Ken's eyes narrowed, unsure of what the man was going to say.
'Did he notice anything about my system? Surely not…' He thought nervously.
"Whenever you face the best batter on the other team, your whole body changes. It's as if you can access your full strength. Not only that, your pitching form becomes almost perfect." Tom explained, wearing an odd expression.
"So all I can guess is that you subconsciously hold back against batters who aren't that dangerous."
Ken breathed a small sigh of relief inwardly. He knew that Tom was likely talking about the moments he used his Showdown skill. There was no other conclusion to make on Tom's part, since he didn't know about his skills.
"So, that tells me that you're capable of pitching properly, just that there's a mental block. What I want to do is make it so you can pitch like that all the time, not just against the best batter on the team." He said matter-of-factly.
Ken nodded, "That would be for the best."
"But as I said yesterday, it's not going to be easy. We will carve your optimal pitching motion into your body through thousands of repetitions."
Although he didn't exactly like the words used, Ken appreciated the man's enthusiasm. From how he was speaking, it was clear that the man knew what he was talking about. Ken didn't care how hard he had to work, he wanted his pitching grade to improve.
After all, it had been 3 years since his grade had increased to SSS+. If he could have done it own his own, it would have happened already.
"So, are you ready to become the best pitcher you can be?"
"Yes."
"Yes what?" Tom said, tilting his head.
Ken blinked a few times, "Yes… Please?"
At this Tom shook his head, "I am your coach… Call me Coach from now on, okay?"
"Right… Yes coach!"
"Alright, let's get into it."
So Ken began his first session with Tom House, the legendary pitching trainer. First off he was subjected to one-knee drills. According to the man himself, it helped isolate and focus on a few key elements of pitching mechanics, without causing strain on the body.
Hip rotation, core engagement, arm path and release point. This way he could provide pinpoint adjustments, without messing with Ken's form altogether.
Around 20 minutes into the exercise, Ken could feel the strain on his abdominal muscles. He had not realized just how crucial his core muscles were to pitching.
At first, it might seem that one's arms and foundational leg strength were the biggest contributors to pitching, but the core was just as important. Not only did it help with balance, it also provided stability.
Tom pointed out some adjustments to be made and Ken wordlessly followed his advice, trusting the man's experience. He tried multiple different arm paths and release points until Tom was satisfied.
By the end of the 30 minutes drill, Ken was already sweating and his core was burning. Despite not doing many movements, it was rather intense.
After a short water break, the next thing they did was what is called a pause drill. According to Tom, this was a drill focused specifically on balance.
He was told to act like he was going to pitch, but then pause at certain key points throughout the pitching motion. He stopped at the top of the windup, at the point of planting his lead leg and at the moment of releasing the ball.
This was difficult for Ken who usually only threw fast. A few times, specifically at the point of planting his stride foot, Ken wobbled.
Once again, his core muscles burned as they strained to keep him on his feet.
"See what I mean? Your core muscles are already letting you down." Tom said, slapping Ken on the stomach while he was paused.
The shock caused him to fall onto his side, dirtying his jersey. Ken clicked his tongue in annoyance, but he did not say anything. Just this first hour of training, he had already found out more about pitching mechanics than his whole life.
This was all he needed to know to trust this man.
"Your foot placement is great, but with your fast arm, you tend to over rotate. Your legs have been compensating during the follow through, but it makes it long and unnecessary. If a line drive or a bunt comes your way, you won't be able to react in time." Tom said, picking apart his form.
For a whole two hours, Tom went through various drills and corrected Ken along the way. By the end, Ken was exhausted, even with his fatigue management skill.
Tom grabbed a nearby water bottle and handed it to Ken who was sitting on the ground, catching his breath.
"I'm surprised, you didn't complain once during our session." Tom said, giving a somewhat backhanded compliment.
Ken raised an eyebrow, "I'm not a kid, why would I complain to someone who is trying to help me?"
At this, Tom laughed out loud, "You should have seen Randy in our first session. Every word out of the guy's mouth was either a curse or a complaint."
"Who is Randy?" Ken asked curiously.
"Huh? You don't know Randy Johnson? The guy's record you beat for most strikeouts in a game." Tom asked in bewilderment.
"EH!? You trained Randy Johnson!? The Hall of Famer?" Ken exclaimed loudly.
At this, Tom puffed out his chest. "I did. Though if we're talking about raw talent and work ethic, I'd say that you beat him hands down."
Ken was silent after the compliment. He suddenly understood why Barry had recommended this coach to him. He had asked for the best, but he didn't expect someone like this to take up the job.
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you accept my offer? I'm only a rookie." Ken asked.
At this, Tom's expression softened and he placed a hand upon Ken's left shoulder. "Because Barry told me he'd pay me double my usual rate."
"Ah…"
Tom laughed heartily, enjoying the disappointed expression on the young man's face.