Chapter 44

# A Walk Around the Neighborhood -2-

#

“Ah, Mom. The other day, I almost got my number taken while waiting for the bus?”

“I should have said that Kang Geon-woo is my boyfriend.”

“I rejected him by saying I have a boyfriend, but he still wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“My daughter is still alive, I see.”

“But then, this uncle nearby was watching carefully and yelled at the guy.”

“What did he yell?”

“'Don’t mess with Kang Geon-woo’s girlfriend. I’ve seen your face, so if you cause trouble for the Oceans, I’ll come after you.'”

The mother and daughter laughed so hard they almost fell over. The father, who was listening nearby, said with a bitter smile:

“Our daughter is already engaged.”

“If she wants to meet other guys, it’s impossible in Busan and Gyeongnam.”

Kang Geon-woo’s father nodded, and Yoo-ri covered her mouth and pretended to sigh.

“As long as Geon-woo does well, that’s all that matters. Don’t say such things.”

“I’m fine with it.”

Yoo-ri said firmly.

“If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll go abroad.”

“Yoo-ri. Don’t say that. Try to get along with Geon-woo. You know he can’t be human without you.”

While the two families were chatting, Kirk Simpson caught the first batter with a ground ball to the shortstop.

“Geon-woo-oo-oo-oo!”

While everyone was clapping for Simpson, Yoo-ri was calling out to Geon-woo.

Yoo-ri’s mother snickered.

“Only when she’s in trouble.”

“She’s just in the middle of it.”

“Our Geon-woo is doing great-oo-oo-oo!”

“Your Geon-woo is doing well.”

“Of course. Whose son is he?”

“But are you really back with the Oceans?”

“If he hadn’t returned, would he have come to Changwon in an Oceans uniform?”

“Geon-woo-oo-oo-oo! Big sister is here-oo-oo-oo!”

“Wave the flag, the flag. Geon-woo is looking for you with the flag.”

“Geon-woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo!”

“You need to wave both to be seen clearly.”

“Kang Geon-woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo!”

#

If Kang Geon-woo, who appeared like a meteor in the 2028 season, is treated like an idol or more by Busan baseball fans, there is a specific target for Changwon baseball fans.

He also had similarities to Kang Geon-woo.

He was evaluated as a player who could become the best in both pitching and batting during his high school days, and he also had the attention of multiple Major League teams.

If he hadn’t been injured in his senior year of high school, he might have made it to the Major Leagues.

After spending a year and a half in rehabilitation after joining the team, he made his debut in the second half of the 2025 season and caused a sensation.

A home run in his debut game followed by home runs in the next three games.

Although he failed to win the Rookie of the Year award due to the limited number of games and didn’t meet the criteria the following year, he won the league MVP in his third year.

In the last season, he hit .341 with a .442 on-base percentage, 37 home runs, and 125 RBIs, leading the Pirates to the Korean Series championship.

[While I admit Kang Geon-woo is doing well now, we can only compare him to Jeong Jo-jun after the season ends.]

- Kang Geon-woo has already surpassed Jeong Jo-jun.

- These conscienceless bastards are now comparing a 17-game rookie to an MVP.

- You finally realized these shameless bastards, didn’t you?

- So, what’s Jeong Jo-jun’s current record?

- We’ll see who’s better at the end of the season. Haha.

[Jeong Jo-jun: Not being drafted by the Gocons was the greatest luck of my life.]

- We don’t need Jo-jun. We have Geon-woo.

- You idiots, look at the face of your deer that you passed over instead of JJJ.

- Isn’t Jeong Geon-no the biggest black mark in Gocons history? Hahaha.

- Choosing Lee Si-wook from Gyeongnam High was the greatest legend in KBO history. Hahaha.

- It was because Jo-jun was injured at the time, you baseball noobs.

- Even if he was injured, there were others you could have chosen. Hahaha.

The Oceans' second-inning offensive ended without results, and in the bottom of the second inning:

As Jeong Jo-jun stepped up to the plate, he hit Kirk Simpson’s first pitch.

Thwack-!

A line-drive home run that flew straight to the outfield stands, characteristic of Jeong Jo-jun.

[Oh, Kang Geon-woo, just hit a home run and then talk. Hahaha.]

- A home run that makes your stomach feel good.

- Really, don’t bring up a rookie who can’t even hit a home run.

- Did you see those shameless bastards? This is Jeong Jo-jun.

