episode_0418

In the seventh inning, after just one pitch, it was time for my fifth at-bat of the game. The score stood at 10-3 following Kim Suho’s two-run home run in front of me, and now there was a pitching change. With two outs and no runners on base, the pitcher who took the mound was named Jung Joseph.

His name seemed somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t recall him from memory, which was unusual for me, a seasoned player. I searched my memory but couldn’t find any recollection of watching his video during the pre-game meeting today. Perhaps he had been called up from the minor leagues this week?

If that was the case, there was a chance to turn the game around. A seven-run deficit in the seventh inning with two outs. Facing a pitcher recently promoted from the minor leagues, he needed to prove himself here.

“Finally, I’ll swing the bat properly.”

Having drawn walks in all four previous plate appearances, I was itching to swing.

“Bring it on.”

It was a plate appearance without Rossby’s assistance, but I wasn’t as nervous as before. The slight tremble I felt during my first plate appearance without Rossby disappeared after receiving automatic intentional walks.

Watching the absurdly wide balls thrown in the previous plate appearance, I had adapted. After all, not swinging the bat was also within my capabilities.

The pitcher lifted his leg and delivered a powerful pitch.

“Ball.”

The first pitch was an outside fastball, about three balls off the plate. His speed was around 143 mph? Why was a pitcher like him called up to the major leagues? Judging by the way the ball moved, he didn’t seem to rely on good control, and I wondered if there was a surprising breaking ball waiting for me.

“Should I take a swing?”

“Enough with that. This should be sufficient.”

“Shut your mouth. Please.”

I tried to catch the catcher’s eye, but he seemed unwilling to engage in conversation. It didn’t matter; I could see the pitcher’s pitches anyway.

Joseph prepared for another windup. I etched the timing of his fastball into my mind and waited.

“Here it comes!”

Swish!

“Huh?”

What was that? A slider? His pitch passed through the bat and landed outside.

“Ugh… Can you stop doing that? Who do you think you’re fooling with those futile swings?”

Is this guy mocking me?

“What are you talking about?”

“Everyone knows you’re intentionally creating a full count and then going for it in the league.”

Although there were times when this happened regardless of the current situation, it seemed like I had already been figured out. Initially, I thought he was teasing me, but it seemed like a misunderstanding.

“…Huh. Did I give it away? I can’t use this anymore. Haha.”

At times like this, it’s important not to show any signs of embarrassment. If the catcher misunderstood me, then so be it.

“I’ve been trying not to say anything, but honestly, if you have that level of skill, walk away. Don’t you feel sorry for the others? He just got called up from the minors, let’s cut him some slack. Do we really need to do this to a guy who’s barely seen the light yet? Huh? When we’re up by seven runs?”

So that’s what he was trying to tell me. There was a hint of anger in his tone if he was sincere.

“What do you want me to do?”

But what can I do? I’m giving it my all too.

“…Geez, your character…”

“Fine, how about striking out once and heading back in? Stop the nonsense and give me a sign.”

Was he hoping I’d show some compassion? My mental state was deteriorating. Baseball is war! Giving your best to crush the opponent is what baseball is all about. It was unforgivable to see someone with such a pathetic mindset on the pro stage.

“Judging by his words, it seems like he’s ready to compete.”

The catcher is concerned about the pitcher. A recent call-up from the minors, hoping he performs well. In that case, there was no need for a walk with two outs. A pitcher giving a walk in a seven-run deficit with two outs? If I were the manager, I would send him straight back to the minors.

The pitcher’s expression, the catcher’s movements, the catcher’s words. Everything was information. War started with information warfare. To think that such crucial information was given to me…

“Right now, it’s one strike and one ball, so he’ll probably throw another one, right?”

“Ball.”

“Ugh, that’s it.”

With Rossby absent, the thrill was doubled. It felt like things were going as I had envisioned. One strike, two balls. It was time for a hit. Thinking about the timing of the fastball in the textbook manner, I raised my bat.

“I was too fixated on the fastball earlier. There could be an off-speed pitch, so I should wait a bit longer than before.”

There weren’t any slow changeups anyway. There were hardly any pitchers who would confidently throw curveballs or changeups right in front of me. If they were confident enough to throw such pitches in front of me in the first place, I couldn’t afford not to know their names.

So, the pitches to prepare for were the fastball and slider. Timing the fastball and preparing for the slider meant that making contact wouldn’t be too difficult anyway. I couldn’t do it earlier, though.

“Forget the mistakes.”

The pitcher winds up again. And the ball is thrown.

Thud!

“Too late.”

At the moment of impact, I felt that my timing was off. Although a fastball came at me, the hit flew towards the right fence faster than I had anticipated.

“Ha, will it be caught?”

The right fielder chasing after the hit. As he ran towards first base, the cheers of the spectators echoed.

-Wow!!!

The origin of that cheer was our away fans gathered in the third base stands. The hit had just cleared the fence by a hair’s breadth at Suwon Gold Eyes Park.

“Whoa!”

If it had been Jamsil, it would have been caught right in front of the warning track, a close call. Unknowingly, I shouted and pumped my fist.

“Ugh, if it had been caught, it wouldn’t have been a home run.”

Feeling a mix of disdain towards the pitcher and satisfaction at hitting a home run. It was my first at-bat without Rossby, yet this was…

“Hey, it’s an 8-run lead, can we skip the ceremony a bit…?”

“Senior, did you see that? It went over, right?”

“No, it’s not like it’s my first home run. Why are you suddenly like this? Did you eat something wrong?”

“It’s a home run, that’s why. A home run!”

After stepping on home plate, the next batter, Kisangju, said something, but it didn’t register in my ears. My first home run since middle school took quite a while.

