Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 29

 

 

9. Friendly Match

 

 

Bob Lee Swagger crosses his arms and chews gum.

‘He’s gotten bigger.’

The monster of Alessandro Hawks.

He seems to have grown at least 2 inches since I last saw him.

“He should be playing basketball or soccer…”

Basketball and soccer are more affected by height than baseball.

I don’t know what the PE teachers at Alessandro School are thinking.

“Everyone gather up!”

The Fairmont Little Pumas club members who were warming up with stretches gather together.

Bob Lee Swagger clicks his tongue internally as he notices the powerless eyes within their flushed faces.

“This may be a friendly match, but it’s a game against our longtime rivals! Your precious parents and friends took time out to come cheer for you, so we can’t show them a pathetic performance, can we?!”

“…Yes.”

“Answer louder.”

“Yes!”

Bob Lee Swagger nods and turns his head.

Among the eyes filled with a sense of defeat, one pair of indifferent eyes whose thoughts are unreadable.

“Johann!”

“Yes.”

“You’re the starting pitcher. Batting order is 9th.”

Starting pitcher who throws from the 1st to 3rd inning.

Originally Little League games are played for 6 innings, but since today is a friendly match, they agreed to play up to 9 innings to check the club members’ skills.

However, for player protection, the rule that one pitcher can throw a maximum of 3 innings remains the same, and Johann was assigned as the starting pitcher.

“Anyone have complaints?”

“…”

“Good. Then Flash will be the catcher. Batting order is 4th.”

Bob Lee Swagger finished writing the starting lineup, and soon at the umpire’s call, players from both baseball clubs gather at the center of the field.

“We hope to learn a lot again this time.”

“…Let’s have a good game.”

As the managers shake hands and smile, the club members also shake hands with each other.

“Cowardly cats.”

“Stupid eagles.”

They may be scary opponents, but they can’t keep their mouths shut at such provocations.

“What’s with this little monkey?”

“No, Johann. Hold back.”

“…Don’t worry.”

He can’t waste his first moment, first experience on such trivial provocation.

‘Still…’

He memorized the face.

Definitely as ‘The One Who Became a Star’.

Johann, who came to the dugout, glances at the Hawks’ giant standing on the mound and then looks at Bob Lee Swagger giving instructions to the first batter warming up with his bat.

Play ball!

Soon the umpire’s call rings out again.

The Hawks’ giant lifts his leg and swings his arm wide.

Whoooosh!

“Whoa.”

“Shit.”

Silence falls over the Little Pumas’ dugout.

Johann, who had been resting his chin on the railing, narrows his eyes.

“What’s that guy’s name?”

“Julio Rodriguez.”

He was a monster from the Dominican Republic.

 

* * *

 

“Wow!”

“That’s right!”

Cheers erupt from the visiting team stands at the powerful first pitch. A white man in his 40s pushes up his sunglasses.

‘Julio Rodriguez.’

A child who crossed the ocean with his parents 4 years ago and settled in LA.

‘His pitch speed has increased since last year.’

“Whew. That’s got to be at least 75 mph, right?”

With that extreme overhand delivery coming down from above, the batter facing it would feel like it’s 80 mph (128 km/h), or even faster.

“Look. He’s frozen solid. Heh heh heh.”

The Little Pumas’ first batter couldn’t even swing his bat. His pale face is quite a sight.

But that’s only temporary.

“Is there more to see?”

Today, no, is there any kid in Little League who could touch that ball?

“Let’s just do a quick check and go.”

There are plenty of opportunities to scout. Even so, the reason he came today was just because he happened to be in the area on business and remembered Julio, so he came to check his skills.

“It’s just a Little League friendly match anyway.”

When even going around high school, no, college league teams wouldn’t be satisfying, he didn’t want to waste time watching these kids’ games.

“Go ahead if you want to leave.”

When March comes, Major and Minor League spring camps begin.

The time when recruitment and releases begin in earnest.

There isn’t much time left to rest comfortably like this.

“Besides, who knows. I might discover another gem.”

“…You’re not being serious, are you?”

“Would I be serious?”

He just wants to heal by watching little kids bickering with each other in a game.

“Look. What do you think the reason is for putting Rodriguez as the starting pitcher?”

Julio Rodriguez, who’s like a ultimate weapon.

They want to break Fairmont Little Pumas’ spirit from the start to make the rest of the game management easier.

Plus the fielders who aren’t even nervous but are smiling and chatting with each other.

Aren’t these little schemes quite cute?

“Sigh. I understand.”

It was the moment when the scout’s colleague was pouting and putting his butt back down after trying to get up.

“Strike! Out!”

“Wooooah!”

“Julio! Julio!”

The top of the 1st inning ended with just 16 pitches.

“His control is still there.”

Considering the strike zone narrowed by their small statures, it’s not at a level to shake his head at. No, he just hopes he keeps growing like this.

“Oh. It looks like the Little Pumas are focusing on the later innings.”

A short Asian student steps up to the mound.

He’s barely 5 feet tall (about 152cm).

Compared to Julio Rodriguez from just moments ago, he looks almost pitiful.

