President’s Cup Quarterfinals: The Catcher’s Sudden Rise to Power
The concept of a person’s status or position in relation to others was something that could be observed in daily life.
In the case of students, it was clear from which school they attended and how well their grades were. For office workers, it could be determined by their workplace and the skills and performance shown within it.
Professional sports, however, were even more sensitive to this. Especially in baseball, a sport where a player’s abilities were quantified and recorded with sharp precision, value was assessed rapidly.
And for Choi Seungtaek, his batting statistics had exploded during the President’s Cup period, causing his status to fluctuate constantly.
Scouts from every professional team had begun to keep a close eye on Choi Seungtaek, seriously placing his name on important catcher lists alongside the likes of Ha Seung-yoon from Buma High School.
And only now were the teams beginning to conduct detailed analyses of Choi Seungtaek.
***
August 23, 2014, a Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. At Mokdong Baseball Stadium, the quarterfinals of the President’s Cup were being prepared.
Choi Seungtaek’s status change from swinging the bat wildly in the round of 16 was the natural order of things, and the direct feeling of it could be sensed when Coach Kim Ik-hyun called out the lineup.
“Alright, then today’s lineup is…”
“Yes, Coach!”
“One: second baseman Seo Gi-hyun. Two: center fielder Kim Jin-hu. Three: designated hitter Kang Taepoong…”
And for a moment Coach Kim Ik-hyun looked at Choi Seungtaek.
“Four: catcher Choi Seungtaek.”
Choi Seungtaek was slightly surprised.
Whoa, giving me the fourth spot already?
Excitement surged inside him, but he gave no outward sign.
Here if I show too much enthusiasm, I might look a little out of place.
Choi Seungtaek acted as if he accepted it calmly. But the gazes watching him from all around felt a little burdensome.
Why are these guys acting like this? I’ve been grinding in pro baseball for four years, so it should be fine for me to bat fourth in high school too.
Envy and a touch of jealousy could be felt from his juniors and friends.
Hmm… so this is the look that Kang Taepoong used to give me? Receiving eyes like that is a little awkward.
Choi Seungtaek glanced at Kang Taepoong. Kang Taepoong was radiating strange hostility.
But why is this guy acting so crazy too.
Ace.
In baseball, this term originally referred to a team’s primary starting pitcher.
But in a broader sense, it referred to the player in a team who possessed the greatest ability.
At Suseok High School, the ace was Kang Taepoong. But as Choi Seungtaek suddenly began to rise and make a name for himself, Kang Taepoong was beginning to feel a strange sense of competition toward him.
As the spotlight that had suddenly poured down on him began to shift toward Choi Seungtaek, Kang Taepoong felt something unpleasant.
Kang Taepoong was already a winner. He had already been drafted first overall by a professional team and received a huge signing bonus.
If he performed well in spring camp, he could gradually reach the first-team stage from the rookie season onward.
Compared to him, Choi Seungtaek would still have to endure minor-league demotion after being selected in the second round, training as a catcher again until the success judgment came.
If both the primary catcher and backup catcher moved to a solid team, he would have to sit in the minors for quite some time. He had experienced that before with the Busan Seagulls.
Just look at those eyes. No, why are they looking at me like that. The guy who already signed with a professional team.
“Nine: shortstop Na Min-ho. Well, everyone, let’s give it our best today too.”
“Yes! Understood, Coach!”
For a moment he had been lost in thought, but when the entire lineup was called, the Suseok High School players entered the field to loosen up their bodies.
Choi Seungtaek, mask in hand, headed toward the field.
***
1st inning, 1st half, runner on first and third. Choi Seungtaek steps to the plate.
The President’s Cup quarterfinals meant the broadcast crew had arrived.
From the first inning, Choi Seungtaek could sense many eyes from the home stands. He had known quite a few had come to watch him during training, but the numbers had only increased once the game started. In fact, the number of people here was nearly the same as when he had faced Buma High School.
A bit strange? Isn’t Kang Taepoong already the caught fish? Wait, so all these scouts came to watch me?
Thump!
His heart suddenly raced.
The more a subject was discussed, the higher the invisible value rose. If Choi Seungtaek’s guess was correct, these scouts’ movements would have a positive impact in the draft as well.
Good. Then I need to play even better.
The spotlight that Choi Seungtaek was receiving would eventually fade quickly after next Sunday’s President’s Cup final and the draft, but Choi Seungtaek decided to simply enjoy this moment he had never tasted before.
