The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 73

Rules (4)

Public Figure

Unlike politicians, there’s room to debate whether celebrities or professional athletes qualify as public figures. However, given their significant influence on modern society and culture, it’s undeniable that celebrities and professional athletes occupy a position where they can be considered public figures.

The proof lies in the unique nature of the entertainment and sports industries.

Capitalist society.

Ultimately, in a society where worth is often measured in monetary terms, these industries possess something more intangible and special. Kim Tae-geun was drawn to this aspect.

He graduated from law school, achieving a high score of 1217 on the bar exam (ranking 4th), which led to a position at a prestigious law firm. Despite working as a lawyer for nearly ten years, his investment of time in a less lucrative pursuit could only be explained by this fascination.

He obtained KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] agent qualifications and was actively representing a player. Although the player wasn’t close to becoming a major free agent (FA), Kim Tae-geun dedicated a significant portion of his time to him. Considering the demands on a lawyer at a large firm and the monetary value of their time, this was a losing proposition even if he received the player’s entire annual salary.

“Excuse me? James Corporation?”

Initially, he assumed the call was regarding corporate legal matters. He was a dedicated baseball fan, but his interest was primarily focused on the KBO. He had little knowledge of Major League Baseball (MLB) across the ocean, let alone the agency representing a relatively unknown player.

“Wait a minute. Are you suggesting that you want to find a way for the player to play in the KBO for a short period, about one or two years, and then transition directly to the MLB?”

He listened intently to the response.

After a moment, he replied with a hint of excitement, “No, do you really think it’s reasonable to compare the KBO to the Mexican or Dominican instructional leagues? Yes, yes. Japan? No, their situation is different… Ah, yes. Yes, that’s true, but…”

Emotionally, the proposition felt unacceptable.

And rationally, it seemed impossible. But…

‘Could there be even a sliver of possibility?’

Kim Tae-geun was surprised by the thought that had spontaneously surfaced.

“I apologize, but I need some time to consider this. Ah, yes. I understand the urgency, but I also have my own obligations. Yes, yes. I’ll get back to you within four days. Thank you.”

***

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], congratulations! Is it the fifth-largest contract in history? Everyone’s going crazy. I heard you got 200 million more than Kyu-chan hyung.”

“Yeah, well.”

“Why the lukewarm reaction?”

“Well, you know how you told me to go to New York with you this winter to train? There’s a slight problem with that.”

“Why? You received a substantial signing bonus, so it should be fine to go for about three months, right?”

Baek Ha-min sighed deeply.

“No, it seems I have to join the second team training camp in October and train. There’s a second team pitching coach named Choi Jeong-sik who wants to teach me a few things…”

“Choi Jeong-sik?”

The name sounded familiar, though he couldn’t immediately place it.

“Yeah, do you know him?”

“No, not really. But what does he want to teach you?”

“He says my slider is too easily distinguishable from my fastball, so he wants to correct that. He thinks I’ll be able to throw it effectively in the pros after that.”

He remembered.

Choi Jeong-sik.

A proponent of weight gain.

“Hey, sunbae [senior/mentor]. Did he happen to mention gaining weight?”

“Well, most coaches tell me that when they see me. The Washington coach also suggested I bulk up first.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Of course, it was true. However, the weight gain recommended by the Washington coaches was focused on building muscle to enhance Baek Ha-min’s body’s resilience to the demands of his intense pitching style. Choi Jeong-sik’s approach was somewhat different.

‘Belly fat? Pitchers need to generate explosive power anyway. It’s okay to gain some weight. In fact, a larger body can enhance deception. It’s common to lose 4 or 5 kg [kilograms] per game, so you need to bulk up beforehand.’

That wasn’t entirely incorrect.

It certainly applied to some pitchers. However, the issue with this particular coach, and many Korean pitching coaches in general, was their unwavering belief in their own past experiences, attempting to force all pitchers into that mold instead of considering individual characteristics.

“But I think it would be better for you to just go to a pitching lab in the United States.”

“I agree, but how can I do that when the coach wants to work with me in the second team? What if I get on his bad side? I think some sunbaes already dislike me because I delayed signing the contract and did something unconventional by not returning from the United States.”

He remembered having similar anxieties around that time.

Especially after his arm injury forced him to transition to hitting, he became self-conscious about every mistake he made in the field. But with the benefit of 14 years of experience, he realized those worries were largely unfounded.

“Hyung, that’s just self-consciousness.”

“What? Self-consciousness? What’s that?”

“It’s like you have main character syndrome. People are much less interested in you than you think.”

As a sunbae, he was interested in hoobaes [juniors/mentees] who could contribute to the team’s performance. But that interest wasn’t the kind of thing Baek Ha-min was worried about. It was more about providing support so that a promising player wouldn’t become discouraged and fail to reach his potential.

“Ultimately, pros are all individual business owners, and skill is the top priority. No matter how well you get along with the team, you’ll be cut if you lack skill. Conversely, even if you’re a bit of a jerk, you’ll be treated well if you’re skilled.”

