Trial on the Mound (3)
The atmosphere in the Seoul Rangers' dugout was upbeat. They'd notched a win in the series opener, after all.
"It's a shame for Harold himself, but man, are we lucky he stuck with us."
"Tell me about it. We burned through the bullpen a bit in that weekday series, but Harold going eight innings gave them a breather."
That was because Harold Gallen, the winning pitcher from that game, had eaten up eight innings all by himself, letting their fatigued closer crew catch a break.
"Jin Yuha... Jin Yuha."
Of course, today's opposing starter was a formidable foe. But still.
"He's just a rookie, right? Nothing we can't handle."
Rangers manager Yun Youngsik was confident he could take down Jin Yuha.
"Soon as they get on base, we'll rattle him good."
"You got it. Let's give Jin Yusung's kid a lesson on the mound today."
And they'd prepared thoroughly for it.
"Betting practice tuned to 160 km/h?"
"Yes, sir. We sent the analytics on Jin Yuha to all the players too."
On top of that.
"Manager, the lineup for today's game just dropped."
There was some welcome news right before game time.
1. CF Jeong Suyeong
2. 1B Kang Gihoo
3. RF Frank
4. 3B Yoon Gangyeol
5. DH Oh Daesu
6. LF Kim Taeyong
7. SS Baek Jihun
8. 2B Hwang Doyang
9. C Jeong Hanseong
Park Cheongwon's name—the Titans' starting catcher—was nowhere to be found in their lineup.
"Is Jeong Hyeonho out of his mind?"
A thick smile crept across manager Yun Youngsik's lips as he said it.
I showed up at the stadium, and right away...
"Who's injured?"
"Park Cheongwon."
Word came that Park Cheongwon sunbae—key bat in the lineup and our starting catcher—was hurt.
"How'd that happen?"
Manager Jeong Hyeonho looked incredulous even as he explained.
"Tripped throwing out food trash."
"...Pardon?"
"Said his wife told him to take it out before she left."
People get hurt in all sorts of ways, but this was next-level ridiculous. I nearly spat out my banana.
"How bad?"
"Not severe. But he probably can't play today."
Small mercies. The Titans' already feeble bottom of the order would've been a disaster if he'd gone down long-term—this season would've been bleak.
That said, this meant...
"So today's catcher is..."
"Yup. Looks like you two rookies are teaming up."
The rookie catcher who'd just debuted two days ago was starting. Against my start, no less—teammates from the same draft class.
"This is dizzying."
"Eh... You'll handle it fine, right?"
The manager clapped my shoulder, full of faith.
"Kinda irresponsible, don't you think?"
"You scared?"
Pfft.
"Nah."
First things first—time to grab Jeong Hanseong.
Jeong Hanseong was flustered.
The morning after drifting off stroking the ball from his debut hit...
"Jeong Hanseong. You hear? You're starting catcher today."
Anyone would be, suddenly tapped for their first start.
"...Don't mess with me. Why me? What about Cheongwon sunbae?"
Especially as backup to a stud like Park Cheongwon.
"Out with loverboy drama—can't play."
Coming from a teammate spouting nonsense? Even more so.
"...Wait, why's this real?"
Spotting his name on the lineup sheet, Jeong Hanseong pinched his cheek.
'Am I dreaming?'
That thought shattered quick.
Whap!
His teammate—and today's starter—Jin Yuha ruffled his hair roughly, proving this was no dream.
"Ow!"
"Heads up?"
Rubbing his stinging scalp, Jeong Hanseong felt his hands shake.
'Starting just like that?'
First starts always ratchet up the nerves for rookies. Unless you're his lunatic friend, who'd shut out his debut with a complete game.
'Hold up... complete game?'
He turned to stare at Jin Yuha—the guy with two straight complete games, gunning for a historic three-peat.
"Yeah. Exactly."
Jin Yuha nodded with a grin.
"If I don't finish today, it's on you. Fans'll blame the battery, at least. And I want this shutout. Been hearing nonstop how we're the same old duo."
