Back on the Mound
"No way..."
"Hmm... I think it'll have to be from the Blue Dragon Cup onward."
The Seoul Jeon-san High School baseball coach said it with a hint of regret.
"Can't be helped. Rules are rules. I wanted to put him in starting from the first half of the weekend league, but oh well."
The director of the Seoul Jeon-san High School baseball team nodded.
"So, May then?"
"Isn't that actually a good thing? It'll give us about a month to prepare properly."
"Yeah. Let's get ready. Still, I'd like to see a bit of his stuff... How about an intra-squad game? Give Kim Jeong-ui an inning or so."
"Sounds good."
"Huh?"
I was caught off guard. They were suddenly telling me to pitch.
Of course, it was just an internal practice game, but I hadn't expected to be called up so soon.
They said there were no uniforms ready yet, so I'd just wear a vest and head out. I nodded, said okay, and made my way to the field.
All the Seoul Jeon-san High School baseball team players were getting ready to play at the field.
Whew... My body was somewhat prepared, but my mind felt strangely off.
It was just the fact that I was playing a game again after so long that had me like this.
The director and coach each led a team, and even the captain and vice-captain were split up.
I watched the intra-squad game, trying to read the flow.
Both starting pitchers were third-years, and since there was a weekend game coming up, they only threw three innings without pushing too hard.
After that, the second-years split the innings, and the remaining ones went to the first-years in rotation.
I liked this kind of evaluation. More than the stats that came out of it, the process seemed important—it was a time when everyone's condition showed through plainly.
Then, in the eighth inning.
"Kim Jeong-ui."
"Yes, Coach."
"Get ready."
The coach called me over and told me to prepare to go in.
My heart skipped a beat faster in that instant.
Alright then... Would my pitches work?
My velocity was still in the 120s, and the only breaking ball I could reliably throw was the slider... I'd tried the sinker a few times, but I hadn't picked it up as quickly as the slider, so right now I was still a two-pitch guy: four-seam fastball and slider.
Anxiety and anticipation washed over me at the same time.
But it was already decided, so I steadied my breath and headed to the mound.
Standing on the mound, the feeling was definitely weird. It really hit me that I was playing baseball again.
Seeing the catcher's masked face made me feel a little more at ease. It was the third-year vice-captain, our main catcher.
He was the one who'd caught me the most, and he knew exactly what kind of pitches I threw.
Before giving the sign, the senior nodded, signaling it was all good.
I fiddled with the ball in my hand and dug my spikes into the dirt once.
I pictured my delivery in my head.
Ah... Screw it. Just go with it naturally.
The batter stepped into the box.
Hmm... Who is that? Hard to tell yet.
Just throw the damn ball.
The third-year catcher Hwang Jae-uk looked at the pitcher, Kim Jeong-ui.
Didn't expect him to go in this early in a practice game...
He checked the incoming batter.
Hmm...? Top of the order? All the batters coming up now are third-years? Hope he's okay...
Hwang Jae-uk glanced at Kim Jeong-ui with a touch of worry.
Well... there must be a reason.
Then, as if by prior agreement, he set up outside against the batter. At least these two were manageable—they were right-handed.
The third-year catcher Hwang Jae-uk positioned his mitt at the bottom outer corner of the ABS zone.
Kim Jeong-ui nodded and threw the ball.
Shiiiiek—
Pop!
The ball flew straight and true to the mitt without a wobble.
A sound rang out from the catcher's mitt.
"That's a strike!"
The coach, watching from second base as umpire, called it.
The first pitch nailed the spot perfectly, and Hwang Jae-uk nodded.
He immediately called for the next sign: a slider that would run away.
Kim Jeong-ui nodded and kept the same tempo.
Shiiiiek—
Whoosh!
Pop!
The ball bent just off the ABS zone, and the batter's bat sliced empty air. A swing and a miss.
Good, we're in a great spot now. Time to pull one back.
Hwang Jae-uk called for slider again.
The batter, completely out of rhythm, whiffed once more. Three pitches, three strikes.
Whew...!
Hwang Jae-uk was stunned inside his mask.
This batter was one of the better-hitting third-years, a regular at number two in the lineup. He'd figured it wouldn't be easy, but to strike him out so cleanly...
Kim Jeong-ui's expression on the mound didn't change much, but there was conviction in every pitch.
