The Extra in a Baseball Novel

Toyama, the legendary pitching coach, had trained countless star players in Japan.

In his eyes, Yamada Ryuji was a player with exceptional talent, one who could become one of the best pitchers not just in Asia but worldwide.

Then what was this guy who just took that 160 km/h fastball — possibly the best pitch of Ryuji’s career — and sent it straight to the back screen?

Having spent his life coaching pitchers, Toyama had always been indifferent to batters.

But now, his interest was piqued, and he even felt an urge to have this Korean player on his side, the very player he considered a rival.

“An interesting player…”

As Toyama muttered, Ryuji approached him, his face a bit downcast.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault. You just had a bit of bad luck. Besides, the game has just begun. Taehyun still has at-bats left. Go at him again! I believe in you.”

The coach’s words seemed to bolster Ryuji’s spirits as he returned to his position, a bit more energized.

“Toyama-san, do you really believe that Ryuji can stop him?” the coach asked.

Despite their roles, the coach spoke quite politely to Toyama, given his extensive experience.

“Of course not. Didn’t you see that swing from Taehyun just now? That kind of swing is on a completely different level; it’s not something that belongs here. I just gave Ryuji advice so that he wouldn’t crumble.”

“Is that so… In that case, would it be better to avoid him…”

“That’s for you to decide as the manager. However… if there are no runners ahead, it might be better to have Ryuji face him. Pitchers are sensitive creatures.”

“Yes… Well, he’s been handling the other Korean batters quite well, so let’s hope he can manage.”

***

“That’s Cha Taehyun for you! I knew I could trust you!”

“Thanks, Cha Taehyun! You’re giving us a higher chance of flying back home!”

“All hail Taehyun-shin…”

“An ace supports another ace with runs, that’s how it’s done!”

The moment I returned to the dugout, I was greeted with a barrage of high-fives. They were so intense this time that they actually hurt a little.

It just showed how much pressure everyone was under because it was a game against Japan.

“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like this before,” Kim Yoobin said out of nowhere.

“I hit a home run; why would I frown?”

“Well, normally, you don’t frown, but you don’t seem to react much either.”

Now that I think about it… he’s kind of right. Ever since coming to Japan, I’ve been like that.

“So, what’s got you in such a good mood today?”

As soon as he asked, the thought of Miyeon popped into my head, and I couldn’t help but smile again.

“What’s with the grin?”

“It’s… nothing.”

Right, now isn’t the time for this.

I quietly approached the manager.

“Oh, if it isn’t the future of Korean baseball! Korea’s treasure! What’s up, Cha Taehyun?”

He laughed heartily and patted my shoulder as soon as he saw me. If I were the manager, I’d probably be pretty happy with a player like me, too.

In that case, it’s only fair that I get something in return, right?

“I was wondering if you could grant me a favor.”

“Hm? A favor? What is it? Just say it! I’ll make it happen!”

I can’t just say, ‘Can I go see Miyeon after the game?’ so…

“Can I move around independently after the game?”

“Hmm… We haven’t won yet, but if we do, the interviews and press conferences will all be focused on you.”

“I’ll do the interviews. But… can you handle the press conference for me?”

The manager rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment.

Maybe this was too much to ask.

“Alright! But only if you win the game and get the MVP! Then I’ll figure something out. Go do whatever sightseeing you want afterward!”

I never really understood why people called him a great manager until now…

This man truly is a great manager. He knows how to lift his player’s spirits. That’s enough to make him a great coach.

“Thank you!”

“That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard you speak. You wanted to go sightseeing that badly?”

“Well… something like that!”

“Honest, I like it! Haha! Now go hit another home run!”

***

When Cha Taehyun stepped into the batter’s box at the start of the fourth inning, the crowd sighed and groaned.

“Is it Taehyun again?”

“Now just seeing that guy gives me chills…”

“Can Ryuji stop him this time?”

“How would he? The guy sent a 160 km/h fastball to the back screen.”

“But that pitch was right down the middle. Maybe he should mix in some breaking balls and change up his pitches a bit?”

Ryuji decided to put his pride aside, opting to throw mostly bait pitches to Cha Taehyun.

The first pitch was a slider that broke outside.

It flew with a precise horizontal movement, but Taehyun stood completely still.

“Ball!”

‘He let that go so easily…’

Clicking his tongue, Ryuji threw another bait pitch, this time dropping it low.

“Ball!”

Once again, Taehyun calmly watched the ball go by.

For the third pitch, Ryuji tried a forkball with a sharp drop, but Taehyun’s bat barely twitched.

Starting with a three-ball count, Ryuji found himself in an extremely unfavorable position, and the Japanese crowd’s faces turned pale.

“Isn’t he going to hit another home run?”

“He already did, didn’t he…?”

“Damn it! Ryuji! Just walk him! There’s no one on base anyway!”

“Yeah! Just walk him! Let Taehyun go!”

The crowd thought it was better to just give him a free pass.

– I believe in you!

Recalling the words of his mentor, Ryuji decided to trust himself one more time.

Gripping the changeup, Ryuji wound up and delivered the pitch.

The changeup, famous for its similar form to the fastball but at a significantly lower speed, was meant to throw off the batter’s timing. He hadn’t used this pitch yet in the game.

‘He’s got to fall for it at least once!’

Ryuji could already picture Taehyun swinging and missing.

But…

– SMACK!!!

Like an illusion fading away, Ryuji’s vision shattered as the ball soared high and far.

Ryuji didn’t even bother to follow the flight of the ball. He simply hung his head and let out a deep sigh.

