Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 21

21. Special Feature

We had to be satisfied with a winning series of 2 wins and 1 loss against Hanseong Winners.

Winning the first game dramatically, losing the next day, and winning the day after.

It might feel disappointing to only get 2 wins and 1 loss against the weakest team when we’re trying to move up in the standings, but the teams both above and below us in the rankings all ended up with 1 win and 2 losses, which eased our minds.

We went from being 2 games behind the teams above and below us to being 1 game behind the team above and 3 games ahead of the team below. Moreover, in this upcoming 3-game series, the other competing teams will face the current 1st and 2nd place teams in the league, while we’ll be playing against the 7th place team, which is considered one of the weakest.

If the midweek 3-game series has the same result, we’ll be tied for 4th place and have a comfortable 4-game lead over 6th place. Furthermore, our head-to-head record against Visco, who is currently in 4th place, is 9 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses, giving us a relative advantage. Even if we lose the remaining 2 games against Visco, we’ll still have 9 wins, 1 draw, and 8 losses, securing our spot in the top 4.

I might be indulging in wishful thinking. But unlike last year, there’s a glimmer of hope. That alone makes a huge difference.

6 PM. The same pre-game scene as always. About 30 minutes left until the lineup is announced. You might think there’s plenty of time, but not at all.

Considering the short meeting right before the lineup and the end of the current training, we only have about 10 minutes to actually move around. Of course, the players who aren’t in the starting lineup have more time.

I was one of those with extra time because I’m a relief pitcher. So, I was leisurely hanging out and chatting with my juniors when a familiar club employee approached me with a strange camera.

“…What’s this?”

“Ah, we’re starting a new MiTube [Korean slang for YouTube] channel this time.”

“Eunseo-ssi is?”

Park Eunseo-ssi, one of the club’s front office staff. Despite her age, she always wears jeans and a club jumper [a type of sports jacket or sweater].

But it suits her really well. She’s quite cute, so she’s treated like the club’s idol among the players.

“No, no, the club is doing it.”

Eunseo-ssi waved her left hand, which wasn’t holding the camera, in denial.

“When did you start?”

“About a month ago?”

“That’s longer than I thought. Are you in charge of it, Eunseo-ssi?”

“Yes. I film everything, edit everything, and upload everything myself!”

*That’s it. I have some influence in the media, so take care of it yourself.*

*Behave yourself!*

“…If you give me an iced Americano [a popular coffee drink in Korea], I’ll edit it well.”

Just as I thought.

“How many subscribers do you have?”

“Right now? About 50,000?”

“Oh. That’s more than I expected.”

“More than you expected? That’s harsh.”

“Hehe. But do other clubs do this too?”

“Wonha is the first to do it officially.”

“Not bad.”

Since Wonha is known for being good at their job, they’ll probably get a good reputation for this too.

“…But why haven’t I seen it before? It’s been a month.”

“Until now, it was more like a teaser. Today is the first time we’re doing player interviews and fancams [fan-recorded videos]. Until now, it was mostly editing broadcast footage. We’ll be doing this more often in the future.”

“Ooh.”

It sounds like it could be fun.

“First, today’s theme is what our club’s players do before a game.”

“What do they do? They train and have meetings. What’s so interesting about that?”

“But the fans want to see it.”

That’s unavoidable.

“…So, what should I do?”

“There’s nothing you can do, Hanul-ssi, so go get some popcorn.”

“I don’t accept baseless jokes.”

“Ah, ah, Hanul-ssi.”

“Where are you acting cute!”

I shook off Eunseo-ssi, who was persistently clinging to me, and headed towards the dugout where everyone was gathering. A brief word from the manager. Unlike before, I was distracted by the person fiddling with a camera, so I honestly couldn’t concentrate on what the manager was saying.

“…So, you don’t have to feel pressured. Just maintain. Just maintain what you’re doing. Got it!”

“Yes!”

About 30 adult men making the same noise at once is a surprisingly intimidating sight.

