Rock(3): Pitching Purity and the Shutout Masterpiece
Before regression. My decision to go two-way at the pro level stemmed from that goddamn first team of mine. They just wouldn't give me any wins.
In my rookie season, I won ROY. The next season, Cy Young. Back when I was a pure pitcher, my awards proved I was the league's top ace, but over those two seasons combined, I only notched 18 wins. Even with a sub-2.00 ERA in my Cy Young year.
I was pissed. Utterly baffled. I'd head to the mound feeling great on game day, only to come down pissed off. That became the routine.
So I challenged myself to two-way.
Naturally, the team tried to talk me out of it. They wanted to sell me for top dollar and didn't want their Cy Young talent wasting away on some pipe dream. But they backed off when I told them, "Then sign some players who can actually give me wins."
And I was Jin Yusung's son before I was Jack Gordon's nephew. After the Japanese unicorn in MLB, a Korean one appeared—American citizenship, but still. Even in the season I swept MVP as a two-way player, the team still missed the playoffs.
"Tch."
No matter how hard one guy balls out, there's a limit. A harsh lesson.
Anyway. The reason I chose to pitch only for my first season this life around is simple. This version of me hasn't run a full season yet.
Baseball seasons are long. Even if pre-regression me two-wayed through MLB's longer schedule without major injuries, I figured it was too soon.
Plus, this season's Busan Titans were a far cry from my first team—they could actually score runs.
Park Cheongwon sunbae, national team catcher and Gold Glove winner last season behind the plate. Age is creeping up, but his bat's still sharp.
Kang Gihoo sunbae, army discharge prospect and future MLB legend. Rookie year this season, but per his own claims—ROY and Gold Glove double—he's already top-tier in the KBO.
Frank Rodriguez, the foreign slugger the front office proudly signed after bombing last year's mercenary hunt. He struggles against mid-90s heat, but few KBO pitchers touch that velo.
So.
I wanna hit.
The reason I wanted at-bats right now wasn't distrust in our hitters. I just purely wanted to swing.
"Tch..."
But right now, I was just a starter who'd kept the leash perfect through four innings.
Tick!
"Foul."
All I could do was trust my teammates.
Crack!!
"Sunbae! Run! Fuck! Park Cheongwon's slow as hell! He's gonna get nabbed! Hurry!"
And our lineup rewarded that faith.
"Safe!"
Of course.
"Who the fuck called me slow? Wanna die?"
"Jeong Suyeong sunbae."
Park Cheongwon sunbae's foot was seriously lagging sliding home on a ball that rolled to the base of the center field fence.
"Whoa... Baek Jihun's pulling extra bases now? He turning into a slugging shortstop or what?"
That the guy who ripped the big hit was last year's sub-.250 hitter who barely went deep—our defense-only shortstop captain Baek Jihun sunbae—that was unexpected.
"Knew you had it, sunbae!"
"Yuha, call me hyung."
Anyway, the Titans lineup broke the scoreless tie. And.
"Ah... couldn't tack on more there. Sorry, Yuha."
"It's fine."
Just one run, but enough to make me the pitcher of record.
Baseball's full of superstitions. Not scientifically proven, but born from years of hard-knocks experience.
Among the famous ones: Beware the inning after you score. Watch out for the starter's fifth.
The Titans' phenom rookie Jin Yuha's top of the fifth ticked every box. So.
"Everyone, focus!"
Baek Jihun, iffy hitter but defensive wizard at short, rallied the infield.
"Alright, this is our shot!"
The Warriors saw the cleanup start as their chance to crack Yuha.
Crack!
In reality, Warriors leadoff man Han Seongun.
"Safe!"
Yoon Gangyeol, late on the play, bowed repeatedly to Yuha in apology.
Yuha just smiled and patted Yoon Gangyeol on the back.
But the know-it-all's prediction missed again.
Thwack!
Yuha got the follow-up on a foul fly.
Thwack!!
-158km
Struck out the next on strikes.
Crack!!
Ended the final batter on a center fly, inning scoreless.
Top eighth. One out, bases empty.
Daegu Warriors' eighth hitter Lee Hyeong stood at the plate, hiding his nerves.
"Scared? You're shaking like a leaf."
Veteran catcher Park Cheongwon saw right through it.
Why the hell does this psycho still dominate in pro? Just go to America already...
Lee Hyeong genuinely feared Jin Yuha. To most of the 2040 draft class, Yuha was pure PTSD. In high school, he was a nightmare for opponents.
Lee Hyeong, who'd teamed with him on the youth national team, knew. MLB teams had begged him to join them.
Begged.
Proud MLB clubs pleading with a Korean high schooler. Shocked Lee Hyeong and his teammates. Even more shocked when Yuha picked KBO anyway.
"Boring guy. Yuha responds politely to sunbaes."
Park Cheongwon's words didn't register. Lee Hyeong barely tracked the game so far.
Snapped to: top eighth. No errors in the field, at least.
"Go down swinging again."
Two previous at-bats: both three-pitch strikeouts. Humiliating and deflating.
"Sorry. Timeout."
Faking something in his eye, Lee Hyeong called time and scanned the Titans dugout. Dead silent.
No sub now, right?
Yuha at 88 pitches. Plenty for this inning.
Even with that one hit and walk in the seventh...
Thoughts swirled.
Clap!
Lee Hyeong slapped his cheek hard, gritting his teeth.
"...Doesn't hurt?"
"I'm good."
Right—no need to fear Yuha. He's tired too.
Indeed, four-seam velo dipped. Still upper 90s, but easier than opening velo.
"Hoo..."
Quick breath, into the box.
Tap tap.
Catcher signed quick.
Whoosh!!
Bzzz!!
Bat whiffed clean.
"Not again!"
Lee Hyeong yelled in frustration.
-161km
Yuha suddenly cranked a 161km four-seam.
"Suddenly shifting gears. You piss Yuha off or something?"
Park Cheongwon's jab heated him up, but.
"What."
Sunbae's sharp tone.
"...Nothing."
He deflated. Sports hierarchy gonna hierarchy.
Tap tap.
Four-seam again? Splitter? Cutter? Change? Sweeper? Didn't he throw two-seam too? Argh... so many pitches!
Lee Hyeong's mind raced as Park tapped the PitchCom.
Whoosh!!
"Ngh!"
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Battery picked four-seam again.
-160km
Over 160km again.
"Ah."
Sigh, then gritted teeth.
Mocking me, huh.
Third matchup. Yet straight four-seams. Straight disrespect.
High school big-three shortstop pride flared. But he missed it.
Cute kid.
The plate sage read the high school rook perfectly.
Tap tap.
"Oh."
The old soul on the mound smirked.
Plop.
Yuha released. Always consistent point, but this one microscopically off.
Slooooow...
Wild arc, drifting lazy to the plate.
"Huh?"
Expecting heat, Lee panicked.
Bzzz!!
"Swinging strike three!"
Bat whipped wind. Ball dropped late.
"Why a curve outta nowhere?!"
"Yuha, bullpen's on strike today."
Manager Jeong Hyeonho said before top ninth.
"Tell 'em to rest easy."
No one but me touches the mound today. And.
Bzzz!!
"Swinging strike three!"
It happened. Just like that.