A/N
[-*What's he doing here? Is he bored?*- inner dialogue]
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It's already mid-February, and the camp is nearing its end.
There are occasional switches between the first and second teams, and Takeshita recently joined the first-team camp. Taniguchi continues to work hard with the first team, showing impressive dedication.
Catcher Haratani seems to be in excellent form during the minor league training camp. Facing a batting pitcher, he kept hitting balls over the fence. Known for his strong arm and expected long-range hitting ability, he's finally showcasing his true potential. However, he still needs to refine his control. It's not enough to throw the ball quickly to stop a stolen base runner; precision is required. During the Red vs. White game, a wild throw from him hit me on the head while I was stealing. If it was on purpose, that would be incredible control, but I highly doubt it.
Mitamura, recently back from injury, made an impression with his powerful fastballs. Low pitches are nearly impossible for minor league hitters to handle, usually resulting in grounders to the infield. However, high and inside pitches are a different story. Even if your opponent is a synchronized player, you can't afford to miss.
Meanwhile, my days are filled with basic practice, fielding drills, swing practice, and toss batting. My defense has improved, but my batting remains a struggle. Even minor league pitchers have pitches that are almost unhittable when they land on target, and they always throw with maximum effort to avoid getting hit. Hitting back a ball in this match is a monumental task. Despite being mindful of my stance and technique before stepping into the batter's box, the moment of impact happens in an instant.
In high school, a hit off the tip of the bat often found a gap between fielders, but professional baseball players are much better at defense. Plays that would be considered exceptional in high school are routine in professional baseball. It's astounding that a player can hit .300 under these conditions.
While I felt confident about my defense, my batting left me completely at a loss.
"Hey, Glove Master!" a familiar voice called from the stands. It was former coach Yamashiro. *What's he doing here? Is he bored?*
"Still struggling with hitting, huh? It's rare to see someone with a batting average below .100 in a minor league game," Yamashiro teased from behind the fence.
"Shut up! Anyway, why are you here?" I asked.
"It's a family trip. Tours are cheaper in the winter. I also came to give my incompetent disciple a pep talk."
"Much appreciated. So, how can I get better at hitting the ball?"
"Let me teach you. If I coach you, you might hit three home runs in 14 years," he replied with a smirk, referencing his modest career total.
"I'm desperate here. I know this might be a waste of time, but please tell me."
"You're the same as always. Is that the attitude you have when you want to learn something?" he laughed. "Never mind. There's a saying that the dumber the student, the cuter they are."
"For now, I'll tell you what I've noticed. Your body leans forward at the moment of impact, and you're slightly open when hitting. But your biggest weakness is that you can't even hit the ball."
*Even a kindergartener could understand the last one without being told.*
"So, how do I get the ball to hit the bat?"
"Just look at the ball and hit it."
*Is this a riddle? I guess this was a waste of time after all.*
"Thank you, Yamashiro-san, for your very concise, clear, and pointless advice. Please be careful on your way home."
"You idiot. Is that how you treat your mentor?" he retorted.
"Well, I do feel grateful, but I don't think I feel that way."
"Look, I'll tell you. You're trying to hit the ball at a point. That won't work."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you need to think of hitting it along a line."
"Huh?"
"To explain it in a way even an idiot can understand, no matter how professional you are, you can't throw a disappearing ball. I hope you get that."
"That's probably true."
"In other words, even though the ball changes direction dramatically, it's still continuous from moment to moment."
*Am I stupid, or is Yamashiro's teaching method just bad? Probably the latter.*
"So, when the pitcher throws the ball, you draw a line in your mind along the ball's trajectory."
"???"
"That means you need to have a mental picture of the pitcher's throws and how they change."
*I'm starting to understand.*
"Then you memorize the trajectory of your bat and visualize where you'll hit the ball along that path."
*There was probably an unnecessary word in there.*
"In other words, imagine the pitcher's ball path as a line, and imagine the path of your bat as a line, and then picture the two lines intersecting."
*I think I get it, but I'm not sure. Hmm, maybe I don't understand.*
"So when you're practicing, for example, stand in front of a mirror and visualize the trajectory of your bat. If you can do that accurately, you'll hit the ball better."
*I feel like I understand a little bit now.*
"Anyway, it's about time for my wife to finish shopping. See you later. Do your best, my beloved disciple," Yamashiro said as he left.
*His mouth and face are still as mean as ever, but I'm grateful he took the time to come and encourage me. But catching the ball on a line? Hmm, I'm not really sure, but I guess I'll give it a try, even if it doesn't work.*
As a result, the camp ended without me finding confidence in my batting, and the exhibition games will begin in March.
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