Chapter 36

# Looking for Witnesses -2-

#

“A, Daegun-ssi. Isn’t your new player a bit too arrogant...”

“Jihun.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t make other people’s kids feel bad for no reason.”

“Huh? No, hyung. That’s not what I meant...”

“I don’t want to fight with Wooju hyung.”

“Huh?”

“How do you think Wooju hyung would feel if you asked him if his catcher is too arrogant?”

“No, hyung.”

“Let’s just play baseball. I just want to play baseball peacefully. If you want to play, let’s continue the game. If not, get up from your spot and talk. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“...Yes.”

#

Baseball fans don’t expect their team to win all 144 games. Even if they lose, they want to see games that make sense, or exciting games that make them grip their seats, or at the very least, games where the team members give their all.

Ocean fans felt a bit uneasy when the team lost 14-9 in the first game against the Bulldozers after the manager was ejected and the mound exploded.

In fact, they knew it. Even though they boasted about the Ocean’s championship this year, objectively, making the postseason this season would be a miracle.

There were many power leaks, and the only significant reinforcement was Bae Young-han, a 70 billion won FA player. The rest were questionable resources.

Moreover, they had particularly poor records against the three strong teams (Pirates, Vikings, Bulldozers).

Still, they could only enjoy it. They were even happier when Kang Geon-woo hit two home runs and dominated the second game.

[I won’t complain if Geon-woo finishes the season with a .200 average]

∟Do you need to lie even to yourself?

∟If he hits .200, you’ll be the first to complain.

∟No, no, no, I’m serious. He made me so happy for a while, I’m really grateful.

∟What kind of baseball have you been watching all this time?;;;

The third game, watched with a mix of anticipation and worry.

When Kang Geon-woo hit a solo home run that soared against Jace Sullivan, even the shy Ocean fans who had been hiding in embarrassment, or those who had given up baseball and lived peacefully, started to come out online.

[What? What’s the Ocean? Did the team get sold while I was away from baseball? Why are they first?]

[It’s time to win the championship now. Laughs. I can see the end of the long wait.]

[I’ve been away from baseball for over 10 years. Are they still waving newspapers?]

[Did the cheerleader change? Didn’t she say she wouldn’t retire until they won the championship?]

∟Do you plan to kill someone?

∟Just leave it alone now;;

∟I’ve lived my life to the fullest...

[Finally, the rebuilding succeeded? I’ve been seeing more people talking about the Ocean, so I turned on the game again.]

[Newcomers, remember this: Kang Geon-woo is a god, and Jung Yoo-ri is a goddess, okay?]

∟Who are they?

∟The one who hit the home run.

∟Then who is the goddess?

∟The girlfriend of the one who hit the home run.

∟Ah, got it. I understand the vibe.

∟Perceptive middle-aged men.

∟If the nickname is god, it’s natural to call him a fool when he doesn’t perform, right?

∟God Geon-woo never has a bad day.

∟Would a player like Geon-woo really be ignored after a long absence from baseball?

#

“Yuri, wouldn’t it be fine if you made watching Geon-woo’s games your job?”

“Really? I think it would be fine!”

The fathers of both families and Jung Yoo-ri were watching the game together. Jung Hyun-soo was still at school. Jung Jong-seok made a comment.

“If you want to hire my daughter, start with a 100 million won salary.”

“What’s the problem? Once they get married, they’ll be one anyway.”

“Who’s giving her away?”

“Ah, this person.”

“What do you mean, this person?”

“The kids like each other so much. What era is this, where parents’ permission is necessary?”

“I don’t mind the son-in-law, but the father-in-law is not so great.”

“Ah, this person.”

The two uncles bickered, and Yuri sighed.

“Is there a kimchi broth spring flowing under this neighborhood...”

Suddenly, she thought of her childhood. She left the two men who were always fighting over trivial things and went to her room to find her childhood album.

“Hmm...”

They’ve known each other since she was 7, so it’s a long relationship. They were always together, so there were quite a few photos of them together.

“Ah.”

In every photo, young Geon-woo was wearing a bow tie.

“Hey, now don’t call me a bat. I also came back to the Ocean for my son...”

“Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“Did Geon-woo really like butterfly neckties when he was young?”

“Butterfly neckties?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-jae thought for a moment. Then he snapped his fingers and said,

“Oh, that!”

“What is it?”

“Butterfly neckties. When Geon-woo was young, he wore one to a relative’s wedding, but he said it was suffocating and really didn’t like it.”

