Chapter 11

Laughter Candidate -1-

#

A meaningless game like a Blue-White match has no significance. Even exhibition games are like that, so what meaning could a Blue-White match have?

Still, after the Blue-White match, most people became much kinder to me.

"Kangwoo, don't misunderstand. From what I see, you're a natural pitcher. So, just play shortstop on the days I start, and pitch on the other days. No, please do."

This was said by the pitching coach, Kim Jeong-yong.

A 33-year-old right-handed starting pitcher by Korean age.

He has pretty good control, and he's a good mental and physical player, the Korean ace of the Oceans.

His ERA is usually around 3.8, and while he rarely throws a shutout, he often gives a quality start (QS, pitching 6 innings or more with 3 or fewer earned runs). If he succeeds in a QS+ (7 innings, 3 or fewer earned runs), he becomes "Kim High-Quality," and if he fails in a QS, he's called "Kim Low-Quality."

"My elbow is weak..."

"Hey, I'm just kidding, kidding. Still, it's good to have a solid defense. Try to catch well."

The head coach took a selfie with me and posted it on SNS. He told me to smile, so I just smiled. At a glance, it said, "I'll try to raise our Kangwoo well."

It's not strange that many people want to add a spoonful. It might be a very natural thing. Well, I have a big bowl.

It doesn't matter if a few spoons are added as long as the core isn't scooped out.

There might be a win-win situation.

So, I pressed like without saying anything, and the head coach was very pleased.

After a while, I got a rough idea of how this team is structured.

First, the manager has almost no foundation. There's only a coach dedicated to foreign players and an interpreter.

The head coach has the most influence among the coaching staff.

And the front office has two quality control coaches and a power analysis team.

I'm not interested in politics in baseball. I don't plan to mediate and balance things out.

[Oceans GM on Kangwoo: 'The greatest achievement of his baseball career.']

[Oceans Manager: 'The world, not just Korean baseball, should pay attention to Kangwoo.']

[Oceans Head Coach Bae Yu-hong: 'Kangwoo is a talent who will become a treasure in Korean baseball.']

So, I linked all three articles on my SNS.

-Glass Sister: Hey, Kangwoo

-Glass Sister: Getting pampered by the seniors?

-Me: I want some from you too

After waiting for a long time, there was no reply.

Hmm.

When you're grumpy, you're grumpy, they say.

I took a big step and sent it, but it was ignored.

But a little later, she didn't reply, but she had captured it and set it as her messenger profile picture.

Did she forget to reply because she was so happy?

#

Oceans' first baseman Yang Daegun was having the most relaxed spring training in recent years.

He had felt uncomfortable with his contemporaries, Jeong Gihyun, who was expelled for drunk driving, and Ko Untae, who was chased out of Japan by the manager's roar and returned to Korea.

These two lumps of flesh never missed a chance to drink after games. They would often take the well-trained juniors with them and enforce unnecessary discipline.

Especially Jeong Gihyun, during the team's seven-game losing streak last season, he claimed he injured his leg and skipped the game when a pitcher with a career record of 1 hit in 27 at-bats was on the mound.

Kim Sewan, who was performing decently, started to decline after that day. After hitting into a double play in his first at-bat, the fans booed, demanding Jeong Gihyun instead of Kim Sewan, and his mental state completely collapsed.

The former manager, Kim Yong-hwa, couldn't control these two. When Park Jeong-shin, who had earned FA status, moved to the Irons, Yang Daegun felt a sense of despair. He thought these two would now have more freedom.

Jeong Gihyun and Ko Untae, in terms of baseball, were decent players. Although the Oceans' strength would undoubtedly weaken, Yang Daegun thought this season might be better than last.

"Kangwoo."

People misunderstand that Yang Daegun has a bad personality. It's all because of his build and appearance, but he called Kangwoo, who was doing Pilates alone first thing in the morning, in a friendly voice.

"Good morning, senior."

He's a kid who makes you feel good just by looking at him. I've told him a few times to be more relaxed, but he's always polite.

What kind of high school rookie is so diligent? And his baseball skills are also impressive.

He was completely fooled by that changeup in the Blue-White match.

His hitting skills are not ordinary. Personally, what I look forward to more than that is his defensive skills.

Jeong Gihyun, regardless of his character, was thought to be necessary for the team's defense. Although he would hold back when challenging difficult plays for fear of an error.

Now, even if Jeong Gihyun hadn't been drunk driving, Kangwoo would have become the starting shortstop.

It was fortunate that he disappeared before he could torment Kangwoo, who might have taken his position.

"You work really hard. You'll go far."

"Thank you."

Some senior players said Kangwoo's way of responding was disrespectful.

But Yang Daegun didn't mind. In fact, since he had interrupted Kangwoo's training, he felt a bit guilty.

Thinking about himself, who couldn't say anything even while imagining punching Jeong Gihyun and Ko Untae in the jaw, he sat next to Kangwoo.

And he started to follow Kangwoo's movements.

"..."

"..."

Kangwoo's eyes met Yang Daegun's. Feeling awkward, Yang Daegun smiled slightly. He remembered that when he was a rookie, his current close friend, Lee Si-wook, was terrified when he saw him smile.

'Who would want to look like this?'

But Kangwoo wasn't scared.

"If you're interested in Pilates, I can check your form."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then I appreciate it."

Yang Daegun smiled brightly. As he was learning and following Kangwoo's movements, Lee Si-wook came in and started laughing hysterically.

"Brother! What are you doing? It doesn't suit you!"

"Good morning, senior."

"Hey, hey, Si-wook, don't I look good?"

