Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 58
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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 58
Whoooosh!
“…That’s a good pitch?”
And bold. A ball that pierced through the inside of a Major Leaguer’s body, a spot that could be turned into a home run with just a light tap.
This was a game against young children who were at most 12 years old.
Not a single person was being serious.
But seeing that pitch changed their thinking a bit.
‘We might actually get embarrassed here.’
“That velocity is possible from that body…”
“Wasn’t the age limit 16?”
“We might see him in the majors in 5 years at the latest.”
“That’s right. We should get a bit nervous, shouldn’t we?”
Among the Major Leaguers whose tone had slightly changed, Clayton Kershaw looked at Johann.
‘That child…’
The child who told Don Mattingly about his own shortcomings.
The child who looked at their coaching with indifference.
‘Nonsense.’
It was just that his control was shaky because it was his first time entering Major League. His ankles and muscles had always been strong.
Crack!
“Run! Run! Run!”
“That’s right! Safe!”
‘It’s just nonsense from a young child.’
Words full of bravado that anyone that age would say.
Clayton Kershaw turned his gaze away from Johann, who had taken a proper hit.
Crack!
Johann turned his head and watched the ball cross deep into left-center field.
‘Hmm.’
He had expected it.
No matter how much of a ‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’ he was, the opponent was a Major Leaguer. Getting hit was natural.
‘Still…’
It was still annoying.
“Is that going to be a triple… Huh?”
Johann’s eyes widened as he looked at the outfield.
“Ujajajajaja! Huracha!”
Jerry Goosby, who had somehow caught up to the ball after getting a start, let out a battle cry and threw the ball toward second base.
‘Oh?’
Whoosh!
The ball shot across the stadium like a laser and dove into the second baseman’s glove.
“Out.”
The Major Leaguer who stepped on second base with plenty of time to spare, not even needing the umpire’s call, looked at Johann and grinned.
“Ahhh!”
Johann clicked his tongue as he turned his gaze away from Jerry Goosby, who was covering his face with both hands in disappointment.
‘So there’s no going easy?’
Relaxed baserunning, but never going easy.
‘Nice.’
Jerry Goosby was good too.
Because his start was quick, he was able to hold it to a double.
‘That kid’s overflowing with talent too.’
“Time!”
Flash urgently called time and approached Johann, who looked puzzled.
“Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… it’s your first time.”
Johann getting hit by someone else.
And if it was such a clean extra-base hit, no matter if the opponent was a Major Leaguer, his mental state had to be shaken.
“Hmm. I’m fine though?”
Had ‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’ never given up a single hit?
If he had struck out or swapped every batter every time he took the mound, there would have been a Dennis Eckersley Award created.
“It’s just a hit. No need to make a fuss.”
“If that’s how you think about it, that’s fortunate, but…”
“Flash, I’m fine.”
He was slightly annoyed, but that was all.
Flash quietly looked into Johann’s eyes and nodded.
“…Yeah.”
As Flash returned to his seat, the batter stepped in.
A Major Leaguer chewing gum and spinning his bat.
‘He’s thinking it’ll be easy to hit.’
The intention to swing at the first pitch was clearly felt.
‘Well, if that’s the case, I should let him do that.’
Though I’m not sure if he’ll be able to hit it.
“Hup!”
The ball left Johann’s hand and flew toward the Major Leaguer.
It was the moment when the Major Leaguer grinned at the ball flying slightly higher than the center of the strike zone and swung his bat.
‘Huh?’
It’s high. Higher than expected.
“Damn!”
The Major Leaguer hastily tried to adjust his bat’s trajectory, but…
Whoooosh!
“Strike.”
Johann twisted his lips as he watched the Major Leaguer who had swung and missed, and Flash who was surprised while holding his mitt at the batter’s collarbone height.
‘One more. Flash.’
Same location, same velocity.
Johann, who got the ball back, threw the ball again.
Whooom! Whoooosh!
“Strike!”
