On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 53

Kim In-hwan stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

“Sit down,” the manager said.

The battery coach next to him added, “How can I sit comfortably? Everyone here is uncomfortable with me.”

“Is that so? Haha. Then In-hwan can stand there and listen.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“After your stint in the Futures League, you’ll go straight to the first team. There’s a special request from them. They say your recent performance is good, so maintain your condition and we’ll send you up. Dae-gyu’s physical condition isn’t great. You’ll probably replace him when you join the first team.”

“Already going up? It hasn’t been long since I came down.”

“Well, who told you to do so well? Haha. They sent me a video of you swinging, and the first team immediately told me to bring you up.”

“Ah…”

Kim In-hwan trailed off and lowered his head.

The manager put down his glass.

“Hey, why are you reacting like that? Not enthusiastic at all. Don’t you like the first team?”

“No, it’s not that. I just thought it would be good to practice a little more here.”

“That’s enough. What else do you need to do here?”

“I’m still lacking in many ways.”

“Enough with the modesty. Come on, man. And our first team isn’t in a great situation right now either. You must have heard. If you do well, you have to go up and be used right away. So take good care of your condition and stay in the first team this time. I’m saying stay for a while. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Alright, alright, go ahead. Take good care of yourself. Don’t drink alcohol, okay?”

“Yes.”

Kim In-hwan was about to leave but stopped.

Turning around, he said, “Um… excuse me, but is there any news about Jung-ryul and Seok-hyun in the first team?”

The manager shrugged.

“Those two will be contacted soon too. We’re getting pressure every day, telling us to bring them up to the first team.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Kim In-hwan’s face brightened.

“Thank you. Then I’ll be going.”

Kim In-hwan left the manager’s office.

The manager smiled.

“What’s with him? He used to be serious and gloomy all the time, but now he’s smiling.”

“That’s right. In-hwan was too serious, but these days he’s been smiling a bit.”

“That guy thinks too much. A batter can’t be too complicated.”

Battery coach Kim Tae-woo said, “Seok-hyun has been getting along well with them since he came, so they must be a good match.”

“I heard Seok-hyun was the one who told him to use the 850g bat?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.”

“In many ways, Seok-hyun’s synergy is good. He even gave Jung-ryul ideas to fix his yips [a psychological condition that inhibits athletic performance].”

“It seems like a lucky charm has come in. Are we finally breaking through and winning the championship?”

“If winning the championship was as easy as bringing in one player, everyone would win.”

“The Phoenixes did it, didn’t they? Even the perennial losers did it, so why can’t we?”

“They have Kim Young-hoon. Bring that crazy guy. Then I’ll win the championship too. Are pitchers and catchers the same? That crazy guy plays as the 1st, 3rd, and 5th starters by himself. Ugh, just thinking about it is scary.”

“A pitcher who’s good on his own is scary, but Seok-hyun is a lucky charm. If Seok-hyun continues to grow like this, I think we’ll definitely be in the running for the championship.”

“Let’s think about that when the time comes.”

The pitching coach, who had been quiet, said, “If Jung-ryul finishes and In-hwan bats cleanup and Seok-hyun catches… the lineup is the best. If both In-hwan and Seok-hyun explode, how can we not win the championship?”

The manager laughed loudly and patted his chest.

“Even if we don’t win the championship, if they both explode, we’ve done all we can. Ah, then my contribution is the greatest, right? Raising three players from the Futures League. The next manager will be me. Isn’t that right? Haha.”

“You have to dream big, even if it’s just a dream. Shouldn’t we all go to the first team with you, Manager?”

“Hahahaha. It sounds good just hearing it. It sounds so good.”

* * *

Kim In-hwan came out of the manager’s office and rubbed both cheeks with his hands.

Kim In-hwan didn’t just laugh.

That evening.

Kim In-hwan headed to his favorite barbecue restaurant with Kim Jung-ryul and Song Seok-hyun.

“Here, Seok-hyun, eat a lot.”

