The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 82

82. Turning Point (3)

Recently, strange rumors had been circulating in the professional baseball world.

A rookie contract worth 2 billion.

It was truly a mind-blowing rumor.

Before the Marines offered Choi Min-hyuk 1.05 billion in rookie contract money two years ago, the 1 billion mark had been an insurmountable barrier for nearly 20 years. Even Baek Ha-min, who was considered a top prospect last year, couldn’t break through the 1 billion wall.

But suddenly, jumping far beyond 1 billion to 2 billion?

“Wait, hold on! Wasn’t Noh Hyung-wook’s salary, the highest-paid player on the Marines last year, 2 billion?”

“Out of the 11 billion total for 4 years, the contract money and options were 4 billion, so his annual salary was 1.75 billion. Oh, but he achieved the plate appearance and home run options, so his total earnings were 2 billion.”

“So, you’re saying they’re giving a rookie the same treatment as the highest-paid player on the team? Come on, that’s complete nonsense.”

“Strictly speaking, it’s not the same treatment. He’s getting the contract money, but he’ll be playing at the minimum salary for now.”

“Still, a rookie contract of 2 billion… This isn’t the Major League. Even in the Major League, you don’t get 2 billion unless you’re a first-round pick.”

“There’s talk that it’s because of the Major League. They’re saying that unless they offer someone like Choi Soo-won 2 billion, they won’t be able to keep him.”

“He’s really raking it in. Starting with more than the lifetime earnings of an average office worker.”

It wasn’t just them talking about it. Everywhere in the stadium, baseball officials were whispering about the Marines, Choi Soo-won, and 2 billion.

“Oh, right. Did you hear the news? The guy who was drafted first overall in the US this time, the one who got 15 billion in contract money? They say he keeps talking about Choi Soo-won.”

“Alexander McDowell, the first pick in the US draft? He’s talking about Choi Soo-won?”

“Yeah, ever since they met at the U-18 tournament, he’s been talking about Choi Soo-won in the media and on broadcasts. Did you know that Choi Soo-won is ranked 2nd overall in international amateur evaluations?”

“Choi Soo-won is 2nd? Not 1st? That’s surprising in itself.”

“There’s a kid in Dominica who throws up to 168 km/h.”

“168 km/h?”

“Yeah, what was it? They say he has the talent to throw 110 miles [approximately 177 km/h].”

“110 miles… That’s 177 km/h? Crazy. Absolutely crazy. Wow, but the more you talk about it, the more Choi Soo-won feels like he’s on a different scale.”

Choi Soo-won on the mound wound up grandly.

A wild form that’s hard to see.
The baseball was released from his fingertips.

– Whoosh!!

“Strike!!! Out!!”

Already four strikeouts against Kyung-go hitters in 2.1 innings.

“The Kyung-go hitters can’t even touch it today?”

“They graduated all their golden generation last year and are just scrubs now.”

“Come on, their experience is different. They’ve won the national tournament several times in the last two years.”

“Exactly. That’s the problem with their experience. Their seniors were so outstanding that they didn’t get a proper chance to gain experience. Players who would have gotten opportunities from their freshman year at other schools hardly got any chances, and especially around their junior year, some kids give up on going pro with baseball and focus on studying to get into college, but Kyung-go didn’t have any of that last year.”

“Well, yeah, that’s true. But in that sense, aren’t the current junior players at Joongang High getting a lot of experience? Especially that battery [pitcher and catcher duo], they’ve been the team’s first option since their freshman year.”

The ball Choi Soo-won threw slightly missed outside.

It wasn’t unusual. No matter how much control you have, not every ball a pitcher throws can go exactly where they want it to.

– Thwack!!

And Jo Yu-jin naturally caught the ball. From outside to inside. He didn’t move the glove. Sometimes you can get away with doing that in high school baseball, but it’s a no-go in the pros these days. His body, which had been subtly shifting in and out, moved inward in sync with the ball coming in.

Thanks to that, the already ambiguous ball became even more ambiguous.

A hesitation of about 0.1 seconds.

“Strike!!!”

The strike call came from the umpire. Choi Soo-won smirked. He certainly had the skills of a catcher who had survived 10 years in the pros with that upper and lower body separation hitting.

