episode_0410

“How was it?”

“Seems like the preemptive strike was effective, right?”

Otani concluded his words with a third strikeout and responded to the coach’s question. Though there was no subject, the conversation between the two was clear. The fact that the coach directly asked a batter like Otani, who was considered a pitcher of his caliber, meant there was only one such player in Korea.

And that batter was, of course, Ji Maeng-ho. With a batting average of 0.400 and over 60 home runs last year, Ji Maeng-ho was quite famous even in Japan, a country where baseball is a national sport. This season, he continued to maintain a batting average of 0.400 while hitting over 30 home runs, proving that his performance from last year was no fluke.

Furthermore, being the main reason Japan was eliminated in the WBC last year after hitting a crucial home run, the caution surrounding Ji Maeng-ho was even greater.

“I never thought I could send that ball that far, but indeed, the power and preemptive strike are on par with Major League players. It’s not lacking at all. Choi Sang-do is also an excellent player; exceptional players keep emerging in Korea.”

Otani’s statement seemed to acknowledge his opponent. Despite reaching the status of the world’s best player, the coach chuckled at Otani’s continued humility. If he were that level of player, he could afford to be more arrogant… But that was also why Otani reached the top position. Perhaps, even after yesterday’s meeting, he continued to analyze personally.

“For now, understood.”

Kudo, the Japanese coach, ended the conversation without further comments, trusting Otani. Besides, it wasn’t good to disturb a pitcher’s mindset.

“The issue lies with Korea’s starting pitchers, doesn’t it?”

In reality, upon hearing that the United States had been eliminated, he had already considered the gold medal as good as won. There were two pitchers Korea needed to be wary of the most: Jung Woo-sung, playing in the Major Leagues, and Seong Hyeon, Korea’s top pitcher.

Jung Woo-sung had pitched just four days ago, throwing many pitches as a starter, while Seong Hyeon hadn’t appeared today after starting against the United States. Two pitchers recognized even in the Major Leagues. Within the Japanese team, there were hitters like Otani, Seiya, and Masataka, but apart from Otani, they were practically unassailable pitchers. When Korea made it to the finals missing those two, the Japanese coach felt relieved.

Moreover, Korea’s starting pitcher was not Cho Jung-hoon or Kim Seong-gyeol, whom he had faced several times in international games, but a second-year rookie, Jang Woo-joo. He had planned to easily handle him with a lineup led by Seiya, Otani, and Murakami from the Major Leagues, but Jang Woo-joo’s pitching turned out better than expected.

Fastballs hitting over 150 mph and curves perfectly stealing the batters’ timing. Watching the footage, he had thought it was a pitch suitable only for lower-level KBA hitters, but seeing it in action, there was a reason he had started in the finals.

“So, 100 mph is still 100 mph? It’s certainly hard to tackle.”

There were players in Japan who threw 100 mph, but it wasn’t a common speed. Most of these players were top-tier athletes even within Japan, almost at the national team level. If someone were to join the NPB right now, they would likely secure a spot as a starter, just like Jang Woo-joo.

“But luck can’t favor us three times in a row.”

From the Dominican Republic to the United States and even their home country, Japan, these teams were far superior in strength compared to South Korea. No matter how strong a team was, baseball was a sport where weaker teams could defeat stronger ones two or three times. However, being lucky three times in a row? Even in baseball, such a thing was unlikely to happen. Moreover, they had Shohei Otani, the world’s best player. A fight with no chance of losing.

“…But why do I feel so uneasy?”

Winning is a given, but unsettling thoughts linger in his mind. Director Kudo’s gaze automatically focuses on the cause. Jimaengho, crouching near second base, deep in concentration.

A .400 hitter, 60 home runs. Even discounting all that, he was achieving remarkable results in this Olympics. His pre-game stats: 17 at-bats, 9 hits, 6 home runs, OPS 2.519. While his performance may have dipped against Otani due to intentional walks, it was still outstanding.

Moreover, these achievements weren’t against mediocre pitchers but top Major League players like Alcantara, Kershaw, and Gerrit Cole. And all in clutch situations. Furthermore, they all threw around 100-mph pitches.

…Just like Otani.

