Chapter 8

-1- The Gatling Gun in the Pocket

#

Ocean's Spring Camp.

Hugh Breadman, the new foreign manager of Ocean, was looking through a report.

"Hmm..."

The team's core hitter and third baseman, Park Jeong-shin, had left as a free agent, and the same went for two starting outfielders. Yang Jae-hyun had been a key player as the team's second batter over the past three years, and Kim Sung-ho had provided solid support in the lower lineup.

The team had also been through several managerial changes over the past few seasons.

Now, in his first season, he hadn't yet fully grasped the players, but one thing was clear: the team was a mess.

It was too early to properly assess the players' skills.

This was definitely a problem with the team culture.

Even without the bias of being a perennial bottom team, the roster didn't look particularly strong. Apart from a few players, there were hardly any standout talents. Moreover, since he didn't fully understand the level of Korean baseball, it made the situation even more challenging.

Korean coaches tended to favor veterans. Honestly, Manager Hugh Breadman wanted to trade most of the existing players, except for a few. The issue was whether they would be traded or not.

The pitchers showed potential, but they were also inconsistent.

Surprisingly, the rookies stood out more.

'Gang Gun Woo...'

Especially the rookie with a name that sounded like it belonged to a gangster.

He had argued with the hitting coach about changing his batting stance as soon as the camp started.

The coach had criticized his swing as being too large, but after a discussion with the manager, the rookie was allowed to maintain his stance.

"His swing is large, but upon closer inspection, it's almost perfectly balanced. His swing speed and angle are also excellent. We'll have to see how he performs in actual games..."

Baseball requires a lot of time to develop a player, but sometimes a nearly complete monster emerges. The manager thought the offer from the major leagues wasn't for nothing, even though he hadn't seen the player in action yet.

While it might be unnecessary to speculate, perhaps the player wouldn't have succeeded in the major leagues either.

If that were the case, there would be no need to worry. A promising tree is different from the start. The talent was evident in his training, so providing an opportunity would be enough.

The only issue was the defensive position of this first-round rookie. Ironically, it wasn't his lack of defensive skills that was the problem, but rather his versatility.

He excelled in defense wherever he was placed.

The manager wanted to put him at shortstop, but the team already had a starting shortstop. Moving the current shortstop to third base wasn't an option, as Jung Gwi-hyun, while a decent hitter for a shortstop, lacked the power to play third base.

Moreover, the rookie was also reported to be the best pitcher among the amateurs, so the manager had seen him pitch as well.

This left the manager in a dilemma.

"Do you want to focus only on hitting?"

"Yes."

A short and simple answer.

No interpreter was needed for conversations with Gang Gun Woo. Among the players at the camp, only four could freely converse in English: the foreign players and Gang Gun Woo.

"Why?"

The manager couldn't help but ask.

"Why?"

Gang Gun Woo answered calmly.

"My elbow gets sore when I throw a lot of pitches."

#

The atmosphere at the spring camp was a bit chaotic.

Well, it wasn't entirely unfamiliar. In fact, he had seen worse.

First, the communication between the manager and the coaching staff seemed poor.

The coaches also didn't seem to be working well together.

Even the players were divided.

"Hey, genius hitter. Your swing is amazing. Want to have a drink after training?"

This was Bae Young-han, an outfielder who had joined the team as a free agent.

"Sorry, I have an alcohol allergy."

"What? You don't want to drink with me? Fine, I'll drink with Jung-hyuk. Hey, and don't come to the outfield. Don't try to take my spot."

He was a smooth-talking, drink-loving, woman-chasing type who relied on his talent. Being close to him could ruin a career.

Anyway, the free agents who joined the team tended to stick together.

"Gun-woo."

"Yes, senior."

This giant was Yang Dae-geun, the star hitter of Ocean. Standing nearly two meters tall, he had a mafia-like appearance, but he was actually shy and kind.

"Don't call me senior."

"Understood."

"Hmm. I just wanted to say..."

Yang Dae-geun looked around cautiously, though he still looked intimidating, and spoke quietly.

"You have a good arm. Keep it up. I hope to see you in the first team when the season starts."

"...Thank you."

He was a surprisingly unexpected character. Did he call me just to say that?

Yang Dae-geun's stats from last season were a .298 batting average with 33 home runs. However, he was criticized for his performance in crucial moments, which might reflect his shy personality.

The infield was divided into two groups: the relatively quiet and focused Yang Dae-geun, and the more competitive shortstop Jung Gwi-hyun, who seemed to be wary of me. He might be worried that I'll take his spot, but I don't really care. I don't mind not playing shortstop.

The pitching staff was also split, mostly between starters and relievers.

Well.

Looking around, it was a mess.

Actually, it wasn't so much factions as players just hanging out with each other. Still, I don't want to get involved. Fortunately, the manager is American, so I can stay out of it and still be noticed.

The problem is...

How can I win with these guys?

My smartphone rings. It's Yooli.

-Yooli: Gun-woo, how's the camp atmosphere?

-Me: It's great. We might win the championship this year.

Sometimes, a white lie is necessary.

-Yooli: Really????

-Yooli: [Ocean's shortstop Jung Gwi-hyun arrested for drunk driving during Australian spring camp.]

-Yooli: ???????

-Yooli: Did you lie about going to the spring camp and go somewhere to play?

?????

What a mess.

#

Thwack!

The batting stance I created with Yooli after the regression is quite good. There was some friction with the hitting coach, Jeong Byung-gu, but he has been more friendly since seeing my interview.

[Ocean's prospect Gang Gun Woo: "Coach Jeong Byung-gu's advice is a great help."]

Thwack!

"Wow, Gun-woo! It's flying!"

Honestly, if it weren't for Yooli, I wouldn't have given him any lip service. I don't want to be on his bad side and cause trouble.

