Is This the Major Leagues? (3)
Top of the 6th.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
No. 9 hitter Jeong Hanseong draws a walk after a stubborn at-bat, reaching base. Carl Rauer starts the inning on shaky ground. He shows some irritation toward Jeong Hanseong heading to first. He might need to calm down.
It's not hard to understand Carl Rauer's mindset. Giving up a walk to the bottom of the order after an 8-pitch battle is frustrating for any pitcher. But showing it outwardly is another matter.
"That kid's 18 too, right?"
Jason, who'd finished his chicken and was now digging into some tteokbokki, spoke up while eyeing Jeong Hanseong removing his gear at first base.
"Yeah. He's a classmate of Yuha's."
Jefferson grimaced at Jason's sloppy eating, but answered promptly anyway. The two got along fine despite seeming at odds.
"…Not a bad player."
"For a guy who just debuted in pro ball, his defense seems pretty polished."
"His hitting's still a ways off. But yeah, like you said, he's fresh out of debut."
"You interested?"
"Ha! Don't be ridiculous."
Jason snorted, washing it down with beer.
"An Asian catcher? Really?"
For catchers, where communication with the pitcher is paramount, not being from an English-speaking country was a massive demerit in the majors.
"Unless that kid turns into a 60-homer guy, no way. Fat chance." He might even need a position change.
Tick!
Clean bunt from No. 1 hitter Jeong Su-yeong! The ball rolls toward first! Rauer fields it and goes to first! Jeong Su-yeong is out at first! Runner to second!
"A bunt here?"
"Why not? It was a solid play."
"Ugh… Not my style. I wanna see some fireworks."
"You look tougher than you are."
"What, 'cause I'm Asian? That's racist."
"My bad."
Light banter flew back and forth, but the scouts' eyes stayed glued to the field.
One out, runner on second. Scoring position. Titans have their chance, and it goes to their best hitter! It's Kang Gihoo's at-bat, battling Jacob Dominguez for the home run lead!
The batter stepping up was one of the players they'd been eyeing.
"Kang. The guy who can deliver the show I want."
"He's also sorted that military service issue that's big for Korean players."
And then.
Crack!!
A clean hit echoed.
Monster hit! Right fielder can't even move! It hits the wall! Over the wall! Gone! Kang Gihoo obliterates the scoreless tie with a massive two-run homer!
He powered that well-placed circle changeup. What a homer. It wasn't a bad pitch from Rauer—perfect location. Credit to Kang Gihoo.
"…Even I'm surprised by that."
"Hahaha. Decent hitter, right?"
"Problem is he's a first baseman."
"No guarantee he'd hit like this in the majors anyway."
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Rauer doesn't waver after the homer. He strikes out the next hitter, Frank Rodriguez. Two outs!
"But what's the point? Those guys are years from posting."
"Then why'd you come watch?"
Crack!!
No. 4 hitter Yoon Kang-yeol's grounder finds the shortstop's range. Clean throw from Song Jung-woo! Rauer allows 2 in the top of the 6th but leaves strong. He heads to the dugout. And…
"That's different."
Jin Yuha, the reason they were here today, headed to the mound. He was in the same boat as the others they'd discussed. But.
"Jin Yuha's Jin Yuha."
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Jin Yuha still bringing heat in the 6th! The leadoff hitter freezes on a 157 km/h four-seamer! One out!
"Velocity still isn't climbing."
"How many big-league starters throw 100 all season? Don't act like you don't know."
"Hm… yeah? How many?"
"Quit playing dumb. It's that Yankees treasure you tried to buy."
"Oh… poor Eric McClain. If he'd joined us, he'd have a ring by now."
Crack!!
Jin Yuha's two-seamer dances at the plate. Weak contact right back at the pitcher! Yuha fields slowly and tosses to first! Two outs!
"With the four-seam down, the two-seam's even nastier. Tougher on hitters."
Crack!!
Well-hit! Massive fly to the outfield! …But it hooks foul past the pole! Han In-seon drops his head in regret! Huge foul homer!
You know the old baseball saying: After a foul homer…
Whoosh!!
"Swinging strike three!"
