Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: No First-Round Pick Can't Hit Second-Team Pitchers, Right? (3)
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Kim Jin-ho... I'd heard the name somewhere before.... Ah, whatever. What's the point of dwelling on it? I shook off the stray thought and focused on the pitcher.
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out as the batter's hit sliced between first and second, dropping just in front of the right fielder.
'That guy's pretty solid. Decent bat at least.'
'Yoon Sung-tae?'
Rogers Hornsby doling out praise? That was rare. Still, even to my eyes, excluding Woo Kwan-hyung, Yoon Sung-tae had the best skills on the team.
From training in the same group during wrap-up camp, I'd seen plenty of him. His hitting was solid, his fielding was solid. And when we'd practiced as the keystone combo, our chemistry had been pretty good too.
The only annoyance was that, for some reason after the first day, he'd started clinging to me a bit.
"Hello, Coach."
"I'm not the coach anymore. Call me Coach now."
"Ah, force of habit."
I greeted Lee Ki-cheol, the second-team battery coach serving as today's home plate umpire, and stepped up to the plate.
'He looks pretty happy. Guess that wife of his is treating him right.'
'Really? From what I hear, she just uses morning sickness as an excuse to boss him around.'
'Heh, a real man gets joy out of seeing his seed grow healthy, even if it's tough. Not that it's his kid, of course. Heh heh.'
Well, if Lee Ki-cheol was happy, that was good for me too. Better for him to raise my kid well.
"Play ball!"
With everything set, Lee Ki-cheol gave the start signal.
'Focus now!'
In yesterday's game without Rogers, I'd gone up twice and only drawn a walk. Today, I wanted to launch one out of the park and shove it in his face.
'Two-seamer mid-140s km/h, slider, curve, changeup.'
I reviewed the pitcher's tendencies I'd heard about before the game, syncing my rhythm to the timing I'd observed from the on-deck circle.
The first pitch came in high, trying to dazzle my eyes. But I'd seen plenty of high fastballs aimed at my uppercut swing, so I let it go easily.
"Ball."
'Looks like you've got the eye down pat now.'
'I've seen too many like this.'
The second pitch followed quick, the pitcher not giving me time to think.
Whoosh!
"Strike!"
Huh? That was my timing...
"What was that pitch?"
"Changeup. Throws you off, right? Jin-ho sunbae throws his two-seamer and changeup with perfect identical timing, so new guys always get rattled."
"Ah, got it."
Tch, a changeup? Felt like a fastball. Pros are pros, even in second team. But if I geared for changeup, I'd miss fastballs, so I erased it from my mind.
One and one. He'd want to nibble now, right? I relaxed, ready to foul off anything in the zone, and waited.
'Right on!'
My guess hit. A slider breaking wide outside. I'd called it from the start, so I held the bat.
"Ooh, good take. But most rookies struggle with breaking balls like that. Bet when you go pro, they'll all throw bait like this."
Why did this catcher love yapping so much? He kept offering advice.
"Ah, yeah."
I gave a half-hearted reply to the distracting catcher and focused on the next pitch.
'Monkey brain's overthinking it. With reflexes like yours, just see ball, hit ball. Swing aggressive.'
'Got it.'
Rogers, who hadn't advised yesterday, chimed in now. Overthinking? Yeah, I'd been predicting every pitch. One strike left, so just react.
I set for fastball timing and waited for the fourth pitch. Pitcher's glove twitched, head nodded. Now! I judged no-ball and unleashed the bat I'd held back...
But the ball floated in a bit.
'Shit, curve!'
I sensed it in a flash, checked the bat just a hair, locked my hips, then exploded power again! Instinctively released my top hand to adjust timing.
Thwack!
I finished the swing, but heavy vibration in my hands. Usually a miss... The ball soared high. I'd made contact, so I sprinted to first.
"Left! Left!"
Quiet stadium, no crowd, but outfielders' calls reached me.
At first, the coach signaled hold. Runners midway, watching my hit.
'Ooh, good carry with the wind?'
