Steal the Information
Time flew by, and game day against the Changwon Larus arrived. Before the start, as I was lightly warming up, familiar footsteps approached, and Gu Min-seok hyung tapped my shoulder.
“Hu-seong.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“I told you to call me hyung, not 'hyung-nim.' Anyway, you're leading off today. That means stealing info on the pitcher is key. You've been keeping what you see to yourself, and that doesn't help the team. Guys like Yu-chan, Han-seong, or Sang-hyeon hyung have done it from the two or three hole before... but you should've been pitching in too, got it?”
I flinched for a second. Not sure what to say, I hesitated before answering honestly.
“Ah... but I'm not good enough to pick up on that stuff... I can't see the details like you do, hyung. So... wouldn't it be better not to say anything than risk giving distorted info?”
Gu Min-seok let out a frustrated sigh.
“Don't think like that. I'm not asking for perfect analysis. You've faced pitchers before, right? Just share your feel for it. Big breaking ball angle, heavy fastball, timing feels quick— even tiny stuff like that. If you say even one thing, it helps the next guys prep at the plate. Those little edges change the whole offense. Got it?”
I nodded cautiously.
“Yes... I got it. I'll try.”
“Trying is a given.”
Then Gu Min-seok tilted his head.
“Still, how does a guy who's played high school ball his whole career not know this?”
“Ahem... like I said before, I barely got any PT...”
“Even from the dugout, you must've heard the chatter, right?”
“Sure... when the guys were up, I'd yell 'Nice!' or 'Good one!'... stuff like that, so I don't remember much else...”
Gu Min-seok looked stunned.
“...”
He recovered quickly with a fake cough.
“Ahem. High school aside, you're a pro leadoff hitter now. Think like that and do it. That spot comes with big responsibility. So if you notice anything, speak up. Got it?”
“Yes, I got it.”
That was all I could say. He wasn't wrong about a thing. For the team to win, I had a role... Rookies get some slack, but to be a real leadoff, yeah...
“Good. Get ready.”
The game started, pre-game ceremonies wrapped up, and we headed out from the bench together. Me to third, Gu Min-seok hyung to left field. Same direction, so he kept turning toward me as he walked to the outfield grass.
“Hu-seong, you know the pitcher's a lefty, right? Think twice about stealing. Stuff like that—prep ahead.”
“Yes, I've thought about it.”
“If his stuff changes, call it out right away. Velocity faster or slower than expected—say it.”
“Yes! Got it!”
“And on leads from first, don't time it the same way every time—they'll read you. Mix it up!”
Gu Min-seok hyung was already on the outfield grass but kept going.
“And...”
My ears were gonna bleed...
By the time Larus's three-hole hitter stepped up, I was already wired tight. The pitch dropped near the zone, and the bat whipped through viciously.
Thwack!
The sharp crack sent the ball screaming toward third. I dove on instinct. Grass scraped my arm and side; the ball thumped into my glove. I popped up and fired to first.
Whiiip—pop!
The first-base ump thrust his right arm skyward as it smacked the mitt.
“Out!”
“Whew... close one. Guy's fast—good block, but tight...”
Thud!
Someone smacked my head.
“Nice play!”
Gu Min-seok hyung's glove on my noggin. But he was already grinning and jogging to the dugout.
Sheesh... I swallowed the irritation bubbling up and sprinted back too.
Still, it felt good. At least I'd made a play on D.
Back in the dugout, I geared up for offense, adjusting my bat grip, but Gu Min-seok hyung wouldn't let up from the side.
“Hu-seong. You'll steal from first, right?”
I nodded, bat in hand.
“Probably... yeah.”
“Didn't I say not to?”
“Ahem...”
“But if you succeed, you've got more work. Know what?”
I blinked and shook my head.
“No idea.”
“From second, you can see the pitcher's hands. Gives you a feel for what's coming. Relay it to the hitter.”
I froze solid.
“Isn't that... sign stealing?”
Gu Min-seok stared like I'd grown a second head.
“In-game, if a guy's sharp enough to catch it, no issue. Why do you think pitchers hide grips in their gloves, sweating bullets? Vets aren't idiots. There's reasons. If you spot it, that's on you being good.”
“But hyung... if they roll it long in the glove, it tips off-breaking balls. I've seen pitchers get read like that.”
He chuckled.
“That's the beauty of baseball. But trained guys roll fastballs long on purpose to mess with hitters. It's a top-dog battle.”
I listened, dumbfounded, mouth agape. Didn't know the mind games and reads ran this deep.
Hyung tapped my shoulder one last time.
“Hu-seong. To win, do whatever. Especially leadoff—you gotta know this stuff. Pull the info, and the whole lineup breathes easier.”
I nodded slowly.
“Yeah... got it. I'll do it.”
“Good. You got this. Let's go.”
The ump signaled batter's box. I tugged my helmet, grabbed my bat. Two-hole Gu Min-seok hyung followed, then peeled to the on-deck circle.
Changwon Larus's starter was Moon Bo-young, their five-starter. Lefty with good control—famous for it. No swinging early.
I stepped in, deep breath. Watched two corner fastballs zip by.
Strike one, strike two. Shoulda swung... But breaking form in the first is risky. Count 0-2 quick, but I stayed cool.
Third pitch, I fouled it off.
Tick!
“Foul!”
Tick!
“Foul!”
Cut low sliders, inside heat. Whew... Moon Bo-young scowled—good pitches, no K.
But I'm the first-inning demon; not going down easy.
Fifth pitch, dropping breaker. Angle... whiff ends it, but ball caught the bat knob, grounded it.
Looked routine, but rolled the awkward gap between short and third.
Damn—run!
Slow roller, good line. Shortstop twisted awkwardly to field, threw to first—but I was already there.
“Safe!”
Toe beat the tag. Relief washed over me. Leadoff on changed everything.
But lefty pitcher... tricky. I tested a bigger lead, pulled back, gauging.
Tough battle. Meanwhile, two-hole Gu Min-seok hyung stepped up, ripped the first pitch.
Crack!
Sharp liner to third—but third jumped it. I'd gone halfway to second, had to scramble back. Heel kicked up dirt turning, but third fired to first.
Oh no—trouble!
Panicked, but wild throw? First couldn't snag it.
“Go to second!”
Base coach's yell—I bolted, slid headfirst into second.
No reaction from infield. Haah... lived.
Up from the bag, I scanned. Third had made a play but botched the rest—frustrated look. Lucky me... Now, priority: watch pitcher's tells over stealing.
I eyed his motions closely.
... Whiff!
“Strike three!”
Three-hole Kim Han-seong whiffed on a chase. Got it! Know the fastball windup now!
Thud thud thud
“Son Tae-ho~ Home run~”
Thud thud thud thud
“Son Tae-ho~ Home run~”
Cleaner Son Tae-ho twirled his bat into the box. I glared at the pitcher.
He held the grip, slipped hand into glove.
Oh! Straight to it? Wait... hadn't set a sign for the hitters... How to signal?
As I pondered in that split second, he wound up.
Screw it. Right before release, I mimed a fastball grip with my right hand, flicked it.
Please get it!
Catcher twitched at my hand but too late—pitcher released.
Whiiip—CRACK!
The park rang with the hit. I watched Son Tae-ho hyung.
It worked!
His next move confirmed the op perfect.