episode_0117

“cheek.”

A sinker in the mid to upper 140s. It was said that the sinker’s speed would increase to the low to mid-150s as his condition improved, but perhaps because it was spring or because he was a starter, the sinker’s speed seemed slower than in the video.

“Oh, do you like the ball?”

“If you like it that much, why not give it a swing?”

Want me to swing it once? That can’t be possible. You can’t swing the bat blindly when you’re not even sure how much the pitcher will throw.

At the high school level, the pitch was obvious and the deception was poor, so I could see the trajectory of the ball, but it was difficult to get the timing because he was a mercenary pitcher.

Phew, bang!

“cheek.”

In addition, the sinker this guy threw was quite fast and had a large angle, so I had to get used to it.

‘It seems like you mostly use a sinker against right-handed batters, right?’

‘Yes, because I haven’t thrown a single four-seamer yet.’

The guy must have already analyzed everything, so he didn’t throw a single four-seamer against me. Because I was strong at four-seamer. Well, the speed of his sinker was similar to that of his four-seamer. A thorough sinker game against right-handed hitters. It was the same as what I heard during the analysis.

“Senior, please give me a four-seam.”

“Are you crazy? “Give a four-seamer to the bastard who also hits Otani?”

‘It’s a sinker. ‘Body side.’

Sheesh, if you say that, I thought a four-seamer would come flying out. It seemed like Lee Yong-gi would have attacked the station and won the game with a four-seamer, but it seemed like he was competing as usual. Because it was still the first inning.

“cheek.”

Is it a three ball now?

“Seniors. If I go out, will you be able to afford it? “I’m running right away?”

“Why don’t you try jumping?”

‘This time it’s a four-seam outside.’

‘Do you think you’ll get into the zone?’

‘Well, I don’t think I would put it in. First of all, the catcher’s mitt is ambiguous.’

In times like this, I have to make my own judgment. Look at the trajectory and decide whether to go out or not. Anyway, since I knew the direction of the outside four-seamer, it was definitely an advantageous game for me.

Hancheol’s pitcher Radette prepared to throw the fourth ball. The moment the ball left the pitcher’s hand, I was immediately convinced.

‘It’s the cheek.’

“strike!”

“yes? “Is this a strike?”

“I’m in.”

‘Did you really come in?’

‘No, I felt it even when the catcher played for the national team, but his framing is good.’

‘Tch.’

But no matter how much the framing was, it seemed like it was a lot off… .

I glanced at the referee’s face and saw that he was looking at me with a shameless look on his face. Usually, if you look at me like this, you’ll look at me with a questioning expression as to why I’m looking at you… . Of course, this is it.

-“Maengho, when playing three balls, there are times when a strike is given, so be careful.”

-“yes? A strike in the flow?”

-“Yes, that happens often unless something goes astray. However, if you complain to the referee about that, you will immediately get used to it, so rookies like you need to be more careful.”

Advice given by Woo Kwan-hyung during training camp in Australia. As expected, this is probably a strike situation. It was ridiculous, but seeing one more ball was beneficial to me. I thought it was just like that and took my stance again.

‘Slider, it’s toward the body.’

I was only looking at sinkers all the time, and then a slider came in. The body slider was a ball that had a high probability of becoming a misfire if it was not bent. I glared at the pitcher, ready to swing at any moment.

“Meng Hao, do you know that? Starting this year… … … .”

I ignored Lee Yong-gi muttering something behind me and focused on my pitching form. The ball falls out of the glove, and the guy’s hand swings like a whip.

widely!

“Foul!”

A foul outside the line. Was it too low? The slider was lighter than I thought.

“Oh, are you reacting to this? “I thought you were aiming for a slider?”

“Seniors. “You know I just hit you.”

“Again, again. “You’re bluffing.”

Even during national team training, I repeatedly told the players that I would watch and hit, but few people believed me. And Lee Yong-gi was one of the players who didn’t believe what I said.