Kim In-hwan gathered all the meat and placed it on Song Seok-hyun’s plate.

Kim Jung-ryul, who was reaching out with his chopsticks, pouted.

“Hey, are you discriminating against old people with this kind of thing?”

“You have yours here.”

“I wanted to eat that. It looked more well-done and appetizing.”

Song Seok-hyun picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Kim Jung-ryul’s plate.

“Please, take it, senior.”

“No, thanks. That would make me look pathetic.”

“Then should I eat it all?”

“Wouldn’t that make you look too cocky?”

It was when the three of them had filled their stomachs with meat to some extent that Kim In-hwan spoke.

“I think I’ll be going to the first team soon. Maybe next week or so?”

“It’s not a call-up, so why so long? Did the coach tell you?”

“The manager told me.”

“Then it’s certain. Congratulations. Do well this time. Don’t come down, man. Take root there. Plant your roots deep.”

“I should. It would be nice if we could go up together, but I feel bad that only I’m going up.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m going up soon too, right? And Seok-hyun too. Isn’t that right?”

Song Seok-hyun tilted his head.

“Shouldn’t I stay here a little longer?”

“Hey, if you stay here any longer, you’ll rot. You’re perfectly ripe now. Right, In-hwan?”

“Seok-hyun will be going up soon too. I asked the manager earlier, and he said that you and Seok-hyun will be able to go up to the first team soon.”

“Seok-hyun has already shown everything he needs to show. They should bring him up now. What is he proving here? He beat Yong-wook today, didn’t he?”

Song Seok-hyun shook his head.

“What did I win? The team won.”

“Hey, if you win a head-to-head match, you win.”

“How can I be compared to the senior? Even today, he turned four or five balls into strikes. That’s just what I saw, so there must have been more.”

“The way hyung [older brother or senior] catches the mitt is like a mystical gesture to teammates, but it’s like a gangster move to opponents.”

“That’s skill. Didn’t they say that Jung Yong-wook’s framing is top-class? I saw an analysis article from the last WBC [World Baseball Classic] while searching, and his framing score was second. Not a big difference from first place, but a different level from third place.”

“Hyung is slyly good.”

“It’s not sly, it’s an advanced skill. I don’t know how many years it will take me to catch up.”

“Hey, hey, Seok-hyun. Do you have to surpass Yong-wook hyung to go up to the first team? You should go up with your skills. You learn by going. Yong-wook hyung probably felt a little uneasy watching you today. He’ll think that time waits for no one. A 20-year-old rookie catcher is this good…! Dum dum!”

The three of them finished their first round at the barbecue restaurant.

They all agreed to go home early and rest since they had played in the game today.

On the way to the dorm.

Song Seok-hyun checked the caller on his phone.

It was his younger brother, Song Cheol-hyun.

“Just a moment.”

Song Seok-hyun stepped aside and answered the phone.

“Hey, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Song Seok-hyun’s voice dropped at Cheol-hyun’s words.

“What?”

Rising to Success as a Catcher

Blessing in Disguise (1)

After finishing the last game against the Pegasus, Song Seok-hyun immediately packed his bags.

Song Seok-hyun headed to Seoul with Kim In-hwan.

“Don’t worry too much. They said she wasn’t seriously injured, right?”

“…Yes.”

Kim In-hwan comforted Song Seok-hyun all the way to Seoul.

The two got off at the Seoul terminal.

“I’m going to the hospital right away. I’ll contact you later before I go back in.”

“I’ll go to the hospital with you.”

“Hyung?”

“Yeah, I should visit my junior’s mother who got hurt.”

“No, it’s okay. She won’t be in the hospital for long.”

“Still, that’s not the right thing to do. Let’s go. I’ll just stop by the hospital for a bit.”

Despite Song Seok-hyun’s protests, Kim In-hwan accompanied him to the hospital.

Kim In-hwan bought a set of fruits and drinks at the hospital entrance and headed to the hospital room.

