Chapter 76
Chapter 76
“Hmm. I think your pitches were good. The opponent’s just observing a bit more.”
“Really? Then should I just throw right down the middle?”
“No, not like that. I think being a bit more aggressive would be better.”
“Aggressive… okay. Thanks.”
As soon as the inning ended, O-garam came over asking how his pitching looked.
Honestly, all I could say was basic stuff: be confident, your pitches are good. Beyond that, I didn’t know him well enough to offer deeper insight, and even if he asked, it wasn’t my place.
But then senior Kang Hyun-woo, who usually catches for O-garam, gave me a thumbs-up from afar.
Suddenly, my head hurt.
So how did it come to this?
“Let’s give each other feedback?”
“Yeah. It’s easier to see your flaws if someone from the outside watches.”
I accepted without hesitation at Hyun’s suggestion. I’d wanted this too. Most pitchers participated, and the atmosphere was good. They were from different teams, but as national team members, that didn’t matter much.
The problem started there.
“So there’s nothing wrong?”
“Yes. I’ve always thought your pitching form is concise, and the ball’s fast, so hitters struggle to time it.”
“Is that so?”
Half sincerity, half to make him feel good. O-garam’s pitches really were excellent, but the issue was when he got shaken on the mound. His mental toughness wasn’t considered great, so I just said he was doing well rather than pointing out flaws.
“How about this time?”
“Si-woo, I’m pitching. Can you watch?”
I hadn’t expected him to ask every time he threw. Still, if he got the answer he wanted, he’d nod satisfied and assume there were no issues.
“Phew, felt a bit held back.”
After the first inning, he asked me again how his pitching looked. There was only one answer I could give. I couldn’t tell the starter, pitching against Japan, that his ball wasn’t good. So I said it was fine, and yet he came to me every inning.
“Strikeout!”
It helped, sure, but the constant questioning was a bit dizzying.
Anyway, O-garam shut them down scorelessly through the fourth inning and left the mound roaring.
Winning today was important, but this was also an evaluation for next year’s WBC roster. He was being replaced, and so was the catcher.
The new catcher was Min-seok. The roster had three catchers, and it seemed they intended to rotate all three.
“Garam, come here a sec.”
O-garam followed the pitching coach, and then senior Kang Hyun-woo approached, grinning.
“It’s because of you. Really.”
“Uh… thanks, but could you tell me why it’s my doing?”
“Oh, that?”
Hyun looked toward where O-garam had gone before speaking.
“You know Garam’s mental toughness isn’t great, right? Once he’s shaken, it’s hard to fix. …Well, he’s fine now because of you.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. He’s honest. He won’t listen to someone worse than him. But he’s also one of our best pitchers and stubborn as hell. Argh.”
Hyun suddenly lost composure mid-sentence, venting some frustration. I figured it was best not to dig too deep.
“It’s fine. Glad it helped.”
“…Haah.”
“Why the sigh?”
He sighed deeply, his expression serious.
“Seriously, can’t you join our team? No, just… next time you see him, say a word. I’ll treat you to something good, okay?”
We agreed to do it at least once during the season, and I barely escaped.
The first game against Japan ended in a 2-3 loss, but fans were impressed.
[Even against their full strength, this is good.]
O-garam pitched four innings, allowing only one run. Fans noted his performance and Si-woo’s influence.
[Our young ace’s mental care from Si-woo saved him.]
[No way… Si-woo advising someone older than him?]
[Skill comes first, age doesn’t matter.]
[Si-woo is amazing—not just his pitching but managing players’ mental states.]
The second game approached, an exciting day for domestic fans. Finally, they could watch Si-woo pitch internationally. Some said his stats were KBO-specific; others believed he could be a No. 1 starter anywhere. This was a chance to test it.
And it wasn’t just Korean fans who were watching.
“All teams are here.”
James Lewis, the New York Yankees scout, noted familiar faces with a click of his tongue.
All MLB teams were desperate for talent, especially starting pitchers. Then suddenly, a Korean pitcher emerged, incredibly skilled. Naturally, all eyes turned. Lewis himself had come to see Si-woo.
Si-woo’s opponent: Japan’s national team. The perfect showcase.
‘Better perform then.’
