Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: President's Cup Quarterfinals
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Prestige.
It refers to the position or status an object holds in relation to others.
We can observe this in our daily lives too. For students, it's determined by which school they attend and their grades there.
For office workers, it's which company they work for, and within that company, what abilities and achievements they've demonstrated.
In professional sports, this is even more pronounced.
Especially in baseball, where players' abilities are quantified and sharply recorded, value is assigned even more quickly.
And in Choi Seung-taek's case, since his hitting stats had skyrocketed during the President's Cup, his prestige was changing by the minute.
Scouts from all pro teams had started paying close attention to Choi Seung-taek as well, seriously adding his name to their lists of key catcher prospects, just like Ha Seung-yoon from Buma High School.
Now, teams were finally beginning detailed analyses of Choi Seung-taek.
August 23, 2014, Saturday, 10 a.m. Mokdong Stadium was preparing for the President's Cup quarterfinals.
The shift in Choi Seung-taek's prestige after his hot streak through the round of 16 was inevitable, and he could feel the direct impact when Coach Kim Ik-hyeon called the lineup.
"Alright, lineup for today."
"Yes, Coach!"
"Leadoff, second baseman Seo Gi-hyeon. Two-hole, center fielder Kim Jin-hu. Three-hole, DH Kang Tae-pung...."
Coach Kim Ik-hyeon paused for a moment and looked at Choi Seung-taek.
"Cleanup, catcher Choi Seung-taek."
Choi Seung-taek was a little surprised.
'Whoa, giving me cleanup already?'
A surge of elation rose inside him, but Choi Seung-taek didn't let it show on his face.
'If I act too happy here, I'll look kinda lame, right?'
Choi Seung-taek pretended to take it in stride. But the stares from around him felt a bit burdensome.
'What're you guys looking at? I've got four years of pro experience under my belt. Of course I can hit cleanup in high school.'
He could sense envy and a touch of jealousy from the underclassmen and friends.
'Hmm... Is this the kind of attention Kang Tae-pung used to get? Feels kinda awkward receiving it.'
Choi Seung-taek glanced at Kang Tae-pung. Kang Tae-pung was giving off a strange air of hostility.
'But why's he pissed too?'
Ace.
In baseball, it originally referred to the team's starting pitcher.
But in a broader sense, it came to mean the most outstanding player on the team.
Kang Tae-pung was Suseok High School's ace, but feeling Choi Seung-taek surging up behind him, he was harboring a subtle competitive spirit toward him.
The spotlight that had been pouring on him was gradually shifting to Choi Seung-taek, and it made Kang Tae-pung uncomfortable.
Kang Tae-pung was already a winner. He'd been a first-round draft pick by a pro team and received a massive signing bonus.
If he performed decently in spring camp, he could be a regular in the first team starting his rookie season.
By contrast, even if Choi Seung-taek got picked in the upper rounds of the second round of the draft, he'd have to retrain as a catcher and grind until he earned approval.
If he landed on a team with a solid starting catcher and backup, he'd be stuck in the minors indefinitely. That was how it had been with the Busan Sea Gulls.
'Look at that glare. Why's he giving me that look? He's already signed with a pro team.'
"Nine-hole, shortstop Na Min-ho. Alright, everyone, let's have a great game today."
"Yes, sir! Got it, Coach!"
In his brief reverie, the full lineup had been announced, and the Suseok High School players headed into the field to warm up again.
Choi Seung-taek grabbed his catcher's mask and followed them in.
- Runners on first and third. Choi Seung-taek steps up to the plate.
The President's Cup broadcast crew had arrived starting from the quarterfinals.
Top of the first, runners on first and third. As Choi Seung-taek entered the batter's box, he felt a ton of eyes from the stands behind home plate.
He'd known quite a few had come during practice, but now that the game had started, their numbers had doubled. In fact, the crowd size was similar to what it had been for the Buma High School game, and this was just the President's Cup quarterfinals.
'This is weird. Isn't Kang Tae-pung already a done deal? Wait, does that mean all those scouts are here for me?'
Thump!
His heart suddenly pounded.