But this fiddler doesn’t seem to feel any pressure, just grinning. After the meeting, everyone was taking turns asking, “What’s this?” as if they were curious about the camera she was carrying around.

“…Eunseo-ssi.”

“Since this will be uploaded to YouTube, please call me PD-nim [PD is short for Program Director, a title used in Korean broadcasting] instead of my name!”

“Okay, what’s up, PD-nim.”

“Yes!”

“Is today… my special?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Huh?”

Really? Is it really my special?

“Yes. It’s really Kim Hanul player special, today.”

“Uh… why?”

“Because you were the most requested?”

“No… it’s not like our team doesn’t have other popular players, so why me… I mean, there’s Sunghyun, Hyukjun, Gyujin-hyung [hyung is a Korean term used by males to address older male friends or brothers], Myungjin, Taeung… there are so many. But why me……”

…Whoa, whoa.

“…Thank you to the fans who chose me. You will be blessed.”

Puhahaha!

Everyone burst into laughter at my surprising change of attitude.

*Embrace capitalism.*

“No, but I’m really curious, why me?”

“Isn’t it because you’re the hottest player in Wonha this year?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

“You admit that?”

“I have to admit what I have to admit.”

“Oh, so all of Wonha’s improved performance this year is thanks to Kim Hanul player?”

“That’s… not entirely true.”

Whoa, whoa……

“You hesitated just now.”

“It’s your imagination.”

“It’s not.”

“It is!”

“……”

I’m going crazy.

It seems like the special about me wasn’t a lie. Except when I went to the bathroom, Eunseo-ssi was really stuck to my side.

As if reporting on my every move, she filmed the high-fives when we scored in the game from my perspective, and she filmed all the jokes I exchanged with my teammates.

While the rookie pitcher who started today pitched a decent 5 innings with 3 runs allowed, the batting lineup scored 6 runs.

Although the relief pitchers gave up two runs in the 6th inning, narrowing the gap to one point, the batting lineup scored another run, putting us ahead 7 to 5.

The 7th inning defense ended, and the 7th inning offense was about to begin. I picked up my glove, thinking they might call me soon.

“Going to the bullpen?”

“Yes.”

“You know the timing now. Warm up.”

“Yes sir. Is Lee Hyojae-sunbae [sunbae is a Korean term for senior or mentor] pitching in the 9th inning?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

A brief conversation with pitching coach Shin Youngjun on the way. That was all captured by Eunseo-ssi’s camera. When I opened the bullpen door, I was greeted by the bullpen catchers, including Geonyoung, and the pitchers who had nothing else to do.

I started stretching lightly behind the empty plate. I loosened up my shoulders, wrists, ankles, waist, chest, and hips, and put on my glove.

I received the ball thrown by the person next to me and checked the seams. All good. I lightly threw it to Geonyoung, who wasn’t wearing his mask yet, behind the plate.

“Hyung [hyung is a Korean term used by males to address older male friends or brothers], what’s that camera?”

“Our club’s MiTube.”

“Oh.”

“Geonyoung-ssi, wave your hand!”

“Hellooo!”

His voice is really loud. I can feel his energy even though he’s 20 meters away. After a light catch, I stepped onto the plate. Geonyoung put on his mask and sat behind home plate. I started with a fastball, of course.

“Fastball!”

I don’t have to say anything, Geonyoung knows to repeat the sign when I give it with my glove, so it feels refreshing somehow.

“Curveball!”

“Changeup!”

“Sinker!”

I threw a few different pitches and checked the scoreboard. We scored another point, making it 8 to 5. And the runners are on 1st and 2nd with two outs. Gyuhak is at bat. I’ll be up soon.

“Fastball!”

Bang!

After throwing about three more balls, the bullpen door opened.

“Let’s go, Hanul.”

“Yes sir.”

I slowly climbed the stairs. Then, I turned my head when I felt someone following me.

“…Are you going to follow me to the mound?”

“Ah, right.”

*Ah, right?*

“Fighting!”

“…Yes.”

I was dumbfounded and amused. I chuckled and headed to the mound. Since Gyuhak was the last batter in the previous at-bat, it would take some time for him to get all his equipment on.