The score was 1-1. Jeong Jo-jun clenched his fist and raised his arm as he rounded the bases in front of the home fans, and the Pirates fans cheered his name.

“Knock the Oceans down!”

“Jeong Jo-jun! Jeong Jo-jun! Jeong Jo-jun!”

“You’re suited for 10th place!”

#

Simpson said:

“I should have thrown a two-seam fastball.”

It’s surprising not only that he learned the grip and mechanics so quickly but also that he trusted the pitch he was throwing for the first time in a real game to this extent.

Pitchers are a bit like sensitive kittens, tending to ignore what others say.

Anyway, after giving up a home run, he struck out the next three batters in order.

A pitcher who throws unexpected pitches that he hasn’t prepared for or even thought about can be an absurd opponent for batters.

Especially if the new pitch is highly polished.

However, Son Yong-gi is a seasoned pitcher.

Going back a bit to the top of the second inning, he coaxed a weak groundout from senior Lee Si-wook with a breaking ball, and he adjusted his pitching timing to disrupt the hitting rhythm of No Gyeong-woo, who was trying to find it with his hips, resulting in a called strikeout. No Gyeong-woo, who had completely lost his timing, didn’t even think about swinging.

Park Eui-hyun, who surprisingly had decent hitting skills, took the count to full, but a rare knuckleball resulted in a groundout to the second baseman.

The score remained 1-1 through the third inning. Our ninth batter, Kim Sung-hoon, struck out swinging.

Senior Hwang Seok-gyu hit a groundout on a changeup in his first at-bat and a groundout on a splitter in his second.

Bae Young-han?

“Watch how I do it, okay?”

Confidently stepping up to the plate, he...

“Strike! Out!”

On the fifth pitch, a changeup on the outside corner, he couldn’t even swing and struck out, then stood at the plate for a while as if complaining to the umpire before finally returning to the bench.

“Sir, you don’t have to say anything. I understand.”

No Gyeong-woo teased, and Bae Young-han shook his head and went to grab No Gyeong-woo.

“Anyway, the Oceans. All the rookies are acting up. Hey, No-dungi. Come to first. If you don’t get a hit in your next at-bat, you’re buying me a bottle of soju tonight. Hey, where are you running?”

#

Thwack-!

Son Yong-gi thought:

Was that ball I threw?

He slowly lifted his head and looked back.

‘How far is it going?’

His neck started to feel stiff as he followed the ball with his eyes.

‘How long is it going to fly?’

The ball was still in the air. When Jeong Jo-jun hit a home run, it seemed to become a home run instantly.

Why does this one feel like it’s flying for so long?

“Geon-woo!!!”

A loud voice erupted from the visiting team’s stands.

“Yoo-ri is here!!!”

The ball finally landed on the upper part of the stands.

“Home runs are the best!!!”

Son Yong-gi, rubbing his stiff neck, marveled inwardly.

‘How does he have so much power when he doesn’t look like it...’

Kang Geon-woo, stepping on second base and heading to third, extended a heart shape with his fingers toward the stands.

The Oceans fans erupted in screams and cheers.

‘Jo-jun raises his fist, and this guy extends a heart.’

Well, maybe this is what it means to be cool.

‘When Jo-jun debuted, I also had to calm down other teams’ pitchers.’

Before the game, Kim Jeong-yong told Son Yong-gi that their rookie doesn’t really consider others’ feelings, so don’t let him get intimidated.

‘Well, compared to a fist of potatoes, a heart is a gentleman.’

He remembered Jeong Jo-jun hitting a home run and throwing a fist of potatoes while rounding the bases. After finishing the inning and returning to the dugout, Jeong Jo-jun chased after Son Yong-gi and said:

“Hey, senior. Why is Kang Geon-woo so disrespectful? A rookie hits a home run and does a heart ceremony? Does he think he’s the only one with a girlfriend?”

Son Yong-gi patted Jeong Jo-jun’s shoulder and replied:

“Dude, you were worse.”

“What? When?”

“At least you didn’t throw a fist of potatoes.”

“Senior, I was a bit immature back then.”

“You were younger than him back then.”

“Senior.”

“What?”

“You got hit in the thigh by pitchers and learned to control your temper.”

“So? Should I tell him to hit you in the thigh?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t want to get hit by Daegun.”

“Senior, I’ll take care of Daegun.”

“Really?”

“I’ll take care of it!”

“Stop talking nonsense. Don’t bother the starting pitcher and get back in.”

