On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 11

“You can unpack your things here.”

“Thank you.”

“Alright, unpack and come to the office. We need to sign the contract.”

Following Park Gi-duk’s instructions, Song Seok-hyun was shown to his assigned accommodation.

The room was about the size of a studio apartment near a university.

Though not large, Song Seok-hyun smiled brightly.

“Wow, nice. One person per room.”

As expected from a club known for spending big, the Goths’ minor league dorms were state-of-the-art.

The private bathroom even had a bidet, and the bed was queen-sized.

Considering that other clubs’ minor leagues typically housed two people per room, with single-sized beds and shared bathrooms, these facilities were top-notch.

“It’s nice here.”

Song Seok-hyun unpacked his luggage and pulled back the curtains.

Pure white light flooded the room.

Although the surroundings were a desolate field, today it looked like a golden landscape.

Knock knock.

“……Yes?”

Song Seok-hyun rushed to the door and opened it.

A familiar face stood outside.

“Oh, I wondered who came in at this hour, but it seems like a rookie?”

“Ah, hello, senior. I’m Song Seok-hyun.”

Song Seok-hyun immediately bowed.

The visitor was none other than Kim Jeong-ryul, the Goths’ ace, a man known as the ace of aces.

“Yeah, nice to meet you. You know me, right?”

“Yes, how could I not know Kim Jeong-ryul, senior?”

“This kid, flattering me from day one. Still, cute, cute.”

The Kim Jeong-ryul that Song Seok-hyun saw seemed like a friendly neighbor.

As a sportsman, his broad shoulders and square jaw were impressive, but his affable eyes and upturned lips made him seem approachable.

“But why are you here? The other rookies are having their induction ceremony today.”

“Induction ceremony…… I couldn’t go. I’m a non-drafted player.”

“Non-drafted? Hey, even if you don’t take photos together, you still attend the induction ceremony, right?”

“Park Gi-duk, the assistant manager, said that since I’m a non-drafted player, it doesn’t apply to me……”

“Then the other guys shouldn’t be here either. You’re the only one here. I came in early today, so it’s just you and me here.”

Only then did Song Seok-hyun look around.

Thinking back on the way to the minor league dorm, he hadn’t seen any players other than the minor league staff.

“What school did you go to?”

“I graduated from Woojin High School.”

“Woojin High School? Where is Woojin High School?”

“It was established three years ago, so you might not know it. I’m the first one to be drafted this year. You know Jang Dae-hee? Wolves’ Jang Dae-hee. He’s from Woojin High School.”

“Ah, I’ve heard of him. Really? What position do you play?”

“I’m a catcher.”

“Catcher? A high school catcher? Catchers are rare these days. How did a catcher end up as a non-drafted player?”

Song Seok-hyun fidgeted with his ear.

“I’m just not good enough.”

“No, no. I didn’t mean it like that. Haha. I shouldn’t have said that. If you don’t attend the induction ceremony today, you won’t see the manager and coaches. Why did Park exclude only you from the induction ceremony? That’s strange……. Did he misunderstand something? Wait a minute.”

Kim Jeong-ryul took out his phone and made a call.

The caller was Park Gi-duk.

“Hey, hey. Gi-duk, it’s me. I saw a cute rookie came today? Uh-huh. But why didn’t he attend the induction ceremony? He needs to meet everyone. Didn’t you make a mistake?”

Kim Jeong-ryul joked with a smile, but his expression briefly hardened.

“Ah…… rehab group……?”

Song Seok-hyun noticed Kim Jeong-ryul’s changed expression but pretended not to.

“Still, he should attend the induction ceremony with everyone else. That’s how he makes friends and meets seniors. He needs to make an impression on the manager and coaches. Uh, uh. Hey. Why are you talking like that……. Ha, never mind, okay. Got it. Hang up.”

Kim Jeong-ryul gave a bitter smile.

“What a meanie. Even if it’s our team, I can’t get used to this.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, no.”

Kim Jeong-ryul held out his hand.

