Chapter 2

Home Plate's Villain - Chapter 3 (3/363)

# 3

Hongbin, you are a moral book… (2)

1

First of all, there is no problem with me challenging the Major League.

I received quite a few scouting offers in the United States, even before signing with the Busan Giants.

Of course, out of respect, I will announce my intention to enter the U.S. before the first-round draft. The Busan Giants have invested a lot in me over the years. Although I've been frustrated many times during my 20 years with the team, I still have feelings for it, so there's no need to ruin the first-round draft rights.

My parents are big fans of the Busan Giants, but they are not the type to control my life according to their wishes.

They will just worry, though. Many promising players have failed in their challenges to the Major League.

The reasons for failure are not just one or two, but the most basic problem is language, isn't it?

"If it's true that you are proficient in English, I will allow it without any hesitation."

Father said this and took another spoonful.

Hmm. Maybe he thinks I'm exaggerating.

And Father tested my English skills in his own way.

"...For 30 minutes, I just kept translating!"

"Ah."

...Father, who loves old Hollywood movies, turned on a movie that is more than 10 years old, made me sit facing away, and asked me to do simultaneous translation.

Later, he seemed to find it amusing and even turned off the subtitles to enjoy the movie.

"Are you Thor, the God of Hammer?"

"Hehe. No, I'm the God of Thunder, not the God of Hammer."

At first, I just went along with it, but after more than two hours, I started to feel sleepy. Father chuckled and enjoyed the movie as if having a conversation with me while I was translating.

Almost in a half-asleep state, I translated until the movie ended.

"...Have you confirmed it now? My English skills."

"Hmm..."

Father seemed unsatisfied even after checking my English skills until the end credits rolled.

Why?

"But, this is a famous movie."

"Yes?"

"You might have already known it."

"Yes?"

Father.

I am enjoying and happy to spend this time with you, but this is ridiculous...

"Let's try another movie. One you probably don't know."

"Yes?"

"Why, are you not confident?"

"Yes?"

"Let's see, a movie you probably don't know..."

"Yes?"

"The War? When the neighborhood DVD shop went out of business, I bought a bundle of DVDs on the cheap and haven't watched this one. Is this movie good?"

"Yes?"

Yes?

2

Father, of course, thought I couldn't speak English, but when I almost perfectly used it, he was shocked and fell into deep thought.

I can also speak Spanish, but I didn't mention it. I didn't want to shock him, given the shock of my son reading alligator as arigato.

Well, in the end, my parents accepted it. Father also had something to say.

It's a bit awkward for me to say, but I was called a baseball genius dozens of times a day.

Two consecutive MVPs in the Golden Lion Cup, hitting .670 with 5 home runs and being selected as MVP in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup last year, and so on. There are too many to remember. I was the one who received the most attention among the championship team members.

However, the original plan was to challenge the Major League after excelling in Korea through the posting system or free agency. It's more likely to succeed and be stable than going directly to the U.S.

But after my parents passed away, I changed all the plans and played in the KBO for 20 years to hit 3,000 hits and regress.

Now it's time to go to the Major League.

"If that's really your intention..."

Mother looked at me carefully and then said,

"Without our son, the Giants won't win a championship for at least 20 years."

Mother, of course, I led the Giants to countless championships, but there's no guarantee that the team won't win without me... Well, I'll take it as an expression of your belief and affection for me.

In the end, I got my parents' permission much more easily than expected. I thought it would take a long time to persuade them, but it was somewhat surprising. They usually respect my opinions, but I didn't expect it to be this easy.

After that, we talked about the Major League for a long time. Father, being a baseball fanatic who has followed the Major League, has considerable knowledge, and Mother supported me while worrying.

"Where do you want to go? The Giants?"

Father, are you worried I might not be a Giants fan? I'm talking about a completely different team.

But the San Francisco Giants are not a good choice. They are a good team, but not suitable for me as a catcher.

Next year, Paul Davenport will debut and hit 21 home runs in 50 games, breaking the record of 21 home runs in the shortest number of games by the rival team, the LA Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, by just one game. And he will make it to the All-Star team nearly 10 times before retiring?

While healthy competition can lead to growth, there's no need to deliberately walk into a difficult situation. The Major League is not just about being good. It's important to prove your skills and secure a position as quickly as possible. Once you get stuck, you might have to waste years regardless of your talent.

"I think it doesn't matter where I go. I'll make them win, anyway."

"Is it determination or baseless confidence?"

Hmm... Father, thank you for reminding me of my lack of reality. I respect you.

I decided to choose my destination after receiving a proper contract offer.

Actually, I had already made a list of potential destinations before regressing.

There are about two or three teams that are worth considering as top priorities.

Teams that have a 41-year-old starting catcher who will retire soon and suffer from a severe catcher shortage for 10 years, teams that seem cursed with catchers getting injured one after another and pulling catchers from the minors, and teams that will soon enter a rebuilding phase, getting rid of veterans and using rookies.

Since the Major League is also suffering from a catcher shortage and will continue to do so in the future, it won't be too bad to go to any team except a few.

"Ah, there was something I wanted to give you as a gift if you joined the Giants..."

After hours of conversation, Father got up and searched in the corner of the closet.

Ah, I forgot.

The baseball fairy.

"Hmm. I made this with the hope that you would become the first player to hit 3,000 hits in the KBO League... Just take it. If you go to the Major League, I'll make you the first player to hit 5,000 hits in the MLB."

What? 5,000 hits? That's ridiculous...

Father, please... I suffered so much to hit 3,000 hits in the KBO, and now 5,000 hits in the Major League?

"Here. I spent a considerable amount of money to make it. Ha ha. Well, if you succeed in the Major League and come back to Korea in your later years to hit another 3,000 hits, that would be fine, right? Ha ha."

"Sure. Our son can probably hit a thousand home runs, too."

So, you're saying I should hit 8,000 hits in total, in Korea and the U.S... Mother, please don't say such things. Your love for your son is excessive.

Father handed me the card with a somewhat complicated expression.

And when I sighed and took the card with both hands, he casually said to me.

O: Hmm.

O: Is your Major League goal 5,000 hits and a thousand home runs?

O: That sounds like a lot of fun.

This crazy guy is making a joke about a house on fire.