Knock knock.

Song Seok-hyun opened the door to the two-person hospital room.

There, Song Seok-hyun’s mother was lying down.

“Mom.”

Next to his mother, his younger brother Song Cheol-hyun was sitting.

“I told you not to come. Why did you come instead of resting?”

Song Seok-hyun’s mother groaned and tried to get up.

Song Seok-hyun waved his hand, telling her not to get up.

Song Seok-hyun’s mother argued with Song Seok-hyun before making eye contact with Kim In-hwan.

“Hello? I’m Kim In-hwan, a senior on Seok-hyun’s team.”

Kim In-hwan immediately bowed 90 degrees.

“I heard your mother was ill, so I wanted to say hello.”

“Oh, my, oh, my. You’re Seok-hyun’s senior. Seok-hyun, help me get up.”

“No, Mother. Please lie down. I just came to say hello and leave. First, this.”

Kim In-hwan handed the fruits and drinks to Song Cheol-hyun.

“I heard you hurt your back, Mother. Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes. I’m okay. My back is just making it hard to get up. I’m sorry.”

“No, Mother. I’ve said hello, so I’ll be going now. Please get well soon.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I really just came to say hello. Oh, right.”

Kim In-hwan pointed to Song Seok-hyun.

“Seok-hyun is the best player on our team these days. He’ll probably be going to the first team soon. You don’t have to worry about Seok-hyun. He’s going to be a star.”

“Our Seok-hyun?”

“Yes! This is the truth. It’s not a lie.”

Song Seok-hyun smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

“What… Hyung, really.”

“Seok-hyun, then I’ll be going. See you when I get back tomorrow.”

Song Seok-hyun’s mother patted Song Seok-hyun on the arm.

“How can you let him go like this? There’s some fruit and food over there.”

“No, Mother. I’m really just here…”

Creak.

At that moment, the door opened and someone came in.

It was Jung Mi-nam and Kim Young-seok.

“Oh, Seok-hyun.”

“Hey, why are you guys here?”

“We came out to meet you since you were coming.”

Following them, Kim Na-young also entered.

Kim In-hwan swept back his hair and looked at Kim Na-young as she came in.

Kim In-hwan blinked, his breath caught in his throat.

“You even came?”

Kim Na-young only looked at Song Seok-hyun, not even glancing at Kim In-hwan at the door.

“It’s so hard to see your face. Did you get a job overseas or something?”

* * *

All three friends gathered at the news that Song Seok-hyun was coming.

Kim In-hwan, who said he was leaving early, lingered, unable to leave.

Song Seok-hyun introduced Kim In-hwan to the three of them.

The five of them sat down in the lounge with a drink each.

“Hyung, Mom wants you to come for a second?”

“Okay. Just a moment.”

Song Seok-hyun got up as soon as he sat down.

Kim Na-young also got up, following Song Seok-hyun.

Kim In-hwan fidgeted.

Suddenly.

At that moment, Jung Mi-nam touched Kim In-hwan’s hand.

“Wow! Your hands are really big. Bigger than mine?”

“Huh? Hands?”

Kim In-hwan blinked his big eyes.

“As expected, there’s a reason why you have the title of the strongest hitter in Korean professional baseball. Wow, look at your biceps. Your biceps are really amazing too. Young-seok, doesn’t In-hwan hyung seem to have thicker arms than me?”

“It seems like that to me too?”

“Wow, this is what a pro is like. Pros are different. What’s your three-rep max, hyung [older brother or senior]?”

“Three-rep?”

Kim In-hwan turned his head forward at the word “three-rep.”

“Is that with a helmet on?”

* * *

Kim Na-young followed Song Seok-hyun into the hospital room.

Song Seok-hyun stopped Kim Na-young, saying he had something to say.

“Just a moment. I’ll be right back after talking.”

As Song Seok-hyun entered the hospital room, his mother gestured for him to come closer.

“Oh, Mom. Why?”