“Let’s do well in the future. I’m also in the rehab group. I think I’ll be training with you, so it’s nice to meet you like this. This must be fate. Right?”

“Yes? Ah, yes, yes. That’s right.”

“It’s lunchtime, how about it? Lunch with me?”

“Ah, Assistant Manager Park told me to come down to the office first.”

“Really? Will it take long?”

“He said we’re going to sign the contract.”

“Ah, then sign it and come. I’ll be waiting in front.”

“Ah, you don’t have to go that far……. I’ll come to you.”

“No. I have to eat anyway. Let’s go down together.”

Kim Jeong-ryul headed to the office with Song Seok-hyun.

The office was deserted.

Only a few people were visible, including Assistant Manager Park Gi-duk.

“Gi-duk.”

Kim Jeong-ryul sat down and leaned close to Park Gi-duk.

“What were you doing?”

“Working. I printed out the contract.”

“Is it our Seok-hyun’s contract?”

Park Gi-duk smirked.

“When did he become ‘our Seok-hyun’? Do you know each other?”

“Since today?”

“You’re something, hyung [older brother/friend]. Move aside for a second. I have something to do with Seok-hyun.”

“Okay. I get that…….”

Kim Jeong-ryul quietly whispered in Park Gi-duk’s ear.

“Hey, you should have let him attend the induction ceremony. That’s harsh.”

“The number of participants for the induction ceremony was already set. Seok-hyun was picked late, so he wasn’t on the list.”

“Come on, you could have just slipped him in.”

“Me? How could I?”

“Why are you like this? It’s the first induction ceremony ever, who would say anything if you just squeezed him in?”

“You know I don’t have the authority to do that.”

Kim Jeong-ryul was about to say a few more words but stopped.

“Okay, well, if that’s the situation, there’s nothing I can do. Got it. I’ll go out and wait for a bit. Seok-hyun, come out when you’re done.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Jeong-ryul sat alone on a bench outside the office.

Kim Jeong-ryul’s expression was dark.

“Hoo, do they have to use even young kids like this.”

* * *

That afternoon.

Song Seok-hyun was introduced to the rehab group members for the first time.

The rehab group didn’t have a separate manager.

There was only one coach named Jang Il-yong.

Jang Il-yong was a physical therapist by training and was more of a supporter than a coach.

There were a total of seven rehab group members.

Three pitchers, three fielders, and the newly arrived Song Seok-hyun.

There were seniors older than Kim Jeong-ryul, but it was clear to everyone that Kim Jeong-ryul was the leader of the rehab group.

“Our new guy is here, should we go out for dinner? Coach, are you in?”

“Me? Nah, I’m good. What would an old-timer do there? You guys go ahead.”

“Why? Let’s go together.”

“I have to go home. My wife’s nagging is getting serious these days.”

“Well…… if you say so, there’s nothing we can do. Then, everyone else, let’s go to a company dinner?”

“I’m going to rest. The hospital told me to rest well.”

“I have a prior engagement today.”

“I have plans too.”

Out of eight people, including the coach, only four were able to attend the dinner, including Song Seok-hyun.

The four of them moved to a nearby restaurant in Kim Jeong-ryul’s car.

While driving, Kim Jeong-ryul talked non-stop, but the other two were silent.

“Alright, let’s eat. The meat is good here. It’s a place where you can eat it right after slaughtering. Try it.”

The restaurant the four went to was a barbecue place.

While Song Seok-hyun, the youngest, grilled the meat, the other three shared a glass of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].

“Ah. This is the taste. Seok-hyun, want a drink?”

“Ah, I’m okay.”

“Ah, you’re still a high schooler, right? Haha, you have to be careful.”

While Song Seok-hyun was grilling the meat, Kim Jeong-ryul and another pitcher, Kim Hyeong-seok, went outside to talk.

Left alone with fielder Go Young-jin, Song Seok-hyun didn’t know what to say and just grilled the meat.

“Turn down the heat and take a break. The meat is burning.”