“Really? I thought he always wore one.”

“At that time, Geon-woo’s mother said he had to wear it to look pretty. So he wore it every time he saw Yuri. I remember that. Back then, Geon-woo was so cute. When did he grow so big?”

On TV, Kang Geon-woo was handling a batted ball. He caught the hard-hit ball and threw it accurately to second base for a double play.

“Geon-woo has always liked our daughter a lot.”

“It’s a relief that Yuri didn’t take after her father but her mother.”

“Ah, this person. It’s a relief that Geon-woo took after his sister-in-law.”

“Geon-woo is my spitting image.”

“Nonsense. The only thing you and Geon-woo have in common is the number of eyes, nose, and mouth.”

“Ah, this person. The only thing you and Yuri have in common is having arms and legs.”

Yuri sighed at the bickering uncles and took a photo from the album. In the photo, young Geon-woo was crying because his butterfly necktie had come undone, while she was making a V sign and smiling.

‘He was so small when he was young.’

When did he grow so big?

#

The game at Jamsil ended with the Ocean not giving up a single run in their 11th game of the season. It was also the Ocean’s lowest-scoring game of the season.

Score 1-0.

Andy Garfield’s 9-inning 12-strikeout 3-hit 2-walk shutout win, and Kang Geon-woo’s game-winning home run.

Jace Sullivan of the Bulldozers also pitched well with 9 innings, 9 strikeouts, 4 hits, and 1 walk, but he suffered a complete game loss due to the one-run home run he gave up to Kang Geon-woo.

[Top-level pitching duel at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The winner is the Ocean’s ace, Andy Garfield.]

[117-pitch shutout win by Andy Garfield, ‘I wanted to finish this game myself.’]

∟I would have done the same.

∟If the bullpen came in, we wouldn’t have won this game.

∟This foreign player is a huge success this time.

∟This pitcher is too good for the Ocean.

∟His pitches are amazing.

∟What the heck, Irons’ management is so stupid. Even if the second baseman is needed, why not give the Ocean a catcher who can handle the ball??

∟Thanks to the catcher, we usually scored 1-2 points.

∟I support Joong-su’s return as the Ocean’s starting catcher.

∟I’m worried the bullpen might blow the win.

∟Garfield, I’m sorry for showing you such a bullpen...

[Kang Geon-wo’s 9th home run of the season. Demonstrating his fastball killer prowess.]

[Coach Hugh Breadman, ‘The two players who performed well today could easily play in the MLB.’]

∟I hope Garfield doesn’t perform too well.

∟If he performs well, he’ll be traded. :(

∟Is Geon-woo going to the US through the posting system?

∟That’s a problem;; If Geon-woo leaves, how will we win the championship?

∟Jerk.

∟Nice jerk. I support you.

[Ocean’s general manager Park Joon-gi, ‘The result of focusing the club’s resources on foreign scouting.’]

The Ocean’s next schedule is against the Suwon Diamonds.

It was a match-up that sports media could enjoy.

[2027 Rookie of the Year Hong Seok-hyun vs. 2028 Rookie of the Year candidate Kang Geon-woo.]

∟After 11 games, isn’t the rookie of the year joke a bit over the line?

∟It’s over the line. King Geon-woo should be considered for the MVP.

∟Hong Seok-hyun is not on the same level as Kang Geon-woo.

∟That’s true. A player who hit 25 home runs in his debut season and a baseball emperor on pace for 117 home runs in a season shouldn’t be compared.

∟It seems like there are a lot more bandwagon fans these days.

∟No, it’s just that you don’t have many fans.

The Ocean is one of the most popular clubs in the KBO, and their fans are passionate. Of course, that’s a positive way to put it. Negatively, they can be described as fanatical.

And these fans were trying to fill the Diamonds’ home stadium.

[Isn’t this our home game today? Why are there so many bandwagon fans?]

∟They’re crazy. They tried to sell me a ticket when I came to watch the game. They were already drunk and causing a scene.

∟I thought I saw some Ocean uniforms in the home team’s stands.

∟Who is that guy?

∟They’re selling them. Hahaha.

#

The Suwon Diamonds approached the game against Kang Geon-woo with caution.

“They seem to be riding a wave, and their eyes look different.”

That was the assessment of Diamonds’ manager Jeong Yong-ho. In the past, even if the Ocean went on a winning streak, they were often burdened by the pressure or lacked motivation.

“Ocean! We will win!”

Especially, many players felt more pressure as the cheering got louder.

