On the Mound (4)
I wasn't particularly angry. With all my experience, how could I be?
Proof. That's the constant companion of any pro athlete's life. And I knew it better than anyone. After all, no one had ever needed to prove themselves quite like I did.
That's just how it is for the son of a Major League legend.
I'd always had to prove myself, and in most cases, I actually did.
So hearing it now didn't piss me off. Not really. Just a little.
It's annoying, though.
Well, rookies always get harsh evaluations. Can't be helped. I'd seen plenty of guys whose debut was their peak.
But still.
Am I not a bit different?
Two straight complete games shutouts—does that look like a joke?
"Hoo..."
A memory flashed back: the time I'd completely lost interest in baseball. I'd dragged my aging body through a solid season, only to hear that Jin Yuha's no longer an elite player and you need to prove it if you don't want that talk.
What bullshit that was.
So I retired. I'd fulfilled my contract, proved myself plenty.
The team tried to talk me out of it. They figured I had a few more years in me, so it was natural.
The day after I cleanly announced my retirement despite their pleas? I regressed.
Thank God for the regression.
Getting to play baseball again—especially in this young body—was a huge relief. Turns out I liked the game more than I thought.
If I hadn't regressed, I might've announced a comeback after a year or two. And gotten roasted for copying MJ.
Tch, dredging up old memories for no reason.
Thud thud.
- Four-seam.
CRACK!!
"STRIKE!"
Come to think of it, maybe I was a little pissed.
Top of the 4th.
"Agh..."
Sitting behind the plate, Jeong Hanseong winced as his catching hand throbbed from the impact.
Why the hell is this guy so pissed today?
Today's Jin Yuha was way more aggressive than usual.
-163km
His velocity was consistently topping 160km, too.
"You're still young—don't try so hard. Park Cheongwon's the starter anyway, and you're just a backup."
Jeong Hanseong ignored the snide remark from Rangers leadoff hitter Son Myungwoo. Talking back to a senior like that took Jin Yuha-level guts and skill.
Instead...
VROOOM!!
"STRIKE!"
"This guy's...!"
CRACK!!
"STRIKE THREE!"
"It went in?" "He says it did." "Ah... this is insane."
He'd demanded two four-seams against the cocky pitcher and sent him packing to the dugout.
This guy's pitches really are rude as hell.
Especially that last one. It tailed just like Jin Yuha's signature, clipping the edge of the zone perfectly.
Jeong Hanseong chuckled watching Son Myungwoo trudge back to the dugout.
...But that jerk's not entirely wrong.
Jeong Hanseong had checked the baseball community reactions the moment he heard he'd be starting as catcher. Naturally, it was full of negativity.
Just two days ago, when he'd gotten a hit in his debut at-bat, even Titans fans praising his "passion" and calling him "Park Cheongwon's successor" were now grumbling, "But backup Jeong Hanseong here...?"
I'd think the same.
A high school rookie backup starting in a game with a big milestone on the line? No one would trust that. But...
- "What? The catcher's difference changes the pitcher's quality? What kinda bullshit is that?"
His buddy on the mound had said back in high school.
- "You talking old-school crap like catcher leading? Did you love Japanese baseball manga as a kid or something? Is that why you became a catcher?"
Whoever was behind the plate, as long as they did the basics, he didn't care.
- "Just do the basics. The basics. Stick to catching the ball, and I'll carry us."
So that's what he did.
No. 2 hitter Lee Geonmin... Great eye? Nah, but elite bad-ball hitter. High first-pitch swing rate. Fouled a grounder to short on a changeup last at-bat.
Jeong Hanseong focused solely on his role as receiver today.
Thud thud.
Signing based on scouting reports.
Nod.
He likes it.
The pitcher accepts happily, then...
WHOOSH!!
The incoming pitch.
VROOOM!!
Somehow.
CRACK!!
"STRIKE!"
He catches it.
The previous backup catchers, probably still stuck in Double-A badmouthing me over smokes, couldn't even receive my breaking balls properly in spring training. Not worthy of the name.
You gotta be able to catch to even be a receiver...
At that point, they were just targets behind the plate. Hit 'em and no score, sure.
Thank God Jeong Hanseong's on our team.
I was genuinely relieved he'd joined the Titans with me. Park Cheongwon was durable, but couldn't play every game. Without Jeong Hanseong, I'd have been stuck with those fake catchers eventually.
Imagine those scraps catching today?
Forget three straight complete shutouts—I might've gotten yanked early. My fastballs are powerful, sure, but without sweepers, splitters, and changeups, the threat drops fast.
Splitter's a fastball type, right? Whatever.
With Jeong Hanseong, I trusted he'd catch anything I threw.
WHOOSH!!
Second pitch: splitter again.
THWACK!!
Whoa. He actually hit that.
True to his bad-ball rep, Lee Geonmin somehow got wood on the diving pitch. Elite contact skills, for better or worse.
Pat pat.
Low foul down the third-base line. Jeong Hanseong ripped off his mask and chased it, diving full speed at the drop zone.
"OUT!"
He snagged it somehow.
Two outs.
And it wasn't just his receiving—his overall defense was already pro-level.
This guy's gotta thank me.
I'd molded him from high school as my personal receiver. Of course he was this good.
But they say don't get ahead of yourself.
The moment Titans lifer Kang Dongho, thrilled at a promising catcher prospect finally joining the team, slipped from his neutral commentator duty...
THWACK!!
No. 3 hitter Song Hanil had pushed an outside four-seam for a hit. Meaning...
The Rangers' small-ball game, warned about pregame, was kicking into gear.
Jin Yuha peeked at the runner on first, then...
WHOOSH!!
"SAFE!"
Jin Yuha had just thrown one pickoff, but everyone watching paid close attention—including Rangers manager Yoon Youngsik and his bench coach in the dugout.
"He's finally showing it."
"Jin Yuha's getting rattled."
"Heh... So what do we do? Send him!"
"Hanil says he's confident. Go on green."
"Good..."
Thud thud.
Jeong Hanseong tapped the PitchCom silently behind the plate, ignoring the tension. Jin Yuha didn't glance at the runner after that one pickoff.
WHOOSH!!
VROOOM!!
Slide.
As Song Hanil slid into second, he knew he'd stolen successfully.
Huh?
Until second baseman Hwang Doyang's glove loomed in his face.
"OUT!"
For the record, his arm was always cannon-level. No wonder I'd groomed him as my dedicated receiver.
Bottom of the 5th. Still 0-0.
With his rock-solid defense and now a laser throw gunning down a speedy runner, Jeong Hanseong had become the game's centerpiece overnight. As he headed to the on-deck circle, someone beckoned.
"Hey, receiver buddy. Wanna be a hero?"
Jin Yuha grinned.