‘Lower left?’
Good choice.
He had swung his bat twice at a ball that would have been a ball if left alone.
High pitches are originally like that, and even if you know it, the bat comes out naturally, but this one had a high probability of being watched.
‘He definitely has skill!’
Whoooosh!
“Strike! Out!”
“…Wow.”
The Major Leaguer, who couldn’t even attempt a swing at the last pitch, stuck out his tongue and gave Johann a thumbs up.
And he headed toward the dugout.
“Kekekekeke.”
“Hahahaha!”</Human: Continue with the next lines – output exactly the remaining lines to complete the 200 lines total.
“Ugh.”
As the Major Leaguers’ mockery poured out, he smacked his lips and opened his mouth toward the next batter.
“Those little kids know how to play mind games.”
“…I know. I saw.”
But even so, it was just a slow 80-mile ball.
Even if the movement was intense, that was all there was to it.
Crack!
He thought that way until a slow ball that seemed to be about 50 miles came flying.
“…Crazy?”
The third batter who fouled could only laugh helplessly at the slow ball that came from the same pitching form.
Whoosh!
“S, slider?”
“That’s one of his specialties.”
“Heh heh.”
After the slow 60-mile ball and 80-mile fastball like the previous at-bat, followed by a slider, the fourth Major Leaguer at the plate had to admit he was beaten.
‘The pitch sequencing is excellent.’
“This year’s Little League will be worth watching. Make sure you go to the World Series.”
“Thank you!”
“Strike out! Change sides!”
“…Waaaah!”
The dugout and stadium erupted.
Even the coaches hung on the dugout railing with wide eyes.
Johann glanced at the Major Leaguer who was standing on second base, shaking his head as he turned around, then bumped fists with Flash who approached with an excited face.
“Crazy bastard.”
“Your lead was good too.”
Flash had thrown slow pitches to catch the Major Leaguers who were used to fast balls off guard, then immediately combined them to play mind games.
‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’ felt regretful.
He said if he had such a catcher as a partner during his active days, he would have had better records.
“Johann, you crazy kid!”
“Johann! Johann! Johann!”
“Waaaah!”
The children jumped around tapping their caps as if he had hit a home run and returned.
‘I won.’
In the match against the Major Leaguers.
Even though they weren’t serious, a win was a win.
A smile appeared on Johann’s lips.
* * *
Crack!
“Agh!”
The young players clutched their heads and sighed.
Every hit was a base hit.
It was only the 5th inning, but the score was already 20 to 0.
If it weren’t for the penalty of changing after six at-bats, the score might have been 20 to 0 in the 1st inning.
They even had 15 at-bats in one inning.
Although batters were mandatorily changed after 3 pitches, the despair of an insurmountable wall weighed them down.
‘This is a Major Leaguer…’
How much had they cursed at them for making mistakes in games until now.
They had thought more than once that they could do better than them, but the Major Leaguers they actually faced were monsters.
The thought of wanting to quit now invaded their entire bodies.
“Johann, how did you attack those people?”
At Jerry Goosby’s question, everyone’s attention focused on Johann.
“Fastball. Slow ball. Slider.”
“No…”
“Control. Velocity control. And Flash’s lead. Want me to say more?”
“…No.”
“I told you earlier, right? Don’t be scared.”
If not now, when else would they get to bite back?
Even at 3 pitches per batter, if there were about a hundred opponents, they’d have to throw over 300 pitches maximum. Even if two Major League pitchers split the load, it would be over 150 pitches.
“Do you think that person can throw at full strength even then?”
A pitcher’s arm is their asset.
Even in regular Major League games, they make substitutions when approaching 90 pitches, so throwing nearly twice that at full strength didn’t make sense.
Especially for children like them.
“You won’t die if you get hit. Bite back. It’s just a ball slightly faster than mine.”
Pause!
80 miles and 90 miles was a tremendous difference, but hearing it this way made it seem doable.
