episode_0383

Most professional players who have tried drinking water are likely to have had some experience as a pitcher during their amateur days. Typically, when you join the baseball club in elementary school, those with good athletic instincts start playing baseball as pitchers or shortstops. Or like me, both.

I hesitate to say this myself, but I too started playing baseball as a pitcher. I was the typical cleanup hitter and ace pitcher who would pitch and play shortstop when not pitching.

Although I gave up pitching in favor of batting talent from middle school onwards, there was a time in high school when I considered transitioning back to pitching while playing as a batting-ball pitcher. I thought that if I worked hard even as a batting-ball pitcher, maybe they would let me play in at least one game. Moreover, I had some talent as a pitcher myself. I didn’t take long to pick up each taught breaking ball, so I seriously contemplated mastering various national changeups such as sliders, curves, and change-ups within a few months.

“Ah, those were the days.”

During those gloomy times, the dream I had while playing as a batting-ball pitcher was to step onto a pro mound and throw at least one inning. With a decent speed of around 140, I thought that if I worked hard enough, I could achieve my dreams.

And now, I was standing on the mound of the pro field I had always dreamed of. The feeling of looking down on other players from at least 20 cm higher than them on the baseball field…

“So that’s why pitchers are so cocky.”

Of course, I had been on the mound last year as well, but back then, the game was about to be canceled due to rain, so there weren’t many spectators, which dampened the excitement. But today was different.

The audience packed into the Gocheok Sky Dome. And the significance of a game that only happens once a year. Furthermore, the batter standing in front of me was KBA League legend Choi Jin-cheol. With 8 Golden Gloves, 3 MVPs, and 4 home run titles. Although he’s been slightly underperforming this year, he was a powerful hitter who hit 16 home runs in the first half of the season by hitting home runs towards the end of the first half.

Facing such a strong hitter. My heart was pounding, but I quickly calmed myself down.

“Hmm, what kind of pitch will Rossby aim for?”

“Are you an idiot? It’ll definitely be a fastball.”

“Indeed, it should be.”

Unfortunately, the catcher seemed unaware of this fact and was asking for a fastball.

“Let’s go with a curveball here.”

Deciding to place the ball in the spot where Choi Jin-cheol’s persistent weakness was evaluated to be. Normally, he would probably reject such a pitch, but given that he was expecting a fastball, the story would be different now.

The grip of the curveball, which I hadn’t held in a long time. The familiar seams welcomed me. Although I touched these seams every time I played defense, the sensation on the mound felt somewhat different.

“Phew, I can do this.”

After taking a deep breath, I lifted my leg. Then, extending forward and whipping my arm like a whip.

“Got it!”

A feeling as if I perfectly caught the baseball. Even though it had been a while since I last threw, it felt like a perfect throw.

“Strike! One out!”

And Choi Jin-cheol’s swing. It was a swing that seemed completely disconnected from the trajectory of the ball, as if he hadn’t anticipated the curveball at all. Could you feel the wind coming off the bat from here? In that refreshing sensation, I clenched my fist and shouted.

“Nice!”

After the ceremony, looking at Choi Jin-cheol, he seemed bewildered, almost looking at me as if he couldn’t believe it. …He seemed a bit angry. No, it seemed right that he was angry. He was getting closer and closer.

“What are you doing? You punk!”

“What?”

“Aren’t you throwing the ball properly?”

My perfect helmet seemed to have angered him. Is it inevitable for a genius to live in jealousy?

“What is it?!”

“What is it? This guy!”

As Choi Jin-cheol slowly approached, he rushed towards me. I threw my glove and prepared to fight, but being deeply Confucian at heart, I couldn’t swing a fist at Choi Jin-cheol. And then, Choi Jin-cheol’s muscular arm wrapping around my neck.

As his strong arm tightened around my neck, my breath was cut off.

“Crack! Crack! Senior! Stop! Stop! I’m sorry!”

“It was just a joke from the beginning. This guy.”

“Crack! Tap! Tap!”

And so, my first bench-clearing as a pitcher ended in my complete defeat, unable to withstand Choi Jin-cheol’s pressure, I had no choice but to throw a fastball. The ball flew cleanly down the middle and collided with Choi Jin-cheol’s bat,

Crack!

As the sound of the ball splitting was heard, the hit disappeared beyond the outfield wall.

“Player Choi Jin-cheol’s first home run! Now there are 9 out counts. The number of home runs needed for victory is 5. Please give a round of applause, everyone!”

*

[Oh, Player Ji Maeng-ho just threw a curveball? In a home run derby?!]

[Haha, Player Choi Jin-cheol is swinging at that ball. Quite an angry expression, isn’t it?]

[Oh? Player Choi Jin-cheol is running towards the mound! Bench-clearing! A bench-clearing happening in a home run race.]

[Hahaha, it seems like both players are preparing for a showdown? We’ve seen bench-clearings in regular games, but a bench-clearing in a home run race seems unprecedented. Haha, Player Choi Jin-cheol is putting Player Ji Maeng-ho in a headlock.]

[It looks like they’re putting on a show for the fans who came to watch. Player Ji Maeng-ho seems disappointed, right? Choi Jin-cheol is back at bat. Ji Maeng-ho’s second pitch! Home run! Choi Jin-cheol’s home run, pulling it over the wall! Player Lee Jin-hong is currently leading with 5 home runs, but with this pace, Player Choi Jin-cheol might surpass him.]

