Clutch Inning: Min-hoo Outduels Gyeongsang's Sluggers
North Myeong High had faced a crisis after their ace pitcher Kim Ji-seok was forced out following a nail injury that limited him to just the first batter. But with Yoo Min-hoo taking the mound afterward and finishing the inning, they could finally breathe a little easier. Still, the burden of losing their ace lingered.
In the living room at home, watching the Golden Lion Tournament broadcast, Ella tilted her head as the end of the first inning wrapped up. Her mother, Kim Mi-hyun, had stepped out to run errands. As siblings, Ella had watched Yoo Min-hoo play plenty of games. The stepbrother she knew was the prototypical elite lefty—overwhelming hitters with raw power. So when she heard he'd be pitching right-handed, it just didn't compute. His lefty image was too dominant.
And now, for the first time, she was seeing Yoo Min-hoo pitch right-handed.
"He looks like a completely different player," Ella murmured softly.
At some point, Ella had sensed that Yoo Min-hoo had changed. That shift was tied to his time regression, but of course, she had no way of knowing that. Even with her suspicions, she refocused on the game.
Top of the second. Leadoff hitter Lee Ho-seok smacked a single, but the follow-up batters were shut down by Bae Yong-min, leading to a quick changeover.
Up next on the mound: Yoo Min-hoo, as expected. The North Myeong High players shot him surprised looks at the fact that he'd keep holding down the fort.
Yoo Min-hoo climbed the mound and turned his gaze to the plate. Stepping in was none other than Kim Yong-su, currently Korea's top high school hitter. With his elite bat skills and pro-level physique, he was the kind of monster who could step right into the pros as an immediate contributor. And he had history: in a prior practice game, Yoo Min-hoo had struck him out on three pitches.
"Heh heh heh."
Entering the box with fire in his eyes, Kim Yong-su glared at Yoo Min-hoo with malicious glee.
"That humiliation from before! That shame! I'll pay you back today, no matter what it takes!"
Lee Ho-seok, peering out from behind his catcher's mask, watched Kim Yong-su mutter with blazing eyes and just shook his head. And with that, the bottom of the second began.
Kim Yong-su, brimming with determination like he wouldn't be satisfied without a homer, stepped up... only to...
"Ball four."
"...!"
He took a straight walk without a hint of hesitation, reaching base. Kim Yong-su stood frozen in the box for a moment before letting out a sudden "Raaargh!" roar. The umpire scowled.
"What's that outburst? Got a problem?"
"No, sorry. My mistake."
Cowed by the ump's callout, Kim Yong-su scurried to first. Sighs of exasperation poured from the Gyeongsang High dugout—like they couldn't rein him in.
From the mound, Yoo Min-hoo watched Kim Yong-su wordlessly, then let out a dry chuckle.
Insane competitive fire.
Players at Kim Yong-su's level had sky-high pride, and that type often obsessed over personal matchups. When their fire ignited, they elevated their game. Yoo Min-hoo had zero interest in facing a locked-in Kim Yong-su without full focus. The skill gap was too vast anyway. That's why he'd walked him boldly.
From Kim Yong-su's perspective, though, it was infuriating.
With Kim Yong-su on base, Yoo Min-hoo toed the rubber and let out a deep sigh. Walking him was the best play, but hardly an ideal one.
If I challenge him with my current stuff, worst case is a homer. Otherwise, at least a double. Odds of an out are slim.
So the walk it was, no hesitation. Stepping off, Yoo Min-hoo rubbed rosin on his hands and eyed the next batter: No. 5, sophomore lefty swinger Shin Yu-seong.
Gyeongsang High's cleanup trio was as feared as Daegu High's. Unlike aggressive No. 4 No Kyung-hwan or bomb-hitter Kim Yong-su, Shin Yu-seong was ultra-patient.
Top high school eye and patience. Pro-ready on-base skills.
Yoo Min-hoo narrowed his eyes, reciting Shin's profile inwardly. But he wasn't just an OBP guy—second on the team in slugging after Kim Yong-su. He'd be their cleanup if Yong-su ever left.
Won't swing unless it's in his zone. Changes it every at-bat, three or four spots. Merciless if it hits.
Guess hitter with a vicious edge—underestimate him, and you're toast.
Toughest after Kim Yong-su.
Yoo Min-hoo cracked his knuckles, gripped a four-seam, and went into his windup. Shin tensed every muscle. Yoo Min-hoo fired high and away fast.
Thwack!
"Strike!"
The ball clipped the zone just enough. Yoo Min-hoo exhaled deeply.
Luck's on my side today.
Could've been a ball, but command held, and the ump was generous. Catching from Lee Ho-seok, Yoo Min-hoo thought,
Still no read on him.
A probe pitch, but no reaction. Shin, seeing the strike, took light swings and mused,
Better command than expected. Not just diminished velocity.
His two-seamer and circle change were sharp too. Gripping his bat tight. Yoo Min-hoo eyed him.
One more strike, and he's mine.
A slider out of nowhere would rattle him. His unseen breaking stuff would play like a finisher. Deep breath—Yoo Min-hoo fired a circle change low and in.
Shin watched it drop off the zone. Tempting, but disciplined. Yoo Min-hoo wiped sweat, then unleashed a fastball deep inside.
Whoosh! Crack!
Shin swung without pause. The ball rocketed off the bat, pulled deep to right. It hooked just foul. Yoo Min-hoo wiped his brow.
Strike zone inside would've been gone.
Command's clicking. Inside's his trigger point.
2-1, but no killer pitch yet. Shin was patient, a master of pitcher mind games.
Straight inside again? He'll lay off.
Two-seam grip—low away. Shin cut it foul. Wary of sink. Yoo Min-hoo considered a strike-zone circle change but nixed it.
His circle was polished, but without elite fastball heat, it couldn't fully disrupt timing. Shin's eye would handle it.
Whew.
Sign to Lee Ho-seok: Low-inside slider.
Ho-seok set up. Yoo Min-hoo delivered. Shin tensed at the motion, then swung hard at the incoming pitch.
But it bit harder inside the zone, diving low. Shin flinched.
Slider!
Too late to check—swing committed.
Thwack!
The ball popped into Ho-seok's mitt. "Strike three!" Shin sighed and trudged back. With Gyeongsang's 3- and 5-hole out in a row, Mokdong Stadium buzzed.
An unknown pitcher dominating like this? Rare.
Yoo Min-hoo exhaled and eyed the next batter, resetting.
Bottom of the second ended clean: 6- and 7-hole out on fly and grounder.
Watching silently, Gyeongsang coach Kang Hak-gyu eyed Yoo Min-hoo descend scoreless.
Circle, two-seam, slider, curve.
Even pros rarely mixed four like that. Circle and two-seam were sharp; slider and curve less so. Weak four-seam base dulled them. But together? Formidable.
And the sequencing...
Veteran psych warfare from a high schooler? Nah. Knowing when to deploy what was deadlier than variety. Kang had figured an easy game post-Kim Ji-seok. Wrong.
Tough for the bottom order. He'll cruise to the fourth.
Top order changes that. But still,
We're overwhelming favorites.
As predicted, Yoo Min-hoo retired 8- and 9-hole in the third. But the leadoff hitter doubled, prompting a hook. North Myeong couldn't fill the ace void and fell 6-3 to Gyeongsang, bowing out in the quarterfinals.