Chapter 49

Baseball is not his forte, but he is a kind and good friend -2-

#

Seong National watched Jung Yoo-ri's two-seam fastball.

'That's it.'

A two-seam fastball from an unusually aggressive inverted W stance, which seemed out of place.

It was funny to be giving advice to the ceremonial pitcher, but despite the significant difference from Seong National's very stable form, he got a little hint.

A slow pitcher needs something special to survive. Seong National wanted to make his control his weapon, but he definitely needed another weapon.

He knew that if he didn't get chosen by the coach, regardless of his ability, he wouldn't even have a chance.

At least, the foreign manager was strongly pushing for his use, but who knows what might happen.

Especially with the Oceans, the manager's position is precarious. Now, with good performance, the manager's influence is strong, but if the head coach gains power, it's hard to say.

Trading is also difficult. He knew it would be hard to get a good offer as a right-handed pitcher with a slow ball and limited repertoire.

Seong National, despite his outward personality, had a good understanding of the political issues within the club.

The tension between the head coach, who has the support of the manager and the baseball team president, and the general manager, who is trying to pressure the club owner, who is losing interest in baseball.

In fact, Seong National was closer to the general manager's line. He was a player cherished by the quality control coach, but it was only because he didn't meet the head coach's standards.

The hopeful part is that the club owner is starting to show interest again due to the recent Oceans craze.

If the owner's interest wanes, the manager will regain power, and the coach replacement that the general manager is pushing for might fail.

Seong National stood up slightly from his seat and bowed 90 degrees to Jung Yoo-ri, who had just finished the ceremonial pitch.

"I want to learn the two-seam fastball."

Jung Yoo-ri couldn't help but be surprised.

"Wh-what? What?"

"Please."

The Oceans players were surprised not by the fact that Seong National asked a civilian to teach him the two-seam fastball.

"Is this the first time I've heard Seong National talk so much?"

"Yeah."

"I've only ever heard him say yes or no."

"I've heard him say hello and good job."

"Must be nice."

#

Angels' starting pitcher, Jung Su-ho, was a left-handed pitcher who used to throw fastballs in the mid-150s but now, due to a shoulder injury, averages in the low 140s.

In his prime, he could dominate batters with just his four-seam fastball and slider, but now he throws a four-seam fastball, slider, reverse spin circle changeup, and a slightly modified palm ball.

His pitching form has changed from a full overhand to a three-quarters style. According to Yoo-ri's analysis, he has an incredibly strong heart.

Because he throws in a three-quarters style, his palm ball curves like a curve or slider. Last season, in the Wild Card game, he threw a palm ball to the Thunderbirds' home run king, Yoon Tae-ho, for the final out.

The term "strong heart" can be quite ambiguous when referring to a pitcher.

Pitchers sometimes make mistakes and throw to the center of the strike zone. Fans often call such pitchers "strong hearted."

Anyway, with this game, he will have faced all KBO teams.

Based on his experience, the skill levels of players vary greatly.

Some players are so basic that it's a mystery how they became professionals, while others could potentially play in the major leagues.

Seeing it and actually playing it are different stories, though.

Senior Kim Jung-yong did well until the two outs but then gave up a triple to last year's batting champion, Song Byung-jae. In fact, our team's outfield defense isn't that good. The infield defense isn't great either, except for me.

He walked a foreign batter and then gave up a big hit to the next batter, but Bae Young-han caught it just before the fence.

"Clean inning, huh?"

This guy doesn't have a normal mentality. He seems to think that as long as there are no runs, it's fine. That is definitely a strong point as a pitcher.

When he returned to the bench, Seong National looked a bit strange.

His expression was the same, but there was a sense of discomfort...

Ah, he's shaking his leg.

Seong National looked at me, his eyes wide open (the most expressive face I've seen from him), and approached me, saying:

"I found a hint for the two-seam fastball."

"Huh?"

"Kang Geon-woo."

"Huh?"

"You don't lack anything."

"Huh?"

I want to hear the details. What is he talking about? At least, I could understand a little from Senior Lee Hoon.

"He went to his girlfriend and asked her to teach him the two-seam fastball with a deep bow."

Why is it harder to talk to him than to a foreign pitcher?

There wasn't much time for a long conversation. I had to prepare for my at-bat.

Hmm. If he's proactive, it can't be bad.

If he can perform well in Japanese professional baseball, he should be quite good in the KBO too.

#

"Learn how to hit a single from me, No Deung-woo."

"Senior, shake your butt seven times!"

"A true master doesn't shake his butt."

Hwang Seok-gyu said this with a serious face, unsure if it was a joke or not, and stepped into the batter's box.

Actually, he's not the type of player who fits as a leadoff hitter.

He tries to see the ball for a long time as a leadoff hitter, but he's not the type with good plate discipline.

So, when he sees the ball for a long time, it's usually because it's a ball, not because he's trying to see it. He usually goes into the batter's box with the mindset of "I'll hit the fourth pitch."

With above-average contact ability, good power, and the ability to often turn bunt hits into infield singles, he manages to produce results.

Thwack!

On a 1-2 count, he hit Jung Su-ho's fourth pitch hard. It was a circle changeup that dropped below the strike zone, and he hit it with a stretch.