[Player Ji Maeng-ho’s batting form was really good, right? With a speed of around 140 mph, his form and movement are clean, making it a delight to hit.]

“Another home run! Choi Jin-cheol records a two-run home run. With this pace, Choi Jin-cheol seems to be the protagonist of this year’s home run race!”

– Wow, Ji Maeng-ho’s form is so beautiful, I want him as a pitcher. With Ji Maeng-ho’s athletic ability, if he learns properly, he could probably throw 100 miles per hour.

-Haha, didn’t you see this guy’s legendary five consecutive home runs?

-What’s that? Ji Maeng-ho set a record with six consecutive home runs.

-Look up last year’s game at Woochi, haha. He hit everything thrown at him.

-Isn’t Ji Maeng-ho cheating in the home run derby?

-For real, if he hits it, it’s going near the wall, haha.

“Choi Jin-cheol! He hits his sixth one! Choi Jin-cheol is the star of this year’s home run race!”

– Seriously, ban Ji Maeng-ho from next year, haha. If he hits it, it’s all near the wall, hahaha.

The All-Star game that opened with the home run race started earlier than usual but ended successfully amidst a packed stadium. The All-Star game, known as the feast of stars, shone brightest with Ji Maeng-ho.

Having won the home run king title in last year’s home run race, Ji Maeng-ho abstained from this year’s home run race due to his hitting skills. However, by pitching to his teammate Choi Jin-cheol, he lifted the atmosphere, and on the day of the All-Star game, he won the MVP with 3 hits in 4 at-bats, including 2 home runs, securing the All-Star game MVP for the second season in a row after last year.

-When does baseball start again?

-Well, we still have a month until the end of the Olympics.

-What Olympics? I just want to watch some damn good entertainment.

-I hope they don’t get exemptions for not winning medals.

-Fact: This year’s Olympic representatives are all exempt or have completed their military service. They were all exempted last year during the Asian Games.

After the All-Star Game ended and before the league resumed, there was almost a month left, but that didn’t mean there were no baseball games.

[We will now broadcast a friendly match between the LA Olympic Baseball National Team and Hanchul Grizzlies. With your support…]

Before the national team departed, they had friendly matches with top-tier teams to maintain their game sense.

“Ah, damn, why aren’t we going to the training camp this year? We slept and practiced there last year.”

“Hey, last year the clubs didn’t rest, so they called up the second-string players for the game. Plus, if it rains, we can’t practice anywhere other than Gocheok Sky Dome, right?”

“Sigh… Last year was good. Can’t we have our training camp at the camp?”

“What are you talking about? Still, Seoul is better.”

During this process, one player was disappointed because he couldn’t taste the flavor of the women at the training camp from last year, but the national team steadily accumulated victories, garnering expectations from baseball fans. And…

-[LA Olympics] Baseball National Team Departs Today! Aiming for the Gold Medal!

(OSEX Park OO Reporter)

The South Korean baseball national team participating in the 2024 LA Olympics departed for the United States on July 18th. After adjusting to the time difference, the team plans to engage in practice matches. Meanwhile, the South Korean baseball national team will play their first match against the Netherlands on July 30th.

The format of this Olympics is as follows: It consists of 3 groups with 4 teams each, totaling 12 countries. The top 1st and 2nd teams in each group and the best 3rd place team among all groups will advance to the next round. Then, the top team from each group and the highest-ranking 2nd place team will be allocated to Port 1 and the rest of the countries to Port 2. Through a draw, Port 1 and Port 2 will compete in the Round of 16…

Meanwhile, South Korea has been placed in Group C alongside the Netherlands, Cuba, and Panama. Group A includes the United States, Australia, Mexico, and Taiwan, while Group B comprises Japan, Venezuela, Italy, and the Dominican Republic…

-This national team is top-notch this time. Let’s win the championship lol

-But every other team is also top-notch. This might be the last Olympic baseball event, so they seem to have selected the roster rigorously. Even the US is sending their All-Stars.

-Honestly, that’s true. Until these players retire, unless the Olympics are held at this level in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, or the US, there won’t be baseball.

-For real, let’s aim for the championship this time!!!!

-Kim Geum-hyun, Kang Han-beom, Sung Hyun? That’s a winning lineup lol

-And with Ju Hyeong-jin as the hitting coach, Beijing heroes are all gathered lol

-Damn, how did we end up as runners-up last year? Honestly, even getting third place would be good.

-Let’s not face a huge disappointment ffs

-They have the caliber of pro leagues, not idiots, so they won’t face a huge disappointment lol

-The roster this year is solid. For hitters, we have Kang Han-beom, Choi Joo-tae, Ji Maeng-ho, Ju Seung-cheol, Kim Sang-joo. For pitchers, we have Sung Hyun, Jung Woo-sung, Jang Woo-joo, Go Young-hwan. This is Major League level. Honestly, truly top-notch.

-This seems like the best since 2008. Honestly, Ji Maeng-ho, Ju Seung-cheol, Jang Woo-joo might make it to the Majors at least once.

-The lineup looks a bit weak with Kim Sang-joo lol Just taking a shot at the Majors lol

-Still, where has he stepped into the Majors? And he played full-time for two seasons lol

-Ah, I hope Ju Seung-cheol does well this time, gets a good contract, and goes to the Majors.

…The South Korean baseball national team, brimming with the expectations of baseball fans, departed for the United States to reclaim the glory of 2008.