Chapter 48

Baseball is not my strong suit, but I have good friends -1-

#

I hit a two-run homer in my first at-bat, but in some games, scores can pour in massively.

If it had been a game like yesterday, those two runs would have been enough to decide the game. But today's game was different.

In fact, it's impossible for one player to lead a team to victory throughout an entire season.

While it's possible to influence a game and lead to victory, it's not something that can be done in every game.

I won the MVP in the major leagues three times because I played a decisive role in many victories. If I had done that in every game, I would have won it throughout my career.

Anyway, while the level of the KBO is clearly lower than the major leagues, I can't lead every game to victory here either.

Well.

Still, we didn't lose. And it wasn't like I didn't do my part. I did my job. Actually, talking about doing my job is just nonsense when you consider my salary.

In the bottom of the 12th inning, with one out and the bases loaded, it was a critical moment... but it was just one game, after all.

I lunged at the ball hit by Kim San, who had swung at Park Eun-soo's sinker from the bullpen. The runners had a quick start, and the ball, which bounced near the mound, was moving incredibly fast. I didn't have time to get up and check the position of No Gyeong-woo.

If I couldn't catch the second baseman running to second, we would lose. He was definitely fast.

I made a diving catch and, instead of putting my right hand into my glove, I swung my left hand, which was already gloved.

In the final moments, No Gyeong-woo seemed a bit flustered but managed to catch my throw, touch the second base with his toe, and then throw to first base with a quick turn.

All the hard work during defensive practice paid off. I threw a clean double play, and although we didn't win, we avoided a loss and secured a tie.

The team's main closer, Jo Hyung-oh, is expected to join us for the next game against the Angels.

While his stats may not stand out, having a closer should make a difference.

“Hey, didn't my throw go well?”

“You did great.”

“...”

“Why are you unhappy when I praise you?”

“Hey, can you check my swing after the game? My timing has been off lately.”

“I have to go home after the game.”

“Already? All three games are over?”

No Gyeong-woo had reached the limit of his hip shake. Not all pitchers are honest about their rhythm. Moreover, when a pitcher allows a runner and throws from the windup instead of the slide step, the timing is inevitably off.

Anyway, if I can't lead the team to victory on my own, I need to improve the team's overall skills, even if it takes a while.

My experience as a two-way player will help. I taught Simpson and Kukmin-sung the two-seam fastball, and I'm upgrading No Gyeong-woo as well.

There are quite a few players to upgrade. It's not a problem to improve them. The challenge is making them want to learn from me.

It's hard to see in the short term. I plan to gradually improve them over the long term.

That's the long-term plan, but right now, all I want is to go home and see Yoo-ri.

- Me: 50km left

- Me: The extra innings ended late, but it's good that Daegu isn't far

#

[The perennial last-place Oceans' surprising run.]

[15 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses for the Oceans. Will this season be different?]

[Coach Hugh Breadman's self-assessment: 'Potential players are making remarkable progress and achieving victories. The outstanding results are the result of the entire team's efforts.']

[From the draft picks of Kang Geun-woo and No Gyeong-woo to the trade of Park Eui-hyun. General Manager Park Jun-gi's confident approach: 'A team run by a single principle.']

[Oceans' super rookie Kang Geun-woo, who has hit home runs against all 8 teams so far. What about the Angels?]

[How to handle the powerful rookie Kang Geun-woo? Angels' manager Park Jae-jeong: 'He's an incredible rookie, but our scouting team has studied him in detail.']

[The Angels' right fielder, Song Byung-jae, the batting champion of the previous season, jokes: 'If he's going to hit like that, he should have gone to the majors.']

[The Angels' starting pitcher for the Oceans game, Jung Su-ho: 'He really is good, but I'll show the fear of a veteran.']

[Oceans' starting pitcher Kim Jeong-yong: 'If I have to face (Kang) Geun-woo, I hope the bench will intentionally walk him.']

[Kang Geun-woo: 'I'm not really interested in records. My only wish is for the Oceans to win the V3.']

- Just-Read

- Cr lolololololololol

- Super-sized shortstop lolololololololol

- Do you know why Kang Geun-woo talks like that? Yoo-ri said to make the Oceans win, not to be the home run king.

- Home run king is a bonus???

- It's almost the end of April, and he's talking like the home run king is already decided.

- Then who else could be the home run king besides Geun-woo?

- lol 2nd place is 6 behind lolololol

- His home run pace has dropped a bit lately, so cut it out.

- But that's because pitchers are scared and don't want to face him.

