Chapter 6

Home Plate's Villain - Chapter 7 (7/363)

# 7

Veteran and Veteran (2)

1

As the exhibition games approach, the number of players in the camp gradually decreases. Once the exhibition games start, the number of players will likely decrease even faster.

As the lockers become more vacant, the regular players who are certain to make the opening day roster often take over the lockers of the players who have left for the minor league camp.

Players like Bradley Shaw Jr., Ryan, and Jin Tefman, who are the team's aces, use two lockers each when their neighbors leave, but Gavin Polcheksi still uses only one.

The reason is that he moved my locker next to his, giving up one of his own.

It might not seem like a big deal, but I've heard that this is a privilege of the big leaguers. It's quite amusing that stars earning tens of millions of dollars a year get excited about the privilege of using two lockers.

He seems to like me, moving my locker next to his almost forcibly and following me around to watch my training.

He doesn't really give much advice. He just observes and occasionally comments. Most of his comments are about adapting to the major league culture rather than technical advice, but sometimes he just makes idle chatter. Like now.

"Are you not excited, kid?"

He asked while chewing sunflower seeds next to me on the treadmill. Gavin Polcheksi always calls me "kid" and enjoys cutting his sentences short.

I am a kid, I guess. Technically, I'm in my forties, but my body is 18 years old by this world's standards.

If a rookie survives in the major league camp until the exhibition games, it's natural to be excited about making the opening day roster. Especially if you perform well in the exhibition games.

But I think even a sane general manager wouldn't put an 18-year-old catcher on the opening day roster. If the starting catcher, who is 41, gets injured, it would be a big problem. What if the starting catcher gets injured in the first inning and the 18-year-old rookie has to play the remaining eight innings? It would be great for me, but it's not something that can be achieved solely by my own skills.

Still, this 40-year-old bald, muscular uncle doesn't seem to fit the role.

He looks like he's eager to tease the rookie. Should I play along and make him happy?

When I retire, this guy will be in his sixties and a manager, so it's okay to call him an old man, right?

"I'm so excited about hitting 100 home runs in the major leagues and winning the Rookie of the Year, MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and Hank Aaron Award that I can't sleep."

"Damn, you arrogant kid. Talking nonsense with a straight face."

He laughed, showing his teeth. It's a bit strange, but he likes it when rookies talk like that.

If a rookie is intimidated and stammers in front of a super veteran like him, he might frown and get angry.

Actually, I already knew he liked this. I've read his autobiography a few times.

"Isn't the job of a major league general manager the smartest people in the world? If I were smart, I wouldn't put an 18-year-old on the opening day roster."

"No. Our general manager is an idiot."

"Why?"

"If giving a 41-year-old catcher who can't even hit properly a $20 million contract doesn't make someone an idiot, who is an idiot?"

I couldn't help but laugh, thinking it was a self-deprecating joke from a veteran catcher at the end of his long-term contract. Gavin saw me laughing and pulled me off the treadmill, laughing so hard the indoor training facility echoed.

"Good, kid. Let's go try to hit our team ace's pitches over the fence this time."

What? Now he wants me to hit Shaw Jr.'s pitches?

This old man seems to be having fun. Since hitting Scott Kiesler's pitches, he's been rotating through pitchers who are likely to make the 25-man roster, setting them up against me.

I don't mind. Who wouldn't want to hit pitches from big league level pitchers?

Besides, Bradley Shaw Jr. is a pitcher who could be a number two starter anywhere. In a team without a super ace, he could be a number one starter.

He's expected to be traded for a bunch of prospects halfway through next season.

2

Brendan Archer, the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, called Kevin Mathias, the general manager of the Marlins.

Despite the Phillies having several pressing issues, this call was to address the most urgent one.

Catcher.

Gavin Polcheksi is still usable but is getting old, and John wants to be traded.

After a brief pause, Kevin Mathias answered the call.

"Hey, Mathias. Is everything okay at the Marlins camp?"

-Everything's fine. What's up, Archer?