“Wow, senior, you’ve really calmed down.”

“I’ve always been a gentle person.”

“Where’s the bloody toast I know?”

“That’s ketchup, not blood, you idiot.”

#

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jeong Jo-jun, leading off, hit a double. He didn’t miss the opportunity when Kirk Simpson’s not yet perfect two-seam fastball slightly curved into the strike zone. Then, he allowed a single to Eric Randall, tying the game.

In the top of the sixth inning, Son Yong-gi allowed a single to Bae Young-han and a consecutive single to Kang Geon-woo. After barely striking out Yang Daegun in a 7-pitch battle and catching Wolfpack on a flyout, Bae Young-han, the runner on second, tagged up, making it 2 outs, 1st and 3rd.

Lee Si-wook hit a single to center, and the Oceans took a 1-point lead again.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kirk Simpson caught the first two outs but allowed a single to Jeong Jo-jun. However, he induced a groundout to third on four two-seam fastballs to the next batter, ending the inning.

Both pitchers threw until the seventh inning. Son Yong-gi threw 7 innings with 3 runs, and Kirk Simpson threw 7 innings with 2 runs.

If the game so far was a fierce hitting battle between Jeong Jo-jun and Kang Geon-woo and a worthy duel between the two teams’ pitchers, from now on, it would be a bullpen battle.

The Oceans were leading 3-2, but considering their weak bullpen, it was an unstable situation without additional runs.

In the top of the eighth inning, Pirates reliever Jeong Hyun-seok was on the mound, and the batter walking to the plate was Kang Geon-woo.

The Oceans fans started singing:

“You are to me - like the sunset at dusk -”

“A beautiful - memory -!”

The song about a bicycle ride.

It might seem a bit random, but the reason the Oceans fans were singing this song, which isn’t even a cheer, was:

- Kang Geon-woo is one triple away from a cycle hit.

- If, hypothetically, Kang Geon-woo hits a triple in this at-bat, he will set a new record as the second youngest and youngest ever to achieve a cycle hit.

- Yes, the data is coming in. If he succeeds, he will achieve a cycle hit at 18 years and 150 days, breaking the previous record of 20 years, 8 months, and 21 days!

- The Oceans have recorded three cycle hits in their club history. Will they achieve the fourth?

Kang Geon-woo knew he was one triple away from a cycle hit.

Of course, he didn’t feel the pressure to achieve that record.

If possible, he would aim for a home run instead of a triple.

However, he knew that Jeong Jo-jun had hit a single, a double, and a home run.

And he remembered Yoo-ri’s words that he should do better than Jeong Jo-jun.

Jeong Hyun-seok took a deep breath and started his pitch.

First pitch.

“Ball!”

Kang Geon-woo stepped back, readjusted his elbow guard, swung his bat twice, and returned to the plate.

“Let’s ride a bike!”

Baseball fans often refer to a cycle hit as “riding a bike.”

Kang Geon-woo took his stance again. The pitcher threw his second pitch.

Thwack-!

A foul ball that flew high to the left field wall.

“No! Just hit a home run!”

“Right! Geon-woo! Just hit one!”

A typical rookie might have felt a bit of pressure, but Kang Geon-woo is not a typical rookie.

He’s a veteran among veterans, having experienced everything in the Major Leagues.

If he hadn’t returned, he would have completed his service and been inducted into the Hall of Fame with 100% certainty.

The pitcher threw his third pitch. Kang Geon-woo, knowing that the cut fastball was coming inside and would miss the strike zone, swung boldly.

He firmly planted his upper body and pulled the bat inward.

Thwack-!

It wasn’t his usual uppercut, but a well-hit ball thanks to his experienced bat control.

The ball traveled strongly and quickly like when Jeong Jo-jun hit a home run, but it was a bit too low to clear the fence.

However, it hit the fence directly.

Left fielder Jeong Jo-jun chased the ball, but it bounced quite far.

“Geon-woo-oo-oo-oo!”

“Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo!”

Kang Geon-woo, using his full speed, which he had been saving, ran to first, rounded second, and headed to third.

The center fielder chased the ball urgently and threw a strong throw to third, but Kang Geon-woo was faster.

“Safe!”

Kang Geon-woo smiled, dusted off his uniform, and stood up. The Oceans fans shouted his name, and Kang Geon-woo, facing the fans near third base, mouthed a short sentence.

“Kiss! Kiss!”

Jeong Jo-jun frowned, looking displeased, but the Oceans fans didn’t care