Chapter 92
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Even Rock-Paper-Scissors Against Japan Must Be Won (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thwack!
'Fuck, is this guy a monster?'
Ju Seung-cheol knew it the instant he made contact with Ohtani's pitch. This wasn't a pitch you could hit.
'Miss it, please!'
The ball soared high behind the catcher. But cruelly, the heavens ignored Ju Seung-cheol's desperate wish.
Thud. With a crisp sound, the foul ball nestled into the catcher's mitt. Choi Joo-tae had gone down swinging at the first pitch, and now Ju Seung-cheol on the third. Ohtani had needed just four pitches to dismantle Korea's table-setters.
[Ohtani's stuff looks phenomenal. Ju Seung-cheol got overpowered.]
[Aww, such a shame.]
"Seung-cheol, how was it?"
"My hands are still tingling."
"Still the same, huh."
Ju Seung-cheol relayed exactly what he'd felt to the next batter, Ki Sang-ju. And stepping into the box, Ki Sang-ju felt it all over again.
"Strike~!"
'Ohtani's pitch, huh? As expected.'
Ohtani's fastball rose like it was climbing. Of course, this wasn't some baseball manga—the ball couldn't actually climb. But since it dropped less than a typical pitcher's, Ki Sang-ju's eyes, accustomed to other hurlers, saw it soaring upward.
He knew. He'd faced Ohtani before, back when he was still in the majors until last year. Korea's returnee major leaguer had the MLB's hyper-specialized, systematic scouting reports on Ohtani.
And he'd even matched up against him a few times for the national team.
But this was unhittable. Ohtani's pitch.
Crack!
"Foul!"
'Overpowered? I swear I timed it perfectly...'
He'd adjusted the bat angle to fool his usual swing feel, but the result was foul. Two strikes now.
'Splitter incoming next.'
Ohtani's splitter clocking near 90 mph (144.7 km/h). Impossible to hit if you timed the rising fastball. But hunting the splitter wrecked your adjustability to offspeed. Letting even one ball go by? Whiff strikeout city.
'Wait it out? No way that's happening.'
As he agonized, Ohtani finished his signs and readied to throw.
"Time, time!"
But the ump mercilessly denied it.
'Just hunt fastballs then.'
Truth be told, he had no confidence against that splitter. So, stick to fastballs, like he'd discussed with the coaches.
Whoosh!
Ki Sang-ju swung on fastball timing. And felt the hollow emptiness. Bat slicing air—of course nothing registered.
"Swinging strike! Out!"
The pitch zipped through the zone faster than his bat. A moment's hesitation, the price paid. Ki Sang-ju bowed his head.
[Ohtani! Throwing like this in March? The board shows 161 km/h. Three pitches to fan Ki Sang-ju! Incredible stuff from the enemy ace!]
[Ah... Not good. It was a high fastball tailing away, but Ki Sang-ju couldn't lay off. Would've been a ball if he had. So close.]
[Grounder to short, foul fly to catcher, whiff K. Ohtani pitching to his billing. Now bottom of the first, Japan coming to bat.]
[Ohtani's unreal. But Korea's starter's the MLB 95-game winner, Sung-hyun. Ohtani's snagged MVP before, but pure pitching? Sung-hyun matches or even edges him. One knock: takes him a bit to find his groove. His career stats show high first-inning traffic.]
[Why's that?]
[Command artist's gotta establish the zone early, and it's tricky in the first. Look at his games—when he cracks in one, he rarely goes five. Nail the first, though? Shutouts aplenty.]
[Sung-hyun of the Yankees warming up. Hope he brings it from pitch one. Quick defensive rundown: battery Sung-hyun and Lee Yong-gi. Infield from first: Koo Jin-mo, Ji Maeng-ho, Choi Joo-tae, Kim Su-ho. Outfield left to right: Ki Sang-ju, Ju Seung-cheol, Lee Jin-hong.]
[All national teamers, solid gloves. But rookie Ji Maeng-ho and right fielder Lee Jin-hong look shaky.]
[Yeah?]
[Word is Ji Maeng-ho's not elite defensively. Lee Jin-hong—pro fans know—big frame means limited range, but cannon for an arm.]
[Got it. Risky then? Both on the right, and Japan packs lefty bats.]
[Yep. Sung-hyun should work away, steer 'em left.]
"Yeah, Maeng-ho's glove isn't his strength."
"Guess not. But Maeng-ho, huh?"
"Uh, he's young, no big deal, Grandpa."
While Korea's national team battled Japan, So-young watched the game with her grandfather, Chairman Chun.
He'd bought the AT Thunderbirds after that epic Korea-Japan win at Dongdaemun. So naturally, he tuned in with So-young, the family baseball nut.
