Chapter 446 – Episode 438. Stepping Towards a New Record. (7)

New stolen base record. Actually, it wasn’t the record I was aiming for. It’s just that I kept running every time the guys opposing me gave up a walk that wasn’t even supposed to happen, so the record followed. However, even if it was a record I wasn’t paying that much attention to, there was no reason not to achieve it if it was right in front of me.

That’s why we tried to set a new record for stolen bases in these two games, and the situation was created from the top of the first inning.

In fact, stealing bases is something you can succeed at any time you put your mind to it, but in order to steal bases, you have to have the right circumstances. First. There had to be no runners on base in front of me, and the pitcher had to throw a breaking ball.

Well, even so, I felt like I could do at least two at any time. Still, after setting the record, I felt at ease, as if a big burden had been lifted.

And now, following the new stolen base record, another opportunity has arrived. A chance to set a new record with the 62nd home run.

That too with two outs and bases loaded.

‘You’re lucky. In an inning that set a new stolen base record, there was an opportunity to set a new home run record. Mr. Rossby, doesn’t it feel like fate?’

‘It’s exciting. Don’t panic and focus.’

Rossby spoke bluntly, but the current situation was such that he couldn’t help but feel excited. An opportunity to simultaneously break the league’s home run and stolen base records in one inning. I thought an opportunity like this would probably never come again.

‘… The problem is.’

“Ball.”

The problem was that the new pitcher who took the mound to replace Na Seung-yoon, Hancheol’s starting pitcher, did not have the same command. Perhaps because he came to the mound unprepared from the first inning, Hancheol’s new pitcher was throwing balls.

It doesn’t feel like I’m intentionally avoiding it, but it feels like I really haven’t found the zero point yet.

‘Sweet, if it wasn’t a high ball, I would have swung it…’

He couldn’t relax. Pitchers who don’t have control like that could throw a miss in the middle at any time.

“Ji-hwan! Throw it slowly! Slowly!”

The pitcher who replaced Na Seung-yoon was Park Ji-hwan, Hancheol’s first pick in the 2023 draft. I mean, he was drafted the same year as me. However, his treatment was not so good among Hancheol fans.

My skills were far inferior compared to the Shilla Triggers, who selected national team pitcher Wonho, or the AT Thunders, who selected me, and compared to those of us who had been starting players since the first year, we did not perform much last year, and this year, we were struggling in the second team. It finally came up in time.

Hyunseong, a classmate of this guy, said that his mentality got a lot worse because he was compared to the two of us, but that wasn’t something I cared about.

‘I heard during power analysis class that the slider is the main weapon… Was it like that when you were in high school?’

To be honest, it was too much for me to remember even such an insignificant guy’s contribution, so I couldn’t remember it well. However, I heard that sliders are good during power analysis, so I’m just being careful.

‘The first pitch is a fastball that hits high. The speed was around 146 km/h, so I think the slider would be in the mid 130s? I’d like to see one.’

‘It’s a fastball.’

I wanted to see a slider, but the battery of choice was a fastball. Perhaps, he chose to throw a fastball rather than a breaking ball in order to gain control of the pitch. As soon as you enter the zone, you are ready to kick it up and wait for the ball.

“Ball.”

But once again, the ball hit at my shoulder height.

“Let’s throw some into the zone.”

“You didn’t do that on purpose, you brat.”

“When did you say you saw me? “Isn’t this funny?”

“Why? “Please put one in my body?”

“If you’re confident, try plugging it in.”

How a dog that can’t bite grows louder. Judging by the catcher’s words, there was little chance of it hitting the body. Then outside. If the pitcher was thinking, he would try to throw low this time since he threw high twice in a row. Considering those things, if I had control of the ball, there was a high probability that it would land in a low area on the outside.

‘It’s a fastball.’

‘Again? No, just warm up and come up. ‘I’m warming up on the mound.’

Still, perhaps because I saw two fastballs, his fastball became familiar to my eyes.

‘Just try to come into the zone.’

“Ball.”

“… “Amy.”

Before I knew it, the ball count was three balls, no strikes. This time it was a fastball that hit the ground. Even though the bases were loaded, I could tell how nervous he was when I saw him throw this ball with 2 outs.

‘Ha, I guess I should help you. There is a saying that love for one’s comrades is love for one’s country.’

And the fourth ball.

“… Strike.”

This time, as I swung the bat at a ball that missed badly, his expression became even more determined than when he first came up.

‘How is it? Are you upset? Do you want to strike out?’

A pitcher, or rather a person, would not throw the ball after seeing a play like this. However, he could also throw the ball. Because people’s work wasn’t something that could be done as one pleases.

“One more service is coming~.”

“… Cheating.”

He swore at me, but when I told him I would take another swing, the catcher seemed to secretly like it. They fought so hard to get one strike, but they said they would give one strike for free, so if you didn’t like it, you were disqualified as a catcher.

‘Still, there may be a loss, so let’s wait and see this time.’

… Also, it was a catcher’s disqualification to believe what a batter said. I couldn’t rule out the possibility that the guy who woke up this time threw the ball into the zone, so I timed it right and waited for Rossby to speak.

‘It’s a fastball.’

‘Fastball? ‘Do you really believe in me?’

Well, it’s not the first time something like this has happened to me. It was trustworthy.

‘Please, come into the zone.’

And as if he heard my prayers, the guy’s fastball seemed to be entering the zone. I swung the bat without delay, following the now familiar trajectory.

Ta – Aak!

A sense of resonance felt in the hand.

“Like…”

I felt like I was going to cheer at that feeling, but I held it back. It seemed like there would be no need to go wild here, so I watched the hit as calmly as possible, as if nothing had happened. And the ball I flew passed behind the left fielder and landed in the outfield stands.

