On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 34

Though a smile lingered on his face, his eyes drooped with weariness.

“You’ve had surgery on both your shoulder and elbow, and you’re not getting any younger. You know going under puts a lot of strain on your back and knees, right? It’s going to be tough to get selected as an under pitcher from the start.”

“…I know.”

“Right? You know it well?”

Kim Jung-ryul nodded.

“It’s greedy of me to keep wanting to start. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the stamina to throw that many pitches.”

“Right, right, you need to start getting managed and throwing shorter stints. Take this opportunity to decide on a clear path. If you’re going to go under, it’ll be short stints out of the bullpen. That’s how I plan to use you.”

“Okay. Well, your judgment is right.”

“Don’t take it too hard.”

“What’s there to be upset about? It’s better to throw one inning properly than to be called a ‘meok-튀’ [a Korean slang term for someone who takes advantage and runs]. Well, it’s not like I wanted to become one.”

“Hoo, yeah. Think of it that way. I’ll put you in when you’re comfortable. We’ll gradually increase your innings too. I want you to handle one-point relief or setup situations.”

“That’s only if I do well.”

“You’ll do well, you rascal.”

Kim Jung-ryul got up from his seat.

On the way back to the dorm.

A thought crossed his mind.

“I could be a battery [pitcher-catcher duo] with Seok-hyun, couldn’t I?”

* * *

[Spring Goat is Rising! G.O.A.T. Off to a Great Start in April!]

[Climbing to 1st Place After 832 Days. G.O.A.T. is Different This Time]

[How Did the G.O.A.T. Get Stronger?]

Chairman’s office, Jeonseong Group headquarters.

Kim Myung-jin, chairman of Jeonseong Group and owner of the baseball club, stacked sports newspapers on the table and read them one by one.

He moved his chubby cheeks up and down, bursting into laughter.

Beep.

-Chairman, Director Lee Hwa-seong has arrived.

“Oh, oh. Tell him to come in.”

A moment later, the door opened and an elderly man entered.

Kim Myung-jin jumped up from his seat upon seeing the man.

“Oh, Director Lee! Come in and sit down.”

“Thank you, Chairman.”

Lee Hwa-seong took a seat on the sofa.

Kim Myung-jin had his secretary prepare tea.

“You’re working hard these days.”

The chairman personally poured tea and handed it to the director. The director bowed his head and received the teacup.

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Try it. It has a good aroma.”

“Yes, the aroma is rich.”

“Hahahaha, right?”

The chairman took two sips of tea and smiled brightly.

“The tea is sweet, sweet. It has a nutty flavor too.”

“Is that so? Haha, you seem to be in an especially good mood today, Chairman.”

“Hahahaha, it’s all thanks to our Director Lee. How could we perform so well now, after being so sluggish all this time?”

“I am sorry. It is all due to my incompetence.”

“The way I see it, this year is doable. The Pegasus are faltering a bit right now, and aren’t the only others the Scorpions and Wolves? But our pitchers are better than theirs. Baseball is a pitcher’s game, right?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. Indeed.”

“The foreign players seem to have been well-chosen this time, and if Lee Chang-hoon and Han Min-seok do their part… it’s like we can’t lose even if we wanted to, hahahahaha. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes. Haha, that’s right.”

The director couldn’t laugh wholeheartedly as he spoke.

*What kind of place is the baseball world? At the very least, you have to get through the summer to distinguish the real contenders. But it hasn’t even been April yet, and he’s already planning a celebration.*

“Ah, and also.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“As I was reading the articles, there was one thing that bothered me.”

The director swallowed hard.

“What are you referring to…?”

“There are more than a few places saying our team’s weakness is depth. That we neglect the minor league team? Ultimately, it means our player pool is thin.”

“…Wouldn’t you say that people have different perspectives? The level of our team’s starters is so high that those kinds of comments come out.”

“There are also a lot of guys complaining that we built the minor league stadium late. We took our time to build a good facility in a good location, but these bastards are saying whatever they want without knowing anything.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Aren’t reporters just company employees trying to make a living? Spouting off whatever comes to mind is their job.”

“I think so too. Would there even be one decent guy out of ten reporters?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. Of course.”

“Still.”

The chairman tapped the sofa twice with his finger.

“If the media is talking about it so unanimously, we should think about it at least once, right?”

The director’s hands became clammy.

“I missed the minor league stadium groundbreaking ceremony because of work, and I haven’t been able to visit it even once. I’m thinking of taking this opportunity to look around the minor league stadium and see what the kids’ level is like. I’ll give them some encouragement while I’m there.”

The director’s eyes darted left and right.

“Is that really necessary? You’re so busy, Chairman, it would be very inconvenient for you to go all the way to the outskirts of the city.”

“No. I’ll take some pictures while I’m there and boost morale. What’s the point of the first team doing so well? Our team always collapses in the summer. It’s because the players are exhausted, exhausted. It means there aren’t any replacements, any usable players. If I go once, the kids will fight harder, and then there will be more usable guys. Isn’t that right?”

“Uh… Yes. That’s right.”

“Set a date as soon as possible within this week.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that? Going back and forth will tire you out and take up a lot of time.”

“It’s just taking a picture and coming back, why are you making such a fuss? If I go at a time like this, everyone will be more on edge, right? Isn’t that right?”

The director left the chairman’s office after the conversation.

As soon as he came outside, the director took out a handkerchief and wiped away sweat.

“Um… Director, shall I bring you a drink?”

The director shook his head silently at the secretary’s question.

The director didn’t say a word as he took the elevator down and walked to the car.

Only after getting into the car did he utter a word.

“Ugh.”

The director called the general manager as soon as he returned to the stadium.