The preparation against the opposing team, Pajudigital High School, was complete. It was not an exceptionally strong team, but Pajudigital High School had pushed all their strength to reach this far.
Both the round of 32 and the quarterfinals had gone to extras, and as a result the pitchers had run out of gas.
Having watched that game, Coach Kim Ik-hyun had suggested to preserve our ace and Taepoong, and the coach had accepted the opinion, so today bullpen pitchers would be pitching.
After all, winning the remaining two games would require complete shutouts in the ninth inning, so it made more sense to not exhaust other strengths in the quarterfinals.
Therefore, the coach and coaches had agreed, and young players were being given the opportunity. That was also the reason Choi Seungtaek had received so many bullpen balls during training.
[The System assists you.]
Now he was starting to become somewhat familiar with the System’s functions.
A simple piece of information about the opposing pitcher floated up.
[Kim Jin-wu: D-grade prospect, Condition: Good. Pitch: Fastball, Curve. Preferred pitch: Fastball. Characteristics: Average fastball in the low 130 km/h range, slow pitching motion.]
The ball is almost at the level of a batting-practice pitch around 130 km/h, so it’s easy to hit. No special characteristics, and the breaking pitch is also flat. It shouldn’t be difficult.
The preferred trajectory of the opposing pitcher was visible. There was a large speed difference between fastball and slider, and the form was different as well.
Then swinging at the fastball should work. His command is poor, so if he throws a strike it usually ends up in the center.
Choi Seungtaek decided to target the fastball. Even if a breaking pitch came, he had the confidence to wait and swing slowly to put it in play.
The opposing pitcher set his posture.
Pitcher windup.
First pitch is a fastball. Perfect.
SHIIIIK!
THWACK!
Oh no!
The posture collapsed and he hit a ground ball.
- Choi Seungtaek immediately records a hit. The runner on third scores home!
But he had split the shortstop and third baseman, and the left fielder had to chase the ball.
The left fielder’s reaction was fast, so Choi Seungtaek did not reach second.
“Nice, you got a hit on the first pitch again today!”
“Good for you. Even though you swung like that, how did it get out?”
Having stepped over the equipment, Choi Seungtaek immediately went into the next preparation.
To make himself look even better, Choi Seungtaek chose to attempt a steal.
If this were a professional game, he would never do it, but this was the President’s Cup quarterfinals!
Athletes with elite speed would steal based on that speed. But what was equally important was knowing the timing of the opponent.
Right now Choi Seungtaek knew the opposing pitcher had a slow pitching motion and that the catcher was not a particularly good one either.
That was why he was preparing to run. The pitcher’s pitching form that had just come up was consistently slow.
Choi Seungtaek crept forward, stretching the lead.
It felt a bit cruel to steal against a second-year pitcher and second-year catcher who were not yet complete, but to achieve the goal even slightly faster, Choi Seungtaek was preparing the steal.
Now.
The coach watching Choi Seungtaek thought the lead width was a bit too wide, and the moment Choi Seungtaek sprinted.
“Hey you!”
DADADADAK!
The timing was perfect.
SHIIIIK!
BOOM!
THWACK!
“Second!”
Choi Seungtaek landed safely on second.
- Choi Seungtaek attempts the steal. Judging by the timing, he should have reached safely.
Choi Seungtaek was about to land safely on second when the ball heading to second bounced.
“Back! Back!”
Eh?
Choi Seungtaek easily reached third, and the runner on third, Lee San, came home.
“Already 2-0.”
From the first inning, it seemed Suseok High School would have an easy game.
Choi Seungtaek glanced at the dugout. Since he had stolen without the coach’s instruction, he had to be cautious, but because the result was a big success, the coach’s expression was not bad.
I hope he doesn’t say anything.
Coach Kim Ik-hyun gave Han Bang-man the instruction to sacrifice anyway.
Yeah, a reasonable thought. A solid score is good.
SHIIIIK!
THWACK!
Han Bang-man swung and lifted the ball toward the right fielder.
Nice.
Choi Seungtaek watched the ball land and ran home.
DADADADAK!
Choi Seungtaek tagged up and scored.
“Nice! Han Bang-man.”
“Good!”
Choi Seungtaek and Han Bang-man cheered at home and entered the dugout.
Today’s game will be easy.