“Yes.”

Song Seok-hyun turned down the heat and put down the tongs.

Go Young-jin poured himself a glass of water and drank it.

“Should I order you a Coke or something?”

“No. I’m okay.”

“Are you managing your health?”

“No. Not really, I just prefer eating only meat.”

“I see…….”

Go Young-jin put his hands in his jacket pockets.

Go Young-jin was a bit thin with droopy eyes, and maybe because he was thin, he looked gloomy.

“You’re Song Seok-hyun, right?”

“Yes.”

“How did you end up here?”

“Um…… I got recommended and ended up here.”

“Recommended? By who? Someone you know well?”

“Not really. Someone I happened to meet…….”

“What does he do?”

“Coach Lee Gi-seong. I heard he played in the pros until this year.”

“……I don’t know him well. But, there are other places to go, why did you come here?”

“I got rejected from everywhere else…….”

Go Young-jin laughed.

“Haha, you’re really unlucky. Hoo. If I didn’t have a kid, I’d share a glass of soju with you. Your fate isn’t easy either, right?”

“I’m okay, though.”

“Ha.”

Go Young-jin looked back.

Behind him was the restaurant door, and outside the restaurant window, Kim Jeong-ryul and Kim Hyeong-seok were talking.

“Seok-hyun.”

“Yes.”

“Should hyung [older brother/friend] tell you something?”

“Yes, I’ll listen carefully.”

Go Young-jin lowered his body and spoke in a low voice.

“Seok-hyun, sorry to say this on your first day, but this place is just a prison camp.”

“……Yes?”

Song Seok-hyun blinked, not understanding.

“They call it a rehab group, but where else do they organize a rehab group like this? And the guys who are really getting proper rehab are doing it at the corporation’s dedicated rehab center. Have you heard of JMR? It’s a place that brings even dead guys back to life. If you really needed rehab, why would they send you here?”

“…….”

“It’s just called rehab, but they’re keeping us here so we can’t even go up to the minor league, so we’ll retire on our own. Do you know what the characteristic of the people here is? Everyone’s performance is ambiguous. Not good enough to trade. So they’re telling us to leave on our own. They don’t even tell us to leave here. They’re just pushing us out, telling us to leave on our own.”

A shadow fell over Song Seok-hyun’s face.

He understood belatedly.

Why a spot opened up so easily, why he wasn’t invited to the induction ceremony, and why Kim Jeong-ryul’s expression was dark when he said he was in the rehab group. All his questions were answered at once.

“I guess they brought you here because you had nowhere else to go, but I’ll tell you in advance. You prepare too. Do something other than baseball, or use all your connections to find another team. It’s difficult now because the roster is full, but during the educational league and stuff like that, there are guys who get injured or fall out of favor with the coaching staff, right? Then another spot might open up. Aim for that. Not here. This place is hopeless, damn it. This place is just a prison camp.”

Go Young-jin’s voice gradually rose as he spoke.

Song Seok-hyun coughed, seeing Kim Jeong-ryul opening the door and coming in.

“Ahem.”

Go Young-jin also noticed and straightened his back, returning to his expressionless face.

“Oh, were you two having a good time?”

“Yes, I grilled all the meat here. Should I grill some more?”

“Yeah, Seok-hyun, the meat is good here, right?”

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

“That’s right. I have a picky palate, so I chose this place. Young-jin, did you eat a lot too?”

“Yes, I ate a lot.”

“Yeah, you need to gain some weight. Just because you hurt your ankle doesn’t mean you should be skinny, it’s hard to rehab.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“No need to thank me. I told you to speak comfortably.”

The four finished the first round and scattered.

Kim Jeong-ryul went to the second round with Kim Hyeong-seok, and Go Young-jin returned to the dorm with Song Seok-hyun.

Song Seok-hyun stared at the dark, empty room.

It was the same room as just a few hours ago, but…….

“Nothing is easy.”

Success as a catcher

A glimmer of possibility

Bang!

“Nice!”