The general manager entered the director’s office with a beaming smile.

“Director, did you receive some bonus money? I heard you met with the chairman.”

The director pointed to the sofa with a haggard face.

“Have a seat.”

The general manager smiled awkwardly at the director’s unpleasant expression.

“Hoo.”

The director sighed as soon as he sat down.

“The chairman said he’s visiting the minor league stadium within this week.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Just what it sounds like. You need to coordinate with the chairman’s secretary to set a schedule.”

“Why the minor league stadium all of a sudden?”

“Tell me about it. It seems the media keeps saying we have a thin depth and neglect the minor league team, which has upset the chairman. Ah, this is driving me crazy because it’s the first time he’s going to the minor league team instead of Jamsil [stadium].”

“He’s not going to the minor league team to find fault, is he?”

“Who knows? You know the chairman’s personality. If we happen to lose the game on the day he goes, ugh…”

The general manager also shook his head.

The general manager recalled the time when the chairman came to the first team’s game.

The chairman had come three times during his tenure, and they had lost twice.

When they won, he didn’t spare any encouragement money, but when they lost, it was a complete scolding.

Even Manager Im Ui-soo, who was said to be flying high, was helpless in front of Chairman Kim Myung-jin.

“It’ll be alright. Our minor league team has never missed first place in the Northern League, has it?”

“The first team’s performance can still be predicted, but the minor league team is another matter. Ah, this is really… I thought I’d get praised and get some bonus money, but I just made more work for myself.”

“Well, what could happen?”

“Yeah, nothing will happen. He’s just going to inspect it.”

“He won’t be watching the whole game, so don’t worry too much. How busy is the chairman, would he watch the minor league game all the way through?”

“I guess so? Right?”

“Of course.”

* * *

Song Seok-hyun washed his face with cold water as soon as he woke up in the morning.

The first game against the Wolves.

Song Seok-hyun’s professional debut.

Even though it’s the minor league, it’s the first time he’s officially standing on the field as a member of a professional team, as a professional player.

Song Seok-hyun came out of the bathroom and repeatedly picked up and put down his phone.

Knock knock.

“Yes?”

“It’s me. We need to go eat breakfast.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Song Seok-hyun didn’t press the call button and went outside.

Kim Jung-ryul and Kim In-hwan were waiting outside.

“What were you doing?”

“Ah, I just woke up and took a shower.”

“Our youngest, did you purify yourself?”

“No. I just took a shower.”

“It’s a joke, don’t be so serious. Are you becoming like In-hwan?”

Kim In-hwan scratched the bridge of his nose.

The three ate a hearty breakfast and walked around the minor league stadium.

Kim Jung-ryul said.

“Seok-hyun, you’re playing in the game today, right?”

“They said they’d let me play for a short time today.”

“Ah, that’s great. Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

“Wow, then should I tell you even more nerve-wracking news?”

“Yes?”

“I heard from the office a little while ago that the club owner is coming for an inspection today.”

“…Yes?”

“Huh?”

Kim In-hwan and Song Seok-hyun both widened their eyes.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know what wind blew, but suddenly the club owner is coming for an inspection today. Well, I guess he’s just going to take some pictures and leave.”

“Why is he coming to the minor league team instead of the first team?”

“How would I know? It’s the club owner’s decision.”

Song Seok-hyun narrowed his brows.

“He’s just going to stop by for a bit, right?”

“That’s probably it. He’s not going to watch the whole minor league game. Maybe he’ll watch the beginning of the game and leave?”

“That’s a relief then. I’m not going to be used until the later innings anyway.”

“Still, be careful. It’ll be troublesome if you get on his bad side in a game like today. There are guys who got traded from the first team after getting on our chairman’s bad side.”

Kim In-hwan nodded.

“The chairman’s ups and downs are pretty severe.”

“The support is the best ever, but the fickleness is also the best ever. I’m going to be playing in the game starting today if I do well, the timing is really…”

Song Seok-hyun muttered.

“It’s always the worst timing.”

Success Story as a Catcher

Provocation

Screech.

The Wolves’ minor league bus arrived at the G.O.A.T. minor league stadium.

As the bus door opened, the players got off with their luggage.

“There are a lot of cars today.”

“Right? It’s a bit hectic, isn’t it?”

“Do we have a broadcast today?”

“Do we have a broadcast we don’t know about? Besides, it’s not even Monday today, would there be a broadcast?”

“Or is there some kind of event?”

The Wolves players looked at the cars filling the parking lot and headed to the stadium.

The Wolves’ minor league manager, Kim Young-ki, put his hands in his pockets and led the way.

“Hello, Manager.”

Manager Kim Young-ki nodded as he saw a man walking towards him from afar.

“Oh, Deputy Park. Long time no see.”

“Have you been well?”

“I’ve been fine. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Haha, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Park Ki-deok approached Manager Kim Young-ki and lowered his voice.

“Have you heard anything?”

“About what? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Our chairman is coming here today.”

“Chairman? The club owner?”

“Yes, it was a sudden schedule, so we should have asked for your understanding in advance, but we were a bit late. I’m sorry.”

“Heo, the chairman is coming to the minor league stadium? That’s amazing.”

“Yes, that’s how it happened.”

“I guess the G.O.A.T. is doing well these days, so the chairman is even taking care of the minor league stadium?”

“How would I know that, I’m just a low-level employee.”

“Well, alright. It’s not like we have to do anything because the chairman is coming. The G.O.A.T. is the one who’s busy.”

“Yes, that’s right. We don’t need to do anything special or anything like that.”

“Then that’s fine. We just need to do what we have to do.”

“Yes, and, and reporters are coming today too.”