Chapter 17

Magic Spring -5-

#

Baseball fans usually use the time when their team is on defense to pick at chicken legs or go to the bathroom.

Of course, there are those who enjoy watching how well the pitcher handles the opposing batter.

But no one enjoys watching our pitcher give up hits, home runs, and walks to the opposing batters.

In that sense, Oceans fans didn't particularly enjoy the defensive innings.

Usually, Oceans pitchers were more likely to be the sacrificial lambs rather than handling the opposition.

"Chul! Beol! Su! Bi! Gang! Geon! Woo!"

"This is what infield defense is all about! Got it?"

"Geon-woo! Defense is killing it!"

The Oceans fans who came to Daegu for the exhibition game were cheering for Kang Geon-woo's defensive skills.

Hearing the excited cries of the Oceans fans, the Engines fans responded like this:

"That rookie is doing well, but..."

"Aren't the others all a mess?"

"Leave them alone. The weather is getting warmer, so they must be sick again."

In fact, except for Kang Geon-woo, it was hard to say anything good, even as a joke, about the Oceans' defensive skills.

Having No Gyeong-woo at second base was the result of Manager Hugh Breadman's almost sleepless deliberation. While a disaster could happen at second base, the conclusion was that No Gyeong-woo's defensive mistakes would be less damaging than Kim Se-wan's batting failures.

Hwang Seok-gyu at third base was just average. But the way the team was structured, three of the indispensable batters were first basemen.

Necessarily, the foreign batter, Wolfpack, was moved to left field. While he couldn't be called a good left fielder, the other first basemen couldn't even play the outfield.

Yang Dae-geun and Lee Si-wook were planning to alternate as first baseman and designated hitter.

At least, Bae Young-han, signed as a free agent, was a right fielder with average defensive skills.

The center fielders were all mediocre. Hitting was hard to expect, and defense was just okay, but a few were fast runners.

The catcher was at a level that was hard to even mention.

Kang Geon-woo showed excellent defensive skills.

Except for his relatively narrow defensive range, he was so good that he erased the name Jeong Gwi-hyun from the Oceans fans' minds.

Jeong Gwi-hyun was a shortstop who could hit around .250. When he did well, he was called "Jeong Noble," and when he did poorly, he was called "Jeong Commoner" or "Jeong Untouchable."

He gained popularity for his good looks, and when he was caught driving under the influence, some fans cried, saying the Oceans infield was ruined.

But not anymore.

Anyway, because of the excellent and stable defense shown by Kang Geon-woo, Oceans fans couldn't take their eyes off the game even during defensive innings.

The only time Oceans fans could rest was the short period when the teams switched sides.

Oh So-hee and Jeong Yoo-ri, mother and daughter, also put down their flags and sat down at that time.

"Mom, if Geon-woo wins the Korean Series, he says he'll propose with the championship ring."

Jeong Yoo-ri was smiling contentedly. In fact, she didn't take it seriously as a marriage proposal but rather as a cute expression of affection from her younger boyfriend.

Her boyfriend, who had been arrogant and grumpy a few months ago, had strangely become more affectionate, but Jeong Yoo-ri was only 22, and Kang Geon-woo was just 20.

But her mother, wearing dark sunglasses and unable to see her eyes, replied quite seriously:

"Geon-woo is proposing this fall?"

"Huh? Fall?"

Jeong Yoo-ri laughed after a moment, understanding her mother's meaning.

She thought it meant the Oceans would win the championship this season.

"Why are you laughing, you silly girl?"

"It's just... funny. I'm only 22, and you're talking about marriage?"

Oh So-hee chuckled and nudged her daughter's side with her elbow, laughing at Yoo-ri's joy.

Soon, the Oceans' offense began.

"Geon-woo! Mom! Geon-woo is up!"

Yoo-ri jumped around excitedly as leadoff hitter Kang Geon-woo came to bat.

The current score was 4-3 in the top of the 6th inning, with the Oceans leading by one run.

James Berry of the Engines had allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in 5 innings, pitching quite steadily after being hit by two rookies early in the game. The pitcher who came in for the 6th inning was the Engines' bullpen pitcher, Baek Jun-ho.

"Geon-woo! If you hit another home run, I'll marry you!"

The mother and daughter laughed heartily at the joke.

But before their laughter had even faded:

Thwack!

Kang Geon-woo hit his second home run of the game.

"Wowww!"

"Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo!"

"Amazing! He did it again!"

The Oceans fans who came to support the team cheered Kang Geon-woo's name, and the mother and daughter hugged each other in joy.

"Hey! Kang Geon-woo! I'm over here!"

Seeing Yoo-ri standing up, waving her fist to find Geon-woo, her mother said:

"Phew, our Geon-woo hits home runs well."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"One guy is proposing, and another is offering to marry him. It must be Geon-woo."

#

-Yoo-ri: (Photo)

-Yoo-ri: Wasn't today pretty cool?

#

We won a series against the Engines and finished the exhibition games with a 1-1 record against the Thunderbirds in Seoul.

[2028 KBO Exhibition Game Rankings.]

1. Daejeon Meteors

1. Busan Oceans

3. Gwangju Irons

4. Seoul Angels

5. Seoul Thunderbirds

6. Suwon Diamonds

7. Seoul Bulldozers

8. Incheon Vikings

9. Daegu Engines

10. Changwon Pirates

Exhibition games don't have much significance, but it seems the fans felt differently.

-Proud of Oceans' Kang Geon-woo!

-Flag sister, take care of King Geon-woo

-King Geon-woo, God Geon-woo, King God Geon-woo

It's said that such banners were hung near Sajik Stadium. They didn't stay up long and were soon removed.

Anyway, on the internet, baseball fans were arguing and causing a commotion.

"Be careful, Geon-woo. I think you'll do well, but our fans can be... a bit extreme sometimes."

I was naturally included in the opening roster and will start in the opening game.

Senior Yang Dae-geun said to me with a worried look:

"My shoulder still hurts sometimes..."

"Did you get injured?"

"No. I hit two double plays and got hit by a chicken leg on my way to work the next day..."

Judging people by their appearance should be avoided.

But this guy looks like he could split someone in half with his bare hands, or rather, like no one would ever pick a fight with him.

"Like, hitting me with a spicy chicken wing and making it look like blood... "

He looked genuinely depressed. I thought it was a joke, but maybe it was real.

"Brother! Are you bothering the rookie again?"

The person running and shouting loudly was Lee Si-wook.

Fans call him "No Look Swing" because he swings full without looking at the pitch. According to Hyunsu, they usually call him "No-look Puppy," but I don't know if he knows that.

"I'm not bothering him. I'm giving advice."

"What advice can you give when Geon-woo is better at baseball than you?"

"Hey, don't you know what 'unwavering friendship' means?"

"What does 'unwavering' have to do with it? Is it time to check the car?"

"Enough. You ignorant guy. Let's stop talking."

"Hey, this brother graduated from a cyber university and is looking down on high school graduates."

They have a bit of a comedy duo vibe. It's quite entertaining to listen to, but Senior Yang Dae-geun doesn't talk much unless he's comfortable with the person, so more people don't know how funny he is.

Personally, I think Senior Yang Dae-geun would be better if he were a bit more outgoing, and Senior Lee Si-wook would be better if he had a bit more patience.

But there's nothing I can do about it.

"Geon-woo, anyway, don't be too nervous. Prepare well and hit a home run. Got it?"

"Kang Geon-woo will do well! You just do your best, brother!"

"Do you know what people call guys like you?"

"Flower boy home run hitter?"

"If you're a flower boy, what am I? Objectively, I'm much better looking."

"That's not true. I'm much better than you, brother."

"Let's stop talking, let's stop talking."

Well, in terms of seniority, there's that in the major leagues too.

Anyway, as a rookie, I can't teach or give advice to seniors.

So, before the opening game, I found the most approachable person.

"Spread your legs a bit more, bend your knees. Watch the ball and move. It might be hard for you, but try to think a bit too."

"...What?"

No Gyeong-woo looked at me in disbelief.

Well, he's going to be a national team player in the future, so he must have some talent.

It just seems like his talent isn't in infield defense, but our foreign manager has chosen him and me as the opening day keystone combo.

"Don't just dive for every ball. You'll miss it if you jump before it bounces."

"Are you the coach?"

I kept nagging No Gyeong-woo, who grumbled, because he forgets things as quickly as if he has short-term memory loss.

Third baseman Hwang Seok-gyu, seeing me nagging, smiled.

"Gyeong-woo."

"Yes, senior!"

"Listen to him."

"Huh?"

"Then if you make a mistake, you can blame it on Kang Geon-woo."