- Would you face him? You have to hit home runs even when they try to pitch around you to be the home run king.

- So who hits home runs even when they pitch around him???

#

“The pitch speed isn't as high as I expected.”

Yoo-ri looked disappointed. She had been practicing her two-seam fastball while I was away on a road trip, but her pitch speed was below 90 km/h.

“That's still impressive.”

It really is. Yoo-ri has good athletic ability, but she's not muscular, and she hasn't been playing baseball consistently. A pitch speed like that is better than most adult men.

“Ha. I wanted to throw around 140 km/h.”

Teasing Kukmin-sung.

“Should I break the speed gun?”

“Never mind. I just want to improve the movement.”

Actually, just throwing accurately to the catcher's mitt is already a huge achievement.

Yoo-ri seemed determined to prove that she was better than the Oceans' bullpen.

“Throwing 140 km/h would fulfill your dream of joining the pros.”

“If you're serious, I'll help you.”

“I can say anything in front of you.”

“You should do whatever you want, Onee-san.”

Yoo-ri smiled at my words. If Yoo-ri really wanted to become a professional baseball player... well, regardless of the possibility, I would immediately quit baseball and help her achieve that.

“Geun-woo.”

“Yeah.”

“Mom said she's going to hit a home run during the ceremonial batting practice.”

“Should you wear a helmet and go up there? It's dangerous.”

Yoo-ri laughed heartily. Yoo-ri was doing the ceremonial first pitch, and her future mother-in-law was doing the ceremonial batting practice.

It was quite a popular combination. Yoo-ri had become quite famous among Oceans fans, and her future mother-in-law had been well-known for a long time.

When the double flags returned to Sajik at the start of the season, it was quite a big deal.

The Oceans' PR team contacted us late, offering season tickets. Considering how many people there are, they only offered two, but her mother-in-law insisted on at least four, so they ended up getting four. She's not an ordinary person.

Anyway, I went to the stadium early in the morning to finish the two-seam fastball practice. I had offered to help her mother-in-law with her swing practice, but she declined, saying she had experience with the flags.

“Mom has a good sense.”

Yoo-ri said with a slight smile. Perhaps she was making room for us, who don't see each other every day.

While Yoo-ri and her family, as well as our family, are often exposed to the media, it's a bit concerning, but everyone seems to be enjoying it for now. Her future father-in-law seems a bit proud.

-Jeong Jong-seok (44 years old)

-Geun-woo? Oh, don't even mention it. I knew that kid would be great from when he was young. He hated losing so much that he wouldn't stop crying if he got hit by a home run.

He's almost like a king in the Oceans fan cafe.

So I gave him a few signed uniforms for the cafe events.

While they came separately, Yoo-ri and her mother-in-law had a chance to meet the Oceans players.

Her mother-in-law entered confidently with the two large flags, and Yoo-ri, without even acknowledging the Oceans players, jumped and waved to me.

“Geun-woo!”

Seeing her, I couldn't help but smile, and No Gyeong-woo poked me in the side.

“Your face is so mushy right now.”

“You can call me mushy if you want.”

“Mushy.”

“But I can't stand being teased about it.”

Just as I was about to retaliate, Park Eui-hyun appeared.

“Hello! I'm Park Eui-hyun! A man who has dedicated everything to baseball at Sajik Stadium! It's an honor to meet you! I'm Park Eui-hyun! Yes! I've heard a lot about you!”

Ah. Yoo-ri will be surprised. Someone should calm him down.

#

“My swing was made by Yoo-ri, and the two-seam fastball I taught Simpson is also thrown using the mechanics Yoo-ri created.”

Despite Kang Geun-woo's words, it was impossible for the Oceans players to ask Jung Yoo-ri to teach them something.

No Gyeong-woo circled around a bit and then spoke.

“I heard you're a genius coach...”

“Yes? A genius coach?”

Jung Yoo-ri was embarrassed and didn't know what to do. She thought her boyfriend was just saying nice things for her to hear, but she didn't expect him to actually tell the professional players that.

Anyway, this mother-daughter ceremonial first pitch and batting practice drew quite a bit of attention.

Yoo-ri, the large shortstop that Oceans fans have been eagerly waiting for, and Oso-hee, a named fan who returned with Kang Geun-woo's debut after disappearing during the Oceans' dark age.

“Hello! Do you remember me?”

“Yes, Mr. Reporter. I remember.”

Yong-gil, a reporter from BBS who had interviewed her once, followed her. Oso-hee remembered that this reporter had written very favorable articles about Kang Geun-woo and the Oceans, so she happily agreed to the interview.

