On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 223

Hwang Gi-deok swung and missed at the sinking sinker and the slider that drifted outside.

The final pitch was a UFO curve [a pitch that appears to be a fastball but rises suddenly].

Whoosh!

-Strike! Out!

“A swinging strikeout! A three-pitch strikeout! Kim Jung-ryul strikes out Hwang Gi-deok with a three-pitch strikeout.”

“Who knew Kim Jung-ryul would do so well as a closer? He’s unstoppable even in the postseason.”

The exhausted Scorpion players were no match for the Goat.

Kang Kyun-seung struck out, and even Jung Dae-han struck out.

With three consecutive strikeouts, Kim Jung-ryul roared, looking up at the sky.

“Wooo-ah!”

The players rushed over and hugged Kim Jung-ryul.

Kim Jung-ryul smiled broadly but grumbled.

“Hey, it’s just the playoffs, don’t overreact. It’s not the Korean Series [the championship series of the KBO League].”

“It’s been years since we won in the playoffs! It’s worth celebrating!”

Director Lee Gun-hoo left his seat.

He had a feeling that today might be his last.

He was the one who created the Scorpion’s ironclad bullpen, but would the club acknowledge it?

The playoff results were disappointing, even to him.

In the end, all of this happened yesterday in the third playoff game.

The starting match between Fish and Kang Gu-yeol was clearly in Goat’s favor.

The Goat raised their game sense while playing games 1, 2, and 3.

The condition that was heated up exploded in the fourth game.

They should have expected this result from the moment they faced the Goat, the home run team, at the small Daegu Stadium.

He thought it would be okay because the bullpen was strong and they had never lost so badly before.

It’s easy to say after it’s over, but the fourth game was a disadvantageous game from the start.

They faced the cleanup hitters [the 3rd, 4th, and 5th batters in the lineup, typically the strongest hitters] who hit the most home runs in the small stadium.

Even the starting lineup was better than Goat’s.

The only thing the Scorpion had over them was the bullpen, but if the starters collapsed, the bullpen would be useless.

He took it too lightly.

He never thought he would be defeated so helplessly.

“Director.”

Lee Gun-hoo stood still in the hallway for a long time, and then a coach carefully approached and called him.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Are you okay?”

“……I’m fine. I’m fine. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The game was over.

No, the season was over.

Perhaps today would be the end of Director Lee Gun-hoo.

* * *

There was no time to enjoy the playoff advancement.

It was an away game, and the opposing team was in a terrible mood after suffering a crushing defeat.

The Goat enjoyed the joy of victory modestly on the bus and then returned home.

“Take a good rest tomorrow. Rest well until tomorrow and come to work on time the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes! I understand!”

“I know today is a good day, but you know the Korean Series is more important, right? Let’s refrain from drinking, even if we do. Huh?”

Ham Sung-hoon didn’t nag the players any further.

On a day like this, would they really not drink even if he told them not to?

Fortunately, he was less worried because players like Lee Nak-gyun, who used to lead the entertainment, were gone.

“Go in. Please go in. Go in.”

Song Seok-hyun greeted each of his seniors and then took a taxi to go home.

The taxi driver, who recognized Song Seok-hyun, made a fuss, so he couldn’t sleep the whole way.

“Fighting in the Korean Series too!”

“Yes, thank you.”

Song Seok-hyun got out of the taxi and picked up his phone.

He had been texting Kim Na-young all the way, but she didn’t reply.

On such a happy day, the joy of victory was repeatedly halved because he couldn’t reach the person he wanted to share it with the most.

After hesitating, Song Seok-hyun pressed the call button, and soon a woman’s voice was heard.

“Is that Seok-hyun?”

A familiar voice.

But it wasn’t Kim Na-young.

* * *

Song Seok-hyun and Kim Na-young were sitting on a bench at the entrance of the neighborhood park.

Song Seok-hyun was grinning, and Kim Na-young was looking at him.

“Are you happy?”

“Of course, I am!”

“Are you really happy?”

“Would I pretend to be happy?”

Kim Na-young hugged Song Seok-hyun.

“If I had known you would like it this much, I would have told you sooner.”

“Then why did you hide it so much?”

“Hey, it’s my first time too. I didn’t know what to do either.”

“Then you should have told me first.”

“How could I do that? You were constantly frowning at the end of the season, and you worked so hard to get into the postseason. When was there a time to tell you?”

“Hey, our baby is the most important. Hehe.”

Kim Na-young smiled as Song Seok-hyun smiled brightly.

The voice on the phone was Kim Na-young’s mother.

When Song Seok-hyun rushed home after being told to come home quickly, not only Song Seok-hyun’s mother but also Kim Na-young’s mother and father were there.

Kim Na-young silently handed over the ultrasound photo as she watched Song Seok-hyun blink, not knowing what was going on.

“Let’s get a house first, as the adults say. Let’s get a two-room monthly rent, and when our salary goes up next year, let’s save that money and get a deposit or an old apartment.”

“Okay. Then I’ll go look for a house.”

“You? No way. How are you going to go around like this?”

Kim Na-young laughed.

“Hey, I don’t even have a belly yet. Why are you overreacting so much?”

“You have to be more careful at times like this.”

“Then who’s going to look at the house?”

“I can look at it after the Korean Series is over. It’ll only be a few days at most. I’ll do the legwork.”

“That’s okay. Don’t worry about that and focus on the game. It’s the Korean Series. Aren’t you going to win?”

“Of course, we have to win. Anyway, winning is winning. I’m just worried about you going to see the house alone.”