In the meantime, I checked the batting order on the scoreboard. Starting from number 4. If I can stop them with three or four batters, Lee Hyojae-sunbae will start from number 7 or 8. That would be less pressure for him. Let’s shut them down cleanly. Just in time, I gave Gyuhak, who was sitting behind home plate, the sign for a fastball and started practicing my pitches.

* * *

Game over. I shut them down cleanly with three batters. Lee Hyojae-sunbae, who followed me, also shut them down cleanly with three batters. The batting lineup didn’t score any more points, but thanks to that, Hyojae-sunbae and I were each able to record a hold and a save.

Since it was a home game, I greeted the home fans who were cheering and chanting the team’s fight song, then passed through the dugout and headed to the locker room. And, of course, one person followed me.

“Are you going to film me changing clothes too?”

“Oh, can I?”

Bang!

*No way.*

After the noisy cleanup was over, I headed out for the commute home. In the meantime, she must have been bored, because I saw her grabbing a few of the more approachable players who were leaving and interviewing them.

“He’s a tsundere [a character archetype who is initially cold but gradually warms up to others], a tsundere.”

“Tsundere confirmed!”

“He acts like he won’t do it, but he does everything.”

“So, you don’t have any complaints about Kim Hanul player?”

“Uh……”

“You do!”

“Ah, I shouldn’t say this……”

“It’s okay, I’ll edit it out.”

But why is the topic like this?

“What is it? I’m curious too, tell me.”

“Um… nothing really.”

“What was it that you couldn’t say?”

“Just that, strangely, this year, when that hyung goes up to the mound, he does so well that it’s not very fun, aaaaaaagh!”

Hyukjun must have been quite surprised. He let out a scream close to a shriek and quickly distanced himself. Ah, so this is the physique of an athlete.

“Huk… huk… Hyung, when did you get here?”

“Since the tsundere thing.”

He must have been very surprised. He grabbed his heart with his right hand and took deep breaths.

“Eunseo… no, PD-nim, aren’t you going home?”

“I’m going to film Hanul-ssi leaving work. Because it’s Hanul-ssi’s special.”

“Hee… then I should go quickly.”

He smiled and hurried away.

“How was the game today?!”

I didn’t turn around and just gave a thumbs up to the last question that came from a little further away.

*Ah, I was so charismatic.*

* * *

Wonha Challengers’ first fancam! The main character is……!

The video of about 10 minutes that was uploaded to the official MiTube account of Wonha Challengers the day after the next day. It was the first time that a video showing the raw side of the players was uploaded to the account, which had only featured edited game footage or short interviews with the club’s executives in what looked like an office.

The point of view is around right before the game. The players are slowly finishing their training.

A pitcher putting a tubing band into a case, a starting pitcher finishing his run and changing clothes, a batter tapping his bat on the ground to see if there’s anything wrong with it, a player re-tying his shoelaces.

They were all in different poses.

After that, everyone gathered at the call of the manager and began to listen to his words. The atmosphere of the meeting was also good because the momentum was good these days. Even though the meeting was dismissed, the camera stubbornly followed only one player.

“PD-nim.”

“Yes!”

“Is today… my special?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Huh?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, the player looked at the camera with a frozen expression.

“Yes. It’s really Kim Hanul player special, today.”

“Uh… why?”

“Because you were the most requested?”

“No… it’s not like our team doesn’t have other popular players, so why me… I mean, there’s Sunghyun, Hyukjun, Gyujin-hyung, Myungjin, Taeung… there are so many. But why me……”

There, he paused for a moment,

“…Thank you to the fans who chose me. You will be blessed.”

Puhahaha!

The laughter of the players around him was all captured on camera. This is the raw side they wanted.

“I’m really curious, why me?”

“Isn’t it because you’re the hottest player in Wonha this year?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

“You admit that?”

“I have to admit what I have to admit.”

“Oh, so all of Wonha’s improved performance this year is thanks to Kim Hanul player?”

“That’s… not entirely true.”

“You hesitated just now.”