Various questions were exchanged. Oso-hee and Jung Yoo-ri had a deep understanding of the Oceans and baseball itself, and at the end of the interview, Yong-gil cautiously asked:

“This might be a personal question...”

“Go ahead.”

“You don't have to answer if it's uncomfortable, and if I'm being rude, please let me know.”

“What is it?”

“Well, there's a movement among Oceans fans to get Kang Geun-woo and your daughter to get married soon.”

Oso-hee laughed, Jung Yoo-ri sighed and shook her head, and Yong-gil thought he might have made a mistake and waved his hands.

“Oh. Was that too personal? I'm sorry.”

“No, it's fine. Marriage is something they have to decide on their own.”

“What about your opinion as parents...”

“More importantly.”

“Yes?”

“Geun-woo said he would propose with a Korea Series championship ring.”

“Mom!”

“If they're happy after winning, I'll allow the marriage. Men can talk with one mouth, but if they don't win, there's no way.”

“Oh. I see.”

Yong-gil smiled broadly. No wonder. He had heard that team success was more important than individual performance and that they were focused on winning the championship.

“If it's uncomfortable, I can leave this out.”

Although she answered willingly, it was still a personal matter. He had no intention of writing an article that could shake the confident Kang Geun-woo.

But Jung Yoo-ri said casually:

“...You can write it.”

“Yes?”

“Well, I've already put my face out there. Just write it. You won't say anything strange, right?”

“Of course not!”

#

-Hello! It's a beautiful evening on Friday, April 28, 2028! I'm here at Sajik Stadium! We're bringing you the first game of the season between the Seoul Angels and the Busan Oceans, right here at Sajik!

-Yes, it's a matchup between two teams with very good recent form.

-The Oceans are leading the league with 15 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses! The Angels, on the other hand, have a slightly above 50% win rate with 11 wins and 10 losses, but they've won their last four games and are on a winning streak!

-Both starting pitchers are Kim Jeong-yong and Jung Su-ho. Both are good pitchers, but objectively, I'd give the edge to Jung Su-ho. The key will be how the batters can exploit the pitchers.

-As I'm speaking, two popular figures among Oceans fans are preparing for the ceremonial first pitch and batting practice!

-A very famous fan and the most famous fan of this season are doing the first pitch and batting practice. Yes, surprisingly, they are mother and daughter, and the daughter is Kang Geun-woo's girlfriend.

-That's right. Haha. She's called a goddess among Oceans fans.

The fans who filled Sajik Stadium even created a cheer for Jung Yoo-ri. While it wasn't perfectly in tune because it wasn't a player's cheer, it was still impressive.

“O-Oh-Oh-Oceans goddess Jeong! Yoo! Ri!”

“Sajik double flags! Oh! So! Hee!”

Because of their relationship with Kang Geun-woo, the fans' cheers were quite loud.

-Haha. Before the game, Kang Geun-woo said that the first pitch would surprise everyone.

-I'm looking forward to seeing how it will surprise us.

Wearing an Oceans uniform, Jung Yoo-ri went into her windup.

In the batter's box, Oso-hee, also in an Oceans uniform, took a serious batting stance.

-Here it comes!

Windup.

Jung Yoo-ri's pitch didn't feel amateurish at all, and she used an inverted W pitching form.

In the batter's box, Oso-hee, who looked like she was facing Kang Geun-woo, took a full swing.

Although she missed the ball, Oso-hee showed a full follow-through and received applause from the fans.

-Oh! 89 km/h! And it hit the strike zone!

-What was that? It looked like a two-seam fastball. The movement... Wow. That was an impressive first pitch.

-The catcher was surprised too. It was an incredible first pitch. Yes, both of them are receiving applause from the fans as they walk off. Jung Yoo-ri is waving to Kang Geun-woo.

[Did you see that first pitch?]

-What's up with Yoo-ri? lolololololololololol

-That pitching form is amazing lolololololol

-Isn't she like a Yul's Camp player? lolololololololololol

-Isn't she better than the Oceans' bullpen?

-At least she throws it in the strike zone lolololololol

-You should sign Yoo-ri, Oceans scumbags

-Oso-hee's full swing was also impressive

-If she were a bit younger, there would be two Kang Geun-woos, ah lololol

-Two-seam movement lolololololol

-Check out the two-seam lololololol Yoo-ri is like Matt Morris lololololol

-She might be better than the Oceans' bullpen

-If the bullpen screws up again today, they'll prove they're worse than Yoo-ri

-Go Oceans!