episode_0300

“Hwan-ah, are you confident?”

“Coach, if I’m not confident, how can I finish it?”

“Is that so? Then, Young-ho, decide the outcome yourself.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

Before stepping onto the mound, without a trace of anxiety in the coach’s words, Go Yeong-hwan confidently replied. …And felt uncomfortable.

‘Ha, even the coach reacts like this. Really. How many games have I protected so far?’

It wasn’t hard to understand the coach’s unease. The batter he was about to face was Ji Maeng-ho, evaluated as the best in Korean history and a batter who could easily make it to the majors.

However, Go Yeong-hwan was a pitcher too, aiming for the Major Leagues. He knew Ji Maeng-ho was considered the league’s best batter and a player hard to come by again in Korea, but the coach’s unease bothered him. Go Yeong-hwan believed his pitches were top-notch.

‘Yes, I knew a situation like this would come someday. I haven’t had a proper showdown during the season.’

With the determination to face Ji Maeng-ho properly just before heading to the Major Leagues, Go Yeong-hwan stepped onto the mound.

[In the bottom of the 9th inning, maintaining a 2-2 tie to go into extra innings, Go Yeong-hwan takes the mound. No need for further explanation about the pitcher, but let’s describe him. Go Yeong-hwan is a pitcher in his mid-150s with a solid fastball and a slider in the late 140s, capable of placing the ball where he wants.]

[That’s right, since his debut in 2015, except for missing the 2019 season due to injury, Go Yeong-hwan has never missed the top closer spot in Korea for 7 years. Apart from his debut season and the 19th and 20th seasons, he has always recorded an ERA in the 1s and over 40 saves. This season, he has appeared in 57 games, pitching 58.1 innings with only 6 earned runs, recording a 0.93 ERA.]

[After this season, Go Yeong-hwan declared FA to move to the US, right?]

[That’s correct. Even during the season, Major League scouts visited Korea frequently to see Go Yeong-hwan’s pitches.]

[So, this inning’s showdown will be more exciting. AT’s lineup starts with the 3rd batter, Gisang-joo, followed by Ji Maeng-ho and Choi Jin-cheol. Both Gisang-joo and Choi Jin-cheol have played in the Major Leagues.]

[That’s right. Gisang-joo had a .318 batting average with the San Francisco Giants in 2020 and hit 11 home runs in 2021, right?]

[Exactly.]

[And Choi Jin-cheol hit 23 home runs with the Seattle Mariners in 2017. Both players have played in the Major Leagues.]

[They were really impressive back then. Moreover, the cleanup hitter, Ji Maeng-ho, is no less than these two batters, right?]

[That’s correct. Ji Maeng-ho, the cleanup hitter, is a player who could make it to the Major Leagues right away. I personally know a scout who continues to watch Ji Maeng-ho, indicating his talent. Therefore, whether Go Yeong-hwan can handle this AT lineup well will be a thrilling match for many baseball fans.]

[AT’s lineup has been underperforming today, but we can’t underestimate them at all.]

[Indeed. In fact, this situation is even scarier.]

As Go Yeong-hwan, who has dominated as the league’s top closer for the past few years, faces off against AT’s powerhouse lineup, which is considered the strongest ever, many fans’ hearts race as Gisang-joo steps up to the plate.

[Gisang-joo steps up to the plate. This season, he has faced Go Yeong-hwan twice and has yet to get a hit.]

‘Sang-joo senior….’

Goyounghwan faced the pitcher as he stepped into the batter’s box. The pitcher’s eyes were focused and sharp. Goyounghwan had met the national team player a few times during his career or in the off-season, and the pitcher was known for being talkative and entertaining. However, this pitcher on the mound was no pushover. A power hitter who had won the batting title three times, the RBI title once, and hit over 20 home runs at Jamsil Stadium more than five times.

Moreover, this season, he had achieved a career-high with a .366 batting average, 30 home runs, and 115 RBIs, posting impressive stats that made his return from the U.S. hard to fathom.

Nevertheless, Goyounghwan didn’t flinch. The closer role was a duty he couldn’t fulfill without belief in his pitches, and as the best closer in the country, he had unwavering faith in his abilities.

“Let’s greet him with an inside fastball for the first pitch.”