“Nothing will happen just because I go to see the house. I can coax my friends, buy them something delicious, and go see the house. So don’t worry and just focus on the game. Okay?”

Song Seok-hyun scratched the back of his head.

“Oh, right. I should have paid attention to you sooner. I knew you were acting strange.”

“Seok-hyun.”

“Huh? Why? Why?”

Kim Na-young grabbed both of Song Seok-hyun’s cheeks tightly.

“Let’s just focus on the game. Huh? It’s not like the baby will come out any faster if you do that, okay?”

“Ah, I understand.”

Kim Na-young shook her hands and stood up.

“Don’t overdo it. It’s still a long way until the baby comes out. You’re the head of the household now. Working hard at baseball is important for our family too. Do you know what I mean?”

“Ah, that’s right. I understand. Yeah, yeah. I’ll work hard at baseball.”

“I won’t be able to go to the field. Please understand that.”

“Of course. Don’t come to the stadium. It’s crowded. It’s noisy. Something bad will happen. Stay home quietly. Oh, don’t even watch baseball. You’ll be surprised and scared.”

“Hey, come on. I told you not to overdo it.”

Song Seok-hyun smiled.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do that.”

* * *

The day after the playoffs ended.

The Goat players went on a sweet day of rest.

On the other hand, the Pegasus players increased the intensity of their training to maintain their game sense.

Pegasus’s director Choi Sung-yeon was watching the stadium with hazy eyes.

“Director?”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry, Director. Training is all over.”

“Oh, has it already become that way? Have the kids do their finishing exercises and send them off. Tell them to take good care of their bodies because the training intensity will increase little by little from tomorrow.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I’m not feeling well. I’ll get up first.”

“Yes, please go in.”

Director Choi Sung-yeon left first.

Even after returning home, his dazed eyes remained the same.

“It’s unconditional, unconditional. Got it?”

“……Dad, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

Choi Sung-yeon turned his head when his wife nudged him.

“Why?”

“No, why have you been like that since earlier?”

“What?”

“You’re like a lost soul.”

“Oh, really? It’s nothing. I have something to think about.”

“Are you stressed?”

“I told you it’s nothing. I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Choi Sung-yeon went into the room, closed the door, and lay down on the bed.

This morning, the general manager secretly sought him out.

After a simple meal, the general manager brought up the main point.

“Last year’s happening, we cannot tolerate it this year. Last year’s incident was not the director’s fault, but it is a clear fact that it is a great disgrace in our team’s history. Do you know what I mean?”

“……I will try. I will definitely win the Korean Series.”

“Director, I believe you know what it means to be the director of Pegasus. Please don’t forget that the responsibility is as great as the benefits.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Choi Sung-yeon spread out his five fingers.

An annual salary of 300 million won [approximately $250,000 USD].

How many jobs are there that pay an annual salary of 300 million won at this age?

The salary is the salary, but the livelihoods of the coaches who follow him are also in his hands.

Pegasus is a place that guarantees the best welfare and salary in the league.

Pegasus is also a place that is as sharp as a knife.

The position of director is a dream for baseball players, but it is also the end point for baseball players.

Very few of those who have stepped down from the position of baseball director achieve their dream of becoming a baseball director again.

Maybe it’s about counting on your fingers.

If he is fired from Pegasus, considering his short term as director, this position will probably be his last.

Because he has little experience, he won’t even get a chance to go to another team as director.

Even if the general manager doesn’t pressure him, it is clear that this is his last chance.

He has to win no matter what.

Unconditionally.

He can’t sleep at night when he thinks about Goat’s volcanic cleanup hitters.

What should I do?

What should I do to win unconditionally?

Director Choi Sung-yeon tossed and turned before finally reaching one conclusion.

“Unconditionally. It’s unconditional.”

Soaring as a Catcher

Determination

With the Korean Series just around the corner, Song Seok-hyun couldn’t focus solely on baseball.

He was already acting as the head of the household, and now he had to start a new home with Na-young.

He had no savings, and his mother’s health was not as good as before.

As he became more and more worried every day, he made mistakes in training.

The players and coaches were worried when the starting catcher and fourth hitter made mistakes.

Ham Sung-hoon called Song Seok-hyun aside and asked what was wrong.

“I think I’m getting married soon.”

“Marriage?”

Ham Sung-hoon burst out laughing.

“Marriage? You? When?”

“The exact date hasn’t been set yet, but I think it’ll be right after the Korean Series…… I’m thinking.”

“Ah…… First of all, congratulations. Congratulations, but. Hehe, this is. Marriage. You’re only twenty years old now. It’s early, hehe. You’re not having a baby, are you?”

Song Seok-hyun nodded.

“I am.”

“……Wow, our Seok-hyun. Hehe, our Seok-hyun is early, early. So you were worried? Well, it’s worrying to get married at your age. Others are just wondering whether to date or not.”

“I wanted to get married too, and it’s good, but it’s not that…….”

Song Seok-hyun told Ham Sung-hoon one by one about his feelings that he hadn’t told anyone else yet.

He hadn’t told anyone around him about his pregnancy or marriage, and he didn’t have an adult to share his worries with, so he rambled on unlike usual.

“So you’re worried about money?”

“……Yes, I have to support my mother and younger sibling, and I have to take responsibility for my girlfriend, but I don’t know if that will be easy.”

“Hahahaha, you’re worrying too much. You’re worrying about that.”

“My mother keeps saying she’s going to work even though she’s not feeling well, so I’m worried. I want to open a store for her, but I can’t afford it.”

“Seok-hyun?”

“Yes.”