The Frisbee Slider Makes Its MLB Debut
A 2.34 ERA in AAA.
A call-up after a mere three months.
And the reason his name had made its way to the major leagues came down to one thing and one thing only.
The Frisbee Slider.
A slider in the neighborhood of 90 mph, unleashed from a low arm angle.
At first, it looked like it was headed straight for the strike zone. But the instant it closed in on home plate, it slid sideways — as if someone had yanked the ball away from the side.
AAA hitters had a few things to say about that pitch.
The dirtiest pitch they'd ever seen. A pitch they hated to swing at. The slider closest to a screwball in spirit.
And today, that pitch was finally about to be aimed at major league hitters.
Still, the scouting report had nothing to do with his numbers. Around him, people sneered at the small Asian man, and the quiet, casual racism had chipped away at his confidence without anyone noticing. Now, on the verge of his first big-league bullpen appearance, his heart was pounding as if he'd just sprinted a hundred meters.
Can I actually pull this off?
What if they're right — what if my pitches really don't work up here?
Bottom of the ninth, leading by two... one out, runners on first and second. Hitters usually take the first pitch, so a ground ball would be ideal... a sinker would be the smart call...
"Fear not, worshipper. With the pitches of Kim Byung-woon, a believer of mine, even the mighty hitters of the majors shall find their bats utterly helpless — so it is written."
Figuring there was nothing to lose, Kim Byung-woon had asked a certain fox goddess whether his debut would go well — and she answered without a shred of hesitation.
Did she know that her unshakeable certainty, a faith unclouded by even a sliver of doubt, was at that very moment the greatest lifeline Kim Byung-woon had?
"Whew."
He stepped onto the mound.
The moment he locked eyes with his catcher, the veteran backstop did as expected and called for a sinker, hoping to induce a ground ball.
I'm throwing my pitch.
Byung-woon, a rookie in every sense of the word, shook his head at the veteran's sign.
Shake —
Reading the look in the kid's eyes, the veteran catcher didn't bother asking twice. He set his mitt where Byung-woon wanted it.
"Hey, Korea newbie! Let me be your proper welcome to the big leagues!"
Even with the batter's taunt ringing from the right-handed box, Byung-woon calmly began his windup —
Whooooosh —!!!
"What the...?!"
From the fingertips of a whip-like arm snapping upward from below, the ball came screaming toward the heart of the strike zone — then, in a flash, it bent away to the left and bored in hard toward the batter's body.
"Stryyyiiiike!!"
"Good grief... another monster just crawled out of Japan and walked into our league."
"What do you think, Johnny? Our rookie bullpen newbie."
As bewilderment spread across the face of the batter who'd been so relaxed moments ago, the catcher — an old friend of his — flashed a wide grin.
"See you on the next road trip."
Having already sensed his doom, the batter left those parting words behind him.
From that very first pitch, Byung-woon buried him completely, then fanned the next hitter the same way — three whiffs, three strikeouts, his name stamped into major league history with a perfect swing-and-miss debut.
"Kim Byung-woon! If you could send a message to someone, right now, this very moment — who would it be?"
After the game, surrounded by his teammates' congratulations, Byung-woon fielded the interview question without a moment's hesitation.
"Lady Lize. Someday, I'll invite you to a major league game."
"Is she your girlfriend, by any chance?"
"Haha. No, sir. She's more like... my small faith, I suppose you could say."
A bit of light small talk followed, and the interview came to an end.
~Flap! Homegrown fox makes a name for herself in America! Incredible! Lize!
I had been holding my breath in the virtual reality space, watching the final out recorded frame by frame — then I sprang from my seat with a triumphant shout.
Back on the screen, the woman settled into her chair once more, tilting it back with an imperious, beaming smile that practically demanded praise.
"Hah! What did I tell you all? Kim Byung-woon is strong! Any worshippers who doubted him when he first appeared — face the wall and reflect on your sins!"
Someone's question, and I answered without a beat of hesitation.
"Divine foresight, of course!"
"Huh."
Wait... so my divine foresight can't actually curse people?