Chapter 7

#6. I Won't Pitch

Every year, newly drafted players typically sign contracts with their teams by the end of September.

Additionally, existing players on the team negotiate and re-sign their contracts from early December to the end of January. This period is generally referred to as the off-season.

In other words, the contract period for professional baseball players in the KBO is from February 1st to November 30th each year, and from December 1st to January 31st of the following year, they are essentially unemployed.

I brought up this topic because today is the day I officially sign my contract with the team.

“Hey, Han Su-hyuk, you’re coming today, right?”

“Wow, that guy is really something. What kind of rookie waits until the day of signing to show up?”

“There’s nothing to be envious about. Honestly, I’m envious.”

“Tsk, making the others feel deprived... When he comes, should I set the tone for him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re going to mess with the team’s top prospect, a front office employee? You’ll be out of a job in no time.”

“...Just saying. His reaction was pretty intense.”

“Stop talking nonsense and pay attention. Can’t you see that the general manager, manager, head coach, pitching coach, and hitting coach are all waiting in the conference room over there?”

“Yeah, he should be waiting at the training ground. Why is he here...”

“He’s probably going to put Han Su-hyuk directly into the lineup as soon as he arrives.”

“Hmm.”

“Hey, he’s here. It’s really Han Su-hyuk. It’s harder to see our team’s players than it is to see celebrities.”

“Wow... Also, he seems taller, doesn’t he? Wasn’t he 192 cm? His limbs are so long, he looks even taller.”

“Yeah... He also seems to have more muscle. His physique is really impressive.”

It turns out this is my first time at the Warriors’ office.

I finally stepped into the office, which is still unfamiliar and not yet truly mine.

“Hello, I’m Han Su-hyuk.”

“Oh! Han Su-hyuk. Please come in.”

“You’re here to sign the contract, right? The president, or rather, the team owner, will be here in about 30 minutes.”

“Yes, I’d like to meet with the general manager, manager, and coaches first.”

“Sure. They’re all waiting for you in the conference room over there.”

“Understood.”

“Han, could you... take a photo...”

“Hey! You, in this situation... Just go into the conference room first. We can take photos later.”

The place the front office staff pointed to was the large conference room.

The general manager and coaching staff, who had been waiting for me with bright eyes, were there, still unable to grasp their own uncertain futures.

The purpose of today’s meeting with me was obvious.

They want to put me in the lineup to secure their own positions amidst the daily uncertainties.

Hmm, but what can I do about it?

“What did you say? What did you say, Han Su-hyuk? What did you just say? You’re only going to play as a batter this year?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve thrown too much this year.”

“No, even if that’s the case, you can’t just...”

The general manager’s mouth dropped open at my declaration to play only as a batter for the first season.

The head coach and pitching coach’s faces quickly turned sour.

The pitching coach, who had the least patience, was the most impatient.

The person who had been eagerly waiting for me to join, planning to use me as a stepping stone to secure his own position.

“Hey, Han Su-hyuk.”

“Yes.”

“You, damn it, how could you make such an important decision without consulting the team...”

“I did consult.”

“With whom? When?”

“With the team owner, on the day of the rookie draft. We agreed to include it as a formal clause in the contract.”

“...”

The mention of the team owner made everyone fall silent as if they had made a pact.

Even the powerful figures who controlled the team couldn’t ignore the existence of the team owner, who held their fate in his hands.

Even if he was just a young rookie in his mid-20s.

“No, no matter what... A pitcher who can throw 165 km/h not pitching...”

“I’m not saying I won’t pitch, but it’s just too difficult right now.”

“Hmm.”

The cold attitude I displayed, one that wouldn’t yield even if pricked with a needle, made the general manager and coaches fall silent and start calculating something.

They were probably trying to figure out how to change my mind, or more accurately, how to control me to their advantage.

The manager, who had no power and might be in his last year, simply closed his eyes and turned away from the situation.

He knew that voicing his opinion here would bring him no benefit.

In the end, it was the general manager who spoke again.

“Han, are you confident as a batter?”

“General Manager!”

“Hold on. Let’s hear him out first.”