Lef fielder glued to the wall, waiting. I glanced that way on Rogers' words.
"Whoa, real park it'd be gone."
First baseman muttered at my hanging fly. Lef fielder jumped, glove skyward.
Thud!
So focused, I swear I heard it ricochet off the wall from first.
"Run!"
Ball hit wall, all runners including me bolted to next base.
First to second! Baserunning coach signaled third. Everyone else in? No clue where ball was, but trusted coach, dashed to third.
"Slide!"
Shit, third baseman with glove out? Too late now!
'Fuck it!'
On coach's call, I tucked one leg, slid into third. But spike felt weird against base.
"Out!"
"Argh!"
"Nice slide. So close."
Third coach awkwardly clapped consolation.
'Close my ass! Flew to left, who sends to third? Little League bullshit!'
I inwardly cursed the baserunning coach, dusted off, headed to dugout to catch breath. Hitting coach approached.
"Tch, if not Jamsil dimensions, it'd be out. Too bad."
"Nah, I should've squared it up better."
"Heard that pure crack. Sending it that far is a win. Monster power, as expected."
Hitting coach praised sincerely. Kid's got an eye.
"Thanks."
'Heh heh, definitely orangutan in the family tree. Thought easy out.'
'Again with that. Just admit it, why the extras? Scared of Ji Maeng-ho's growth, Rogers?'
'What bullshit.'
'Ahem, but even without you, I pulled that off.'
'Training paid off. Should handle that without me. But you know? Proper contact, gone.'
'...Yeah. Kinda sucks.'
'Still, good job. Most batters whiff that. Adjusting mid-swing shows talent. Impressed without me you hit it that far. Decent for a monkey.'
O! Praise! Mood from third-out dash lifted instantly.
'Keh heh heh. See, even you think so? I'd have crushed without you! Heh heh.'
Lee Ki-cheol jealous, or I'd have succeeded anyway! Rogers' nod melted old grudges.
'Monkey, wipe that grin. Getting attached.'
'Kuh, got it. Gotta keep dignity as your disciple.'
'Sigh...'
Boosted by Rogers' approval? Next at-bat, I struck out on three pitches, but didn't mind.
"Everyone worked hard during wrap-up camp. Prep well for next season, see you then."
"Yes, sir!"
"Thanks for your hard work."
Warm farewells after blue-white scrimmage. Finally over? First pro camp had me worried, but no big deal. Second-teamers? Anyway, said goodbyes to training mates, back to room.
'Finally done. Two weeks dragged. Without Jo-eun, I'd have bolted.'
'Heh, great minds. I'd have suggested running first.'
Good thing Pilates ended with Jo-eun hookups, or I'd have really escaped.
'Thanks to her, smooth finish. Pack up.'
"Ji Maeng-ho."
"Ah, sunbae. Thanks for the last two weeks."
Packing the room we'd shared, roommate Woo Kwan-hyung spoke. What's up? More nagging?
"Spring camp aside, training plans?"
"Huh? Aren't we resting?"
"One month in December enough?"
"Ah, yeah? Weights till camp? Grounds too cold."
"January?"
"Same. No set schedule."
"Perfect."
Perfect how? Uneasy...
"Clear January."
"Why?"
"Personal training in Australia."
Why tell me? Bragging?
"Sounds good."
"You get what I'm saying?"
No? But contradicting the team vet? I shut up.
"Come with. One other, but tradition: vets take rookies who earned it. Don't feel bad, join. Warm runs building body good for you too."
Direct invite, no backing out. Shit, planned weights and sex through winter!
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
"Bad face. No need sorry. Senpai duty. Pay it forward when rich."
"Got it."
Can't spit in smiling face. Couldn't curse the guy including me.
'Comfy winter fucked.'
"Good work two weeks."
"You too, sunbae."
"Here, my number. Save it. Call in January."
"Yes."
Saving Woo Kwan-hyung's number, saw unread KakaoTalk.
-Cheon So-young: Maeng-ho ya, wrap-up camp end today? Can we meet?
She never messaged first if I didn't... What's up?