Chapter 53

Saltwater flows through my body -1-

#

Jeong Yoo-ri is watching a baseball game at the stadium, with the live broadcast on her smartphone. She takes notes by hand in a small notebook about the game's progress.

The first batter, Hwang Seok-gyu, steps up to the plate.

The opposing pitcher is Robert Coban, a new left-handed pitcher for the Angels, standing 197 cm tall. His four-seam fastball, which drops sharply from his height, is particularly impressive.

Up to today, he has pitched in four games, covering 25 innings and allowing only 7 runs. He has struck out 24 batters and walked 8.

While he is not known for his control, he is an aggressive pitcher who doesn't shy away from attacking the strike zone.

“Hwang-Seok-gyu! Hwang Seok-gyu, no hit!”

The crowd chants Hwang Seok-gyu's name. An LED flag custom-made by Oh So-hee is also being waved, though it remains off at the request of the team, as the flashing lights could affect the players' performance.

‘The match between Hwang Seok-gyu and Robert Coban will likely come down to the power of the pitch.’

Jeong Yoo-ri believes that this at-bat will give her a good sense of the pitcher's stuff today.

It's a showdown between a pitcher who aims to keep the ball in the zone and a batter who swings hard when the ball is in the strike zone.

Recently, Hwang Seok-gyu has been taking a bit longer to see the ball, but Jeong Yoo-ri thinks that a batter's natural instincts don't change easily.

A batter can temporarily adjust their style, but a dramatic change is rare.

Of course, there are exceptions.

And when those exceptions happen, the results can be dramatic—either for better or for worse.

This is what excites Jeong Yoo-ri the most about studying sports science and aspiring to be a baseball coach.

Things like adjusting the wrist angle by 3 degrees to increase slugging percentage by 5 points, or moving the hitting point by 2 cm to boost on-base percentage by 5 points.

Until now, these ideas have been more of a personal fantasy. However, she has been gradually confirming her theories by observing the performance of her boyfriend, Kang Geon-woo.

While Kang Geon-woo's experience and talent are immeasurable variables, baseball has become even more interesting. For example, just by slightly adjusting No Gyeong-woo's hitting rhythm, his batting average against changeups improved from .200 to .325.

Although the sample size is small, making it hard to claim a definitive impact, the satisfaction is enough.

Crack!

Hwang Seok-gyu hits Coban's third four-seam fastball. The timing was good, but the ball didn't travel far and was caught by the third baseman's glove.

The disappointment is brief. Jeong Yoo-ri, watching the at-bat on her smartphone, makes a note.

- Four-seam with a riding movement.

A riding fastball refers to a four-seam fastball that moves inward, unlike a typical four-seam fastball that moves slightly outward.

This is not intentional but a unique movement of the pitcher.

Such a four-seam can be challenging for batters, not because of the ball's movement, but because it is unusual and can throw batters off.

“Bae-Young-han! Bae-Young-han, no hit!”

The next batter is Bae Young-han.

Jeong Yoo-ri believes that today's game will depend on how well the Oceans' batters can hit Coban's riding fastball.

Additionally, how the Angels' batters handle the persistent outside pitches from Bae Young-han will be crucial.

Bae Young-han is an interesting batter. He is a bundle of talent, instinctively adjusting his wrist angle to increase the probability of a hit.

Despite concerns about the team's decision to sign him for 70 billion won, even though he was considered a washed-up outfielder, Jeong Yoo-ri doesn't think he's the type to suddenly lose his skills. As if to prove her point, Bae Young-han flexibly pushes the fastball just enough to clear the second baseman's reach.

The crowd erupts in cheers, chanting Bae Young-han's name and celebrating. Then, as if they had momentarily forgotten, the cheers for the next batter burst forth.

“Kang-Geon-woo! Kang! Geon! Woo! Kang Geon-woo! Oceans' Kang Geon-woo!”

“Gang! Geon! Woo!”

At this moment, Jeong Yoo-ri also puts away her smartphone and notebook, stands up, and raises her arms, shouting Kang Geon-woo's name.

“Geon-woo!”

To Jeong Yoo-ri, Kang Geon-woo is a card she always trusts. The analysis can wait until she gets home.

She can't watch this at-bat like a study session.

And the unique scene at Sajik Stadium unfolds as usual.

As Jeong Yoo-ri jumps up, the fans start chanting.

“Geon-woo!”

