Ace's Very, Very Special Mission! Become an Inning Eater!

"Yes, this is it!"

Tae-woong had finally coaxed Ace into giving him the mission.

Hold on... If it's an inning eater mission, that means I could exceed 150 innings, right? If I play this right...

His mind started racing the moment he checked the mission details.

Alright, let's go for it! Worst case, it doesn't work out. What's to lose?

-Ace: Why so quiet? Is that all the reaction you're giving me? You used to go nuts over a single mission.

Don't tell me this shitballer's already lost his beginner's fire?

"It's not that. I just have a question."

-Ace: A question? What is it?

"The mission says 'Let's become an inning eater' if you're Ace, but the reward doesn't have to be locked to exactly 150 innings, right? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠You couldn't possibly not know that..."

Tae-woong casually tried to provoke him.

And...

-Ace: Of course I know! These days, you gotta eat 200 innings just to think, 'Oh, this guy's Cy Young candidate material.' Right?

Tae-woong ducked his head to hide the rotten grin spreading across his face. Ace had bitten without a second's hesitation.

Gotcha! You lovable, occasionally dim-witted good guy!

YOU JUST ACTIVATED MY TRAP CARD.

A famous meme that once blew up the internet flashed through Tae-woong's mind.

"With that in mind, how about better rewards the more innings you eat? Like you said, at least up to 200 innings as a mission, yeah?"

-Ace: Urk... W-well...

"One reward's too stingy. Let's make it six."

-Ace: Six? Hey, you punk. How much are you trying to grift? No way we're doing six rewards for one mission. Two, let's compromise.

"Six."

-Ace: Damn it. Fine, one more—three. Triple, triple!

"Dude, Cy Young winners in the majors eat 230 innings. Even in KBO, a few guys hit 200. Six!"

-Ace: No way... Five!

"Six!"

-Ace: You're driving me crazy... Fine. Six!

"Thanks! Okay! Six rewards!"

-Ace: Son of a—! I got played! Me, of all people, suckered by a lowly shitballer!

Ace finally realized he'd fallen for Tae-woong's bait without a doubt, but it was too late to take back his words.

A moment later, Ace presented the revised reward list with uncharacteristic caution.

-Ace: There, happy? This is it. No more, you little thug.

"Alright, let's take a look."

-Ace: No looking, just accept it.

"Okay, got it."

Tae-woong didn't push his luck further.

Honestly... I figured I could squeeze two more out of him. But that prideful guy's sneakily generous.

"Hmm, not bad?"

Tae-woong's face lit up with satisfaction as he scanned the new rewards. They were all top-tier, without exception.

-Ace: Damn right it's good. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Asking for more after this means your conscience is on vacation.

"But the skill selection at 200 innings—can I really pick anything?"

-Ace: Obviously. If you can actually pitch 200 innings.

"Damn, 200 innings..."

-Ace: Simple. Pitch 9 innings every game from tomorrow on.

Easy words, but Ace's lips curled into a smirk that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said, Put up or shut up.

"Gotta pass on 200. Can't risk shredding my shoulder after one season. I'm in this for the long haul."

-Ace: Smart thinking. Clayton Kershaw over Team Lincecum, right?

"Sure, but... Kershaw's got zero World Series rings. Lincecum has three."

-Ace: Guess Kershaw's got no killer instinct. Dominates the regular season like a beast, then flops in the playoffs. Still, Hall of Fame's about career totals, you know?

"Duh. I'm not Pedro Martinez—peaking early won't cut it."

-Ace: At least our shitballer knows his place sometimes. Good thing you're not totally unhinged.

"Still, Lincecum was the best, right? Even if his peak was short."

-Ace: Short-term impact? Overflowing for the Hall. But career innings fall short. SF Giants retirement number's a lock, though.

Lincecum-level... He'd etch his name in history even without the Hall.

As their chat suggested, Tim Lincecum was one of the most explosive pitchers post-Pedro, shattering the notion that pitchers could be stars but not superstars.