Lee Si-wook greeted Kangwoo with a hand and teased Yang Daegun.

"Brother, your legs are shaking like a broken robot. How is that good? I could do better than that."

Yang Daegun, his face red, stood up from his seat and said,

"Lee Si-wook."

"What, what?"

"If you think you can do it, come and do it with me."

"I don't want to."

"Shut up. Let's shake together."

In the end, although he said that, Lee Si-wook, who usually followed Yang Daegun, joined the Pilates.

"Ah, I'm dying! The rookie is killing me!"

"Stop exaggerating."

"Senior, if it's too hard, you can lower your legs."

"No."

"Why not!"

"Anyway, no."

When Bae Young-han came in later, he saw the three of them and smiled, taking a photo.

"Hey, hey. What are you guys doing? Pilates? Did you call a pretty instructor? Wow, look at the sweat."

Yang Daegun imagined himself yelling, "Don't tease your hard-working teammates! You delinquent! Did you come here to look for a hangover soup after drinking yesterday?"

But the words that came out of the timid Yang Daegun's mouth were,

"Good morning."

#

Spring training is coming to an end. After five practice games with other teams, we'll return to Korea.

I've secured my position as a shortstop. The manager said I won't be sent to the minors even when the season starts.

The head coach called me aside and told me to trust him.

When I received a call from the GM, he said similar things.

It's a very political family, but since all three like me, it's not a big deal. More importantly, looking at the team, I don't think I'll be sent to the minors even without their support.

We had another Blue-White match. This time, I was on the same team as No Gyeong-woo, and we formed a keystone combination.

What I learned was that this guy is decent if you help him settle into his position and talk about defensive strategies.

So, the conclusion is that his hardware is good, but his software is lacking.

I had to keep telling No Gyeong-woo not to dive and to catch stably during the game. I had to tell him to bring his glove to the center of his body, not to throw while jumping, and to step and throw accurately, among other small things.

"Sure, No Gyeong-woo is a first-round pick."

"..."

"Seems like second base suits me."

"I think you'd be better as a right fielder."

He has a good build and is pretty fast. His arm is also good.

His ability to judge hits is almost non-existent, but even so, he's better as an outfielder than an infielder.

The reason he's better as an outfielder is that he doesn't have to dive for every ball.

"Hey."

"What?"

"Are you...?"

"What?"

"Are you trying to guard your position because you're afraid I'll take it?"

I didn't respond. The second baseman hasn't been decided yet, but I don't really mind if No Gyeong-woo becomes the second baseman.

The other second base candidates aren't that outstanding.

To be honest, if you give up on defense, you can form a decent lineup.

First baseman and designated hitter: Yang Daegun and Lee Si-wook.

Third baseman Hwang Seok-gyu, who seems to have potential. He looks good when he swings, but his performance last year was a bit lacking.

Outfielders: foreign hitter Wolfpack and Bae Young-han.

If the lineup is set like this, the 2nd and 3rd positions are the problem. The catcher is clearly a hole in both offense and defense.

If No Gyeong-woo adapts quickly to the pros and plays second base, the second base will be a defensive hole, and one outfield position will be a hitting problem.

If the lower order becomes a complete rest spot, it won't be easy. But there's a bigger problem.

The bigger problem is, of course, the bullpen.

"Hey, but are you really not going to pitch?"

I had already discussed this issue with the manager.

It seems okay if I pitch in the bullpen and adjust my innings.

But first, I need to perfect a less stressful pitching form.

After creating the form and discussing with the manager, I plan to gradually combine pitching practice.

"You can also pitch in important moments."

No Gyeong-woo wiped his nose and replied thickly.

"Wow, shit. What? Are you the main character? Are you playing baseball alone? Huh?"

"You should also go and say you want to pitch."

"Actually, I can throw 170 km/h, but I'm not throwing for the protection of Korean baseball."

"..."

"..."

"Can you at least respond?"

"..."

"Hello?"

#

The first practice game was against an Australian team. We won 17-8.

[Busan Oceans win 17-8 against Australian team in practice game!]

- Giving up 8 runs to the Australian team, Oceans' pitching class lolololol

- So embarrassing, really;;

- Is Kangwoo a rookie? Is Kangwoo a rookie? Is Kangwoo a rookie?

- He hit two home runs against an Australian league pitcher, and now he's being called a god?

- Anyway, he's a rookie

- Let's aim for a 1.000 batting average in KBO, Kangwoo!

The starting pitcher... wasn't bad because the opponent was an Australian team. Andy Garfield pitched 2 innings without giving up a run, and Kirk Simpson also pitched 2 innings without giving up a run.

The problem was that they started to give up hits after that.

But the two pillars of the bullpen, with an ERA in the 4s, did a great job.

They're not called the two pillars for nothing.

Hmm.

Let's just say that.

The remaining four games are against Korean teams.

The opponents are...

The Daejeon Meteors, the other pillar of the KBO along with the Oceans.

[Oceans vs. Meteors practice game. What are the key points to watch?]

- Hey, Meteors! Greetings from the seniors!

- Where are the clowns from the Meteors? Do you think 9th place is easy?

- lololol Our Meteors don't need two digits for their ranking lol

- Stones, lololol Do you think the Kings are 10th for no reason? They tanked to get Kangwoo lololol

- Look at them crawling lololol Shitty Meteors, you lost lololol

- The fight between the Jo-bits is the most entertaining. A must-watch game for baseball fans

- A fierce battle between laughter candidates ddddd

And my father's Changwon Pirates.

-Father-in-law: Kangwoo

-Father-in-law: I'm cheering for you

-Father-in-law: Yoo-ri says the Pirates must win