Chapter 3

5 seconds later, the scoreboard came into view! Chapter 003

1. What is this ridiculous... (3)

As he rounded second base and headed for third, Lee Kyunghoon thought to himself,

‘How long has it been since I hit a home run?’

Due to the lack of playing opportunities recently, he couldn't even step up to the plate.

It wasn't that he couldn't hit home runs; he just didn't have the chance to do so.

He wasn't given the opportunity to hit home runs.

But.

‘I hit it. In a plate appearance after a long time, and it’s a three-run home run at that.’

This home run only added three points, changing the score from 10-0 to 10-3...

But the impact of this home run on Lee Kyunghoon and the Buffaloes is far from insignificant.

As Lee Kyunghoon touched home plate,

the Buffaloes' third run was officially recognized.

“Lee Kyunghoon! Lee Kyunghoon! Lee Kyunghoon!”

The few home fans of the Buffaloes, who had been waiting until the bottom of the sixth inning for the first score, cheered for Lee Kyunghoon.

‘Yeah... Thanks to the fans who come to watch games like this, we can be baseball players.’

Moreover, the Buffaloes were able to overcome the crisis of the team's dissolution thanks to these passionate fans.

With renewed gratitude, Lee Kyunghoon

took off his helmet and bowed to the first-base side of the stands.

Then, Lee Kyunghoon returned to the Buffaloes' dugout.

The Buffaloes players showered Lee Kyunghoon, who had hit a home run after a long time, with congratulations.

“Ah, nice batting. Nice batting.”

“Oh... It seems like today is a good day for you, Kyunghoon.”

“Indeed. You hit a home run with two runners on base due to errors.”

“Three RBIs... How much of a raise will that be? Kyunghoon, let's go out for a drink after the game.”

“A drink? What...”

While it didn’t please him that the Buffaloes players only celebrated the home run without the joy of a comeback...

He couldn’t ruin the atmosphere in the dugout, which was just starting to heat up.

Even this light-hearted atmosphere would have a positive impact on the Buffaloes.

‘So, how did it look to you? Coach Park Chang-hwa.’

With a proud expression, Lee Kyunghoon looked at Coach Park Chang-hwa.

But.

“Tsk...”

Coach Park Chang-hwa clicked his tongue, seemingly displeased with Lee Kyunghoon, and turned his gaze away.

Lee Kyunghoon was somewhat irritated, but strangely, he wasn’t angry.

Instead, his motivation began to boil over.

‘No matter who you are, you can’t demote a player who is performing well in the first team without a reason.’

Lee Kyunghoon still has four days of grace.

If he can show performance that no other player can match during these four days,

Lee Kyunghoon can have his demotion to the second team canceled.

‘We’ll see...’

Lee Kyunghoon glared at Coach Park Chang-hwa, determined.

At that moment.

“Congratulations, senior.”

It was Kim Jin-soo, the pitcher who had come in to replace Lee Kyunghoon and had pitched the top of the sixth inning together.

‘Kim Jin-soo...’

A young pitcher, 25 years old, who was drafted in the 6th round of the second round of the rookie draft five years ago.

He has a slender build with long limbs, a somewhat frail appearance, and a somewhat eerie demeanor.

Kim Jin-soo handed a sports drink to Lee Kyunghoon with a smile.

“Here, have a drink.”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks...”

Lee Kyunghoon, feeling a bit embarrassed, took the sports drink and drank it. Kim Jin-soo, looking somewhat excited, said,

“Thank you, senior.”

“Huh? What do you have to thank me for in this situation? You didn’t even win the game.”

“No, no. It’s not that. You gave me the sign just now.”

Kim Jin-soo said, beaming with happiness.

“I really like that kind of pitching. Even when the batter is clearly looking for a certain pitch, you throw it to them, daring them to hit it.”

“...What?”

“The tension of possibly getting hit is really, really, really thrilling. Even if you do get hit, it’s not that bad, but the excitement when you don’t get hit...”

When Lee Kyunghoon thought the words appearing were due to his lack of confidence, and he had faced and overcome it with a bold sign,

that sign was exactly what this guy, Kim Jin-soo, liked.

And for such a bizarre reason.

‘Is this guy a freak...?’

As Lee Kyunghoon pondered whether he should change his seat,

‘Wait a minute.’

An idea came to him on how to use Kim Jin-soo and his tendencies.

“Kim Jin-soo.”

“Yes, senior.”

Lee Kyunghoon asked seriously.

“Do you want to be the winning pitcher?”

After Lee Kyunghoon’s three-run home run, the Buffaloes, who had strangely caught a wave, managed to add one more run with a well-placed hit and a perfectly timed hit.

The atmosphere created by Lee Kyunghoon was starting to catch fire.

Then, the top of the seventh inning began with a score of 10-4.

“Play ——

After confirming the umpire’s call, Lee Kyunghoon looked at Kim Jin-soo, who was waiting for his sign with a determined look.

Following Lee Kyunghoon’s suggestion, Kim Jin-soo had volunteered to the pitching coach to finish the game as the losing pitcher for the Buffaloes.

‘At least in this game, he won’t be the losing pitcher.’

Lee Kyunghoon thought.

‘Kim Jin-soo... His velocity isn’t outstanding, but his pitch quality is good, and his control is quite stable. Honestly, he has the skills to be more than just a losing pitcher. If he didn’t have any weaknesses, he could easily be a starting pitcher for the Buffaloes.’

Kim Jin-soo’s weakness is... his game management skills.

‘Kim Jin-soo lacks the ability to take the lead in the battle against batters.’

Moreover, he has a perverse tendency to enjoy the dangerous battles with batters.

But.

‘In other words, no matter what pitch the batter is looking for, even if he has a hunch or a feeling, he has the guts to throw the pitch he needs to throw.’

In other words, he is the ideal pitcher to be led by a catcher who takes the lead in the game.

This is a clear strength that outweighs his fatal weakness in game management.

‘Of course, it would need to be a “perfect” lead by the catcher.’

And Lee Kyunghoon became the catcher who could provide that “perfect” lead.

‘Now, if I give a sign for a curveball that will enter the strike zone...’

［Wow, he hit that curveball perfectly for a hit / OO (61.81)］

［He really hits that one changeup amazingly / King Sales］

［Two-strike this idiot, take Kim Jin-soo out —— / BF’s］

‘If he’s looking to hit a curveball that will enter the strike zone for a hit... he will swing at the curveball. So...’

A curveball that won’t enter the strike zone, a ball.

Swoosh...

Snap!

The high fly ball was caught by the second baseman of the Buffaloes, who signaled that he would take it.

And.

Thud!

He caught it easily.

“Out—!”

One out.

With renewed confidence as the words that had disappeared like a future erased, Lee Kyunghoon smiled.

And he shouted to Kim Jin-soo.

“Nice ball!”