“It’s your imagination.”

“It’s not.”

“It is!”

“……”

The point of view after that didn’t change either. Everything Kim Hanul player did in the dugout was captured on camera. Joking around with his seniors or making abusive remarks disguised as affection to his juniors.

Even the way he plays with the ball when he’s bored. Even the way he’s the first to come out and high-five the runners who come in when the team scores.

At the end of the 7th inning defense and just before the 7th inning offense started, he glanced at the scoreboard and picked up his glove.

“Going to the bullpen?”

“Yes.”

“You know the timing now. Warm up.”

“Yes sir. Is Lee Hyojae-sunbae pitching in the 9th inning?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

The scene of him stretching after a short conversation with the pitching coach was captured on camera. He swung his body around and started throwing the ball with his glove on. Greetings to the club staff who are working hard in the bullpen. After a slight edit in the middle, the bullpen door opens.

Order to sortie!

The back of him heading to the mound feels somehow reassuring.

“…Are you going to follow me to the mound?”

“Ah, right. Fighting!”

Kim Hanul player chuckled at the PD’s bright voice and stepped on the plate. The game after that was quite boring.

[??? : It’s no fun when that hyung throws the ball.]

Like the content of the subtitles, he cleanly shut down batters 4, 5, and 6 in a boring way. The 9th inning defense, Lee Hyojae player, also cleanly shut down batters 7, 8, and 9 in a boring way from the dugout’s point of view, and the game ended.

After a while, after the commotion, the screen went dark, and then the interviews with the players leaving work began. Most of the questions were related to Kim Hanul, the main character of today’s video.

After some pretty funny answers, it was the turn of the team’s number one starter, Hwang Hyukjun.

“What do you think of Kim Hanul player?”

“Ah… that hyung is a really funny hyung. People don’t know that very well.”

“Is he funny?”

“If you look at his wit, he could become a celebrity after he retires.”

“That’s right, that’s true. So, Hwang Hyukjun player, do you want Kim Hanul player to retire and debut as a celebrity soon?”

“No. That hyung should be a pitching coach instead of a celebrity.”

“Suddenly?”

“I think I’ll be more successful if that hyung becomes a coach as soon as possible.”

“Is it okay for Kim Hanul player to hear this?”

“……”

“If you had to describe Kim Hanul player in one word?”

“He’s a tsundere, a tsundere.”

“Tsundere confirmed!”

“He acts like he won’t do it, but he does everything.”

“So, you don’t have any complaints about Kim Hanul player?”

“Uh……”

“You do!”

“Ah, I shouldn’t say this……”

“It’s okay, I’ll edit it out.”

The main character of today, who appeared with his hand casually around Hwang Hyukjun’s shoulder, appeared when he didn’t know when.

“What is it? I’m curious too, tell me.”

“Um… nothing really.”

“What was it that you couldn’t say?”

“Just that, strangely, this year, when that hyung goes up to the mound, he does so well that it’s not very fun, aaaaaaagh!”

He screamed and fell 3m in 0.2 seconds. Hwang Hyukjun’s surprised and hurried escape is captured again in slow motion.

“Huk… huk… Hyung, when did you get here?”

“Since the tsundere thing. Eunseo… no, PD-nim, aren’t you going home?”

“I’m going to film Hanul-ssi leaving work. Because it’s Hanul-ssi’s special.”

“Hee… then I should go quickly.”

Uh?! There’s still an interview left?!

“How was the game today?!”

Kim Hanul, who was already about 10m away, raised his thumbs up over his head and the video ended.

The video hit 500,000 views in one day after being uploaded and was listed as a trending video. People who saw this and thought, “Oh, there was a channel like this?” subscribed to the Wonha account, and they recommended it to people around them. This virtuous cycle continued and the video exceeded 1 million views in a few days.

The biggest beneficiary was, of course, Kim Hanul, the main character of the video. Not only Wonha fans, but all baseball fans were delighted with his every move, as he had been a fringe pitcher for nearly 10 years and had made a spectacular comeback as a bullpen ace this season.