“I haven’t even touched the fastball type, but when I see it coming in breaking balls… Well, even if you hit a home run off Ohtani, don’t you think a sinker close to 150 would be a bit of a burden?”

I think I can hear Lee Yonggi shaking his head from behind. Okay, keep thinking about it. I’m fooled.

‘A curve, a curve that goes into the ground.’

Curve? I heard that the curve usage rate is less than 1%… . Did you prepare during spring training?

Did you mix the balls with the idea that you could be fooled or filtered out? I held the bat slightly short with the intention of slightly kicking it away.

Tick!

“Foul.”

“I guess you’re aiming for a breaking ball as expected? Is that your strategy today? “Of course, Radette can be a threat.”

‘Sinker, to the body.’

Four-seamer won’t be given even if you die, right? Okay, throw it. Sinker to the body? I’ve already seen it three times. Enough times to know the timing.

‘come!’

A familiar trajectory entering the strike zone! He swung the bat like lightning, following that trajectory.

Ta – evil!

As soon as he heard the sound, the pitcher threw his glove. Maybe it’s because he’s from South America, but he’s hot.

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

-The person who hit the first home run this season! This is Ji Maeng-ho, the hero of the WBC and an all-time rookie!

Was the cheerleader’s microphone that big? I couldn’t hear it very well until now… .

‘I kept singing your cheer song, didn’t you hear me?’

‘Really? ‘I couldn’t hear anything.’

‘Hehe, I see you’re still nervous.’

nervous… . I thought I wouldn’t be nervous after going through the WBC, but I guess I was a little nervous because it was my debut match.

“Hey, turn around quickly.”

“Ah yes.”

The referee urged me. I quickly threw the bat and ran to first base. As I went around the diamond of the ground and entered the home field, Kim Su-ho greeted me.

“Good bet.”

“thank you. And from the perspective of a left-handed hitter, can you see the trajectory? “It doesn’t bend that hard.”

“I get it.”

But when I entered the dugout, it was quite quiet.

‘This again?’

After hitting a home run against Australia the other day, I heard it was a ceremony from the Major League. boring. boring. Since it was a ceremony that could only be enjoyed once in the league, I decided to enjoy it this time.

“downpour!!!!”

And then he started shooting high fives into the air.

“thank you! thank you! Seniors! thank you!”

As we walked in a panic from the entrance to the end, the expressionless faces of our seniors began to crack.

“… Phew.”

“If you enjoyed it, now celebrate!”

“Yeah, you bastard! Good job!”

Starting with the weather warning helmet massage, several players took turns patting my helmet and back.

“Ahh! evil! “Someone hit me!”

“[Hey, Ji. Congratulations on your first professional home run.]”

“[thanks.]”

After receiving congratulations from the manager and all the dugouts became quiet, the manager came closer.

“Meng Hao, the staff is looking for the ball.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The ball he hit against Australia was his first home run as an adult, and he hit Ohtani with a come-from-behind three-run ball. And now, his first home run since his professional debut. One more ball was added to the decoration.

“Oh, you look good?”

As I sat on the bench with a smile, Woo Kwan-hyung approached me this time.

“Of course it’s good. “It’s the first home run.”

“This is your second home run in your first at-bat as a high school rookie.”

“is it so? “Who is the first one?”

“Joo Seung-cheol.”

“It’s a shame. “If I had been born three years earlier, I would have been the first.”

“I heard that this kid shouldn’t be left alone. Anyway, the game will be a little easier thanks to the home run. Let’s easily win the opening game and let’s go.”

“yes!”

Let’s just keep going like this and win the first game!

*

“Oh, just like you said, you’re really good at hitting. Even when I saw it on TV, it seemed like I was playing well.”

“Yeah, there’s something different about that guy.”

“okay? Is it that different? “Well, since my brother, who is an expert, says so, it must be like that.”

At the table, a pair of handsome men and women were sitting and chatting. A muscular man who is over 190cm tall and a pretty woman who looks about 155cm tall. And between the two, a woman wearing a Hancheol uniform approached.