After the celebration with my teammates in the dugout ended, I approached the smiling manager.

“Manager.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Could I get the ball from this home run as a keepsake?”

“The home run ball? I’ll talk to the JT team about it. But why?”

“Just because. I want to commemorate it.”

“Oh, really? Did you set a record? What is it? Did you hit your 100th home run?”

“No, this is my 34th, so I must have hit 94. It’s not about that. I just want it.”

“Alright, I understand for now.”

Nodding, the manager left the dugout. While I had many balls from previous games like the first home run at the WBC at home or the walk-off hit in the Olympic final, this ball felt a bit more special.

“Mangho.”

“Yes, Coach.”

“The game is almost over, how about taking a break? It’s summer, so you need to manage your stamina. Also, you seem anxious because of the ceremony.”

“I’m fine with it.”

“Still, be careful with the ceremony with an 8-run lead, Mangho. I can’t live in peace because of you.”

“Understood. I’m feeling good today.”

Hmm… It’s my first home run; I feel like I want to celebrate more. Should I ask the coach for a quote? Or maybe a senior player? As I looked around the dugout for someone to write a good quote, a person flashed through my mind.

“Rossby! Rossby! Come back quickly!”

As expected, if it’s a meaningful ball like this, it’s only right to receive it from Ross B, who is both a baseball mentor and a father figure. Honestly, I haven’t expressed it to Ross B, but he was like a second father to me, showing me how to live.

Just then, the manager came in holding the ball.

“Mangho, I brought it. But can you sign your uniform and the ball? They asked for it. Is that okay? I did agree to give it to them.”

“Sign on the uniform? It’s not some commemorative event, yet they want to take advantage of something that costs over 100,000 won. Do we have any spare uniforms?”

“Well, it’s an away game, so should I ask them to wait a bit?”

“Sigh. Forget it. Since I’m not going to play in the game anyway, I’ll just give them what I’m wearing. Give me the marker.”

“Got it. I’ll contact the team to bring another away uniform.”

“Okay.”

The attempt to receive a uniform in exchange for a worthless ball felt distasteful, so I decided to give them the one I was wearing, soaked in sweat and dirt. Signing the uniform was my small revenge. As I signed the uniform, taking off the top that the remaining coaches wore, the manager handed me the marker back.

After signing the uniform, as I returned it to the manager, Ross B, who had been watching the cheerleaders, approached.

“What’s up? Suddenly calling me. Wasn’t your game over?”

“Ross B, didn’t you watch the game? I hit a home run.”

“I know.”

“But why such a reaction?”

“What? Nothing, kid.”

“It’s my student’s first home run, why the lackluster response?”

“Damn, how many home runs have you hit until now? Have you turned into a gorilla even mentally?”

“No, it’s my first home run without you.”

“…Well, it was more like a fake home run that barely cleared the fence.”

He always watched, even when speaking like this. Anyway, he wasn’t honest.

“Well, give your student a nice quote.”

“Bothering me. Rather than playing baseball with you, I’d bite my tongue and die, how about that?”

“…Not that.”

“Tsk. May luck be with Ruth. How’s that? That cheeky brat said something similar, fitting for the current situation.”

“Huh? Weren’t you against it?”

“Because you’re going to surpass his only pride, the baseball record. He needs some luck waiting for a guy who will no longer have any pride even in hell. Haha.”

If it was Ross B, it was a typical Ross B-like remark. It had its own meaning.

“Still think I’ll surpass Ruth?”

“With me here, nothing is impossible. Originally, my pure baseball skills were better. Haha.”

“Great.”

“May luck be with Ruth.” After writing it in crooked English, it felt slightly lacking. Adding another phrase in English.

“I’ll surpass him soon.”

It looked like a child’s handwriting from English class, but it resonated with me. It was a quote engraved by Ross B, encapsulating his desire for me to surpass Ruth.

“What’s this? Why deface the ball? If you’re bored after skipping the game, at least cheer or something.”

As I smiled contentedly, Gisangju, who had replaced me as a pinch hitter, approached and spoke. The atmosphere that had been uplifting shattered instantly due to Gisangju’s words.

“Not defacing, it’s a memento!”

“What? A memento? Was today the 100th home run? Did you set a record?”

“Not that.”

“Then what is it? Anyway, it’s hard to understand. And why are you wearing that outfit? Did it get torn?”

“I’m not the youngest here, you know? And a fan gave me the uniform.”

“…You’re the only one doing fan service during the game. Anyway, you’re a weirdo.”

While chatting with Gisangju, the game ended. Our victory, 11:4.

August 20, 2024, the day I hit my first home run without any errors. Until the day I surpass Ruth, no, it was a day to be cherished for a lifetime.

—

– Today, I received an autographed uniform from Player Maengho!

I caught Player Maengho’s home run ball today, and the guard and AT manager came asking for the ball. There wasn’t any specific record set, but it seemed like a special day for Player Maengho^^. When I asked if they could give me the uniform, they said to wait and ended up giving me the uniform they wore in today’s game. I’ll keep it forever without washing it! Player Maengho’s fan service is amazing!!

#JiMaengho #Suwon Baseball Stadium #AT Victory! #Happy Day #Uniform #BaseballGram

┗I’m envious…. If it’s JiMaengho’s actual uniform, it could sell for a million won.

┗┗Won’t sell for a million wonㅎㅎ

┗Wow, unnie, you look pretty in the picture! Player JiMaengho, I was a bit skeptical due to the controversy, but your fan service is great, and you play baseball well, looking cool.

┗ㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ

┗┗What does ㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ mean?

┗😄😄😄