When one side calls out to Geon-woo, the other side responds in a different rhythm.

“Yoo-ri’s sister!”

Then a loud voice responds.

“Just one home run!”

This time, they chant together.

“Hit it!”

#

“The ball seems to have a bit of movement.”

This was what Hwang Seok-gyu, who had just returned to the dugout after being out in his first at-bat, said.

And this guy never hides his comedic side.

“Like No Gyeong-woo's butt.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Man, I really want to hit one.”

No Gyeong-woo looked bewildered, but the team players all chuckled and teased him.

“Do you want to hit someone, bro?”

“Who hit you?”

“Yeah, you said you wanted to hit the ball.”

“Man, bro...”

Anyway, the towering pitcher takes a heavy stride but remains steady both before and after the pitch.

His back foot barely lifts, and his front foot firmly plants just in front of him.

Perhaps because of his large build, he seems confident in his power. He could throw harder, but he also focuses on his control.

I've never seen a pitcher like this in Korea, but it's a common type in the Major Leagues.

A pitcher who sticks to the fundamentals.

The fundamentals usually work well. A pitcher who trusts his stuff and consistently pushes forward makes a coach's job easier throughout the season, but if the batter is confident, the game becomes predictable.

Well.

If this type of pitcher had monster stuff, the story would be different.

If he were a monster that even I couldn't handle, would he be in the KBO?

When he's about to throw, he covers the ball with his large hand and hides it behind his massive body, but his pitching rhythm is consistent.

Even though you can't see the ball, you can predict when it will leave his hand.

Knowing this makes things easier. You fill your lungs to about three-quarters capacity at the right timing and hold your breath. You apply all the strength to your right wrist and slightly pull your left hand, which holds the bottom of the bat, inward.

You step a little more to the outside with your left foot.

The pitcher's second pitch is a curveball. If my prediction is wrong, it will result in a huge swing and miss.

But in baseball, a batter gets three strikes. Even if you miss one, you still have plenty of chances to try again.

You slightly twist your waist to prepare for a fastball that will naturally curve inward.

As you swing hard, keep your eyes on the ball.

It's visible.

The crowd calling out Yoo-ri's name has heightened my concentration to the extreme.

The ball doesn't drop. It's a high outside pitch, seemingly coming straight but slightly curving inward.

Crack!

It's visible.

#

- It's a perfect hit! The bat and ball met as if they were magnets! Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo's home run! Ah! It's a home run! An out-of-the-park home run! It's flying far, far away, out of the stadium! An incredible hit! An amazing hit! It cleared the outer wall of Sajik Stadium! How far will it go? Ah! It looks like it will travel 500 meters! A massive home run that could turn even Oceans' haters into fans! How far did it go? Wow! I'm sorry! The measured distance of this home run is 153 meters! A 153-meter home run has been hit!

- That's really impressive. It broke the KBO home run distance record.

- Here's the video from outside the stadium! Kang Geon-woo's hit shattered the window of a parked car!

- It's like a manga story. The ball was hit so high that this happened...

#

[What happened to the car owner who got hit by Kang Geon-woo's home run?]

- Haha, shouldn't he keep it as a souvenir?

- I just saw the broken car on the scoreboard, and one of the fans looked really shocked.

- Is the distance for real?

- Dang, that's serious.

- Haha, that position... It's so ridiculous. I sometimes park there too.

- The Oceans will compensate, right?

- They'll compensate even though it's not an official parking area?

- The parking attendant told him to park there because the lot was too narrow.

- Yeah, they should fix it.

- But the Oceans might not, given their reputation.

- Surely they wouldn't be that bad, right?

- The Oceans always exceed expectations.

- In terms of performance, not in a good way.

- They exceed expectations in how well they perform, which is amazing.

- Shouldn't the Oceans buy the car and use it as a statue?

- Kang Geon-woo's car in a junkyard.

- Haha, the fan on the scoreboard said it was his car.

- That's great.

- What's great?

- Getting the home run ball, right?

- What's the point if the car is destroyed?

- I'll park there next time. If the car window breaks and I get the home run ball, it'll be worth it.

#

After the third inning, the cheerleader brought a fan up to the cheer section.

“We have the owner of the car that was hit by Kang Geon-woo's home run!”

The car owner was laughing in disbelief. He had come to enjoy the game, and this was unexpected, but the Oceans' management confirmed that the car belonged to him and decided to compensate for the damage, including the depreciation of the vehicle.

