Baseball: A Two-Way Player

Chapter 681 25: The Best of This Era (

And as for the Yankees, many players have been asked about the team's recent poor state, Lin Guanglai included, despite most of these failures having little to do with him, and his performance often being the most diligent in the team.

"Yes, our recent state is indeed very poor." Facing the pestering reporters, Lin Guanglai candidly admitted this but offered his own response to the provocations of these reporters, "Complaints about the bullpen? No, absolutely not! We are a team, and the game's outcome shouldn't be the responsibility of any individual. The rest of the season is still long, and I believe we will find our form."

When Lin Guanglai was also asked about the feeling of facing Trout soon, the young man showed a bright smile on his face: "Facing the divine trout? Yes, I'm very much looking forward to it! Or rather, I've been anticipating such a day since I joined the Yankees—without a doubt, Mike Trout is the strongest hitter in the league today, and facing him will definitely be very meaningful… The result of the game? Sorry Mike, this time I have a reason that I must win!"

"Paul, actually I have always wanted to ask you something…" Looking at Paul Skenes beside him, whose gaze was firmly locked onto Lin Guanglai, George suddenly questioned, "You are clearly playing as a catcher and first baseman, why do you admire Lin so much?"

The friend's question brought Skenes' attention back from Lin Guanglai, and after thinking carefully for a while, Skenes replied: "There is one thing I haven't told you, George—starting next season, I plan to begin pitching while hitting."

"You ask why I like watching Lin's games? Very simple, because I'm grateful for all he has achieved—it's precisely because he successfully practiced dual swordsmanship at the major league level, bringing about a conceptual change in the baseball world, that players like us at lower levels can also develop more flexible thinking…"

"I actually wanted to be a pitcher a long time ago, it's just that I followed the coach's arrangements and never put it into practice—now, Lin has given me the courage to explore more of my own possibilities, isn't such a player worthy of my admiration?"

"Moreover," Skenes paused and continued to add, "he really plays beautifully…"

-----------------

Here let me clarify, this part by Skenes is really not something I made up; it has been clearly recorded in the news, and I just adapted it a bit.

I'll paste the news below:

The online version of the United States "Colorado Springs Gazette" published on the 17th an exclusive interview with Paul Skenes, a two-way university pitcher (19 years old), who had witnessed in person Ohtani Shohai's (27 years old) home debut as a pitcher at Angel Stadium.

Skenes is currently studying at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado and plays for the university baseball team in the Division I league. Last season, he started 28 games as a designated hitter, played as a catcher in 18 games, and as a first baseman in 2 games, taking the mound as a closer in the latter half of games. In pitching, he achieved 1 win and 1 loss with 11 successful saves and an earned run average of 2.70; in hitting, he recorded a batting average of .410, hit 11 home runs, and contributed 43 RBIs. In the 2023 draft ranking predicted by the professional magazine "Baseball America," he is ranked second among college players. This season he plans to transition to a starting pitcher.

Skens, from near Anaheim, personally attended the game of Ohtani's home debut against the Athletics on April 8, 2018, when he was 15 years old. In that game, Ohtani pitched 7 innings with only 1 hit allowed and no runs, striking out 12 times, securing his second win in the major leagues. Skenes said: "Watching the game was very enjoyable. I am very grateful for all that Ohtani has achieved. He successfully practiced dual swordsmanship at the major league level, which allows players at lower levels like minor leagues or colleges to develop more flexible thinking."