Jeong Hanseong's mind went blank.
This guy's lost it.
I smirked at shell-shocked Jeong Hanseong. Looked hilarious.
But I wasn't worried.
"Ah."
He blanked out, let out a sigh, then...
Slap!
Smacked his own cheek and snapped to.
"Gotta break down the Rangers' lineup first, yeah?"
Dove straight into prep. Classic.
As expected.
Reliable catcher, this one.
"Grab data from analytics first, then bullpen."
"Right. Prep like always?"
"Yeah. Like always."
Plus, we'd been a battery forever. Park Cheongwon sunbae was elite, meshed great with me—but this guy was my original glove.
"Tch... Sweeper's not biting today."
"Skip it then?"
"Yeah. Splitter's diving nice, though."
"Got it."
Analytics room for Rangers data, then bullpen. We bullpen-pitched, plotting today's arsenal.
. . .
Thud thud! Clap! Thud thud! Clap!
Shin Sajik Stadium, packed to the gills. My walk-up hadn't even hit, but fans were already stomping and clapping.
Damn...
Grinning ear to ear.
Clap!
High-fived the squad.
Thud thud! Clap! Thud thud! Clap!
My tune kicked in.
"Hey."
Clap!
Last, a high-five to Jeong Hanseong's noggin—he'd zoned out mid-prep again.
"...You nearly wiped my prep from my brain."
"Your head too empty?"
"Tch."
Crack!!
"Strike!"
[Titans' rookie battery gutsy down the middle—162 km/h four-seam! Son Myungwoo couldn't even swing!]
[Aggressive leadoff guy... but rattled here.]
[Haha! First-timers always flinch at Jin Yuha's heat. Not just Jeong Hanseong who needs to focus!]
Leadoff hitter Son Myungwoo (.312 career) whiffed on five pitches, high fastball K. No. 2 Lee Geonmin (.307) grounded weakly to short on a changeup. Cleanup Song Hanil (.309) ass-planted on a splitter.
Manager Yun Youngsik had figured pre-game this favored them. Plenty of prep on Jin Yuha, plus their foe's catcher was a high school grad rookie. But.
"..."
Top of the first didn't go as planned. He knew Jin Yuha was scorching, so no cakewalk—but their vaunted .300 trio folding like that? Unforeseen.
"Still just the first..."
No. 4 Jo Hyunwoo—20+ homers yearly even in spacious Jamsil Dome—fanned on a loopy curve. No. 5 Victor (solid NPB last year) snapped his bat on a cutter. No. 6 Yoo Hyunjeong (spring camp darling, clubhouse buzz) flailed a weak roller to the mound.
"Yuha's on today."
Top second. Yun Youngsik rubbed his stiffening jaw.
Nos. 7, 8, 9.
All crumbled like leaves before Jin Yuha's arsenal.
"...We prepped, right?"
By end of third: zero baserunners.
His question drew...
"He's beyond our scouting..."
...a grim chief coach.
"Tempo's insane. Throws right after the catch. Knew he was quick, but this quick?"
"And no Park Cheongwon. Rookie calling his own pitches?"
"Seems so."
"Huh. Weren't they battery partners for years?"
Park's absence a boon for them? Yun pondered.
"Plus, super aggressive today."
"Always attacked the zone, no?"
"Worse. Pounding it like a show of force. Batters off-balance."
"Tch. Zone shots should be easy meat. Can't they hit 'em?"
Yun tsked.
'Problem is those zone shots are all unhittable, old man. And why ask me what you know?'
Chief coach swallowed his retort. Family man, after all.
"At least Tyler's dealing—no baserunners either."
Redirected to their ace starter to soothe him.
"Hm... True."
Yun nodded, calming. Chief pushed hope.
"Lineup's turned once—they're adapting. You know our guys best."
"Yeah. I do."
Chief sighed inwardly, griping.
'What's Jin Yuha's deal today?'