“Sigh… Kyung-go might be in trouble today?”

“Is that so? You’re stating the obvious like it’s some profound insight.”

0:4

It was only the top of the 3rd inning, but the score was already 4 points apart.

– Whoosh!!!

“Strike!! Out!!”

Above all, 2.2 innings. Five of the eight outs were strikeouts. Today, Kyung-go’s hitters were being completely thrashed by Choi Soo-won.

‘Ah, is he possessed by a god or something? Why has he been like this since last year?’

Kyung-go’s coach, Jo Byung-gu, chewed on his lower lip.

No, not only the National Championships and the National Sports Festival last year, but also this New World Big Mart Cup. Is Choi Soo-won some kind of Kyung-go killer? Why does he only start when he’s playing against Kyung-go and show this kind of pitching?

– Clang!!

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped his lips without him realizing it.

Choi Soo-won easily caught a weak ground ball that flew straight to the pitcher and tossed it to first base.

“Out!!”

Another three up, three down.

‘Maybe I should get a shamanistic ritual done…’ [A traditional Korean ritual to ward off bad luck]

Even though the golden generation had all graduated, and many of the current juniors didn’t have much experience playing as starters in big tournaments, Kyung-go was still a strong team that could aim for the top in the nation. Although small in number, there were still several kids who had experienced the national stage last year, and two of them were fixed starting members.

It’s just that the opponent was bad.

Choi Hyun-woo, the current ace pitcher of Kyung-go, came to the mound.

4 runs allowed in 3 innings. But he was definitely a good pitcher, as the fighting spirit in his eyes was still there.

Last year, Kyung-go’s golden generation’s great challenge was thwarted by meeting Joongang High’s Choi Soo-won in the semi-finals. And now. Choi Hyun-woo himself, who inherited their spirit, would be the only one to replace the old guard in the unfinished legend, V29 [likely refers to a team’s attempt to win their 29th championship].

At least, Choi Hyun-woo, who was among the top ten pitchers in the entire high school baseball scene, threw the ball with all his might.

– Whoosh!!

“Strike!! Out!!”

1 hit and no runs allowed, including one strikeout.

He cleanly finished the inning against Joongang High’s ninth batter, Im Ji-min.

***

Before this game, I had a long conversation with the coach.

“How’s your shoulder?”

“It feels much better.”

“That’s a relief.”

To be honest, my shoulder was shattered from throwing like crazy in the tournament in my sophomore year before the regression, which made my life difficult for a while, but that doesn’t mean I hate Coach Park like crazy.

At least Coach Park didn’t use me in a way that violated the rules. He was just at the level of a typical coach in the high school league. Besides, I was just as greedy as he was when the championship was right in front of us. It’s a shame that Coach Park wasn’t an extraordinary leader, but there was no reason to hate him for being a league-average leader.

More than anything, he grabbed me when my shoulder was shattered and said things like, ‘Think about your talent. What are you going to do if you don’t play baseball now? You can’t throw the ball? Then just hit it. Pick up the bat,’ which was like something out of a manga. Of course, he seemed a bit like a psychopath at the time, but the results were good anyway…

“I’m seriously aiming for the championship in this tournament. No, I think our team has the potential to aim for the championship not only in this tournament but also in the remaining tournaments.”

I thought about it for a moment. Is that a possible plan?

It would be absolutely impossible in a full league with 162 or 144 games a year. But what about in a tournament?

“The roles of the other kids will be big after the quarterfinals.”

“Yes, the quarterfinals and semi-finals. It will depend on how well those kids hold up. Of course, that’s with you as the basic premise.”

“A maximum of 59 pitches, then. So, I’ll start as a pitcher, play as a first baseman, and then go back to the mound depending on the situation?”

“No. That’s too dangerous. Even if it’s the same 59 pitches in terms of pitch count, it’s a different story to use a shoulder that’s already cooled down. What I’m saying is that you have to keep playing as a first baseman even on the days you start as a pitcher. Besides, if you’re going to continue as a two-way player, this is a necessary part…”

Uh?

To be honest, I was a little surprised by what Coach Park was saying now.