Even by current stats, any team would want him. Facing Japan, though, added extra meaning. Japan’s national team could compete in MLB wildcards.
‘They’re all starters today.’
Lewis guessed Japan’s coach aimed to embarrass Korea. Same group, and Si-woo was Korea’s ace. Proving dominance now mattered for the future.
Scouts were thrilled; meaningful stats against that team guaranteed confidence.
‘His value will rise, but that’s fine.’
Yankees GM Neil Lindberg thought the same. Under all that pressure, Si-woo appeared.
After Japan verbally attacked yesterday, Korea now responded on the mound. Even throwing practice balls, scouts’ hands moved quickly.
The anticipated first pitch:
-Wham!
“Strike!”
‘Starting with the knuckleball. Good choice.’
Knuckleball was Si-woo’s greatest weapon. With ABS challenges, its power might be less than usual, but that was part of the test.
“Strike!”
No matter how prepared, Japanese hitters couldn’t easily adapt.
Second pitch: knuckleball for a swing and miss, followed by a faster ball from the same form.
-Wham!
“Strikeout!”
128 km/h, a hard knuckleball catching the batter off-guard.
‘No reaction at all.’
The course was good, but any faster and the batter might have responded. Yet the speed was deceptive. The extreme movement made it difficult to adjust. No wonder Si-woo had dominated the first half of the season with knuckleballs alone.
“Strike!”
The next batter also faced knuckleballs for the count, then a fastball.
-Thwack!
“Foul!”
He hit it, but timing was completely off.
‘Knuckleballs open up so many options.’
Fastball speed: 147 km/h.
Then another: 158 km/h.
‘He managed that well.’
But the batter’s challenge was just starting. Si-woo threw an outside pitch with purpose. Scouts’ hands moved again. To the batter, the form looked identical, though the speed and movement differed.
“Strikeout!”
Splitter. Unless predicted perfectly, it’s impossible to avoid swinging.
‘RPM 478… solid pitch.’
Other pitchers had thrown similar balls before, but none had command. Si-woo threw better and controlled it.
Now the central Japanese hitters came up.
‘Ishiki.’
Evaluated as top of the next generation, the best batter in this team.
‘If he came to the US, probably around the same time as Si-woo.’
Their duel was exciting. Si-woo took the first pitch.
-Wham!
“Ball!”
Knuckleball first pitch, called a ball.
‘With ABS, that might have been a strike.’
Timing was crucial. But Korea didn’t use a challenge.
Second pitch: another knuckleball.
“Ball!”
First was low; this one dropped high.
‘Is he checking the zone?’
Yes, Si-woo was probing the umpire. Both would have been strikes under ABS, but knuckleball movement made full judgment impossible.
‘Still, they need to adapt.’
2-0 count: perfect hitting timing. Ishiki knew it.
Third pitch:
-Thwack!
“Strike!”
‘Really?’
Ishiki’s tongue flicked at the rising fastball. Speed and vertical movement were perfect. The prior knuckleballs amplified its impact.
‘Amazing.’
Ishiki gripped the bat tightly, refusing to lose.
Fourth pitch:
-Thwack!
“Foul!”
Timing off again, though he made contact.
Count even now.
‘Tricky.’
With so many pitches, you can’t stick to one. That’s the hardest part for Si-woo’s opponents.
Ishiki decided: time the fastball, ignore the breaking balls.
Si-woo threw:
‘Slow.’
Knuckleball. Ishiki realized it and held off his swing as the ball twisted unpredictably.
“Ball!”
Full count. Not safe yet. Si-woo tapped his head: ABS challenge.
‘This one?’
Trajectory looked unlikely to be a strike. Ishiki relaxed, thinking he was safe.
“Strikeout!”
Umpire’s call ruined his expression.
Si-woo ABS challenge Ishiki strikeout, 1st inning KKK
Fans erupted:
That’s it!
Knuckleball grazed the edge perfectly, no way to hit that.
How did Si-woo know that?
That’s his zone.
When we got it, it was frustrating. Now it’s awesome watching him.
After that, Ishiki’s gonna lose it. One strike like that, bat keeps flying.
How does he know so well?
Victor got destroyed by that once, hit a slump, and went home. Remember that?
Yep, same here.
Are there only victims here?
You might always see it, but we used to get crushed every time.