As Johann goes into his windup, the two men’s eyes light up.

“Oh, quite flexible…”

Whoooosh!

The scout and his colleague gasped in shock and shot to their feet.

 

* * *

 

“Sorry.”

“No worries. Good job.”

“Switch sides!”

As even the third batter came in with a dejected face, removing his protective gear and putting on his glove, the sides switched.

Johann watched them and stepped out of the dugout.

“Johann!”

“Yes?”

“…Never mind. Just play like you always do.”

Bob Lee Swagger held back whatever he was about to say.

“Hmm. Yes.”

Johann nodded and headed to the mound, while Bob Lee Swagger watched him go and crossed his arms.

‘I wish you’d realize why I’m putting you in as the starting pitcher.’

It would be good to tell him this, but this was Johann’s first game. He couldn’t add pressure.

Bob Lee Swagger hoped he would figure it out on his own, and meanwhile Johann stepped onto the mound, digging in his spikes and narrowing his eyes.

The mound he had climbed countless times, training twice a week since that first practice.

But today felt different. His heart was racing and his nerves were on edge, just like when he first stood on the mound.

It wasn’t pressure. A pleasant tension was wrapping around his body.

Johann’s eyes swept over the Fairmont Little Pumas players who had taken their positions.

Eyes filled with a sense of defeat.

Just 16 pitches had broken their spirits.

‘I don’t like this.’

His teammates were already thinking of defeat, even though they should have gotten used to his pitches over the past two weeks.

Only Flash was sending him a look of trust.

‘This is why the manager put me in as starting pitcher.’

“Johann!”

At the sound hitting his ears, Johann looked toward the home team stands.

Larry and Ada, Johnny, Emily and her friends, and Giselle were all waving their hands with expectant faces.

“…That’s right.”

The first moment, first experience, first game.

And it was a moment shared with family and friends.

‘I can’t hold back and throw easy like usual.’

Dennis Eckersley, who became Major League’s first one-inning closer specialist after his skills declined due to shoulder injuries from poor management.

Johann, who knew from his life that shoulders needed to be managed from a young age, had been throwing with somewhat reduced power until now.

But today, that wouldn’t do.

He needed to change the flow of the game, the mood of his teammates. He didn’t want to betray his family and friends’ expectations.

‘And it’s more fun that way.’

Johann lifted his leg.

Swoosh!

Muscles pulling and twisting.

His target was the center of the zone where Flash’s glove was positioned, and the pitch type was a fastball.

“Hup!”

Johann stepped forward greatly and swung his arm quickly like a puma’s front paw striking down an eagle.

And…

‘Got it!’

A ball filled with Bob Lee Swagger’s teachings and the essence of the fastball that Dennis Eckersley had mastered crossed between the mound and home plate.

Whoooosh!

The ball hit exactly where he wanted it.

‘This is it.’

The thrill felt when a batter can’t move.

The joy of feeling like the god of baseball.

“It’s addictive.”

Johann twisted his lips, and silence fell over the baseball field, not just on the batter in the box.

 

“Wh-what…!”

The scout and his colleague who had stood up turned pale.

A velocity expected to exceed at least 80 mph. Precisely estimated at about 82 mph (132 km/h).

This was a velocity rarely found even among the handful of representative team pitchers who made it to the Little World Series – the cream of the crop from Little Leagues worldwide.

Considering that the average fastball velocity in Major League in 2008 last year was about 91 mph (146 km/h), this was an absurd level.

And what about that movement that writhed like a living snake?

Moreover, it was sidearm.

The sidearm pitch thrown from that low height felt as terrifying as an underhand throw.

‘A ball appearing from the diagonal lower right, from thigh level?’

He was certain. That was a right-handed batter’s nightmare.

Even left-handed batters would be flustered by a ball coming from so far away.

“We’ve really discovered another gem.”

And it was an even greater gem than Julio Rodriguez.

“Yes, this is him. I’d like to recommend a talent, so I’m calling you.”

He made a phone call to somewhere.

 

* * *

 

‘Crazy! Crazy!’

The pain piercing through the back of his hand was nothing.

“Time.”

Flash got up and approached Johann.

“Why?”

What could be so important as to interrupt this moment?

He covered his mouth with his glove, puzzled.

Flash, who had stopped Bob Lee Swagger from coming out, smiled.

“Hehe. See that?”

The Hawks players were frozen like after Julio Rodriguez’s first pitch in the top of the first inning. Even Julio himself was hanging on the dugout rail with his neck stretched out, eyes wide.

“Our expressions changed too.”

The Fairmont Little Pumas members’ expressions and tension were relaxing, as if saying ‘Right, he’s a monster too, isn’t he?’

The atmosphere and flow of the game were changing, just like after that first pitch in the top of the first.

‘Ah.’

He had forgotten for a moment. Baseball is a sport played by nine people.

‘Right. This kind of joy existed too.’

Flash, having informed him of the atmosphere, finally asked what he wanted to ask.

“Is this your full power?”

“Right now?”

This was only the first pitch. Once his body was fully warmed up, his velocity would increase by about 2 mph.