And an uncountable number of fireworks fell into the sky of Jamsil Stadium. I can’t believe the club even made these preparations…

‘Fuck! This is it!’

Although he may be dying of joy on the inside, he holds the bat as calmly as possible and slowly runs to first base. And on the way, he threw the bat on the ground indifferently.

‘Wow, that’s so cool.’

A cool ceremony in my opinion…

“Congratulations, Meng Hao.”

“Thank you, Coach.”

I also answer the first base coach as calmly as possible. The record-breaking home run is a grand slam home run… In addition, new records for stolen bases and home runs in one inning! The steps on the way home were lighter than ever.

“Congratulations! Ji Maeng-ho!”

“You knew it was a matter of time.”

“Anyway, it would be great if this bastard didn’t open his mouth…”

Hehe, hehe.”

“Why are you laughing like this?”

“Hey, senior, it’s a nice day. Meng Hao, congratulations on the home run.”

“Thank you!”

The runners who were filling up the base for my record…

“Uh? Wait a minute, isn’t this a grand slam?”

“Yes. “Why?”

“So how many RBIs? “Isn’t that 162 RBI?”

“I guess so?”

It will be right. Because I was recording 158 RBIs right before this game.

“Wow, then you broke senior Joo Hyung-jin’s record of 161 RBI? Congratulations on the new RBI record.”

Oh, is it because I live a good life? I wasn’t even thinking about the new RBI record, but when I thought about it, there was that record too. Is this why you are saying that you can only set records if other people play without being conscious of the records?

After returning to the dugout and receiving congratulations from my teammates, the manager approached me.

“Meng Hao.”

“Yes?”

“During cleaning time, the president and Joo Hyung-jin came to congratulate us on our record.”

“Oh… “I guess you were waiting?”

“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid of putting pressure on you, but you’ve been following me for a week now.”

Nice… Fuck, this is it.

After that, I felt like I was floating in the sky, not knowing how the game was going. And the long-awaited cleaning time. The platform made for me was waiting for its owner. And even Joo Hyung-jin, who was my childhood idol.

“Coach. This is my first time since the Olympics. How have you been?”

From just before being selected to the WBC to the Olympics. It was a face I saw occasionally, but I was even happier today.

“Okay. I had a good time. Congratulations on the record.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

These were not empty words. Like all baseball players my age, I grew up watching Joo Hyung-jin’s baseball. When I was young, I started playing baseball while watching Joo Hyung-jin and dreaming of becoming a player like him.

And today, I finally surpassed Joo Hyung-jin. Even in records.

“Meng Hao.”

“Ah, Mr. President.”

As I exchanged greetings with Joo Hyung-jin, this time the president approached me and spoke to me.

“It is truly a blessing for Korean baseball to have a player like Maeng Ho in the league. As you have done so far, please don’t worry about the small details and play whatever you want while you are in Korea.”

The president of the KBA league was also someone who helped me a lot in my baseball life. He was the one who helped me get selected for the WBC and strangely took care of my convenience even when I had an accident. According to Soyoung, he is a person who is crazy about the success of professional baseball, and he seems to care a lot about me because I raised the viewership ratings of professional baseball by about 0.1%.

However…, What was this person’s name? I think I heard that too. Well, it wasn’t important. I had no interest in memorizing old men’s names.

“Thank you. In that sense, can’t you tell the league not to filter me out?”

Haha, that’s not my problem,”

As I was talking with the president, a familiar hand tapped me from behind.

“Cow…, Boss!”

That hand was Soyoung. I wanted to give Soyoung a big hug, but because there were so many eyes watching, I had no choice but to hold back.

“Congratulations to Meng Hao. And…”

Soyoung’s gaze turns to the side. And next to him was an old man who was clearly sick, but seemed to be in great spirits. It’s my first time seeing this face, but I’ve seen it in many photos, so I’m familiar with it… It was Chairman Cheon, the chairman of AT Group, the parent company of AT Thunders.

“I have a player like this on my team, so I have to congratulate him myself.”

“Ah… Thank you Chairman? Team owner?”

He spoke nice words, but the way he looked at me wasn’t that kind. … Why? When I had doubts, Chairman Cheon offered me his hand. I reflexively held his hand. I heard from Soyoung that it hurt a lot, but it seemed like her grip strength was still the same.

Of course, I didn’t apply enough force because I was afraid that if I did, I would crush the old man’s hand, but Chairman Cheon smiled a strangely satisfied smile and spoke in a voice that only I could hear.

“After the Korean Series is over, let’s have a separate meeting.”

“Ah, yes…”

“With Soyoung.”

“… Yes?!”

“It’s going to be very difficult if you don’t win.”

“… That’s how it happened.”

What happened like that… ? While I was looking at Soyoung’s face without understanding what was going on, Chairman Cheon’s hand tapped my shoulder.

“Uh, Chairman… ?”

However, without time to resolve the question, the club’s announcer picked up the microphone and spoke loudly.

“Then! From now on! AT Thunders, Ji Maeng-ho! Let’s begin the celebration of the new record. Ji Maeng-ho recorded his 85th stolen base, 62nd home run, and 162 RBI, breaking his previous records of 84th stolen base, 61st home run, and 161 RBI! Then, let’s give a round of applause for Ji Maeng-ho!”

-Wow!!!!

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

I couldn’t quite get my head around Chairman Cheon’s meaningful words, but one thing was certain. This record today is not my destination, but just the beginning.

And since I couldn’t show a blank expression to the many people who had gathered to celebrate the beginning, I smiled and walked towards the podium.