What should I say? Coach Park was definitely not a bad person, but he was even less of an extraordinary person. He was just an ordinary coach who adapted to the limitations of the times. That was Coach Park.

As such, I didn’t think Coach Park was particularly averse to the typical ace management method (overuse) that usually happens in high school baseball, but suddenly he’s saying these player-protective things?

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you think I would make you do something ridiculous like that?”

“Ah, no. It’s just that everyone usually does that.”

Coach Park chuckled once and grabbed my right arm.

“Soo-won. This arm is a national treasure.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think high school baseball should ever be the destination. How long is a person’s life? Especially in this world where they talk about the 100-year era. Of course, most kids will stop at high school baseball. But that’s not because high school baseball is the destination. It’s because those kids don’t have the strength to go to that distant destination. That could be a problem with the size of their natural strength, or it could be because of my lack of guidance.”

“Coach…”

“But Soo-won, you’re different. You have the strength to go further, to higher places. To the place that everyone considers the real destination. That’s a strength that has never existed in our country before, and maybe never will.”

It was the same in that it was an corny line that seemed to come out of an old comic book. But his eyes were different. Yes, the look Coach Park was showing now was not the same as when he grabbed me when I was worried about whether I should quit baseball because my shoulder was ruined.

If that look was one of apology and sympathy, what replaced it now was an absurdly intense expectation.

“Again, Soo-won, your arm is a national treasure. Go to America. You don’t have to feel sorry for the kids who are left behind. If you feel sorry, just win this tournament. Honestly, a championship prize of 50 million won is an amount you can’t get even if you produce several decent professional players. And the support money you’ll receive for 5 years? The glory of producing a major leaguer from the team will be even greater than that. So, you don’t have to play in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] for 7 years just because you’re worried about us.”

Uh… Um…

I didn’t answer.

***

Kyung-go’s coach, Jo Byung-gu, unknowingly uttered a curse.

“Damn, these bastards?”

Losing the game was frustrating, but it could be seen as something that couldn’t be helped. But it’s a different story when the opponent thinks they’re looking down on them.

4th inning, two outs, no runners.

Choi Soo-won went down from the mound.

47 pitches.

Could there be something wrong with his body?

No, that’s not it.

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have gone down from the mound and stood at first base with a first baseman’s mitt instead of a pitcher’s glove.

– Whoosh!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

The chubby-looking freshman pitcher who came to the mound struck out the batter.

And then again, Joongang High’s attack.

Jo Yu-jin’s leadoff hit, which showed an evolution from the upper and lower body separation hitting to a bed hitting, exploded. Choi Hyun-woo, who was on the mound, felt strangely bad.

And then a ground ball to the infield, no, an infield hit.

The ball bounced slightly off the glove of the second baseman who ran out quickly. A small mistake that could happen in high school baseball. Joongang High’s runners ran as fast as they could. But even so, it wasn’t too late. Kyung-go’s second baseman, who recovered the baseball, threw the ball to the shortstop who ran to cover second base.

A bent-leg slide.

The shortstop avoided Jo Yu-jin’s foot.

– Thwack!!

Similar timing.

The umpire raises both hands.

“Safe!!”

He threw the ball to first base while recovering his body, which was disrupted by avoiding the slide.

– Thwack!!

“Safe!!”

An infield hit created by the runners’ fast feet and the immature defense. If it were the pros, it would have been a guaranteed double play, except for the Marines and Phoenix.

To take down the ace in the name of preparing for the next game against Kyung-go with that terrible defense. Coach Jo Byung-gu, who had been determined to teach them a lesson, grabbed the back of his neck.

“I’ll prepare for fungo practice today” [Fungo practice is a baseball drill where a coach hits balls to fielders for practice].

Jo Byung-gu nodded silently.

No outs, runners on first and second.

The pitcher, who had taken a bit of a mental hit, walked the batter on eight pitches.

“What should we do?”

It wasn’t a question of whether to take the pitcher down now. Either way, whoever went up now would have no choice but to throw an intentional walk.

Intentional walk with the bases loaded?

In fact, no one could criticize it if the opponent was Choi Soo-won.

Just like it was too obvious to walk Barry Bonds, who was hitting 73 home runs, intentionally.

Jo Yu-jin on third base walked home.

0:5

Can we win?