The crowd clapped and shouted.

“It's okay! It's okay!”

Of course, it wasn't really okay, but what could they do?

“Yes, I'm the owner of the 2945 Superti...”

They had rehearsed this. The cheerleader had asked if it was okay to joke a bit, and he had agreed.

“What do you think about getting the home run ball without having to give up a child?”

“I'm so happy...”

The internet was flooded with “hahaha.”

- Hahaha

- Hahaha, really funny

- So good, hahaha

- Haha, his expression

“Even though I didn't expect to get hit if I parked there... Yes, if the Oceans win today, I'll forgive them out of the goodness of my heart...”

- If the Oceans lose, I'll sue.

- Leave Hoon alone, sue the rest.

- Did Hoon get hit by a home run again?

- What? Hoon got hit by a home run yesterday.

- It was a big hit, so it took this long to fall.

- Haha, it circled the Earth and landed behind Sajik Stadium.

As if in response to this interview, Guk Min-sung continued to pitch without giving up a run until the sixth inning.

Despite this, the Oceans' gallery was filled with doubts about Guk Min-sung.

- He's really a lucky pitcher.

- What? All the hits are going to the infielders.

- The blessing of God Geon-woo is with us.

Many of the hits were ground balls to the shortstop or line drives right at the shortstop.

So far, he has given up 4 hits, 2 walks, and no runs, with only one strikeout.

Even in the seventh inning, he came back and finished the inning without giving up a run.

- Blessed by the baseball gods.

- If I were an Angels batter, I'd be really frustrated.

- It's so strange. Why can't they hit these pitches?

Of course, there was one person who offered a reasonable opinion.

- You baseball noobs, you just think a fast ball and a breaking ball that moves a lot are good. Guk Min-sung is the real deal. Look at his control. He hits the corners perfectly, and batters can't hit them properly, you idiots.

But in a world where one-eyed people are the norm, those with two eyes are considered strange.

- What are you saying, you baseball noob?

- You're the noob.

- Honestly, it's just luck.

- The calls are also a bit biased, I think.

- It's a lucky start.

In fact, these reactions were because the Oceans were winning.

Moreover, there was a belief that even if the bullpen gave up some runs, they would still win.

Kang Geon-woo, who hit a home run in the first inning, was performing exceptionally well, but No Gyeong-woo also hit three doubles, showing his best form.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, No Gyeong-woo added another home run, becoming the hero of the day.

The Oceans' bullpen gave up 2 runs in the 8th and 9th innings, but the score was 9-2.

The Oceans' fans, having forgotten the bad memories from the previous day, left the stadium in a state of happiness.

#

I personally delivered a signed uniform to the fan whose car window was broken by my hit and took a photo with him.

Since the parent company is in the insurance business, they handled this incident quite well. I heard it was a high-end imported car, and they even provided a rental car.

“Geon-woo.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Next time I park there, hit one more.”

“Are you going to take the rental car?”

“I want to try a nice car.”

“I'll buy you a nice car with the signing bonus.”

“Ah, you don't have to.”

Father looked quite pleased. Mother, who had heard something from Yoo-ri, bought a Guk Min-sung uniform.

“Are you becoming a Guk Min-sung fan?”

“Yoo-ri said his pitching stance is completely consistent, so his release point never wavers, and he doesn't get affected by runners.”

“That's true.”

“Yoo-ri is really a baseball expert. Your father just goes to the stadium to drink and doesn't know anything.”

“Hey, that's not true.”

“Do you know the difference between fWAR and bWAR?”

“I know about DIPS...”

I remember my father explaining the difference between foul balls and strikes, and my mother not understanding why a foul ball counts as a strike.

It's not that long ago, but now the roles are completely reversed.

Anyway, No Gyeong-woo believes that he performed exceptionally well today, including the home run, because he slightly adjusted his swing angle before the game.

More importantly, he thinks it was easier to face the pitcher today because his rhythm was so consistent.

Still, he attributes it to Yoo-ri's private tutoring, so he doesn't say much. The wrist angle in his swing and the hip movement are all based on Yoo-ri's advice, so it's not a wrong assumption.

Anyway, I went to bed early. Shortstops use a lot of energy, so I need to get a good night's sleep.

Before falling asleep, I didn't forget to send a message to Yoo-ri.

- Me: Good night ♥

I never used to add a heart before.

Kang Geon-woo has really changed a lot.