Chapter 10

Gatling Gun in the Pocket -3-

#

Oceans' head coach Bae Yu-hong said to the defensive coach Na Byung-hoon.

"Coach Na, I just can't understand it."

"What do you mean?"

Coach Na Byung-hoon, who had been watching the intrasquad game with his mouth open, asked back blankly.

Just now, Kang Geon-woo had handled a ball that bounced off the second base and popped up. It wasn't a super play where he dove to catch a ball that had completely gone past him, nor did he throw a perfect strike like a clothesline.

At first glance, it might have just looked like a decent, stable defensive play.

The speed at which he pulled the ball out of his glove was unusually fast, but he simply caught the ball and threw it steadily.

The head coach scolded him.

"Could you have caught that ball like that?"

It wasn't particularly flashy, but Na Byung-hoon, who had played in the first team for ten years across various positions, couldn't help but snicker and replied.

"Sir, how could I have caught that?"

The head coach was somewhat relieved. At least this guy wasn't completely clueless.

The ball had just bounced irregularly, making it hard to predict its path. If that was all it was, he could have caught it with his reflexes.

However, predicting the movement of a ball that had bounced off the base and popped up was a different matter.

It was impossible to know in advance. But Kang Geon-woo had flipped his glove downward and caught the ball before it had even fully bounced up.

If he hadn't predicted that the ball would bounce off the base and where it would go...

"It's a fluke, a fluke. Even if the baseball god came, he couldn't have done that."

He felt a bit deflated.

Why did he stake his life to prevent this guy from being fired?

"Huh?"

"What, sir? Why?"

"Call me Head Coach, you brat."

"Uh!"

When he said he couldn't understand, it was because he couldn't fathom why this guy had given up the major leagues and come to Oceans.

Looking to the side, he saw No Gyeong-woo holding a bat and praying strangely.

"Please make Kang Geon-woo a full-time pitcher..."

One scoundrel was gone, and now a strange one had appeared. The head coach sighed deeply from the bottom of his heart and called out to No Gyeong-woo.

"Gyeong-woo."

"Yes! Manager! No, Head Coach!"

The head coach couldn't help but snicker and asked.

"Do you know why Geon-woo didn't go to the majors and came here?"

After all, this guy was about the same age as that one and often hung out with him.

No Gyeong-woo answered confidently.

"He's not going to America because of his girlfriend! No, he didn't go!"

This guy and that one...

He didn't say whether he believed it or not.

"Well, at least it's a relief. If... "

If.

After the foreign manager was fired and he took over as the next manager, he would have to build the team around this guy. He probably wouldn't last long. The general manager seemed to have brought in the foreign manager to avoid criticism.

The problem was that Kang Geon-woo was seen as the general manager's project.

The head coach decided he had to make Kang Geon-woo a clear part of his own team. Despite his young age, he was calm and did his job, but he wasn't hard to communicate with. This guy would definitely break out. He wanted to take credit for it.

The visiting team's attack ended. The head coach patted Kang Geon-woo's shoulder as he finished his defensive play and said.

"Good job. Let's aim for the rookie of the year. Can you do it?"

#

In my second at-bat, I hit a double, and in my third at-bat, I hit a single and was then replaced.

Reviewing the game:

In my first at-bat against Andy Garfield, it was quite clean. The swing and timing were excellent, and the impact was perfect.

After that, Garfield kept staring at me, so I ignored him. He seems to be the type who holds grudges.

In my second at-bat, it felt a bit off, but I hit a double that hit the fence. The opponent was a right-handed sidearm reliever, Park Eun-soo. Despite a 4.89 ERA last season, he was known as one of the two pillars of the bullpen. Does that make sense? I'm not sure.

Anyway, I hit a sinking fastball that came in flat, and after hitting it, I got a high-five as I reached second base.

Hmm. This team is a bit unusual.

In my third at-bat, I hit a fastball around 130 km/h for a single, but it was clearly my mistake.

I intended to hit the fastball, but because the speed was a bit slow, I lost my timing as if it were a changeup. I need to adjust the rhythm of my swing. I managed to hit a single by forcing the swing, but in a practice game, a single isn't that important.

Actually, there was also some luck involved.

No Gyeong-woo's defensive position changed to shortstop, and the ball I hit went in that direction.

If it were me, I would have definitely stopped it. No Gyeong-woo dove enthusiastically, but it was a course that didn't require diving.

Sometimes there are guys like that. No Gyeong-woo, who thinks diving catches are defensive skills.

"Breaking through my shortstop defense..."

"..."

"Sure enough, the top pick..."

No Gyeong-woo was replaced after showing a defensive error and came over to me, making a fuss.

"Besides saying it's impressive..."

That's what I want to say.

The current score is 9-12, with my home team in the lead.

Except for the foreign players in the first inning, the pitchers were mostly experimenting with new pitches or testing their control, so there were many hits.

Suddenly, I remembered my first appearance in the major leagues.

It was quite fun...

"Hey, Kang Geon-woo!"

"Yes, Coach."

"Want to pitch once?"

Well, it's just an intrasquad game, so even if I get replaced, I can go back to the mound without any problem.

The atmosphere in the U.S. and Korea is quite different. I almost said "No" but then realized that the question about pitching was actually an order to warm up.

In the U.S., I once threw a tantrum when told to stop pitching.

I was young then.

"I understand. I'll warm up."

#

Since we are the home team, it's the top of the 9th inning.

With a 3-run lead, I went to the mound.

I've been practicing pitching a bit, but not to the point of straining my shoulder. Just enough to keep my feel.

I don't plan to be a starting pitcher.