Some nerves of steel? Not shaken at all...
The next batter wasn't a pushover either. A steady hitter among the third-years, originally the five-hole guy.
Hwang Jae-uk called signs a bit more cautiously. First pitch: slider.
Shiiiek—
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Ugh... slider right off the bat?"
The third-year batter muttered like he'd been fooled.
"Not bad, right?"
"Tricky..."
One more?
Second pitch: slider again.
Shiiiiek—
Whoosh!
Pop!
The bat came out again.
Hwang Jae-uk called slider for the last one too.
Kim Jeong-ui nodded without hesitation.
The ball swept outside the ABS zone.
Whoosh!
"Ah! Three breaking balls in a row?!"
Another three-pitch strikeout.
Hwang Jae-uk exhaled inside his mask.
This wasn't just a good start—it exceeded expectations.
His control is like a scalpel... so easy to call. If his velocity climbs, he'll be a monster.
The problem came next.
The batter stepping up was Captain Lee Seok-hyeon.
The team's ace pitcher and core of the middle lineup—a righty who switched hit left.
Seeing the captain from the mound, tension naturally crept back in.
The good flow so far made this at-bat feel even more crucial.
But I didn't have a good weapon against lefties... I knew that better than anyone.
In the end, inside was the play.
Catcher Hwang Jae-uk set his mitt tight inside, near the body.
Shiiiiek—
The ball went exactly where intended, inside.
But in that moment, Lee Seok-hyeon's swing was quick.
Thwack!
The bat came around on time and pulled it squarely.
The ball rocketed sharply through the infield, rolling into the outfield. A hit.
Damn... Can't be helped.
The location wasn't bad, but the guy was just better.
Slow velocity. The underhand weakness. Nothing for it.
On to the next batter.
Thwack!
First pitch strike, and the batter came aggressive.
Thankfully, a routine grounder to short.
The shortstop fielded cleanly and threw to first. Out called.
That ended the inning, and I let out a big breath on the mound.
Not perfect, but a solid finish.
After the practice game ended, Captain Lee Seok-hyeon started a serious talk with Hwang Jae-uk off in one corner of the dugout.
It naturally flowed into evaluations of today's players.
Before Hwang Jae-uk could start, Lee Seok-hyeon asked.
"How was the chemistry with Na-seong, the second-year catcher?"
Lee Seok-hyeon thought for a moment.
"Hmm... He doesn't read deep yet. Basics are solid, but judging flow in a game? Need more looks."
"Well, catchers don't have to call as much these days with ABS. Just drill fundamentals through third year. Beggars can't be choosers."
"True. First-years have zero catchers, so one's just shoehorned in..."
After a brief pause, Lee Seok-hyeon asked.
"How was Jeong-ui?"
Hwang Jae-uk grinned.
"Control's sharp. No shakes even in a scrimmage."
"Felt that. Came right at my body like a knife. Honestly... if I wasn't ready for it, could've been trouble."
"Yeah. First-years couldn't touch him, and he's already matching second-year arms. Heard he took time off—did he really?"
"If he bulks up properly...?"
"Art. Mid-120s now? Even 130s would make him usable..."
Spotting Kim Jeong-ui heading home, they called him over.
"Jeong-ui. Hold up, come here."
"Huh?"
I walked over, a bit flustered.
"How'd the game feel today?"
"Today's game?"
I pondered the captain's question.
"Eh... nothing special?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
Nothing special. It might sound cocky, but that's genuinely how it felt.
"It was a scrimmage—no one was going all out."
What's this kid saying?
Hwang Jae-uk was thrown.
No one slacks even in practice.
"Otherwise, no way they miss my stuff—velocity's meh, break's not elite. So yeah, no real pressure..."
"You sure you're not mistaken? Velocity aside, your fastball and slider mess with timing. That's why the third-years flailed."
"Flailing? Really?"
Lee Seok-hyeon shook his head.
"That's the turn, man. Two straight three-pitch Ks from the top guys. Sure, ace me got a hit."
"Ah... yeah, that bugs me. Need a lefty breaker ASAP... sinker's not clicking."
But Hwang Jae-uk thought that was nonsense.
No, Jeong-ui. Your sinker doesn't snap like the slider, but it's shaping up. Never seen anyone pick up breaking stuff that fast...