“He must be good against high-speed pitches. The hits he made against Shohei prove that. If Shohei falters, the next pitcher should be someone with slower pitches… No, let’s not think like that. Shohei won’t falter.”

Director Kudo believed Otani wouldn’t falter, yet he couldn’t shake off the unease in his heart.

In a short-term game, the most crucial aspect is how insane a player can be during that one game. Jimaengho was undoubtedly such a player for Korea. Moreover, a player with a solid foundation was delivering an exceptional performance…

His decades-long dedication to baseball whispered to him. Jimaengho was dangerous.

To dispel this unease, they needed an early lead. They had to break their opponents’ momentum with an early advantage.

However,

“Strike! Out!”

“Strike! Out!”

“Out!”

[Jang Woo-joo perfectly shuts down Japan’s offense in the bottom of the 2nd inning! Ending the inning with a three-up, three-down performance!]

Conquering a pitcher throwing around 100 mph wasn’t easy. It took at least two plate appearances to get accustomed to the pitches.

“Phew, let’s keep it together until then. If it’s Shohei, he’ll handle it just fine.”

Early in the game, the coach could do nothing but trust the players he selected for the lineup.

“Strike! Out!”

In the bottom of the 2nd, leadoff batter, 4th hitter Ju Seung-chul strikes out and retreats.

“Yeah, it’s that Shohei. He won’t falter in Korea.”

Watching Otani’s pitches, the anxiety he felt moments ago seemed to vanish like a lie. And Otani’s fantastic pitching continued against Gu Jin-mo.

[Gu Jin-mo hits it high! The shortstop approaches and catches it.]

“Mine!”

[Out. Otani retires Gu Jin-mo with a flyout to the shortstop.]

With one out, Gu Jin-mo steps up to the plate and hits a fly ball to the infield, filling two out counts. The next batter, Lee Yong-gi, did his best to ease the pressure on Jang Woo-joo, the youngest pitcher in the team, but…

“This hit is caught by the center fielder. Three outs. The game moves to the top of the 3rd inning.”

If it was a hit that could be considered giving it your all, Otani wouldn’t be competing for Cy Young honors. Otani’s perfect two innings of pitching. However, the game’s flow wasn’t unfavorable.

– Damn, what kind of pitch is Onati throwing?

┗ Looks like Sayoung is screwed lol

┗┗ Haven’t received Sayoung yet.

┗┗ He’s a strong contender this season lol

– Still, it’s a relief that Jang Woo-joo is pitching well.

┗ Yeah, seems like today’s his day.

As Otani pitched well, Korea’s starting pitcher Jang Woo-joo was also stepping up his game, effortlessly placing 150+ mph pitches inside the strike zone and accumulating out counts.

[The umpire’s hand! It doesn’t go up. Ball four. Ninth batter, allowing a walk to Kensuke, by Jang Woo-joo.]

There was a moment of danger in walking one batter,

[100.3 miles per hour! Jang Woo-joo strikes out Suzuki Seiya with a 100.3 mph pitch!]

Finishing the inning by throwing over 100 mph pitches against the next batter.

[Bottom of the third inning, now stepping up to the plate is leadoff hitter Kim Jung-hyun. Current batting average is .263…]

In this flow where Jang Woo-joo and Ohtani are showcasing their pitching skills, the attack of South Korea began in the bottom of the third inning. Ohtani easily took down the 7th batter, Kim Jung-hyun, and the 8th batter, Kim Soo-ho, stacking up two outs.

And the batter coming in with two outs was Kang Han-beom, who hit the decisive home run in the previous USA game.

[Kang Han-beom steps up to bat. His record in this Olympics is 2 hits in 19 at-bats. A batting average of .150, but he led Korea’s final round with a crucial home run in the USA game.]

[In the quarterfinals against the USA, he came into the game as the ninth batter and had a good performance with a clutch home run, right? Coach Lee Geum-hyun and Coach Ju Hyeong-jin seem to have placed Kang Han-beom back in the ninth spot hoping for him to hit comfortably again. We look forward to Kang Han-beom showing us another powerful hit.]

[That’s right. Kang Han-beom and Ohtani, Ohtani and Kang Han-beom. The first showdown!]

“Swing! Strike!”