But to be honest... hmm.

Looking at Oceans' bullpen, I sometimes think that I need to pitch as a reliever to aim for a championship.

No matter how well I hit and defend, winning with this bullpen is impossible.

"What pitches do you have?"

The question came from backup catcher Goo Yun-ho, who is three years older than me.

"I'll go with four-seam fastballs and changeups."

"Okay, then we'll just use the basic signs?"

"Yes."

In the early days of my MLB career, I pitched with 160 km/h fastballs and sliders.

After that, I kept expanding my repertoire.

I threw quite good curves and sinkers, and when I was a closer, I struck out batters with forkballs. I can also throw cutters and two-seam fastballs decently.

But I've never used changeups as my main pitch.

The reason I chose changeups is that they have a lower risk of injury.

Anyway, the batting order starts with Yang Dae-geun.

After that, it's the Wolfpack.

The manager always told me not to give up my pitching talent, so he might want to see an experiment.

Yang Dae-geun, a left-handed batter, sets his strike zone and only hits balls that come into it. He's so strong that if he hits it well, it goes over, and he doesn't fall for trick pitches.

If I pitch poorly, I'll lose. A cutter to the inside is good, but I won't throw it. I haven't practiced cutters since my regression.

The first pitch is a fastball, right down the middle.

"Strike!"

The coach, looking at the umpire, deliberately shouted loudly. Some people in the dugout were clapping. How fast was it? It seems to be around 150 km/h.

Yang Dae-geun seemed to be waiting to see what would come. He didn't move at all.

The second pitch is also a fastball, a bit higher this time.

Snap!

It's a foul ball. The batter seems to have good timing.

The catcher asked for a changeup, so I nodded.

He's a good hitter who can push the ball despite his size. If I can steal his timing, I can induce a weak ground ball between third and short.

Like throwing a fastball. The same form, the same release point, the same arm speed.

The ball leaves my hand. It's a circle changeup that looks like it's coming into the strike zone but drops suddenly outside.

He swings. I tried to induce a ground ball, but his hips were a bit off balance.

Whiff!

It's a swing and miss. I can get the first out with a strikeout.

Thud!

But the problem is that the catcher missed the ball, even though it didn't bounce. Did I have to say the changeup dropped suddenly?

"Safe!"

The catcher kicked the ball behind him with his foot. The big guy was so clumsy that he could be safe.

I just laughed. The catcher bit his lip, and the dugout atmosphere turned sour.

Come to think of it, Yoo-ri always complained about the catcher.

Hmm. To win the championship, do I need to be the catcher?

No, then who will catch when I pitch?

The Wolfpack steps into the batter's box.

He's a big, powerful hitter.

The catcher signaled for a four-seam fastball, but I shook my head and threw a circle changeup that dropped more than before.

Snap!

"Out!"

"Out!"

Whoever sees it, why throw a fastball when they're looking for a fastball?

#

[-OceansTV Live! Oceans' intrasquad game!]

Kang Geon-woo...... :(

We're sorry :(((( There's no other catcher :(

Is it true that the next season's home run king can throw up to 157 km/h?

Following the rookie of the year, will he also become the home run king?

If Kang Geon-woo is the king, he'll get the rookie of the year + MVP + shortstop Gold Glove + pitcher Gold Glove + 7 batting titles, right? Haha

You missed the three pitching titles, man

Oops

Damn, they deserve it hahaha

Oops, lol

These guys; Kang Geon-woo pitched well, but shouldn't we be worried about the catcher and the foreign batter?

Haha, the Wolfpack will probably struggle all season

Goo Yun-ho missing the changeup and kicking the ball behind him is hilarious

Is that funny? We'll have to see this all season

Why do we have to watch a backup catcher all season?

Damn, whether he's the starter or the backup, they're the same

Oh, Kang Geon-woo struck out the last batter!!!

Even my nephew can strike out against Kim Ji-ho, stop the nonsense

Haha, a 20-win, 50-home run two-way genius is born

If there's a forest fire today, it's because the happiness circuit of the Oceans fans is burning, and the sparks are flying

#

Kang Geon-woo and Jung Yoo-ri's families, who watched the intrasquad game broadcast by the Oceans team, were all excited.

"Wow. Is Kang Geon-woo going to win 20 games and hit 50 home runs?"

Jung Hyun-soo said and left a comment on the broadcast.

"Hey, are we going back to Sajik now?"

"Seeing what Kang Geon-woo can do, we have to go."

"Mom, I saw you spray fabric softener on the flag?"

"It was stinky because it was stored away."

The Oceans fans' happiness circuit was burning.

Kang Geon-woo's father, Kang Hyun-jae, smacked his lips.

"I should have just told him to go to the majors if he was going to do so well."

He was attacked by Oceans fans for saying that. They said he shouldn't say anything to the Oceans permanent retired number.

"Sister, take me to the baseball field. I need to develop a hobby in baseball."

"Sure. Let's take Kang Geon-woo's mom too."

Kang Hyun-jae, who instantly became a loner, only drank cold water.

After talking about Kang Geon-woo for a while and preparing to go home,

Jung Yoo-ri took out her ringing smartphone and shouted in a high tone.

"Huh? Kang Geon-woo is calling!"

Jung Yoo-ri looked around, put her finger to her lips, and said "Shh!" before composing herself and answering the phone nonchalantly.

"Hello."

Kang Hyun-jae closed the front door and muttered sadly.

"Raising a son is useless, they say..."

His wife laughed softly.

"You used to say he was filial?"

"When did I say that?"

"When you found out you had hemorrhoids."