The infield where the fly ball was caught was too close, and the runner at third base did not dare to rush to home plate.

The result of this bat made no contribution to the offensive situation, but changed the number of outs from a favorable one out to an unfavorable two outs.

Zhang Zhe turned back and picked up the wooden stick on the ground.

The designated hitting position represented by the English abbreviation DH does not require fielding.

When it was Hanshin's second team's turn to defend, Zhang Zhe only had to watch from the sidelines and occasionally go out and swing a few sticks to warm up.

A baseball game often lasts two to three hours, and the designated hitter players are separated by tens of minutes from each other. Most of the time they are not involved in the game.

Standing in front of the guardrail and watching his teammates defend, Zhang Zhe felt a little disconnected, as if the game on the field was the same with or without him.

The life of a professional baseball player involves not only fighting against boredom, but also enduring loneliness.

Zhang Zhezheng was sighing in his heart when his shoulder was touched by someone else.

"Xiao Zhe, chewing gum, would you like one?"

With a smile on his face, Kento Fujita shook the gum box and said, "The competition is going on for a long time, so I'll chew one to relieve my fatigue."

"Thank you." Zhang Zhe asked for a piece of chewing gum and put it in his mouth.

"At first glance, you don't have much experience. The pace of professional baseball games is much slower than in high school. It's a grind to throw every ball. Every time you play DH, you're bored. Chewing some gum can at least refresh you."

Zhang Zhe listened to Fujita Kento's words of experience without missing a word.

He and Fujita Kento had played against each other several times in high school, so they were not acquainted without fighting.

Kento Fujita was drafted into the team last year, one year ahead of Zhang Zhe, and he also serves as a catcher.

In the interpersonal circles formed spontaneously in the team, players who graduated from college formed a circle, players who came from corporate teams formed another circle, and players who graduated from high school also formed a circle.

High school players who knew each other in Koshien often help each other when they join the same professional baseball team.

Seniors, peers, and juniors, wherever you go, there are interpersonal relationships that need to be carefully managed.

Zhang Zhe has always been willing to return more kindness to others.

This is how true friends come to be.

In the second half of the second inning, when Hanshin's second team attacked, Takadera Nomumu, who was in the same class as Zhang Zhe, hit a single.

"Awang!"

"Well played!"

Zhang Zhe cheered excitedly, feeling happy for Takadera Nomumu. He hit a hit in the first practice game, which was much better than not being able to get even a sacrifice hit.

The game entered the second half of the third round and Zhang Zhe waited for the second seat.

At this time, there was one out and no one on base, and the score was 1 to 3 for Shikoku Bank and Hanshin's second team.

The wind is a bit strong.

Zhang Zhe's jersey was blown loose and tight by the wind, patting his back.

To be honest, staying in the rest area is more comfortable than coming up and being blown by the cold wind of early spring.

It's difficult to maintain the hand feel in such weather, even though Zhang Zhe doesn't have much hand feel at all.

The result of the second pitch was a little worse than the first pitch. The fly ball hit was not high and far away, and was only caught in the infield.

Hanshin team's second team supervisor Hirata Katsuo said to Zhang Zhe who was returning: "You are going to play two more seats."

"yes!"

Zhang Zhe, who performed poorly in two consecutive games, still has the opportunity to play in the next two games.

Takadera Nozomi was substituted because he performed very well. He hit a single in the first at-bat, walked four balls in the second at-bat, and got on base in both at-bats. His fielding performance was also good. The coaching staff today

His inspection has been completed.

Takadera Wangmeng, who was still unfinished, came back from the game and said, "Haha, I'm in great condition. If you give me two more seats, I can give you a big reward today."

In fact, Zhang Zhe's mood is more complicated.

On the one hand, I was really happy for the good performance of my fellow student Kodera Nomu, but on the other hand, I also felt a sense of crisis because of my own performance.

A temporary lead in a life stage does not mean a permanent lead.

The achievement of national dominance in high school is indeed worth bragging about, but it cannot protect the long road of life forever.

None of those peers who were once behind are willing to fall behind forever.

Everyone is both a collaborator and a competitor.

Under pressure, Zhang Zhe thought about a very important question.

“What is my greatest gift?”

Thinking more deeply is what is the biggest and most special advantage that I have in baseball.

The answer that Zhang Zhe thought of was dynamic vision.

After growing up and gaining some experience, Zhang Zhe realized that talent is indeed needed to do many things, and only above this can other qualities have room to develop.

Through communication with others and the testing of medical equipment, Zhang Zhe learned that the most unusual thing about himself in baseball is the dynamic vision of his eyes.

The specific manifestation is that the eyes can more keenly capture the flight trajectory of the ball and even determine the direction of the ball's rotation.

The ability that ordinary people need to practice for many years to slightly improve, Zhang Zhe has possessed since he was a child.

If you don't start playing baseball, having good dynamic vision will become an inconvenience that affects your life. For example, watching low-frame images is particularly uncomfortable.

The ability to select balls is Zhang Zhe's biggest advantage in choosing to become a professional baseball player.

While waiting for the next seat, my thoughts gradually became clearer.

In the second half of the fifth game, Hanshin's second team attacked, and the first one to come on was Zhang Zhe, who was in sixth place.

This time, Zhang Zhe was much more cautious. If the ball was not coming towards the middle of the strike zone, he would always put it in a little bit and then destroy it with the bat. Finally, he chose a four-ball walk and loaded the bases.

"Finally I can get on base." Zhang Zhe breathed a sigh of relief.

There is no rest when the bases are loaded. The runner on the base when no one is out needs to draw the attention of the defense and share the pressure for teammates in the strike zone.

The soreness in his thigh is recovering much better, but it is still slightly affected. Zhang Zhe did not dare to steal bases hastily and followed the offensive tactics step by step.

My two long legs feel a bit heavy when I step on them, but fortunately I am still not slow when I run.

The subsequent batter finally sent Zhang Zhe back to home plate, and Hanshin's second team took a 4-1 lead.

Zhang Zhe, who ran back one point, felt better. He entered the rest area and asked Kento Fujita for a piece of chewing gum to chew.

Kento Fujita simply gave the entire box to Zhang Zhe.

"Let's go out for dinner next time on our day off?" Zhang Zhe suggested.

Kento Fujita readily agreed.

The base's food management is strict, and it's rare to go out and eat freely.

One of the ways professional baseball players socialize is to go out to eat and drink together during their short days off.

When the game reached the sixth inning, Zhang Zhe came on to bat again. Faced with two outs and a man on second base, he picked up another four-ball walk and loaded the bases.

Although the subsequent teammates were not sure, Zhang Zhe had completed the task of continuing the attack.

Later, Zhang Zhe's position as DH in the sixth baton was taken over by Kento Fujita.

Kento Fujita hit a single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The game ended with Hanshin Team 2nd place 5-2 Shikoku Bank Team.

The next practice match is in a week, and there will be a rest day in addition to training.

On the day off, the number of people going out to eat increased, and Shigeru Endo, who had played against Zhang Zhe in Hagar, also joined in.

This group of professional baseball players who graduated from high school one or two years ago left their footprints in restaurants and snack bars in Anyun City.
Chapter completed!