Chapter 98

"Hello, it's me -5-

#

Min Seung-gi believed that he became the strongest when given a heavy burden. He certainly felt this way as he led the Diamonds to consecutive postseason appearances. Of course, they hadn't made it to the postseason in the last two seasons, and it seemed like they might fail again this season, but Min Seung-gi saw these as trials and opportunities to overcome them.

And that opportunity was the Olympics.

"Strike! Out!"

He felt a thrill. Kang Geon-woo had scored two runs first, and he had struck out the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning.

He had a blind faith, but there were times when that faith wavered. The belief that he could unleash all his potential if he could only go to the Oceans.

On the other hand, the anxiety that even if he became the ace of the Oceans, if the other players didn't support him, he might not achieve his life goals.

But now, his faith was solid.

'Kang Geon-woo is the real deal.'

He hadn't even realized that his obsession had shifted slightly from the Oceans to Kang Geon-woo.

A pitcher like Jan Spool, who could likely be a top-tier pitcher even in the KBO with his fastball and slider, a two-pitch starting pitcher.

However, even with just those two pitches, he could stand out in the Korean league.

Several teams had already made contact, and there were rumors that clubs considering roster changes after the Olympics had sent scouts.

Thus, he was a pitcher with a lot of data.

'But Kang Geon-woo with just one swing...'

Of course, he himself had a memory of giving up a home run on one swing, and the same was true for other pitchers on the national team.

He also hit a line drive into the strike zone against the second batter.

Kang Geon-woo might not know, but his presence was making Min Seung-gi stronger.

He realized this by watching the pitchers who were hit by Kang Geon-woo.

'If I'm going to get hit, it might as well be a solo home run.'

He had always been criticized for weakening when runners were on base, and it was true.

He couldn't avoid giving up hits, but what if he reduced walks?

Even if he gave up a home run, he could limit the damage to one run instead of two or three.

It was a very simple and brutal approach, but it was quite effective.

It's a well-known story. If you're going to give up a walk, just let them hit it.

Putting it into practice is not easy. Even if you aim for the strike zone, the ball might miss, and you can't just throw it in the middle. If the batters know you're only throwing in the strike zone, no matter how good your stuff is, they will hit it.

Thwack!

A top-10 MLB prospect, whose team had opposed his Olympic participation, pulled a two-seam fastball.

It didn't fly high, but it was a powerful, fast line drive.

Third baseman Seo Woo-ju didn't move, and everyone expected a double considering the batter's speed.

-Fast line drive to the 3-6 hole! Ah, Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo!

Kang Geon-woo, not just diving, but running and tumbling to catch the ball, then throwing to first base without looking, while still off-balance.

It was a circus-like play.

Considering the speed and direction of the ball, if it had gone between the left and center fielders, it would have been a likely double.

Even stopping it for a single would have been a great play.

But Kang Geon-woo's throw was fast and accurate. The batter was fast, but the ball and the runner arrived almost simultaneously, and the umpire, after a moment's hesitation, raised his fist and called out.

"Out!"

-Ah, what a throw! Kang Geon-woo! I can't even describe it! Just watch it again!

-It was amazing! Wow! If I only described it without showing the actual scene, most people would say it's a lie! It's an unbelievable play! Kang Geon-woo shows a manga-like defense!

The batter looked at Kang Geon-woo, who was getting up, in disbelief, and Min Seung-gi was in a state of shock as if his brain had stopped.

The Dutch coach requested a video review, and the Korean team players were celebrating as if they had hit a walk-off home run.

And a moment later.

When the umpire, after the video review, declared the batter out with a fist.

"Wowwwwwwwww!"

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

"Unbelievable! Wowwwwwww!"

The Korean fans cheered wildly, as the Oceans fans always did, and Jung Yoo-ri was jumping with joy!

"Wow! Wow! Mom! Did you see Geon-woo? Dad! It's Geon-woo! Geon-woo! Geon-woo is amazing!"

Maybe he was thinking of how he always answered "I'm crazy" when his sister asked if he was crazy.

After shouting for a while, Jung Yoo-ri collapsed into her seat and sobbed.

"Sniff, sniff, Geon-woo..."

Jung Hyun-soo, looking down at Yoo-ri with a look of pity, opened his smartphone.

[You watched Kang Geon-woo's defense and are crying like a roe deer]

└This guy is badmouthing Yoo-ri again

└Haha, you're really...

