With the record correction, my stats for the season read two hits in six at-bats over three games.
*Batting average: .333.*
*A .300 hitter,* I mused, the number repeating in my mind. *Sounds good. I need to keep this momentum and solidify my spot on the first team.*
Despite starting against the Tokyo Chariots, I hadn't been given another start since. Thomas, Iida, and Noda rotated at second base, their matchups dictated by the opposing pitchers, leaving me on the bench.
In the nine games that followed, I appeared three times as a pinch runner and once as a defensive replacement, bringing my season total to seven appearances.
*Every day on the first team means an extra 70,000 yen, totaling about a million yen in two weeks. Being a pro really is a dream.*
My little sister, who's like a scurrying hamster, would graduate high school soon and head to a vocational school or university. I needed to save for her tuition.
Meanwhile, Haratani, after his first professional home run, played in two more games but went hitless in five at-bats. He committed two passed balls and was caught stealing, leading to his demotion. Despite his disappointment, he seemed buoyed by his initial success, leaving "I Shall Return" in small letters in his locker.
Now, the team had arrived in Niigata for a match against the Niigata Condors. *I was nervous about being sent back to the minors,* but I was selected for the trip.
"You'll be in the starting lineup tomorrow. Get ready," Head Coach Ichikawa said abruptly after we boarded the bus. This would be my third start of the season. *I need to make this count to cement my place on the team.*
The next day, to my surprise, I was slotted to play shortstop, batting ninth. Regular player Arai had been hit by a pitch on his right foot, and substitute Katsuyama was also injured, giving me my chance.
In this game, I went hitless in three at-bats and failed on a sacrifice bunt attempt. My batting average dropped to .222, and I made two defensive errors, both on ground balls. Iida replaced me in the seventh inning, and afterward, I was told I would be sent back to the second team.
*In professional baseball, results are everything.* I couldn't make excuses. *Maybe I got too comfortable on the first team.*
*Time to start over.*
Uchizawa was promoted in my place, his minor league average climbing to .270 after overcoming a long slump.
Back in the minors, I decided to push myself harder, treating it like a mini-camp. *My inability to secure a spot on the first team wasn't just about technical skill.*
*I've made tough plays before, always keeping my eye on the ball until it was in my glove. But in the Niigata game, I made two errors: one rushing a double play, the other panicking because the batter was fast.*
*I've lost my confidence.*
When I was demoted, I felt a strange relief before the disappointment. *I was afraid I'd make another error next time I played. Even at bat, I didn't feel like I could hit the ball.*
In high school, I was part of a national championship team and thought I had a strong mentality. Playing on the first team revealed new weakness I didn't want to acknowledge.
*It all begins when you admit your weakness,* I recalled a phrase from a manga, though the story escaped me. *I need time to focus without distractions.*
Back at the dorm, I dropped my bags, changed into a tracksuit, and started running in the light rain around the building. *This is where I rebuild.*