‘But…’
Their minds didn’t change easily.
Because they realized the moment they stepped into the batter’s box.
Even if the ball was just a little faster, the pressure crushing their entire body was tremendous.
That pressure that made it hard to even breathe wasn’t something that could be easily overcome.
Seeing the children’s conversation and expressions, Manager George Huntington twisted his lips.
“Johann Jefferson.”
“Yes, Manager.”
“Will you step up to bat?”
“Yes.”
“Then go out. You’re batting first this inning.”
“…Yes.”
‘He wants me to show them.’
It meant to keep the words he had just said.
Johann grabbed his bat and looked at Clayton Kershaw who was taking the mound as a replacement.
A left-handed fireballler who was a devil to right-handed batters.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
‘Was 90-mile timing like this?’
Johann swung his bat a few times, nodded, and headed to the batter’s box.
“Oh, Miracle Boy! You’re stepping up to bat too?”
No matter how careless they were, he had sent 4 Major Leaguers back with just 11 pitches.
‘Why is this kid only 11 years old.’
If he had been even 16, he would have immediately requested a scout from the team’s front office.
It was too regrettable.
“Most Little League teams follow National League rules.”
The rule where pitchers also bat without a designated hitter.
No, this was just the participating team’s style; there was no rule against designated hitters.
“Haha. Well then, good luck. I don’t know if you’ll be able to swing at our rookie’s fastball!”
“Yes, thank you.”
‘Trash talk comes out like breathing.’
Perhaps it was an occupational hazard of being a catcher.
Johann turned off his nerves and stared at Clayton Kershaw’s entire body, and Clayton Kershaw slightly furrowed his brow.
He feels regretful and disappointed.
‘Fine. I’ll acknowledge that you have talent.’
Even if it was a result of coincidence and carelessness combined, striking out 3 Major Leaguers is never an easy feat.
But that doesn’t mean he should get carried away thinking he’s become something special.
‘That would be poison!’
How many players have been consumed by their talent and fallen, how many have quit without ever reaching the Major League.
Clayton Kershaw, who had watched countless such players with regret, intended to give Johann a lesson as someone who became an adult first, as a player who made it to the majors.
That the Major League is never an easy place.
‘Don’t resent me for being too harsh!’
“Hup!”
The first pitch was slightly toward the body from the center of the strike zone.
‘See you in the majors next time!’
Clayton Kershaw whipped his arm like a whip and fired the ball, clicking his tongue the moment he threw it.
Because the ball was heading toward the center of the strike zone.
But it’s fine.
It doesn’t make sense for a young Little League player to hit a ball over 93 mph.
However…
“See? I told you his ankle is weak.”
No matter how much of a left-handed fireballers who’s a demon to right-handed batters, when the ball slips and flies to the center of the strike zone, is there any batter who couldn’t hit it?
Especially when they’re waiting for it.
Johann planted his foot and swung the bat quickly.
Crack!
Light as if hitting a feather.
It was a home run.
“…Waaaaaaah!”
California West’s dugout erupted again.
Johann nodded at the changed gazes of the players.
* * *
“…”
Final score after 10 innings: 49 to 4.
An overwhelming result, but both the Major Leaguers and young players are left speechless.
The Major Leaguers for giving up 4 points to young players.
The young players for scoring 4 points.
But that’s only temporary.
“Right. No matter how strong the opponent is, you have to bite back like that! That’s the spirit you need to play baseball with!”
“You played well from the 6th inning on, right? If you keep playing like this, it looks like you’ll make it to the World Series.”
“Today was fun, kids.”
“Th, thank you!”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
In the late afternoon as the sun begins to set dimly, the young players pinch their cheeks as they watch the departing Major Leaguers.
They really competed against Major Leaguers. They scored points.
They recall today’s events that felt like a dream.
Today’s game where they threw themselves with all their heart and strength, and were mercilessly crushed.
‘It’s all… thanks to Johann.’