He snagged back-to-back Cy Youngs, helping the San Francisco Giants to World Series rings in 2010, 2012, and 2014—before burning out like a shooting star.

Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, was the Dodgers' ace and the active world's top starter. Stacked against MLB legends, his career to the same age ranked top three all-time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠among pitchers, and with three Cy Youngs and an MVP, he was undeniably the 21st century's best.

To Tae-woong, who hadn't faced a single MLB batter, both were distant idols.

Of course, even Kershaw's hobbled by chronic back issues now...

Even the eternal flames of Lincecum and Kershaw couldn't conquer injuries. Their bodies buckled under 150+ km/h heat and heavy workloads.

Lincecum, at 180 cm and 77 kg, was practically doomed. Folks worried even when he ate 200+ innings four straight years from 2008-2011.

Kershaw, with superior 193 cm, 102 kg build, still crumbled.

Six straight seasons of that? Says it all.

Tae-woong had logged just over 20 innings in the first team so far, sidelined a month by injury.

"If I've got about 20 starts left in the regular season... 6 innings each gets me barely to 150. 7 innings hits 160."

-Ace: Whatever. Mission's issued—pitch smart.

"Yeah, one inning at a time. Gotta crash now, or tomorrow's shot."

-Ace: Proper rest and sleep are a ballplayer's basics.

"Don't talk to me. Trying to sleep."

-Ace: This little shit begs for missions, then tells me to shut up?

Tae-woong ignored him and was out in under a minute.

* * *

A little past 4 p.m., after eating and resting, Tae-woong boarded the team bus to Wiz Park with the squad.

Normally he'd hop off first to haul gear as the maknae, but as today's starter, he got a pass. Still, he tossed some light service.

"Hyung, need a hand?"

"Kid, you'd get me in trouble. Go on ahead. Don't hover."

"Thanks. I'll make it quick today so you can chill in the shade."

"Yeah, one pitch per batter. 30 total through the ninth."

"Ah... that's tough."

"Haha, got it, punk. Scram. Gotta unload."

"Yes, hyung. Good luck. See you soon."

After chatting with Yang Sang-woo, Tae-woong grabbed his bag and headed inside.

"Never thought I'd be back like this..."

-Ace: You were here yesterday—what bullshit is this?

"Hey, don't ruin my vibe?"

-Ace: Fine, fine. Soak in the sentiment.

Tae-woong slathered sunscreen on his face, neck, and arms, then grabbed his glove for the field.

The Wiz squad had wrapped training early; the stadium was empty save for maintenance crew.

"Hey!"

"Tae-woong? Today's your start, right?"

"Yep."

"Dude, Napert needs his 100th win today—go easy. We've got ceremonies, scoreboard stuff prepped. Better at home in front of our fans, yeah?"

Wiz faced three straight road series after this home stand against the Eagles.

"Cut me some slack first. I've only got three wins."

"Harsh, man."

"Haha."

He greeted familiar faces with quick chats.

Soon, he joined the bullpen catcher for warm-ups. Pitching coach Song Jun-woo arrived; practice throws began.

Whoosh!Thwack!

"Nice! Ball's looking sharp, Tae-woong!"

The catcher cheered nonstop to boost his confidence.

Whoosh!Thwack!

"That's it! Good work. Control's on point."

"You too, hyung!"

Four-seam fastballs, two-seamers, curves, sliders, and his improved changeup. Three of each to check his feel.

Song Jun-woo, arms crossed, watched silently before speaking.

"Tae-woong, changeup looks sharper."

"Really? Thanks."

He knew, but played dumb for an objective take.

"More drop than before, right? What do you think?" Song asked the catcher who'd taken the pitches.

Experienced hands spot differences best.

"Spot on. Haven't caught him much, but it dives lower now. Not wild, though—mitt went down for the catch."

"Yeah, form's steady. Release point solid... How's the feel, Tae-woong?"

"Good. No hitches."

"Great. When Ji-hoon finishes gear and comes out, we'll check again."

Song brushed it off. As an ex-pitcher, he knew some days the ball just popped.

"Yes, Coach."