"Sung-hyun... what a waste. Should've been ours..."
"Yeah."
Chairman Chun eyed Sung-hyun on screen, but So-young fixated on Maeng-ho peeking behind the mound.
Hmm... hair's a bit high-schoolish. We'll hit a salon when he gets back.
She pictured Maeng-ho's grinning face from yesterday: Watch tomorrow's start, promise! Tweak the hair, and...
Crack!
So-young jolted up, startled. Japan's leadoff, Genda Sosuke, had crushed the first pitch like lightning.
"Maeng-ho!!"
The liner screamed toward second baseman Ji Maeng-ho. Even a 20-year fan like So-young held her breath!
And the guardian of second... leaped.
[Genda attacks first pitch! Pulled liner to right! Ji Maeng-ho... snags it! Prodigious defense for a rook!]
[Whoa... Shifted toward second for the righty, and he gets it. Looked destined to drop. Insane athleticism...]
[Sung-hyun tips his cap in thanks! Korea starts strong! Ji Maeng-ho smiles back. Remember that grin crossing the plate vs. Australia? Blew up online.]
[Yep. Not just the play—he's handsome. That smile? Rookies don't console vets like that.]
'Fuck, he can't pitch for shit.'
Is this really an MLB guy? Shift left for a righty, throw inside, not away!
Couldn't voice it, so I forced a smile at the pitcher.
"One out, one out!"
"Nice play, baby bro!"
"This? Piece of cake. Relax,, relax."
"Right, right. Leadoff jitters messed my command."
'Focus from the next guy. 'Cause it's Ohtani.'
Ohtani the pitcher was elite, but I rated Ohtani the hitter higher. Low average, but back-to-back 40-homer seasons in MLB. Soft command like this? No more luck incoming.
'Acting cool, but hands shaking?'
'Sh-shaking? Just stung from the grab.'
Truth: Rogers was right—I'd botched the snag, hands quivering. National team weight..., fuck, pitch better! Keep it away!
My prayers heard? Sung-hyun's famed MLB command dotting the outer corner into the mitt.
Paang!
"Strike!"
Yes, that's my Sung-hyun. pinpoint low-away. Felt better.
'Faking calm, but he was tense too?'
'Rogers.'
'...?'
'Shut it. Focus.'
'......'
No time for Rogers' chatter in this nail-biter. He got it, clammed up.
-Changeup coming, shift for grounders.
I eyed Defense Coach's sign, sliding my spot inner toward right. MLB's top changeup value, Sung-hyun's circle change. Wrap Ohtani with it...
Thwak!
My hopes dashed—Ohtani's thunder swing exploded. Fuck, gone? Sounded homer-bound! I bolted right.
'Don't go over!'
Prayers worked—clanged off Tokyo Dome's 4.24m wall lip, dropped. Yes!
"Throw it!"
But right fielder Lee Jin-hong bobbled. Ohtani nearing second already. Fuck, heading third?
"Hurry up!"
My yell—Jin-hong rifled it quick, but Ohtani touched second, sprinting third.
'Fuck! Eat dirt...!'
"...Agh!"
Two steps, then unleashed torque toward third,
"Ugh."
I tumbled into grass. What happened?
-Waaaaah!
Cheers erupted, but whose? Pushing up, Ohtani stood at third.
'Ah, fuck. Missed it.'
'Good effort. For you.'
'Safe?'
'Yup.'
"Haa..."
If Jin-hong hadn't flubbed... His face darkened.
"Nice try! Nice try!"
Ju Seung-cheol covering, yelling encouragement. But no way it fired us up. Bullshit. Fuck.
"Huh? Video review?"
"Yeah?"
"You ate dirt, missed it. Dead even timing. Close."
"So...?"
"Could flip."
Board replayed the bang-bang: third sacker Kim Su-ho snaring, tagging sliding Ohtani.
"Whoa... razor-close."
Eye-test tough, but Ohtani's slide popped—pitcher diving headfirst, no fear.
'Dumb for a pitcher.'
'National team weight, huh. Your take, Rogers?'
'Safe. Spike first. Tut, throw too high. I'd have nailed him.'
'...Distance, man.'
'What can ya do.'
Rogers firm. Time ticked. Call stands.
-Boooo!
Korean fans jeering.
-Waaaaa!!!!
Japanese home roar drowning it. Dome echo crushed the soul. Home-field hell.
'Snap out. Still first inning.'
Still top first. Rogers right. But damage heavy: runner on third, one out, review burned.
"C'mon! K for the side, stay loose."
"Two more!"
Vet Sung-hyun rallied the D, but even his face darkened.
'Giving up a run this early sucks...'
Crisis absolute, first inning already.