"Cut to the chase, I need a catcher."

-My nephew knows you need a catcher. By the way, my nephew is only 8 months old.

Archer didn't mind the uninteresting joke from the trade partner.

Other general managers knew Archer was desperately looking for a catcher, and this was already his fifth call about finding a catcher.

The situation was getting worse because there were very few usable catchers in the entire major league.

"Alright, let's get to the point. I want Machini."

Machini is the Marlins' starting catcher, a 27-year-old offensive catcher with a strong bat, still three years away from free agency.

-Machini? I can give you Machini if you give me Jin Tefman and Shaw Jr. I also want a first-round draft pick.

"Alright. Machini was just a suggestion. Let's get to the main point. How about Colt?"

As if he didn't expect Machini, Archer quickly mentioned Colt, the Marlins' backup catcher.

-What about Bexley?

"Bexley? Damn, didn't he blow out his knee? Did you already trade Colt?"

-Yeah, I sent him to the Red Sox 10 minutes ago.

"Then Ackerton is out too."

-Ryan or Tefman might work.

"Add Jim Florence and one of your top 20 prospects."

-Jim Florence? We have plenty of prospects who can't throw strikes. Anyway, no catcher, Archer.

"Damn, I'm hanging up."

Archer clicked his tongue.

After making calls all day, he confirmed that keeping John on the team was better than acquiring someone new.

3

The exhibition games are just around the corner.

My parents are making a fuss, thinking I might debut in the major leagues right away. It seems my story is also being talked about in Korea from time to time.

I've studied the major leagues quite a bit. The foreign players coming to Korea are the ones who know this story the best. They know better than anyone how difficult it is to make it to the big leagues.

Even if the team decides I'm ready to go to the big leagues right now, it's standard practice in this industry to keep a player in the minors for a while to increase the chances of success, whether it's to consider service time or to improve the odds of success.

ㅇㅅㅇ: You need to know your place.

ㅇㅅㅇ: I heard that John decided to stay with the team.

ㅇㅅㅇ: There's no spot for you.

What a funny guy.

I remember he said he was cheering for me and was sincere.

ㅍㅅㅍ: Does the fairy really cheer for someone like you?

ㅍㅅㅍ: You were so happy about that. You're softer than you look.

8ㅅ8: It was just a joke to tease you. Haha. You must have been quite excited, but you should know better than to get carried away.

It's embarrassing to see, but it looks good.

The funny thing is, he doesn't realize how obvious his lies are.

ㅇㅁㅇ: What?

ㅍㅅㅍ: Who said you were lying, you rude person?

Whatever. What's the point of arguing?

Anyway, I don't expect to go straight to the big leagues.

I knew John Bushington wouldn't leave the team immediately. Instead, he would leave less than a month after the 2029 season starts, if my memory serves me right.

He would be swapped with a backup catcher who couldn't adapt to another team, and that backup catcher would make a big mistake in a game where he replaced Gavin.

In the 2029 I know, the Phillies' catcher situation is quite tumultuous.

The significant gap between Gavin Polcheksi and the backup, Gavin's nagging injuries, and the search for a backup.

Before summer even ends, an unexpected AA catcher would step onto the major league stage.

The general manager isn't incompetent, but he couldn't find a catcher.

What remains for me is the question of where the team's general manager will start a 17-year-old catcher who will turn 19, and how far he will be promoted before summer ends.

If I get extremely lucky and all the bad conditions align, I might step onto the major league stage this season.

If not, next year is fine too.

Actually, my top priority is to make my major league debut within the next season.

ㅎㅅㅎ: Hmm. An 18-year-old catcher.

ㅎㅅㅎ: Work hard, 18-year-old catcher.

ㅎㅁㅎ: I wish you to make your major league debut within 18 months, 18-year-old catcher.

Go ahead, brag all you want.

I'll catch a cockroach and put it in a box with you.

ㅍㅅㅍ: …….

What do you have to say?

ㅍㅅㅍ: I was wrong.