On the scoreboard, a 97.8 mph, 157.4 km/h fastball passes through Kang Han-beom’s bat, hitting the strike zone. Kang Han-beom tilts his head as the ball goes well above his bat.

It’s common knowledge that dealing with fastballs becomes harder as you age. Batters, in most cases, enter the batter’s box thinking about both the fastball and the changeup unless it’s a special circumstance. However, as one ages, agility naturally declines, making it difficult to react promptly to the fastball if you’re thinking about the changeup.

Moreover, Ohtani’s pitches are fast, hovering in the mid-150s, making them hard to read. To hit them, one must completely erase thoughts of the changeup and focus solely on connecting with the ball.

“No changeup. No changeup.”

Talking to himself, Kang Han-beom faces Ohtani’s second pitch, a ball of similar speed to the previous one, heading towards the strike zone.

“Now…!”

The ball he was waiting for. Convinced it’s a fastball, Kang Han-beom swings his bat.

Thud!

But the sound from the bat indicates that he missed. Ohtani’s pitch dipped at the last moment, barely grazing the upper part of the ball.

“He made contact! It rolls towards the shortstop! Kang Han-beom secures South Korea’s first hit!”

However, just because he made solid contact doesn’t guarantee a hit, nor does missing mean an automatic strike. Kang Han-beom succeeded in getting a hit with a type of hit he hadn’t shown within the league.

Someone in the dugout thought of that hit as a ‘lucky old man’s hit,’ but a hit is a hit. South Korea managed its first base against Ohtani.

“It’s Kang Han-beom indeed! He’s the player who can make such skillful hits.”

“That seemed like a cutter. Did he hit it?”

“Yes, he aimed for the dropping ball. That’s the veteran’s expertise!”

Kang Han-beom’s lucky hit. Following this fortunate hit, Ohtani’s pitches start to waver.

“He holds back this ball! Choi Ju-tae! Now 2 outs, runner on 1st and 2nd! At the plate is Ji Maeng-ho!”

And then, the batter Kudo was wary of, Ji Maeng-ho, stepped up to the plate.

*

“What the hell is going on? Setting up the table like this.”

Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine the first two batters getting on base. Choi Joo-tae was a good player, so I thought he might get on base once, but for Kang Han-beom to also get on base… Even though it was a hit like an ‘old man’s dribble,’ it was an opportunity. It might be the last one.

Looking at Ohtani’s pitching today, there was almost no chance that the situation would get any better than it is now.

“Sweeper. It’s outside.”

“Sweeper from the first pitch?”

Perhaps due to the good memory of his first at-bat, Ohtani chose the sweeper from the first pitch.

“He’ll come inside, right?”

“Although the meat is inside….”

Facing the batter after giving a walk to the previous one. Will the pitcher throw the ball outside the strike zone? Somehow, it didn’t seem likely. Pitchers with confidence in their pitches tend to think about placing the ball inside the strike zone even more.

A strong feeling that it will come inside the strike zone.

He swung for a sweeper at the first at-bat, but having seen many of his sweepers from the dugout, the trajectory was familiar. A pitch that there was no reason not to aim for. I loaded my bat while thinking about the timing of his sweeper.

And then his first pitch was thrown.

Thunk!

The timing seemed right, but the contact felt off. It meant the ball had missed the center of the bat.

“Darn, it missed more than I thought?”

Fortunately, the ball stayed within the infield. Although it hit the upper part of the bat, the strong and fast hit flew between left field and center field.

“Run! Run!”

Running to inspect the hit, the Japanese left fielder and center fielder ran as if crazy to catch the ball.

“Get over! Get over!”

However, perhaps because it didn’t hit the center of the bat, the ball started to sink slowly in front of the wall.

“Please! Don’t get caught!”

Was it thanks to my prayers? The ball hit the wall and rolled out. Due to the speed of the hit, Kang Han-beom’s baserunning play made even me anxious.

“Darn, so slow!”

However, the third base coach must have thought that it would be difficult to score now or never, as he sent Kang Han-beom all the way home. Kang Han-beom ran towards home plate at a speed almost similar to the left fielder’s throw.

As Kang Han-beom slid into home, the dust kicked up obscured the view.

-Whoa!!!

“What? Three outs? Out?!”