“So, you’re saying it’s better to go to the United States?”

“Hey, I can’t tell you what to do. It’s up to you to decide whether to go to a pitching lab or stay in the second team and receive coaching from Choi Jeong-sik.”

“…”

“However, if you stay in Korea, don’t just gain weight recklessly. It’s true that you need some fat to endure the season, but you should never gain weight without a plan. At least stick to the diet that Jack created.”

***

“As a hitter, he’s already exceptional, and he’s improved as a pitcher too.”

“Was the American pitching lab effective? What exactly has changed?”

“Yes, the camera angles show a difference, and there will be some inaccuracies since it’s not precise data, but his stride length has increased by about 6 inches, and his release point has moved significantly forward.”

“Is that good? Back when it was Choi Jin-woong, wasn’t it said that his stride length was too wide and it was a problem? Even at a glance, Choi Soo-won’s stride length is wider than Jin-woong’s, isn’t it?”

“There are pros and cons to everything, and individual capabilities also vary. In Choi Soo-won’s case, that stride length seems to be a good fit.”

“Hmm… If the stride length has widened, the body will extend further, and the release point will be further forward.”

“Yes, as a result, the release point has become slightly lower, which seems to confuse the hitters even more. Because the pitch is so effective.”

The traditional theory of command has been largely disproven.

But that’s only in the realm of objective theory. Considering the subjective experience of individual players, a pitcher’s command certainly exists.

Of course, it’s not about the realm of fantasy where some pitchers’ balls lose speed more slowly while flying and others lose speed more quickly.

Parabola.

All balls eventually follow a parabolic trajectory.

And the human brain perceives a ball that drops more sharply as ‘slow’ and a ball that drops less as ‘fast,’ even if the balls are the same speed. Just as other breaking balls create vertical and horizontal movements due to air resistance caused by the seams and the Magnus effect, the same principle applies to fastballs.

The more spin there is, the less the four-seam fastball will drop. That’s why a good pitch feels faster to the hitter.

“In addition, even if the distance pulled out increases by only 8 cm [centimeters], the speed increases by almost 1 km/h [kilometers per hour], and Choi Soo-won is pulling out at least 10 cm more with the changed pitching form…”

“The perceived velocity is almost 160 km/h or higher. That’s what you’re saying.”

“Yes.”

“In the KBO, he’s almost as dominant as a foreign pitcher. That’s what you’re saying.”

“I can’t say for sure until I see him in action… But at the very least, he’ll be a third starter…”

Shin Yu-min, the general manager of the Dolphins, currently in second place this season, nodded.

“No matter how I look at it, the KBO is too small a pond to contain Choi Soo-won. Big fish should play in big water. Prepare a meeting with Braves general manager Kim. I need to talk to him.”

“Yes.”

***

2025 National Sports Festival.

Kyung High School, representing the 103rd class. Despite the departure of the best golden generation in history, they remained strong championship contenders. The hoobaes had trained under excellent sunbaes. They possessed solid power. And the experience of winning championships was an element that couldn’t be ignored.

However, they lacked one crucial element.

-Boom!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

That was ‘luck’.

The same was true at the Blue Dragon Flag Championship, the Wangjungwangjeon [championship of champions] in the second half of the previous year. If Kyung High School had faced Cheonnam High School in the semi-finals, the championship would have been theirs. Cheonnam High School’s victory was simply due to Kyung High School facing Joongang High School one round earlier.

And now.

-Bang!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

Kyung High School was once again forced to lament their misfortune.

First game of the National Sports Festival.

Gyeongnam representative team Kyung High School vs. Seoul representative team Joongang High School.

Joongang High School’s only weakness was its lack of depth.

In particular, the weakness of their starting lineup was significant, and considering that all national tournaments are endurance tests, it seemed impossible to win with their current strength.

However, that only meant it was difficult to win the overall championship in a long competition. At least for a single game…

Excluding the Kyung High School team from 6 months ago, which boasted a golden generation, no school could compete with the ace they were putting forward.

-Boom!!!!

“Strike!! Out!!”

KKK [strikeout, strikeout, strikeout] Three Up, Three Down.

In the center of the mound.

Choi Soo-won walked off the mound with a calm expression.

A pitiful lawyer, often unable to attend his favorite team’s games due to a lack of time, clenched his fists instead of the composed Choi Soo-won.

Choi Soo-won.

It wasn’t an unknown name.

How could he not know him, as a fan of Korean professional baseball? But the Choi Soo-won he watched on video and the one he saw directly in the stadium were completely different.

The assessment that he made people uneasy with roller coaster-like control was unfair. The Choi Soo-won on the mound now seemed unhittable.

1 hour 42 minutes.

8 innings, 14 strikeouts, no runs allowed.

Lawyer Kim Tae-geun, who watched the entire game, was convinced.

This guy’s potential is beyond the KBO level from the start.

“Yes, it’s me. Let’s do it.”

[Joongang High School’s disappointing second game loss at the National Sports Festival!!]