did Choi Su-won, who was evaluated in that way, improve?

Fifth pitch.

A waterfall curve that dropped sharply from a high release point. It looked similar to the one that induced a swing and miss earlier. But unlike before, when he let it go, this time the bat came around.

Would it be a swing and miss strikeout?

-Clang!!!

But Bryson Stott’s bat made contact, even with this pitch.

‘Ah…’

It could have been a ground ball, but the ball barely stayed foul. The ball count remained 1-2.

Bryson Stott already had a good read on Choi Su-won’s pitching.

Fastball and curve.

It was a tough combination, but he only had two possibilities in his head, making this reaction possible.

But it was okay.

The sixth pitch, another high fastball.

It started out looking almost identical to the previous curve.

But Bryson Stott’s bat was slightly late.

Because it wasn’t a curve.

It was a high fastball.

-Clang!!

A high fly ball. But it didn’t travel far.

Infield fly.

Anthony Volpe caught the ball easily.

One out.

The fastest ball following a slow, looping curve.

It was a very orthodox combination. In fact, Choi Su-won had been working on this combination since he started focusing on the curve last winter.

Kuroda gave Su-won a lot of advice.

“Moving fastball? Well, if you’re a pitcher who can throw 100 miles, I think it’s right to just throw it. Of course, you can gradually expand your repertoire. But you’re a power pitcher. Don’t be intimidated by the majors; trust your stuff and go after hitters aggressively. It’s not even the start of the season yet, so the pitcher’s body isn’t fully warmed up, but the hitter’s body is still warmed up a lot. I think it will work enough if the speed goes up to 100 miles now. More than that? If it’s more than that, you have to study. Watch videos diligently. Put hitter information in your head. What’s important to you is probably the hitter’s reaction speed? And the swing trajectory. It’s almost useless for the hitter to have strong balls or weak balls. The ball in the video is not the ball you threw. That part can only be solved with experience.”

“Leave a strong impression on the hitter. And induce a ground ball with a similar but slightly different pitch, and get a swing and miss with a completely different pitch. The best thing is to be able to adjust the break on your curveball.”

But among all that advice, this one would have been the most useful to Su-won.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s okay to get hit a little. You’re twenty years old now. The team doesn’t expect a pitcher who hasn’t gone through the minors to be perfect. I don’t usually agree that practice is the best practice, but if you think about your situation as a two-way player, I think it applies to you.”

A mid-4 ERA [Earned Run Average]. No, even a 5 ERA pitcher is fine.

Bryce Harper came to the plate.

‘But getting hit is not a good feeling.’

First pitch.

A curve that was supposed to drop sharply from a high release point.

But it was a mistake.

-Clang!!!

Harper’s bat, which had hesitated for a moment, connected with the ball that hadn’t dropped properly. He managed to make contact despite waiting for the fastball, but the timing was off.

A hard hit.

The high fly ball sailed towards the outfield.

‘Tsk…’

But Harper, after hitting the ball, clicked his tongue.

‘Does that brat know how to adjust the drop of the curve?’

Because it didn’t drop as much as he anticipated, he couldn’t square it up properly, even though he was on time with the pitch. Mark Thomas, playing left field today, caught the ball easily.

Two outs.

Choi Su-won faced the next batter with a calm expression.

Fastball, curve, curve, curve.

The ball count is 2-2.

Fifth pitch.

High in the zone.

The curveball ingrained in the hitter’s mind threw off his timing.

If this hitter was Bryce Harper, he might have been able to adjust somehow, even with the late timing. But not all hitters have the same instincts as him.

-Swish!!!

While the hitter was thinking, ‘Uh oh oh’

“Strike!!!”

Looking strikeout.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ attack ended so futilely.

***

Today’s starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies is Zack Wheeler. He was once a top-class pitcher, but now he is a 38-year-old veteran nearing retirement.

But even so, he still has the skills to record an ERA in the mid-3s, and he is expected to get a 2-3 year contract for his third FA [Free Agency], which he will be eligible for at the end of this year.

The Yankees’ leadoff hitter was Anthony Volpe, and while he hadn’t faced Wheeler often due to being in different leagues and divisions, he was a memorable hitter.

First pitch.

A 96.1-mile high fastball. Anthony Volpe took the pitch, which was slightly outside the zone. And then a big, looping 71-mile curve.

-Whoosh!!

“Strike!!”

Ball count 1-1.

Third pitch.

A slightly centered 95.7-mile fastball.

-Clang!!!

Anthony Volpe pulled the ball.

But the late movement on Zack Wheeler’s fastball made it too difficult to hit the sweet spot.

A weak ground ball.

Bryson Stott easily fielded the ball and threw it to first base with ease.

-Thud!!

“Out!!!”

One out.

Aaron Judge came to the plate.

Over 2 meters tall and weighing close to 140 kg [approximately 6’7″ and 300 lbs].

And immense power befitting that huge physique. He was truly the man most worthy of the title ‘Giant.’

Even Zack Wheeler, who was once a top-class pitcher in the majors, couldn’t completely hide his tension.

‘It’s okay.’

Zack Wheeler reassured himself. And his ‘it’s okay’ had enough persuasion. Aaron Judge is a great hitter, but that greatness is never perfect.

Durability.

Yes, the human body is too weak to withstand the power of a giant. His bones and muscles were those of a giant, but his cartilage and tendons were those of a human. Like many giants, Aaron Judge has been dealing with minor injuries since a few years into his dazzling prime, and he even had to undergo a 3-month surgery last winter.

So his body must not be fully recovered yet.

Zack Wheeler boldly threw the ball.

A fastball that drifted far outside.

-Clang!!!

Aaron Judge’s bat, which covers a wider zone than the average person, made contact with the ball.

A strong and fast hit.

Zack Wheeler swallowed his saliva without realizing it. Of course, the result was a towering foul ball that hooked outside the foul pole.

‘Hoo…’

Zack Wheeler himself knew it wouldn’t be a home run, but he was still nervous because the hitter at the plate was Aaron Judge.

The second fastball.

Aaron Judge swung at the ball that cut inside the zone.

-Whoosh!!

“Strike!!”

Splitter.

Aaron Judge didn’t express his disappointment. He just calmly waited for the third pitch.

The immense pressure was palpable even in the swing and miss.

That pressure, the potential for disaster if he made a mistake, weighed heavily on Zack Wheeler.

But this 38-year-old veteran was not that easily rattled.

Deep inside corner.

A 93.7-mile two-seam fastball.

-Clang!!

Aaron Judge’s bat connected with this pitch as well. But clearly not on the sweet spot.

‘Immense power often compensates for imperfect technique.’

Aaron Judge’s swing embodied the philosophy that Choi Su-won, who weighed 120 kg [approximately 265 lbs] during his prime before his regression, had once lived by.

A fast and powerful hit that flew to the left-center field warning track.

The 36-year-old giant reached first base and stopped. It was a close play, but he probably didn’t try for second because he was still recovering from his injury.

The 3rd hitter followed with a swing and miss strikeout.

Thus, two outs and a runner on first base.

And it was Choi Su-won’s turn to bat.