“Yes, I’m confident.”

“What position do you prefer? Did you mainly play shortstop or outfield in high school?”

“That’s the most comfortable, but I’m fine with other positions. I can play catcher, but it might strain my knees.”

“Hmm.”

The general manager, with a face full of reluctance, started calculating something.

What he needed now was not a top-tier pitcher to improve the team’s performance but Han Su-hyuk, who could extend his own tenure.

He absolutely couldn’t afford to have a falling out with him.

Recalling this, the general manager smiled and said.

“Alright, then let’s start with you as a batter.”

“Understood.”

“General Manager!”

“Okay, Han Su-hyuk, let’s go sign the contract with the team owner. We can talk about the rest later. It’s not like today is the only day.”

“Ha...”

The general manager’s unilateral declaration made the manager and coaches get up and leave the room. Now, only the general manager and I were left in the conference room.

“Han...”

“Yes?”

“Are you close to the team owner?”

“Well... Yes. He’s my senior at school and also my agent...”

“Can you talk to him? Tell him how much I can help you with baseball.”

I gave a big smile to General Manager Jung Min-sik, who was rolling his eyes and spouting nonsense.

“Yes, I was going to see the team owner anyway. I’ll definitely talk to him. General Manager.”

“Really? Thanks! Just trust me, I’ll clear any obstacles in your way!”

Hmm.

* * *

“Bro, the new general manager is still not decided?”

“Yeah, we’ve been in contact with the person you mentioned, but the talks aren’t progressing. We’re stuck.”

“Hmm.”

“Can I be honest?”

“Go ahead.”

“I don’t think that person will accept the position of general manager. What’s there to be nostalgic about? He’s already reached the peak in baseball.”

“You might be right. But he will eventually accept. Just give it a little more effort.”

“Ha... I don’t know. Is this really going to happen? What could Park Jae-cheol gain by becoming the general manager of the Seoul Warriors? I don’t get it.”

I had initially thought of cutting ties with the team’s management by handing over the blacklist, but I changed my mind.

To truly focus on being a player, I need to help Sung-hoon find a competent general manager to run the team.

And I know the perfect person for the job.

Park Jae-cheol, the first Korean Major Leaguer and a legendary pitcher with 140 career wins.

After retiring, he occasionally does commentary but has no other significant ties to baseball. I proposed the position of general manager of the Warriors to him.

Sung-hoon opposed, calling it a crazy idea.

Why would a person who has achieved everything in baseball and accumulated immense wealth over a decade in the majors want to become the general manager of a team in a city he has no connection to?

But I know.

Park Jae-cheol told me himself when he visited me in the U.S. the year I won the Cy Young Award.

“Actually, I always wanted to be a general manager in Korea, but no one ever gave me the chance. Maybe it was too intimidating to make the offer? I was always open to it. By the way, did I ever tell you about my first days in American baseball...”

From the beginning of his baseball career to his retirement, the long story he told me, which made my ears bleed, had one core message.

He wanted to be a general manager more than a coach or a manager, but no one ever offered him the position.

“The general manager must be him.”

“No, sure, Park Jae-cheol is a great legend, but will he be good as a general manager? And will his reputation hold up in a team he has no connection to?”

“Let’s consider this. Imagine a new general manager comes in and cleans house, firing all the scouts and other problematic elements. Then, he fills those positions with people who have no ties to the existing factions. What would happen?”

“There would be massive resistance. External forces would also join in to criticize the move.”

“Exactly. So, this can’t be done by someone with ties to the Warriors. They would be entangled with all the old connections. How could they clean house? And how would they handle external criticism? The answer is simple. Someone with no ties to the Warriors but whose reputation can silence all the noise.”

“Is that Park Jae-cheol?”

“Who else could it be?”

“...No one else.”

“Sung-hoon could step forward as the team owner and CEO, but if he does, no one will want to join the team. They’ll think a young, inexperienced guy is making crazy decisions. We need Park Jae-cheol’s reputation.”

“Ha... Why is this so complicated?”

“Be honest. Is it because you don’t want to talk to him?”