“Yes.”

In response to Park Junghyun’s sign, Goyounghwan nodded without a word. In truth, regardless of the pitch called, Goyounghwan would have nodded. This season, he felt more confident in his pitches than ever before. He didn’t even entertain the thought of giving up a hit.

“If you want to hit it, go ahead!”

[Goyounghwan’s first pitch! Inside! Strike! Radar gun reading… 157.9 km/h! His fastest pitch this season.]

“That was a great pitch. It was unhittable, even if he swung, there wouldn’t have been a good contact.”

A 157 km/h fastball inside. The pitch made the hairs on the back of the batter’s neck stand up.

“D*mn, Young is always throwing such fierce pitches.”

The solid movement of the ball could hardly be seen even in the Major Leagues. Combined with his unconventional pitching form, timing the pitch was even more challenging. But giving up wasn’t an option.

“Alright, let’s just get on base. Just get on base. If I get on, Maengho will take care of the rest.”

Goyounghwan glanced at Maengho, who was waiting in the on-deck circle with a fierce look in his eyes. Normally playful and bright-eyed, Maengho now seemed to exude a menacing aura as he watched the showdown between Goyounghwan and the batter. A look rarely seen during the season.

“With Maengho looking like that, he’ll definitely come through. …Even if I don’t get on base, I need to see as many pitches as possible to make it easier for Maengho to battle.”

Determined, Goyounghwan moved closer to home plate, almost stepping on the batter’s box line. Veteran catcher Park Junghyun noticed his intent.

“What’s this, kid? You’re getting too close. You’ll get hit.”

“This is how I’ve always been. You know that, hyung.”

Ignoring the warning, Goyounghwan remained unfazed. The situation was too intense to back down. As the third pitch was thrown, another fastball, Goyounghwan knew the batter wouldn’t just watch three identical pitches in a row.

Crack!

“Got it!”

A satisfying hit sound echoed in his ears. Goyounghwan celebrated internally, but his joy was short-lived. Standing on the mound, Goyounghwan raised his finger to the sky without even looking at the hit ball.

And that gesture from Goyounghwan was no show.

“Center field!”

Center fielder Yang Jihyuk, who had positioned himself slightly forward, handled the hit. Seeing this, Goyounghwan halted his steps towards first base, feeling disheartened.

“It felt like a solid hit…”

A belated pain tingled in the palm of his hand. When he looked at the pain, his hand was trembling without the owner’s knowledge.

“Senior, how was the pitch?”

As he tried to return to the dugout, Jimaengho, who was waiting for his turn at the on-deck circle, approached him.

“Sigh….”

“I think I know even without you saying it. Three fastballs, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Okay.”

“Please.”

“Are you getting ready to leave work?”

Although said playfully, his expression was anything but playful. Jimaengho, who he wanted to hit as a junior, was more reliable than anyone when it came to baseball, so after patting Jimaengho’s shoulder a few times, he walked back to the dugout.

“Maengho, I trust you.”

[Now stepping up to the plate is Jimaengho. In this series, Jimaengho has recorded 5 hits in 8 at-bats, including two home runs. He has one intentional walk against Goyounghwan this season.]

[Goyounghwan and Jimaengho. Two players who have never had a proper showdown this season are now facing off.]

*

“Phew….”

His heart fluttered slightly as he faced off against Goyounghwan. No, he had been trembling since watching from the on-deck circle. But the essence of this tremor was not fear but anticipation.

The anticipation of facing off against the league’s best pitcher.

In fact, there hadn’t been many encounters with each team’s closers during the season. When the team won, it was mostly by a large margin, and he usually came up to bat in the 8th inning. That’s why this matchup with Goyounghwan was highly anticipated. In reality, this showdown with Goyounghwan was the first of its kind.

Goyounghwan was currently the closest pitcher to the Major Leagues. Goyounghwan was one of the few KBA players recognized by the discerning Rossby in player evaluations. Well, in terms of pure skill, Goyounghwan was almost unparalleled. Wookwanhyung acknowledged his self-management skills, and Iyonggi acknowledged his BQ, that’s what it was about.

With such a showdown against Goyounghwan, his heart couldn’t help but flutter.

“If it’s Goyounghwan, he should make it in the Major Leagues, right?”