‘That must be the current limit of this body.’

That’s why it’s frustrating. Even though I can throw faster and stronger, I can’t surpass that threshold.

“My goodness… Is your arm okay?”

“Not particularly?”

These muscles and joints had become more resilient and robust through all the training and absorbing ‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’.

It didn’t make sense for them to show signs of breaking down when I hadn’t even thrown 100 or 150 pitches daily.

“Hehehe. Good. Let’s crush those guys today.”

And then we’ll go to the AAA League together, no, to Little League Major.

‘Just that?’

If we do go, shouldn’t we dream of something higher?

Unable to read Johann’s thoughts, Flash tapped Johann’s chest with his glove and turned around.

“I’ll handle the lead. I know all their weaknesses.”

After joining the Fairmont Little Pumas and getting thoroughly beaten, he had gritted his teeth and studied them. Just by looking at their stance and the direction of their toes, it was obvious what they were aiming for.

“Oh?”

“Just trust me, partner.”

When a partner, a catcher, says this, a pitcher can’t help but feel reassured.

Flash, who had returned to his position, moved his glove to one spot. Without any signs, as if saying just throw it here and it’ll be a strike.

‘The more I look at him…’

He’s a friend who keeps showing new sides.

Johann twisted his lips, lifted his leg, and put strength into the hand holding the ball.

Whoosh!

 

“…Sorry.”

The face of the first batter passing the baton to the second batter was dark.

A looking strikeout without even swinging the bat once.

As the first batter of the travel team from Alessandro Hawks, one of the representative teams from the AAA League and LA metropolitan area, he had committed an error he should never make.

“H-how was it?”

“You’ll know when you step into the batter’s box.”

Just how ridiculous that little kid is.

The second batter, who spat out a curse, headed to the batter’s box, and the first batter looked at Julio, the third batter.

“Sorry, Julio.”

Even though Julio throws balls for them every day, even though he was used to that speed, he couldn’t even touch the ball once.

“It’s okay. You and I are different, aren’t we?”

If he was a meteor crashing down from above, that was a blade viper flying from a blind spot to bite ankles.

For friends who only looked upward, it was an animal they had no choice but to fall victim to.

“Strike! Out!”

“Dominguez! What are you doing! Touch the ball! The ball!”

Julio glanced at the manager who was jumping around frantically, patted the shoulder of the second batter who couldn’t meet his eyes, and stepped into the batter’s box.

“Long time no see! Your name is… Flash, right?”

“We’re not exactly on greeting terms, are we?”

“Haha. Really? Then can’t we become that kind of relationship from now on?”

“…Just shut up and get in position.”

“Oh. Got it.”

Julio grinned and stepped on the ground of the batter’s box, wiggling his hips.

‘Small.’

He felt even smaller up close.

The pitching distance in Little League, from home plate to the mound, is 46 feet (about 14 meters).

With a bit of exaggeration, it was close enough to feel each other’s breathing.

So it was a bit strange.

‘Why does he seem so unfazed?’

He had struck out two batters with just 6 pitches. If it were him, he would have been beside himself with joy.

‘Here it comes!’

Johann’s windup. Since his height was short, the ball shot out in an instant.

‘Now!’

Julio’s bat moved toward the ball flying as if to cut his knees.

Whoosh! Thwack!

“Strike!”

The umpire’s spirited call, perhaps excited by the fastball.

“Whew.”

‘This is really crazy?’

He thought he had the timing down, but it came from lower than expected.

A ball that started from far in his vision, instantly grazed his knees, and passed through the zone.

So frustrating. Originally, it would have been a ball.

Julio’s eyes began to sparkle.

 

* * *

 

‘That guy… he just caught up, didn’t he?’

No, he didn’t just catch up. He reacted to this side’s pitch and swung the bat at perfect timing.

And he reacted to the first pitch at that.

He had figured out the timing while watching those 6 pitches.

A pitch thrown thinking only of the previous batter’s strike zone without considering Julio’s height. If he hadn’t followed Flash’s lead without any doubt, it might have been hit.

The ball of the first closer ‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’.

“…Interesting.”

A few strands of hair on his fingers stood up.

‘What kind of talent is that?’

Now he perfectly understood why Flash called him a monster.

Despite being only 12 years old, that height, that speed, that hitting, that sense.

Looking at his smiling eyes, he was genuinely enjoying baseball too.

“But…”

This side was ‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’, who entered the pros in 1972 and didn’t retire until 1998.

Compared to the batters he faced for 26 years, this was still a rookie.

‘Too early, too early!’

Johann, who wound up, stepped forward.

The same form as the previous first pitch, same course, same speed.

However, he slightly reduced the strength in his fingertips.

Then…

“Eek?!”

Crack!

“Shortstop!”

At Johann’s quick shout as if he had been waiting, the shortstop between second and third base reflexively dove.

Thud!

‘That’s right.’

Johann clenched his fist and nodded at Julio, who had stopped running and was giving a thumbs up with a helpless laugh.

‘He even has sportsmanship.’

He had found a friend he’d like to get close to on the rival team.

 

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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