“...He talks too much. Once he starts, it’s at least two hours. If we have a drink, it’s an all-nighter. It’s really exhausting.”

“Haha, that’s just how the top leaders are. Good luck. I’m off.”

“The top leader is not me...!”

Sensing that the conversation wouldn’t end, I got up. Sung-hoon, with an urgent look, grabbed my pants and continued.

“Wait, Su-hyuk.”

“What? I already signed. I need to go to the training room. I’m busy.”

“I was going to say the same thing. Since you’ve entrusted this to me, stop worrying about the team and focus on being the best player you can be. You’ll burn out if you try to handle everything. Let’s each do our part. Okay?”

I didn’t respond to Sung-hoon’s words.

They were obvious and something I already knew.

Yes, even though I was a Major Leaguer in my previous life, I’m not the same Han Su-hyuk now.

The unfamiliar body, the immature skills, and the significant variables in my environment.

To overcome all this and achieve satisfactory results, I need thorough preparation from now on.

Therefore, my involvement in team management ends here.

‘Click’

I left the CEO’s office and headed to the training ground where Jacob was waiting.

Today, I officially became a Seoul Warriors player.

Now, the real start of my second life, together with everyone, begins.

* * *

<Seoul Warriors Complete Contract with High School Star Han Su-hyuk>

<Record-Breaking Rookie Contract, Han Su-hyuk Signs for 10 Billion Won: “Satisfied with the Team’s Treatment”>

<Lower-than-Expected Contract: Did He Abandon Pitching and Hitting? >

<Anonymous Team Official: “Han Su-hyuk Refuses to Pitch”>

＞What’s this... Why isn’t he pitching?

＞I thought we were getting an Ohtani in Korea, but he’s only a batter?

＞Sigh, I know pitching and hitting is hard. Then, why not just pitch?

＞Right. The Warriors need a pitcher desperately.

＞No, the Warriors need a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman, a second baseman, a third baseman, a shortstop, and outfielders.

＞LOL

＞Surely, it’s not because they couldn’t afford a higher contract and settled for 10 billion won for him to only hit?

＞Come on, would you do that? If Han Su-hyuk pitches and hits, the ticket sales alone would bring in a few billion more.

＞Hey, maybe he has a shoulder injury? That’s why he was cut by Seattle and returned to Korea?

“Damn...”

The internet was buzzing with baseball fans reacting to Han Su-hyuk’s announcement that he won’t pitch and hit.

A pair of unusually thin and pale fingers tapped the keyboard like they were playing a piano.

＞Think before you type. You might taste the bitterness of life. How dare you speak such nonsense about Su-hyuk?

＞What’s this? Su-hyuk? Are you a fan? What did I say wrong? It’s strange. Suddenly not pitching means either he’s hiding an injury to get the contract or... maybe he’s on drugs?

＞This is your last warning. Take one more step, and you’ll see me at the police station.

＞Crazy. Get lost. Haha. Do what you want, drug addict Han Su-hyuk, drug addict Han Su-hyuk.

“Huh...”

The owner of the thin, pale fingers, who had been arguing with a troll on the laptop, sighed deeply and pressed the call button on their smartphone.

“Bro.”

– What, what’s up?

“I just sent you a PDF. Sue them all.”

– Why... What for? Are there still people brave enough to mess with you in this country?

“Not me.”

– Then who?

“I’ve sent everything by email. Read it, and you’ll understand.”

– ...Got it. If you say so. But what are you going to sue them for?

“Defamation of character.”

– Defamation... of character... But can you sue for that if it’s not about you?

“Consult with the lawyer. And there’s more.”

– More? What else?

“Blasphemy.”

– What, blasphemy...?

“I’m serious. Consult with the lawyer and sue for everything, no matter the cost. Don’t show them any mercy. Make sure they never speak out of turn on the internet again.”

– Ha... Okay, I’ll read the email and call you back.

“Thanks.”

How dare anyone speak such nonsense about the savior, Han Su-hyuk, who has come to the barren land of the Warriors.

Such reckless people need to taste the bitterness of life.

– Do you need anything else?

There was a time when the Warriors absorbed all the light fans in Seoul and had a