“Yeah, if it’s a weak team, he could even close. There weren’t many bullpen pitchers like that during my coaching days.”

“So if I hit Goyounghwan’s pitch, does that mean I can make it in the Majors too?”

“Well, you could see it that way.”

“It’ll be fun.”

He had faced Major Leaguers a few times before. In the WBC or Asian Games. However, in the WBC, it was March when his body wasn’t fully developed, and Chen Jianhao, whom he faced in the Asian Games, was not a pitcher capable of reaching the top level of the Major Leagues. That’s why the matchup with Goyounghwan was more anticipated.

“The first pitch is a fastball.”

“Okay.”

He had seen Goyounghwan’s fastball a lot from the on-deck circle. Since all three pitches he threw today were fastballs.

“They were 157, 154, 156, so around 150… timing it…”

As he thought about the timing, Goyounghwan threw the first pitch.

“Ball.”

The first pitch was a high outside ball.

“It’s fast… and solid.”

Goyounghwan’s pitch seemed to rise more compared to Jang Wooju’s similar speed pitch and felt solid.

“He chickened out? He didn’t even swing?”

“It seems so.”

“That’s understandable. I don’t bet live with Hwi either.”

Responding appropriately to Park Junghyun’s words, he engraved the previous pitch he saw from Goyounghwan in his mind.

“It might be tough, but it’s not impossible to hit.”

And he became confident in his swing. Goyounghwan’s pitch was clearly threatening. But it wasn’t impossible to hit.

“It’s a fastball.”

“Again? Is he really underestimating me?”

Goyounghwan winded up again. It seemed to come slightly lower than before. Timing his swing with that trajectory, he swung the bat,

Crack!

The ball curved to the right. Foul ball landing in the first base stands.

“Did I push it a bit?”

Hand tingling, the tension in Go Yeong-hwan’s stance was palpable.

“If I don’t hit this right, a home run will be tough.”

But he had to aim for a home run. Even if he made it to third base, it was uncertain whether Choi Jin-cheol could bring him in.

“A slider.”

“A slider? Okay.”

The slider from Go Yeong-hwan wasn’t a pitch that could result in a home run on the first sighting. It had a sharp angle and was fast. Even if by some stroke of luck a hit came out, they needed one point now. Swinging would not benefit the team.

“Strike!”

And Go Yeong-hwan’s slider pierced low on the inside, and a strike was called.

“With two strikes and one ball now, it’ll likely be a tough battle.”

“As expected, if it’s a walk, it’ll be tricky. With a full count, there might be unease. So, if I’m going for it now…! …Right?”

“Yes, you’re reading the flow well.”

“Still, having over 500 plate appearances this season is fortunate.”

“Luckily, your learning speed is fast. On the topic of orangutans. Fastball.”

“Yes.”

If it was Go Yeong-hwan, he would come in here. A clash of strengths. Knowing this fact, Go Yeong-hwan must have chosen the fastball. And I was confident that my strength wouldn’t falter.

“Here it comes.”

Go Yeong-hwan slowly wound up. And the fifth pitch was thrown. Now, the familiar fastball from that guy flew towards the outside. Feeling as if the world paused, the swing practiced countless times met the ball.

As the bat impacted the pitch, Go Yeong-hwan’s hand tingled with the impact, but he didn’t lose strength and pulled through.

Thud—crack!

“Huh?!”

A startled Park Jung-hyun’s voice and Go Yeong-hwan raising his hands high while turning his head. The left fielder ran backward, chasing the hit.

As the left fielder’s steps chasing the hit stopped in front of the wall, Go Yeong-hwan’s head dropped to the ground as he chased the hit.

“Woahhh!!!”

“Jimaengho! Jimaengho! Jimaengho!”

The cheers at Jamsil Stadium echoed in the ears.

“Damn it! That’s it!”

I threw the bat away and pointed at the fans gathered at first base, then sprinted towards first base. Teammates rushed out with water bottles in hand.

Though I had circled the bases countless times, today I wanted to touch home plate faster than usual.

“Jimaengho!!!”

“Damn! What the hell!”

“Koshi, let’s go!!!!”

Now, only one step remained until victory. It was a Jamshil night where thoughts of losing didn’t cross the mind.