…comes the trembling strikeout. Just like that. Han In-seon chases the 150 km/h splitter and whiffs empty! Three outs, inning over! Jin Yuha sets the side down in order again! The Titans ace is still perfect.
"…Has that kid ever let a runner on?"
"I get the food here's good, but focus on the game."
Rhinos Park's scoreboard showed only zeros for Changwon Rhinos.
"Good work."
That short encouragement from Manager Jeong Hyeonho was all.
"…"
The dugout was quiet.
"What's with the vibe, everyone?"
To my question, Jeong Hanseong.
"Uh… dunno? Maybe they're just locked in on the game."
He dodged with all his might.
Yeah, right.
Obviously not a random question. I just wanted to see his funny reaction.
'Six perfect innings…'
Whether perfect or no-hitter, no pitcher stays clueless till game's end. I'd done both, so I knew.
'Obvious from the scoreboard…'
Anyway.
'Has there ever been a perfect game in KBO?'
Didn't think so.
"Alright… time to score again?"
"Hahaha! Sounds good."
The dugout felt off—unnaturally stiff. Made me uneasy.
'This'll jinx it.'
A pitcher's gut from three no-hitters and a perfect game in my career.
"Hoo… I hate this. Really hate it."
Top of the 7th. Rauer kept muttering the same thing.
To him, it was natural. He hated this situation, and venting wasn't wrong. Sure, you shouldn't kill team vibe, but starters on game day get a pass.
Especially if dealing. Even more if facing a loss despite it.
'Damn hitters.'
If it bugged him, they should've scored on that damn kid pitcher.
'Or at least gotten on base.'
That major league unicorn going two-way? Probably 'cause the hitters sucked. He'd hit a homer himself if he could.
"Tsk."
Of course, he couldn't, so he just clicked his tongue.
'Scouts everywhere, and it's just April. This is a showcase.'
Most for Jin Yuha, sure, but not all.
Some had to be eyeing him too—ready next year, cheap unlike Yuha.
'…Humiliating.'
Emotions aside, he needed a good line today. For his big-league dream.
So he had to compose himself. Poise key for finesse pitchers like him.
And.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Crack!!
"Foul!"
Whoosh!!
"Swinging strike three!"
Crack!!
"Out!"
Rauer thankfully escaped the 7th unscored.
"Rauer, good job."
The manager patted his shoulder with brief English praise. Rauer's day was done.
Bottom of the 7th. 82 pitches.
'Tch… more than I thought.'
Inevitable. My stuff was off today, leading to wasted pitches.
'Honestly, still perfect is a miracle.'
Truth: several close calls. That 4th-inning battle nearly a walk without hitter help. 6th's big fly luckily fouling.
'So now, total focus.'
This inning: Rhinos' top order, ex-major leaguers and major-leaguer-wannabe. One slip, and perfect's gone—maybe runs too.
Tap tap.
Rhinos' leadoff, Song Jung-woo. Five-tool in KBO, but meh power in majors. Switch-hitter.
Meaning low chance of extra bases off me. He's older than his Cards super-utility days; I'm top-tier MLB level.
But.
'Watch the speed.'
His wheels still live—be careful.
- Four-seam, high away
No need to baby it.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
158 km/h four-seam smacked Jeong Hanseong's mitt dead-on. 1 strike.
Tap tap.
- Cutter, high in
'Cutter here… nice.'
Four-seam velo down, but fastballs hit harder.
Crack!!
The cutter dove sharp inside. Song Jung-woo topped it, but.
"Foul!"
Drifted foul outside the line. Pity.
'Close. In play, it'd be out.'
2 strikes.
Tap tap.
- Two-seam, low away
Today's money pitch.
I nodded.
Whoosh!!
Fired it. But.
'Tch. Missed in.'
Post-release gut: hanging.
Crack!!
Song Jung-woo smoked the slightly inside pitch. Liner screamed past me.
'Perfect's toast.'
A twinge of regret, then.
"Hyah!"
Some "major-league defense" guy appeared.
Thud.
Senior Baek Jihun snagged it, scooped.
Whoosh!!
Fired to first from spot.
"Out!"
Out.
"Whoa."
I let out a short wow. Perfect intact thanks to—
"Ma! Yuha! Trust your hyung, I said! Hyung's getting you that perfect!"
Ah.