The Proving Ground (5)
Every now and then, I feel this stifling frustration. And the reason? Nothing major.
'Ah, I wanna hit that. I could've crushed it.'
Of course, I didn't go around giving advice like, "Why couldn't you hit that?" You just don't do that.
'No matter how insane my stats are...'
I'm just a high school rookie. A pitcher, at that.
A green kid like me yapping advice outside my expertise? Even the nicest Titans seniors might uppercut my jaw.
But still.
'...Does that guy really need it?'
Jeong Hanseong isn't even a senior, and he knows I'm killer at the plate too. So.
"Hey, my catcher buddy. Don't you wanna be a hero?"
Decided to drop some advice for old times' sake.
"Huh? What nonsense now?"
Saying that, but Jeong Hanseong still sidled up next to me.
"I'll give you a little help, that's what."
"...Did you read the opposing pitcher's cues or something?"
"Nah?"
What kinda ridiculous talk is that? I haven't even stepped up to the plate—how would I know their tells?
"Ask the scouting team for that. They know way more than me."
"Then what advice are you even giving?"
Advice about him, obviously.
"You're tensing your shoulders too much."
"...Huh?"
"Is that pitcher's stuff better than mine? You've faced my pitches—why are you so scared?"
"...Was I?"
You kidding me?
"Scaredy-cat."
Boppi's the name of the dog at Jeong Hanseong's place. Total wimp—runs scared every time it sees me.
"You screw-up..."
"Don't psych yourself out. Just do your thing. You're not a bad hitter."
"Whew..."
Truth is, a quick tip won't magically boost a player's skills—that's comic book stuff. The advisor needs machine-like analysis and flashy rhetoric to make it stick, and the player needs sponge-level absorption. Only then does it work.
Right now, all I can do is mental coaching like this. And.
Crack!!
That's plenty.
Told you—Jeong Hanseong's got real talent. Oh, and.
"Whoa, couldn't clear the wall."
Hero dreams are toast for you.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Bottom 6th. Designated hitter Oh Daesu—more experienced than Park Cheongwon but kinda invisible on the team—finally ripped a big one to second base.
Another scoring chance. But we failed to cash in.
No. 6 hitter Kim Taeyong sacrificed to advance Oh Daesu to third, and Rangers yanked starter Tyler, bringing in their rested closer bullpen. Powered by nasty velocity, they fanned the follow-up hitters, end of inning.
"Argh! If they hadn't pulled the pitcher right there!"
Baek Jihun, strikeout victim to the closer, vented his frustration. But.
"Eh, even if Tyler stayed in, you'd probably whiff anyway."
I secretly agreed with Jeong Suyeong.
'His bat's in rough shape...'
Can't expect hitting from Baek Jihun too.
Crack!!
'Tch. Got lucky?'
KBO lifetime .300 hitter's no joke, record books or not. Baek Jihun's already earned his keep today with that play alone.
'Hitting, though...'
Maybe call my dad later.
'Nah, that's not it.'
Who am I to teach when even I say "just swing late if it's off-speed"?
Unlucky error creates no-out first. Still, Jin Yuha and Jeong Hanseong's battery stays ice-cold, ready for battle.
Kang Dongho tried praising Yoon's strategy, but.
'Old man, you crazy?'
I was dumbfounded too.
'Thinks the kids'll rattle on a bunt?'
Not impossible. One step from history—3 straight complete shutouts—and an error plus sac bunt puts a runner in scoring position.
But.
'Jin Yuha I know doesn't flinch at that... nor Jeong Hanseong.'
If anything, it'll crank up the pressure. And.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!!"
The rookie battery proved it.
Top 9th, two outs. Plate: Rangers' No. 2 Lee Geonmin. The only .300 trio guy without a good contact today.
"Time to hit now... right? Yeah. C'mon, Sukko."
"Hahaha... yeah. .300 hitter. He'll get it."
Rangers brass believed in him.
"Can't let him get the record. If you don't wanna be etched in history forever, give up at least one."
Might just be wishful thinking.
And so.
It ended quicker than expected.
"Fuck... that monster sets records without blinking. Sukko, this real?"
"..."
Like Yoon Youngsik's low mutter, Jin Yuha's face showed no change even in the historic moment.
[National tourney shutout, U-18 World Cup shutout, and... 'Seoul High Battery,' dubbed history's best HS duo. Record hero!]
[Titans Jin Yuha. Locks in April MVP. No match.]
[Insane feat. Even experts shake heads. "...This make sense?"]
[Record star Jin Yuha: "Jeong Hanseong's help was huge. But hero's me." Bromance rookies.]
[ESPN: 'Meteor's son conquers Korean baseball.' Global eyes on Yuha!]
[Carvers' Park Gwangho: 8 IP 2 ER gem washes prior loss. "Thanks Jin Yuha... his push helped. Congrats on 3 straight shutouts."]
Sunday brought sudden morning rain.
'Game canceled today...'
Thinking of non-domed new Shin Sajik, I hit the cafe near home before heading in.
"Oh. Yuha's here."
"Yuha, yours is already ordered."
"Hahaha... hey. Yuha."
A familiar scene welcomed me.