The more buzz he generated, the higher his invisible market value rose. If his hunch was right, this scout activity would positively impact the draft too.
'Alright, then I gotta perform even better.'
The spotlight on Choi Seung-taek would fade quickly after the President's Cup final next Sunday and the draft, but since he'd never tasted this before, he decided to just enjoy the moment.
His scouting report on Paju Digital High School was complete. They weren't that strong a team, but they'd come this far giving everything they had.
They'd gone to extras in both the round of 32 and 16, burning out their pitching staff in the process.
Having seen those games, he'd suggested to the coach that they save I San and Tae-pung, and the coach had agreed. So today, it would be bullpen pitchers taking the mound.
The consensus was that the remaining two games would require complete games through nine innings to win anyway, so it made sense not to expend resources in the quarters.
The coach and staff had concurred, giving the younger players their shot. That was why Choi Seung-taek had caught so many bullpen sessions in practice.
He was getting used to the system's functions now.
Simple info on the opposing pitcher popped up.
'Ball's in the low 130s km/h—basically batting practice. Perfect for hits. No real stuff, changeups are meh. This'll be easy.'
He could see the trajectories the opposing pitcher favored. Big velocity gap between fastball and slider, and distinct differences in his mechanics.
'So I'll swing for the fastball. His command's shaky too—strikes tend to come middle-in.'
Choi Seung-taek decided to hunt fastballs. Even if a breaking ball came, he was confident he could read the motion and foul it off slowly.
The opposing pitcher set up.
Pitcher's windup.
'First pitch fastball. Perfect.'
Sweeeesh
Crack!
'Oops!'
His swing mechanics collapsed, and he grounded out.
- Choi Seung-taek records a hit right away. The runner from third scores!
But it snuck through short and third, forcing their left fielder to chase it down.
The left fielder reacted quickly, so Choi Seung-taek only made first.
"Nice! Started today with a hit again, huh?"
"Lucky break. That was an ugly swing, but it found grass."
After handing off his gear, Choi Seung-taek got ready for the next at-bat.
To look even better, he opted for a steal.
He'd never do this in a pro game, but this was the President's Cup quarterfinals!
Guys with elite speed steal on their wheels alone. But just as crucial is reading the pitcher's timing.
Right now, Choi Seung-taek knew the opposing pitcher's delivery was slow and their catcher wasn't great.
That's why he was gearing up to run. The consistent, sluggish windup from this pitcher.
Choi Seung-taek inched off the bag.
It felt a bit ruthless against an unfinished sophomore pitcher and catcher, but to reach his goals faster, Choi Seung-taek prepped the steal.
'Now.'
The coach watching him thought the lead was a bit wide—then Choi Seung-taek bolted.
"Hey, you punk!"
Pat-pat-pat-pat
Timing was perfect.
Sweeeesh
Whoosh!
Thwack
"Safe at second!"
Cleanup hitter Han Bang-man swung, and the catcher snatched the ball, firing to second.
'Totally stole the timing. No need to even slide.'
- Choi Seung-taek attempts a steal. Timing looks solid—he should be in safe.
Choi Seung-taek was coasting into second when the throw sailed wide.
"Around! Go, go!"
"Huh?"
Choi Seung-taek easily reached third, and I San scored from there.
"Already 2-0."
Top of the first, and Suseok High looked set for an easy one.
Choi Seung-taek eyed the dugout. He'd stolen without a sign, so he checked the coach's reaction—but the results spoke for themselves, and Coach's face wasn't unhappy.
'He won't chew me out, right?'
Coach Kim Ik-hyeon signaled Han Bang-man for a sac fly.
'Fair call. Sure runs are best.'
Sweeeesh
Crack!
Han Bang-man popped it up toward right field.
'Nice.'
Choi Seung-taek waited for the catch, then tagged up and dashed home.
Pat-pat-pat-pat
He slid in safe on the tag-up.
"Nice one, Bang-man!"
"Sweet!"
Choi Seung-taek and Han Bang-man celebrated at home plate before heading to the dugout.
'This game's gonna be a breeze today.'