└ Hahaha, should’ve walked him!

└ Two consecutive home runs, wow!

└ Ryuji’s mental state is shattered, lol.

└ Look at the Japanese fans. They were groaning, but now they’re thrilled to catch a home run ball, lol.

└ Ryuji, are you secretly Korean?

└ So there was a spy in the Japanese team…

└ Why don’t we ever send out our first team?

***

Though Ryuji allowed Taehyun two consecutive home runs, the game remained a tight 2:1 score up to the top of the ninth inning.

Taehyun might have been playing out of his mind, but Ryuji’s pitching wasn’t something that could easily be hit.

While Kim Changhyun had to leave the mound in the 7th inning after reaching his pitch limit, Ryuji still had relatively plenty of pitches left, holding out until the 9th inning. That fact alone was proof of how well he had performed.

Nevertheless, the truth remained that Japan was still trailing by a single point.

In the bottom of the ninth, Japan found themselves on the edge of a cliff.

The Japanese manager decided to make a final gamble.

“Take the plate, Ryuji.”

He removed the designated hitter and placed Ryuji in the third spot in the batting order.

This move forced changes in the defensive positions. While it wasn’t an issue if the players could handle their new positions, the current Japanese roster didn’t quite fit that bill.

They could use substitute fielders, but they lacked suitable players for those positions.

Essentially, they were putting everything on the line in this bottom of the ninth.

Ryuji agreed with his manager’s gamble. It was a desperate, last-ditch effort, but he believed that he could at least aim for a tie or a walk-off against Korea’s bullpen.

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

The manager nodded and smiled slightly. He had no doubt that Ryuji would lead them to victory.

But that was before Cha Taehyun took the mound.

└ ???? I thought Japan was crazy, but what’s this?

└ Why is Taehyun pitching? Can a batter do that?

└ So many newbies here, lol. Don’t you know Taehyun-shin can pitch?

└ He’s been a two-way player much earlier than Ryuji, lol.

└ Like this if you predicted this as a Taehyun fan, lol.

└ Haha, looks like we’ve already won. Time to stretch out and relax, lol.

└ True, I’m already in sleep mode, lol.

***

– Taehyun, are you sure? You don’t have

to push yourself. I’ll let you move around alone later; it’s okay if you don’t want to.

Director Jeon Hocheol really does seem to be a legendary manager. In international tournaments, especially youth tournaments, overworking players is commonplace.

But the fact that he stopped me from pitching even when I volunteered to take the closer’s role showed how great a manager he was.

Well, it is quite a risky appearance, even to me.

I glanced over at the first base side of the stands.

The moment our eyes met, Miyeon flashed a smile.

If Miyeon is here, I have to push myself.

She wouldn’t want to see me rowing a rubber boat back to Korea, after all.

– Taichi! Taichi! Taichi!

The crowd roared as the leadoff hitter stepped into the batter’s box, but the cheering died down as soon as I threw the first pitch.

– SMACK!!!

[156 km/h]

I followed up with two more fastballs.

“Strikeout!”

The first batter was out with a clean strikeout.

The second batter met the same fate with three consecutive fastballs.

“Strikeout!”

Another three-pitch strikeout.

“Nice! Nice, Cha Taehyun! Please, strike out the next batter too! I’m so nervous!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the voice behind me. Turning slightly, I saw Kim Yoobin’s forehead covered in a cold sweat.

Facing the plate again, I saw Ryuji, Japan’s hope and the final batter of this game, stepping in.

– Woooaaaah!!!

– Ryuji! Ryuji! Ryuji!

Cheers had been ringing out throughout the game, but this was the first time they were so loud that it felt like my ears were going numb.

It was understandable why the crowd was so excited.

Their star player was up as the final out.

“Don’t be scared! Taehyun! Ignore that weird Japanese shouting!”

…Who said I was scared?

Ryuji’s eyes were different, though.

Filled with a sense of determination, it reminded me of the matchup with Jin Taehyun.

I took a deep breath and wound up.

I hadn’t had much time to warm up, so my shoulder ached a bit.

When I was up to bat, he threw a fastball right down the middle, didn’t he?

I’m a bit petty like that.

I gritted my teeth and summoned all my remaining strength, swinging my arm fiercely.

Just like Ryuji, I threw a fastball right down the middle for the first pitch.

– Whiff.

“Strike!”

Ryuji swung hard but missed, then immediately turned to look at the scoreboard and let out a small, hollow laugh.

[158 km/h]

Not a bad speed?

I liked to pitch quickly, so I didn’t bother checking the speed myself.

The ball felt pretty good today; maybe I should go for more?

I wound up again, pushing my body to its limit as I threw the pitch.

– SMACK!

Ryuji’s bat followed the ball, connecting this time.

“Foul!”

– Ahhh…

With a groan, the ball veered outside the foul line. Ryuji glanced at the scoreboard again, his mouth slightly agape in surprise.

[159 km/h]

His reaction made me curious, but I didn’t check it this time either.

The ball was still sharp, so I stayed on my pace.

Once more, I wound up, thinking this third pitch would be my last. I put every ounce of strength into the throw.

The force of my throw caused my cap to fall off, momentarily obscuring my view. When the cap cleared, I saw the ball just about to meet Ryuji’s bat.

– SMACK!

The ball and bat made contact, but instead of shooting forward…

– Crack!

The bat shattered, sending the ball high into the air.

I walked slowly to where it was coming down, extended my glove, and caught the final out of the game.

“Out!”

“Game set!”

It was the moment we stood atop the U-18 Baseball World Cup.

—

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