Heart-Pounding Debut: The Single and the Steal
A big leaguer had appeared, and I entered the field trembling in defense, but fortunately, nothing major happened. Then the bottom of the eighth arrived. With the lead runner out and one away, I slowly raised my bat and stepped into the batter's box.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. The cheers from the Gocheok Turkeys home fans still filled the stadium, but in my ears, only the pounding of my heart rang loud. The tension of my first 1군 at-bat hammered at my chest.
The caster and commentary team fell momentarily silent, then spoke in slightly flustered tones as I stood in the box.
"Uh, the player coming up now... is Kim Hu-seong, right?"
"Yes! He's a rookie. He was on the entry list as a replacement for the injured Jeong I-hoon, and now he's finally at the plate."
The commentator beside him quickly checked his notes without missing a beat.
"Looks like he mostly played as a defensive sub in high school. He's got a solid reputation for defense. His hitting hasn't been tested much yet."
I let out a small sigh in the box. My opponent was ace starter foreigner Thompson... Even in the eighth, his pitches hadn't lost much bite. Nothing had changed for me either. I wouldn't swing until at least two strikes. The battle started after that.
Whiiiiiish!Plack!
The first pitch. Thompson took a long windup and fired a fastball.
"Strike!"
The umpire called it crisply as the ball smacked into the catcher's mitt. I twitched the bat but held back.
Whiiiish!Plock!
The second pitch. A low-breaking curve this time. I watched it all the way. As it dropped below the catcher's mitt, the ump's hand stayed down.
Whiiiiiish!Plack!
The third pitch. A deep-inside fastball. It bore in powerfully, but I still didn't swing. A murmur rippled through the stands.
The caster spoke in admiration.
"This rookie's got some serious patience. Most would chase a pitch like that..."
The commentator nodded.
"Yeah, tough choice. Staying that calm against a guy like Thompson is rare. Or maybe he's just overwhelmed as a rookie... If it's the latter, the Turkeys are in trouble."
Then the fourth pitch came. An outside fastball.
Whiiiiiish!
My eyes flashed. This one's hittable. But it was only one strike. I held back.
Plack!
"Strike!"
Finally, two strikes. I reset my stance. Thompson followed with another curve.
I've seen this one before! I can hit it!
Ting!
I made contact. The problem? It wasn't solid. The ball popped up weakly and didn't travel far.
Damn... At least run!
I bolted for first.
"It's in the air! Shortstop, third baseman, and pitcher—awkward spot between them!"
I didn't look back, sprinting full tilt. My feet felt like they were on fire as I charged first base.
"Ball hits the dirt first! Third baseman fields the one-bounce and throws to first!"
The third baseman snagged the tricky hopper and fired to first.
Plack!
As my foot hit the bag, the first baseman's mitt snapped shut. A split-second battle: foot first or ball first?
"Safe!"
The umpire's arms shot out wide.
"Wooooaaah!"
The crowd erupted. The caster's voice rose in excitement.
"Wow! He lives! That grounder dropped in the hole between short, pitcher, and third, and he hustles all the way for the safe call. Lee Seo-jin, doesn't this remind you of the old days?"
The commentator laughed out loud.
"Haha, I pulled that off plenty in my playing days. Even a bad hit survives with speed like that. This kid... something's off about him. Legs are fast."
Then Lee Seo-jin checked something and his voice filled with awe.
"Just got the time: Kim Hu-seong reached first in 3.8 seconds. That's elite even for a lefty. Not many dip under 3.9. At that speed, infielders suffer more than the pitcher—they gotta rush the throw even after fielding it. Constant pressure."
The caster followed up.
"So he's a real threat on the bases?"
Lee Seo-jin dropped the smile, turning serious.
"Right now? Eh. Still a rookie. Speed alone doesn't make a threat runner. You need baserunning smarts, start timing, reading the battery... All that lines up, then it's a weapon. Give him 2-3 years' experience, and pitchers and infielders will hate him. But for now, it's just potential."
The caster wrapped it up.
"Cool as a vet, explosive speed—this rookie's one to watch. Kim Hu-seong extracts a valuable hit in his first 1군 at-bat!"
"Huff. Huuuuff."
My breath came ragged as soon as I stood on first. The aftermath of that full sprint lingered, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. But stronger than that was the roar crashing down from the stands.
"Wooooaaah!"
"Kim Hu-seong! Kim Hu-seong! Kim Hu-seong!"
I caught sight of Turkeys fans waving at me. The dugout's vibe shifted—players and coaches buzzing. I did it. Pride swelled in my chest.
"Nice one, Kim Hu-seong."
The first base coach patted my shoulder and flashed a quick sign. Steal sign.
My neck stiffened. Steal? My mouth went dry, heart racing faster.
I glanced at the manager. Yup. He was signaling steal too.
Made sense here. One out, fast runner on first—advance a base. With zero outs, it'd be a bunt call, but with one out, gotta risk it on the runner.
Problem was me. "Steal" made my legs feel like lead.
Hoo... Let's do it.
I started my lead cautiously. But my steps were tiny—not like practice. Body shrinking back, scared of a pickoff.
Thompson fired a pickoff right away.
"Eek!"
The ball went to the first baseman's mitt, not the catcher's. I dove back in a scramble.
Thump, thump, thump!
"Safe."
Heart pounding harder. I led off again—same story. Out a bit, back quick. Another pickoff, back in. Rinse and repeat. Fans started jeering the Gwangju Pigeons.
Lee Seo-jin chimed in from the booth.
"Fun spot right now. Fast runner, so steal sign for sure... Green runner would've led big and got picked. But Kim Hu-seong won't bite easy. Teasing the pitcher till he slips? Or frozen stiff? Either way, he's good so far."
Caster: "What's he thinking? Luring a slip?"
Lee Seo-jin tilted his head.
"Dunno. Looks a bit frozen... but feels like he's plotting something."
Damn, keep this up and I'll just eat pickoffs all inning. Better go down swinging.
Thompson went into set. Now! Screw it—I bolted for second.
"To second!"
Infielders scrambled. Before the catcher even caught it, I was flying to second.
"Batter swings. Catcher throws to second... dives and slides!"
Dust billowed. Umpire bellowed.
"Safe!"
"WOOOOAAAAHHH!"
"Kim Hu-seong!"
"Kim Hu-seong! Kim Hu-seong!"
"Insane!!!!"
The Gocheok Dome flipped. Turkeys fans leaped up, roaring.
I panted, rising. "Kim Hu-seoooong!"
I looked to the stands. Fans waving, chanting my name.
"Kim Hu-seong! Kim Hu-seong! Kim Hu-seong!"
The voices crashed like waves. Goosebumps electrified my body. Tension vanished, replaced by indescribable thrill.
Yeah. This is baseball. Why I became a player.