“uh? “Aren’t you Joo Seung-cheol?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, I’m a fan. I need an autograph…” .”

“Yes, please bring the paper with you.”

“Next to me is my girlfriend… ?”

“What are you talking about!”

“no.”

The two people loudly denied the fan’s words at the same time.

“ah! Jujia! Gia Tube! ah! It was hard to see because of the hat. By any chance, Jia… .”

“… “Would you like me to sign your autograph too?”

“Then it’s me, it’s an honor! Thank you so much.”

The two people felt bad when they heard that they were lovers, but thanks to their father, who had been telling them about the importance of fans since they were young, their expressions did not harden and they finished signing autographs.

“thank you! “I hope I win today!”

“Yes, please feel free to watch.”

The two people sitting at the table were Joo Seung-cheol, the superstar of the Hancheol Grizzlies, who was unable to travel due to an unfortunate injury, and Joo Jia, an i-tuber who ran a baseball i-Tube and reached 200,000 subscribers.

“But aren’t you scared of Joo Seung-cheol?”

“Call me oppa. “Before I turn around.”

“He’s good-looking and good at baseball. Now Joo Seung-cheol’s popularity will be fading away.”

Perfect!

“Ahh!”

“I told you to call me oppa.”

“Sii! “I’m going to tell my dad!”

“Are you still doing that now that you’re an adult? Tsk.”

Joo Seung-cheol, who became tired of dealing with his younger sister, turned his attention to the ground. At the plate, AT Thunders’ second batter Kim Su-ho was in a batting stance.

“But, there is Ji Maeng-ho.”

“huh?”

While Joo Seung-cheol was concentrating on the game, Joo Ji-ah next to him asked a question. It was annoying to deal with, but it was obvious that if he ignored it, it would become even more annoying, so Joo Seung-cheol silently listened to Joo Jia’s words.

“Are you close?”

“Well, if you’re friendly, you’re close.”

“How can I not appear on my iTube? “It seems popular these days.”

As Ju Jia said, Ji Maeng-ho was a hot blue chip in the baseball world. Good looks. tall. Well-toned body. And the three-run hit against Ohtani. And a player shrouded in mystery who hasn’t had many interviews yet!

If you can get this player to appear on your iTube… !

‘If Ji Maeng-ho appears on my iTube, I can easily get 300,000 views, right? Joo Seung-cheol is also resting right now, so if we put those two in the thumbnail… . Hehehe. Joo Seung-cheol’s appearance attracts about 150,000 more viewers than the average. If you add some AT fans here… !’

“Ugh, I should be thankful just for taking a picture of this now.”

Joo Seung-cheol pointed to the recording camera on one side of the table, but it did not work for Joo Ji-ah, who was thirsty for views.

“brother! “My younger brother said he wanted to make a living!”

“You’re only my brother at times like this, right?”

“Ah! “Onii-chan!”

“Don’t be cute, you’ll fall behind. really.”

“How can you not?”

Even if you don’t like it, it’s still family. Seeing Joo Jia’s earnest eyes, Joo Seung-cheol spat out words as if he had no choice.

“… I guess we’ll meet tomorrow anyway. “We decided to have a drink together.”

Tomorrow is Sunday? Jujia’s eyes sparkled.

“Then, if we’re going to meet anyway, let’s do the interview at home.”

“under… . “I’ll just say it first.”

While they were talking, Hancheol’s starting pitcher, Radette, blocked the top of the first inning without allowing any more runs.

“Radet! I really think I picked a great mercenary this time! Hancheol fans are like that too, right? “He hit a home run, but seeing that he didn’t waver shows that he has a good mentality!”

“Hey, I’m surprised. “Why are you suddenly standing up?”

“ah! I can’t write this part because of you! “It really doesn’t help.”

Joo Seung-cheol shook his head at his sister’s vlog joke.

“But brother, your expression doesn’t change much even though you scored first?”

At Joo Ji-Ah’s words, a bitter smile appeared on Joo Seung-cheol’s face.

“It’s about AT, because you can win at any time.”