#

This is my second opening day as a rookie. In my major league debut season, I played right field.

In my first major league season, I recorded 10 wins, 15 home runs, and 21 steals.

Compared to then, am I a better player now?

Well, there's no point in reminiscing. The one thing I'm sure of is that I'm a better boyfriend now. I think so. Probably.

"Strongest Oceans—Win!"

"Oceeean! S! Oceeean! S!"

We're doing the final practice before the opening game, and the fans' songs are already audible.

I'm playing shortstop and batting sixth today. According to the head coach, it's my official debut, so he's put me a bit lower in the batting order as a consideration.

I don't really need that consideration, but the batting order doesn't matter much.

"Hoo, Geon-woo, hoo, Geon-woo, hoo, hoo, Geon-woo."

No Gyeong-woo seemed quite nervous. When I offered to ask the manager to replace him, he tried to kill me.

"My parents are here! To watch the opening game!"

"Me too."

"My grandmother too!"

"I have a girlfriend."

"You're really pissing me off."

"Don't you have a girlfriend?"

"I've told you a million times, I don't!"

"You look like you don't have one."

"No, it's not that I don't have one, it's that I haven't made one."

"Why?"

"To focus on sports."

Seeing my strange expression, he started boasting about his popularity.

Well, he seems less nervous than before.

Today's starting pitcher, Andy Garfield, is the type who gets very sensitive on the day of his start. He got angry earlier because the angle of his cap brim was off.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Seeing him adjust the angle of his cap brim so minutely while cursing made me a bit amused and reminded me of myself before the regression.

I was quite a sensitive type too.

I'm sorry, Yoo-ri.

Well.

The preparation for my second debut is complete.

#

-Good evening, baseball fans! The long-awaited opening day of the KBO League is finally here! I'm announcer Jeong Myeong-in, and here with me is commentator Kim Jae-eui!

-Hello. This is Sajik Stadium. I'm commentator Kim Jae-eui, and I'll be commentating on the game between the Incheon Vikings and the Busan Oceans.

No one knows whether the Oceans fans will wake up from their dream of finishing first in the exhibition games and face a harsh reality or continue to cheer for a team on a roll, but the opening game is ready.

The opponent is the Incheon Vikings, the champions of the year before last and a strong team that made the postseason last season.

-The home team, the Busan Oceans, has a special lineup.

-Yes, that's right. In place of Jeong Gwi-hyun, who was suspended for misconduct, and Ko Eun-tae, who recorded a hit in the exhibition games but started the season in the minors, the rookies selected in the last draft are forming the keystone combo.

-That's right. Kang Geon-woo and No Gyeong-woo are the key players. We'll have to see if they can continue the good performance they showed in the exhibition games. The Oceans' starting pitcher is Andy Garfield, and the Vikings' starter is Kim Kwon-jong! Commentator Kim Jae-eui, could you briefly introduce these two players?

-Yes, Andy Garfield recorded a 3.76 ERA in Triple-A last season. His major league record is 1 win and 4 losses with a 7.21 ERA in 10 games. He's a pitcher with a powerful fastball and a good variety of breaking balls.

-Haha. Fans are probably familiar with Kim Kwon-jong, but could you introduce him?

-He's one of the best pitchers in Korea. From his near-side left-handed three-quarters form, he throws a fastball up to 151 km/h, two types of sliders with different speeds, and a changeup. Last year, he recorded a 2.78 ERA with 17 wins and 3 losses. He's a player who doesn't need much introduction, and personally, I'd like to see him play in the major leagues.

The Oceans fans filled the stands up to third base at Sajik Stadium, cheering and clapping for the players.

Yang Dae-geun, knowing that these fans, full of anticipation, would turn into devils if the Oceans lost the opening game, sighed secretly.

Especially since the opponent was Kim Kwon-jong.

Kim Kwon-jong, who had pitched in 5 games against the Oceans last season, throwing 38 innings, recorded 5 wins and 41 strikeouts without a loss.

"Guys."

Yang Dae-geun, as the team captain, felt a bit of pressure to motivate the team.

But he thought he had to do what he had to do.

'Tear them apart! Take revenge! Defeat the Vikings!'

...That's what he wanted to say.

"One, two, three, Oceans, let's all cheer."

That's all he could say.

"One, two, three. Oceans!"

"Cheer!"

It was just before the opening game that the Oceans fans had been waiting for.