Still, the change in attitude of Coach Jeong Byung-gu, who had previously wanted to completely overhaul my swing, was evident as he cheered for my hits.

He had previously said my swing needed to be completely changed.

Thwack!

He clapped after I hit another long ball.

A supportive hitting coach is better than a manager who watches with a critical eye.

Thwack!

The stance must always be consistent. Building stamina to maintain the stance throughout the season is important.

I've experimented with various batting stances, but the conclusion is that a well-developed stance is the best.

If I weren't a regressed person, I might have followed the coach's advice and changed everything.

Although I haven't played in a real game yet, seeing the balls fly in the outdoor training field is psychologically helpful.

Anyway, the already chaotic camp atmosphere got even worse.

Some coaches tried to improve the mood, but the arrest of Jung Gwi-hyun for drunk driving created a cold atmosphere between the infielders and pitchers.

After my turn, I came out of the batting cage and started stretching when the rookie, No Gyeong-woo, who also attended the camp, approached me.

"Is it going well?"

"It's okay."

We're not particularly close. There are only two rookies, so many people encourage us to get along, and No Gyeong-woo often approaches me.

No Gyeong-woo sat down and made some strange sounds before hesitantly speaking again.

"Hey, you. Are you going to play shortstop?"

The current starting shortstop position is vacant.

The previous shortstop, who had a decent defense, a batting average in the mid-20s, and about 20 steals, left.

"Why? Trying to take the starting spot?"

"Of course. Isn't this a great opportunity?"

He's bluffing. The atmosphere is down, and it will be difficult for No Gyeong-woo to take the shortstop position.

"How about aiming for an outfield spot?"

It wasn't a casual suggestion.

No Gyeong-woo and I played together on the national team. I remember he was drafted by the Thunderbirds and switched to an outfielder.

However, No Gyeong-woo frowned.

"Don't you know there are no outfield spots?"

"Isn't it better than shortstop?"

"What? Why?"

Well.

Because I'm likely to play shortstop.

But it's a bit awkward to say that.

"Look."

"What? Do you know something?"

"First, the foreign player Wolfpack will play left field."

Wolfpack prefers first base, but Yang Dae-geun and Lee Si-wook will split the first base and designated hitter roles.

"Senior Bae Young-han will play right field."

"That's true. But what about center field?"

There are a few fast, small players, but they lack contact ability, making them easy to hit.

"Senior Kim Sung-hun had a .227 batting average last year."

"..."

"What about Seniors Kim Ji-ho and Lee Young-jun? Below .200."

"..."

"Who would say such things if they heard?"

"No one is listening."

"That's a relief."

"Conclusion?"

"Conclusion?"

"Aiming for center field is better than competing for the shortstop position."

No Gyeong-woo looked at me strangely.

"I always knew you were unlucky, but this much?"

"I'm unlucky?"

I had never heard that before.

I was about to ask for more details, but the break ended.

"Yang Dae-geun! Lee Si-wook! Ko Eun-tae! Gang Gun-woo! Infield preparation! Home plate is Yong-su! Mound is Hoon!"

The call from the defense coach.

"Who else plays baseball as gently as me?"

No Gyeong-woo, who hadn't been called yet, muttered under his breath.

"You're really unlucky..."

#

After Jung Gwi-hyun's departure, Ocean was in a state of emergency.

There are backup infielders, but they are essentially just placeholders in the batting order. They also haven't shown much in terms of defensive skills.

Therefore, expectations naturally fell on the first-round draft pick, Gang Gun-woo, and the second-round pick, No Gyeong-woo.

"Assigning a full-time shortstop to a rookie is a bit risky..."

"Let's give it a try."

A shortstop is crucial to the team, and it could be a burden for a rookie.

In fact, there were higher expectations for Gang Gun-woo even before the draft, but No Gyeong-woo was also a talented player.

From what he had observed, No Gyeong-woo had some power and quickness. His defense was a bit rough, but his hitting talent suggested he could be developed into an offensive shortstop.

...If it weren't for Gang Gun-woo.

"Runner on third, no outs!"

The defense coach set the scenario, and the infielders moved accordingly. They were left to make their own judgments.

The defense coach scanned the infield and tapped the ball with his bat, simulating a squeeze bunt.

Gang Gun-woo confirmed that the bunt was rolling directly toward the mound. Seeing Lee Si-wook, who was practicing at third base, running toward the mound, he quickly moved to cover third base.

The defense coach shouted.

"Stop! Stop! Lee Si-wook! The pitcher should handle this bunt!"

Lee Si-wook, who was originally a first baseman, stopped and tilted his head. A collision between the pitcher and third baseman could result in a score, a base, and even an injury.

The defense coach sighed but looked a bit relieved to see Gang Gun-woo quickly move to cover third base.

The head coach, who was watching the training, spoke.

"Has Gang Gun-woo ever made a positioning error?"

"No. His judgment is accurate, and he figures things out on his own."

"Does he have a wide defensive range?"

"He often moves to cover a wide area even before the ball rolls. His positioning for relay plays is also accurate."

"His arm is impressive."

"Frankly, it's an arm that should be on a pitcher..."

"I haven't seen him dive for a ball. Have you?"

"He goes for the ball first."

"Was he always this good at defense in high school? I don't think he was this good."

The battery coach, who had just returned from giving a tip to the catcher, Jo Yong-su, about bunt defense, answered the head coach.

"His playing style has changed a lot since high school. I remember he used to rely on his athleticism and throw his body into plays. I was amazed when I saw him dive and catch a ball that was completely out of reach, even though he was a bit late."

"Isn't it strange for a rookie to play like a veteran shortstop? What can't he do? He's worth 1.5 billion won."