Perhaps it’s a process of getting used to winning.

That’s a problem.

Even so, Jeong Yong-ho, a well-known tough manager in baseball, believed that the current Ocean had to be recognized as the league’s top team.

“Everyone, focus. If you’re careless, you won’t win. Think of the Ocean as another team. Got it?”

“Yes!”

To today’s starting pitcher, Laurie Jackson, he instructed to throw more two-seam fastballs and cutters to Kang Geon-woo instead of four-seam fastballs. Based on the records, Kang Geon-woo was a complete four-seam fastball killer.

Of course, he also hit other pitches. Especially, he never missed a mistake pitch.

“Damn. He should just go to the majors.”

The more he watched, the more he wanted him.

In baseball, you can’t miss an opportunity when it comes. If you miss it, it will go to the opponent.

And Kang Geon-woo, though the sample size is small, doesn’t miss opportunities. He also has the star quality to deliver in crucial moments.

“Hong Seok-hyun.”

“Yes! Coach!”

“Did you see the news?”

“Yes! I saw it!”

“Don’t you feel bad being compared?”

“It’s fine!”

The coach chuckled and patted the shoulder of last year’s Rookie of the Year.

“No, it’s not fine. You need to show that you’re better. Did you not eat breakfast? Why are you so lacking in spirit?”

“I’m sorry!”

On the other side, in the visiting team’s dugout.

“Gang. Is there anything I should worry about?”

“No, not at all.”

“What about the fact that your girlfriend isn’t here?”

“She wasn’t here yesterday either.”

“Good. By the way, what do you think about taking your position on defense without being told?”

“It’s a good idea.”

“I knew it. A good player can judge where they should be without being told by a coach. There’s a bit of responsibility that comes with it, but it often becomes a source of growth.”

“I understand.”

“It’s a relief to be able to communicate like this.”

“I feel the same way.”

Although he hasn’t fully shown his own style yet, Coach Hugh Breadman, unlike the Diamonds’ manager, was patting the players on the shoulder.

#

When I started baseball, I just enjoyed winning.

As a child, I used to imagine playing baseball alone, hitting a perfect game and four home runs in four at-bats.

Well, everyone does that when they’re young. Not anymore.

Thwack-!

I hit Laurie Jackson’s two-seam fastball. The ball flew quite nicely, but it only hit the fence because it didn’t connect with the sweet spot.

The movement is better than I thought. Still, the timing was right, and it had power despite not hitting the center.

“Safe!”

At least a double.

The next batter is senior Yang Daegun.

Senior Daegun is a technical hitter, unlike his size. He has excellent pitch selection. In fact, if he aimed for home runs like seniors Noru and Wolfpack, he could easily hit 30 or more, but his adherence to his philosophy shows that he’s an underrated hitter.

It’s funny to call him underrated.

Thwack-!

He knows how to put power into his hits. His swing isn’t a home run swing, but he hits accurately and sends the ball to various parts of the field, making him a spray hitter.

The ball went between the left fielder and center fielder, and I ran around third base to score.

“Wowwwww!”

“Yang! Daegun! Yang Daegun! Yang Daegun!”

Ocean fans are definitely different. In the vast United States, Red Sox, Cubs, and Phillies fans are seen everywhere, but how can they outnumber the home fans in a regular season league game?

“Cheon! Jae! Ta! Ja! Kang! Geon! Woo! Woo! So handsome!”

Park Ui-hyun is dancing in front of the bench. Even Kirk Simpson is doing it.

Yesterday, Garfield was doing the same.

“Nice, Geon-woo.”

The head coach extended his fist, and I bumped it without hesitation.

Senior Kim Jeong-yong gave me a high-five and joked.

“What a shame. If your girlfriend was here, it would have been a home run.”

“If she was here, it would have been a grand slam.”

“A four-run solo home run?”

“Ah, there’s no such thing in Korea? In the majors, I’ve seen four-run solo home runs.”

“Sigh, forget it. Go sit down. Good job.”

Everyone is laughing. Definitely, the atmosphere is much better than when I first came here. At first, I thought, ‘What kind of team is this?’ But after two weeks since the opening, the team seems to have come together a bit.

“Baseball man No Gyeong-woo! Since Kang Geon-woo of the Samchungsa hit a hit, we have to try harder!”

“Of course! Baseball man Park Ui-hyun! My butt is ready to fire!”

“Good! I’m looking forward to it!”

...Maybe they were separated brothers who had a childhood accident or something.

Thinking about it, I never heard from Yuri