‘If it weren’t for Johann, we would have just kept trembling like cowards.’
The young players urgently look for Johann.
“Huh? Where did Johann go?”
“We, well? Maybe he went to the cafeteria?”
Or he might have gone to the shower room.
Johann, who would shower whenever he broke a sweat.
“Find him!”
“Yeah!”
The players scattered urgently, and the coaching staff chuckled watching them.
“It would be better to announce the eliminations tomorrow, right?”
“Let them enjoy today.”
“Hmm. More than that, that boy Johann…”
Johann, who showed an even more overwhelming performance today.
The expressions of the coaching staff began to change.
Meanwhile, Johann, heading toward the shower room, suddenly stops and turns around.
“Hello.”
“Ahaha. H, hi?”
Clayton Kershaw waves awkwardly with a smile.
Don Mattingly stands beside him.
Johann slowly closed and opened his eyes.
His temperament changes in that moment.
‘What, what is this? He suddenly looks older?’
Clayton Kershaw is flustered.
“It would be good to train your ankle and back muscles.”
When the pillar shakes from the roots, the entire building shakes.
Just training the ankle would make control much easier.
“And…”
Johann hesitates for a moment before continuing.
‘We probably won’t see each other again anyway.’
“It would be better to abandon the curveball.”
Flinch!
“That doesn’t suit the current you.”
Out of 10 curveballs thrown today, a whopping 8 missed the mark.
For a pitcher with poor control, the curveball can be called poison, and Clayton Kershaw’s control especially wavers when throwing curves.
“A slider would be better, don’t you think?”
If he could throw a slider in the high 80 mph range, even without curveball-level control, it would be a powerful weapon in itself.
‘Angels’ number 11, James Lewis Fregosi’ was also strongly recommending the slider.
“Of course, there’s the prerequisite of fixing minor habits.”
The habit of revealing what type of pitch he’s about to throw.
The Dodgers’ front office will tell him about that habit.
‘They’ll have more data accumulated than what I saw today.’
Their advice will be more detailed.
“…Really? Is that so.”
Unlike before, it’s hard to dismiss this as a child’s boastful words when his pitches were so easily exploited.
He couldn’t help but think deeply about it.
‘No, if even this young child knows this, other teams can’t possibly not know.’
The Dodgers’ front office and coaches must know too.
He snapped to attention.
“Thanks. As a gift, how about I invite you to a game where I’m pitching?”
‘Oh!’
That would be his first experience going to a baseball stadium.
“Would twenty tickets work?”
He needs at least twenty seats for Larry and Ada, Emily and Lucy, Joy, Flash and friends, some of the Little Puma players, and Mason Moon.
“If the 3rd Floor is okay, I’ll, I’ll try my best.”
“Thank you! I’m expecting good results this year!”
After shaking hands with Clayton Kershaw, Johann quickly moved his legs in case he might change his mind, and Clayton watched Johann disappear in an instant before opening his mouth.
“Did you know?”
“…You’re a rookie.”
A rookie who finished the season with decent results at that.
Even if problems were visible, now was the time to foster a winning mentality, the confidence that he could beat anyone.
‘Even if I had told him, he wouldn’t have listened anyway.’
If he had only losses it would be different, but he had 5 wins.
A high school graduate Pitcher who got called up to the Major League and dominated the Minor League.
The probability of a coach’s advice reaching him was extremely low.
“I see.”
Even without saying it, he seemed to know what he was thinking.
Clayton Kershaw clenched his fist tightly.
“I want to train.”
Now. Right away.
“…I’ll contact them.”
‘I guess I’ll have to give the gift.’
A second-year rookie burning with such passion for training was a rare existence after all.
With that, he also had to send a Contract to sign with the Dodgers in the future, before the Padres could snatch the player.
‘It would have been nice if I could have appealed the good points of our team… well, is it fine?’
There was plenty of time.
Don Mattingly twisted his lips and stared in the direction where Johann had disappeared.
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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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