It bounced high and went towards third base, and Hwang Seok-guu ran with his head down.

"Safe!"

And he slid head-first into first base.

Head-first sliding into first base is actually slower than just running, but Hwang Seok-gyu felt it was faster and often made this play when hitting an infield ground ball.

So, Oceans fans called him this:

[Rolling-gyu, leading with his head again]

- Rolling-gyu, can't you break that habit?

- Can't he just run?

- He's faster when he just runs!!!!!!

- Rolling-gyu is cute

Jung Su-ho smiled and waved to the third baseman. It was a difficult bounce that even the outfielders couldn't handle. The next batter was Bae Young-han.

[Bae Young-han is so reliable these days]

- It's Young-han, not Young-hwan

- I can call him whatever I want

- No, you got his name wrong;;

- In my heart, he's Young-hwan

- Okay;;

- I'm glad you understand

- Idiot;;

Left-handed Jung Su-ho, facing left-handed Bae Young-han, relied on his trademark slider.

2-2 count.

And a surprise palm ball.

The palm ball, thrown from a lower arm angle, had horizontal movement, and Bae Young-han hit it with a stretch.

Thwack!

The ball went towards the third baseman. Angels' shortstop Yun Se-hwan chased the ball and, in an acrobatic position, scooped it up and threw it to second base.

"Out!"

And at first base.

"Safe!"

In this situation, Jung Su-ho couldn't help but feel regret.

Especially because the next batter was Kang Geon-woo.

He leads in all hitting metrics. As a rookie, he's a player who must be guarded.

Hwang Seok-gyu, who was out as a lead runner, returned to the bench and looked for No Kyung-woo.

"I don't need a butt to hit a single."

"Senior, that wasn't a single, it was recorded as a third baseman's error."

"What?!"

Feeling tricked by No Kyung-woo, Hwang Seok-gyu saw it marked as a hit on the scoreboard and sat down with a fake smile.

'Fooling me, that idiot.'

The crowd was shouting Kang Geon-woo's name, singing, and making noise.

"Geon-woo! Yoo-ri is watching!"

"Geon-Geon-woo!"

"Yoo-ri wants a home run!"

The Angels' scouting team concluded the following about Kang Geon-woo:

-Avoid direct confrontation regardless of the presence of runners or the number of outs.

Not just home runs, but his contact ability and power are exceptional. He doesn't steal bases often, but his base running judgment and speed are incredible. Moreover, the 4th batter, Yang Dae-geun, is also hitting strong balls recently.

There's also a risk of giving up home runs to the 5th and 6th batters if a mistake is made.

The Oceans lineup, which used to be easy to handle, has become a tough opponent in just one season.

Kang Geon-woo gripped the bat tightly, and Jung Su-ho prepared a crossfire pitch.

A left-handed pitcher standing at the end of the mound and throwing inside to a right-handed batter. From the batter's perspective, it feels like stepping back to hit, making it difficult to handle. Moreover, Jung Su-ho, despite losing velocity, has learned various techniques, including deception (hiding the ball and taking away the timing of the pitch).

He throws the first pitch as a fastball inside for a ball, then attacks the outside to face Kang Geon-woo.

This was the strategy the Angels' scouting team came up with, believing in Jung Su-ho's control and composure.

Kang Geon-woo has hit home runs on inside pitches, but many of them were high fastballs.

Moreover, Jung Su-ho's pitching stance leans heavily towards first base, and right-handed batters often feel threatened and step back when facing inside pitches, so if the first pitch is well placed, it can set the tone.

"Geon-woo!"

Kang Geon-woo responded by slightly leaning back with his upper body. He placed his left foot further outside than usual, braced the bat with his right hand, and pulled his left hand, which was holding the bottom of the bat, inward.

This doesn't fully transfer the power of his original swing.

But it helps him get to the hitting point accurately. Kang Geon-woo thought that if the pitch was even a little faster than he expected, his timing wouldn't match.

Thwack!

The stretched hit flew towards the left field fence.

The distance from the home plate to the left and right field fences at Sajik Baseball Stadium is only 95 meters.

If the stadium were a bit larger, the ball might have been caught by the left fielder or hit the fence, but this time, the ball hit the pole directly.

"Wow!"

"Geon-woo!"

"Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo!"

The crowd all jumped to their feet.

This season, Oceans fans say they watch baseball to see Kang Geon-woo.

Yoo-ri, who was watching the game from the stands after the ceremonial pitch, was jumping up and down, shouting her boyfriend's name, and Oh So-hee was waving a flag and calling out her upstairs son's name.

Kang Jae-in shouted, "That's my son!" with joy, Im Mi-rae clapped and said, "Well done, our son!" and Jung Jong-seok clenched his fist and nodded.

Jung Hyun-su was writing on his smartphone in the Oceans gallery.

[My mom's daughter's boyfriend just hit a home run lol]

Kang Geon-woo, stepping on first base, tried to send a heart to the flag, but was confused about where to send it as the number of flag-waving fans suddenly increased, and he ran around the bases.

#

[King Geon-woo 14 home runs in 23 games lol]

- 14 home runs in 23 games against all teams lol

- Damn, I never thought I'd see such a shortstop sob

- Is this even possible? lol

- Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-Geon-