└It's a good thing you're crying; I had to change my underwear after watching the defense

└I cried too, but like a roe deer<<<That's the problem

└A goddess doesn't cry like a roe deer

└Really, like a roe deer???

└No brain damage

└Yoo-ri cried like a roe deer?? Then roe deer should be designated as a natural monument irl;;

└Haha

└Crying like a roe deer (x) Roe deer are sacred creatures (o)

└You guys are crazy;;

└If I were Yoo-ri's brother, I would treat her so well... You, on the other hand...

#

I'm gradually regaining my rhythm. That defense was a bit of a gamble for me.

If the throw had missed, the effort to stop the runner would have been wasted, and the runner would have reached second base.

But every challenge comes with risk. Seung-gi struck out the next batter and said something mysterious to me.

"Kang Geon-woo, do you like soccer?"

"Sort of. Why?"

"Soccer has a two-striker strategy."

"Yes, but why?"

"Ha ha ha."

That was the end of the conversation. That guy is getting stranger and stranger. Maybe he's been watching too many manga.

Anyway.

We also went on the attack, but it wasn't easy.

Daekin, who was selected as the 5th first baseman, drew a walk, and the coach instructed Song Byung-jae, the batting champion, to bunt.

With one out and a runner on second, Jo Yong's powerful hit was caught by a diving outfielder, and Bae Young-han hit a single, but the Dutch outfielder's incredible throw caught the runner at home.

However, the Dutch team has a significant gap between the players from the Netherlands and those from the Dutch Caribbean territories.

Seung-gi easily handled the lower part of the lineup, and it was our turn again.

"Walk!"

With one out and runners on first and second, I drew a walk.

The sound of the fans' drums became even louder, and Seo Woo-ju's intentional walk made it 3-0.

The Dutch pitching coach visited the mound, and although the pitcher wasn't replaced, he was taken out after facing the next batter.

Thwack!

Instead of drawing a walk on a 3-0 count, Daekin hit a softly pushed slider.

If the first base runner had been faster, it might have been a sweep, but Seo Woo-ju's speed was on par with Daekin's.

Jo Jun and I scored, and the Dutch had to replace their pitcher.

Seung-gi finished his 7-inning, zero-run performance, and underhand pitcher Hong Jeong-soo finished the game with 2 innings and 1 run.

The final score was 9-1.

The coach decided to take Seung-gi and me to the interview area, and Jo Jun was sad because he felt neglected for focusing on getting on base for the team.

#

"Kang Geon-woo! Your first at-bat was a home run, and your defense was incredible. It's hard to believe this was your debut for the national team. Do you have any special preparation methods or secrets?"

Kang Geon-woo was thinking about how to meet Yoo-ri today. He was a bit distracted when this question came, and he answered without thinking.

"Yoo-ri..."

The reporters' attention was drawn.

Kang Geon-woo.

He was a super-prospect who had been noticed since his middle and high school days, but he showed an unbelievable impact in the pros.

Not only his skills, but the name "Yoo-ri" always followed "Kang Geon-woo."

People called the couple Kang Geon-woo and Jung Yoo-ri a century's worth of fluff, but it was still a fresh issue.

Sometimes sports stars who spread dirty scandals are criticized.

This innocent couple seemed far from that.

They had been together since middle school, and the older Jung Yoo-ri, who specialized in sports science, was known to help Kang Geon-woo's training.

"Yoo-ri came to watch the game. I can't show a bad side in front of Yoo-ri."

A scream of "Squeal!" came from the reporters.

The atmosphere was warm. Min Seung-gi appeared quite normal in front of the reporters.

"Min Seung-gi! I remember you saying you want to win the Olympics with Kang Geon-woo."

"Yes, the Olympics, yes. That's right. Winning the Olympics... is a dream. Yes. I believe we can achieve that dream together. As the first starter of the national team..."

The debate over who among the Big 3 should be the first starter is ongoing among fans and experts.

But Min Seung-gi's logic was that since he started the first game, he was the first starter.

Anyway.

When asked to talk about Kang Geon-woo, the coach gave his usual relaxed response.

"Hmm. Reporters. If we're going to talk, we need about 2 hours. Is that okay? How about we eat something while we talk?"

Min Seung-gi nodded, and Kang Geon-woo looked confused.

His eyes wide open, as if to say, "What the