Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 508 - 104: Early Victory Declaration (Part 2)

"Now, all 12 teams, along with Japan’s entire baseball media and fanbase, know about your ’championship declaration.’ To be honest, Koji, I’ve known you for 20 years, haven’t I? While I must admit this kind of thing is quite your style, it’s only the end of April and you’ve already claimed victory. If we don’t pull it off in the end, you’ll be repeatedly dragged out and criticized as a coach..."

By the training field of the SoftBank team, Guo Taiyuan whispered to his old friend and teammate, Akiyama Koji.

In response, Akiyama Koji laughed lightly, showing indifference, "Anyway, I’m stepping down after this season, and I don’t plan to coach anymore. If we don’t succeed, let people say whatever. During my player days, wasn’t I criticized by the media numerous times for various outrageous acts?"

"That’s true," Guo Taiyuan smiled at his old friend’s self-deprecation but then shifted the topic, "But have you considered the impact of your words on our players? Although our investments and paper strength do top the league, if something unexpected happens..."

Akiyama Koji didn’t directly answer the question but instead asked Guo Taiyuan, "Taiyuan, as one of the team’s coaches, how do you feel about the current team atmosphere?"

Guo Taiyuan thought for a moment and replied, "Although we’ve lost a bit more recently, the team’s atmosphere hasn’t been affected. We’ve only dropped to second place, but we’re just 2-3 games behind Orix. Plus, with veterans like Uchikawa and Matsuda, and the calm younger players like Guanglai and Yuuki, it’s pretty much the same as when we were on a winning streak."

"So there you have it— I trust my players. Since they said before the season started that they’d celebrate my retirement with a championship, they’ll definitely make it happen!"

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In the SoftBank locker room, after their morning training, the players were chatting and eventually got onto the topic of tonight’s game.

"Tonight’s game against Rakuten, it seems Matsui Yuuki is pitching first again..." Kenta Imamiya said, scrolling through his phone after taking a shower in the corner. "I heard he’s already on a four-game losing streak, right? Rakuten’s interim coach Sato really likes him..."

"That’s right," said Matsuda Naohiro sitting in the middle as he sipped his tea, "but not every high school graduate is Guanglai. When we faced him last time, I could already tell Matsui Yuuki wasn’t quite at the starter level for pro baseball—his control is really lacking. Just be a bit patient and it’s likely you’ll get a walk."

Recently joined Lee Dae-ho also chimed in, speaking in his kimchi-flavored Japanese, "Indeed, while his vertical slider is a bit tricky, his other pitches are too ordinary. You just need to see them once to hit them."

"Do you all remember what he said in that interview?" Yanagida Yuuki chuckled, digging up the past. " ’My goal is to surpass last year’s Lin Guanglai and prove I can become the best player of this generation!’—and now look at him, caught off guard!"

As the subject of the remark, Lin Guanglai wasn’t too bothered by Matsui Yuuki’s words. He figured it was just something someone without professional baseball experience would say.

But that didn’t mean his SoftBank teammates would let it slide so easily, especially since Lin Guanglai had won over almost everyone with his skill and personality. Matsui Yuuki’s comments were naturally seen as a challenge to the whole SoftBank team, and everyone wanted to show him what’s what.

Coincidentally, on any other day, SoftBank’s players might not have such strong feelings, just like the last match when they held back once they confirmed a safe lead.

But lately, the team’s form had been unstable and the media pressure was weighing heavy, leaving many players eager to vent their frustration.

And as it happened, a game with Matsui Yuuki starting came along, like a pillow brought to a napping person—nothing could be better.

Soon, it was evening, and as Matsui Yuuki took the mound at Yahoo Dome for the first time, his face still bore the pride of a Takayama champion, unaware of the professional world.

In Takayama, his combination of fastball, slider, and curveball was nearly invincible, putting any opponent in place—but unfortunately, this was the world of professionals.

Standing at scarcely 173 cm, Matsui Yuuki seemed like a boy lost in a giant’s country, dwarfed by SoftBank’s burly hitters whose frames ranged from lithe to muscular. Those once invincible pitches were easily hit or fouled off by SoftBank’s batters.

In the bottom of the first inning, with Lin Guanglai leading with a hit, SoftBank’s lineup quickly got into the groove, soon achieving one out with runners on first and third.

Now it was Lee Dae-ho’s turn, the fourth batter—a giant in height and arm circumference, enough to make any pitcher tremble.

Soon enough, following the catcher’s lead, Matsui Yuuki attempted an inside fastball, seemingly to boost his confidence.

"Crack—!!!"

After a massive, powerful swing, the ball shot like a laser to the outfield stand with barely any arc—sheer power showing its absolute dominance!

Lee Dae-ho slowly laid down his bat and began his leisurely trot around the bases. Matsui Yuuki, on the mound, turned to look at the ball’s trajectory and then to his teammates behind him, a hint of wavering in his eyes.

In the top of the third inning, it was Yanagida Yuuki’s turn at bat; an all-around hitter, he had focused on pitch selection in his regular training this season.

When the count was 2 strikes and 1 ball, Matsui Yuuki threw a confident vertical slider, which had a beautiful drop; however, Yanagida Yuuki’s diligent practice in pitch selection helped him restrain the urge and refrain from swinging.

Soon after, Matsui Yuuki chose an outside fastball, but his inadequate pro-level control meant it didn’t quite hit the outer edge’s sweet spot—in other words, it was a rather easy pitch!

Yanagida Yuuki swung strongly, connecting perfectly with the sweet spot of the bat, and launched the white ball in a beautiful arc into the right field stands.

Two consecutive home runs clearly shook Matsui’s rhythm and mentality, especially given this was his rookie season, where he lacked experience handling such situations.

Soon, his movements grew stiff, his control became erratic, and his eyes started to show traces of confusion and self-doubt—as if, to Matsui Yuuki, SoftBank’s hitters seemed like sharks smelling blood, ready to devour him at the first sign of any emotional turmoil.

As the game entered the fourth inning, with the lineup reset several times, Matsui Yuuki’s pitches were completely decoded by the SoftBank team.

Facing Lin Guanglai again, though his condition had improved significantly, under a full count, the outside forkball that didn’t drop was once again precisely captured—

With ease, Lin Guanglai swung and sent the ball sailing to Yahoo Dome’s central field stands once more.

Starting with Lin Guanglai and ending with him, as Matsui Yuuki left the mound, this night was destined to be an unforgettable memory for him.