On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 247

It was a day of drinking and getting drunk, but their greatest intoxication came not from alcohol, but from the sheer joy of victory.

Korean Series Championship.

Some were still pinching themselves, wondering if it was all a dream.

In a quiet corner, Song Seok-hyun secretly unfolded his house deed, wiping away tears of happiness.

It was a day he particularly missed his father.

*What would his baseball-loving father have thought today?*

Song Seok-hyun carefully tucked the house deed back into his pocket, wiping his eyes again.

Kim Jung-ryul spotted Song Seok-hyun alone in the corner and playfully grabbed his neck.

“What are you doing? Not celebrating with us?”

“I’m coming, I’m coming. I’m on my way.”

“You’re not ditching the drinks, are you?”

“I’m not ditching. I promise I won’t ditch.”

“Good, good! Let’s go! Let’s drink ourselves silly tonight!”

“Let’s drink ourselves silly!”

Success as a Catcher

Non-stop rest days

The season was officially over.

While non-starting players continued to train with finishing camp until November, the starting players enjoyed what was practically an off-season once the games concluded.

The two to three months before full-scale spring training were sweeter than honey for baseball players.

Recently, players had begun focusing on individual training after a short break to prepare their bodies for spring camp, but even that was usually relaxed until the end of the year.

While most players were enjoying a long-awaited break, Song Seok-hyun was on a forced march every day.

He was busy preparing for his upcoming wedding, interviews, commercials, and various public appearances.

Except for the day he was forced to rest due to a hangover after the Korean Series championship celebration, he didn’t rest a single day.

Dark circles had become so prominent that he would fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

November flew by, and before he knew it, December had arrived.

December was even more hectic.

Not only was Song Seok-hyun’s wedding on the horizon, but Kim Jung-ryul and Kim In-hwan also had weddings lined up.

Even after returning from their honeymoons, they remained just as busy.

Interviews decreased, but commercial opportunities actually increased.

Several companies were eager to capitalize on the image of a superstar marrying his first love.

It wasn’t until the very end of the year that he could finally catch his breath.

Christmas Eve.

Starting at lunch, Song Seok-hyun went on a double date with Kim In-hwan, Kim Jung-ryul, and their wives.

After a simple meal, the women decided to have their own chat, and the men moved to a separate cafe.

“Congratulations again, *hyung* [older brother or respected male figure],” Kim In-hwan said.

“Congratulations to you too, *sunbae* [senior colleague or mentor],” Song Seok-hyun replied.

Kim Jung-ryul waved his hand dismissively. “What congratulations? It’s what everyone does.”

“Still, having a child is a blessing,” Song Seok-hyun countered.

“Somehow, our kid has become the youngest of the bunch. It’s a shame, though.”

“Hey. It doesn’t matter since we’re all the same age anyway,” Song Seok-hyun reassured him.

“Yeah. Well, as long as they grow up healthy. Hehe. The baby will be born during next season. It’s going to be a busy time.”

“That’s right. It’s a shame because we won’t have much time to help out during the season.”

The three spent a long time talking about their children.

Finally, Kim Jung-ryul changed the subject.

“Seon-ho *hyung* asked me to train overseas with him next month. What about you guys?”

Song Seok-hyun responded, “I’ve been thinking about it too, but I don’t think I can. The timing is bad. I’m worried about leaving my wife alone overseas during the early stages of her pregnancy.”

“Me too,” Kim In-hwan agreed.

“I’m a bit hesitant too… but looking at how the baseball scene is changing, it’s not a good sign. We can’t afford to neglect our training,” Kim Jung-ryul said.

Song Seok-hyun trailed off. “That’s right. It’s completely… sigh.”

After the post-season, the professional baseball scene was in a state of major upheaval.

As planned, new teams were founded in Seoul and Gyeongnam.

They were set to enter the 2nd league next year and the 1st league the year after.

The problem was the special privileges that these new teams received.

They were granted preferential treatment in the draft and could also acquire players from existing teams under the guise of trades.

Although the Goats were the reigning champions, they didn’t have a particularly deep roster.

The creation of two new teams only served to make their already thin roster even thinner.

While the creation of new teams was a significant event, there was an even bigger development.

“I never thought Fox would sell the team,” Kim Jung-ryul said, surprised.

“I know. SL [presumably the parent company] worked hard to build a fanbase in Busan; it must be a shame,” Song Seok-hyun replied.

“But isn’t Astro Boys a bit old-fashioned? And too long,” Kim In-hwan commented.

“The team name isn’t important; it’s the substance that matters. Busan will be a force to be reckoned with next year. They’ve brought in a Major League coach and manager. It was a bit shocking to fill everything from the general manager to the coach with American guys.”

“I heard they’re already looking for Major League-level foreign players.”

“Their connections are definitely Major League-level, so they can acquire some top talent. There must be plenty of 30-year-old Major Leaguers who are on the verge of being sent down to Triple-A. Luring those guys is the most difficult thing, but if the general manager and coaches are all from the Major League, they can trust them and come.”

“If you pick the right foreign players in the Korean baseball scene, you can immediately compete for the championship…”

“Busan is a strong championship contender this time. Their hitters are solid. If they pick two good starting foreign players, they’ll be championship contenders.”

“It’s a fortunate thing for Busan fans, but it’s not good for us,” Song Seok-hyun said with concern.

“It’s never good to have a strong rival,” Kim Jung-ryul added.

Kim In-hwan chimed in, “This off-season is a real shakeup. Including Pegasus, Scorpion, Bulls, and Wales, five teams have changed managers.”

“Well, a baseball manager’s life is like a fly’s—short and easily swatted.”

Although the Goats had won the championship, the other seven teams had greater hopes for the 2014 title challenge.

While the Goats were a formidable team, they weren’t as consistently dominant as the Scorpion and Pegasus had been in their prime.

The Scorpion and Pegasus, often referred to as dynasties, possessed all the elements of a strong team: solid defense, reliable starters and bullpen, explosive power and speed, and a lineup capable of executing any play.

In contrast, the Goats were praised for having the best cleanup hitters [batters hitting 3rd, 4th and 5th in the batting order] in history, but the gap in talent between the top and bottom of their lineup was significant, and their roster lacked depth.

They were champions, but their weaknesses were also apparent.

The Busan Astro Boys’ massive overhaul had a ripple effect, influencing other teams as well.

The Gwangju Bulls seemed to have been inspired by the Busan Astro Boys, and they recruited a number of Japanese-Korean baseball managers and Japanese coaches.

Japanese-Korean baseball players were common in Korean professional baseball in the 80s, but they became rare after the 90s, making this a noteworthy development.

But the biggest surprise was the Incheon Wales.

The Incheon Wales drew attention by recruiting Hwang Geun-seong, a renowned strategist in short-term playoff series and a 1000-win manager.

He had undeniable skills in short-term battles, having advanced to the Korean Series three times and won twice.

A master of the squeeze play [a high-risk offensive play], an embodiment of competitiveness.

But it had been many years since he last managed a team.

The Goats had also considered Hwang Geun-seong as Ham Seong-hoon’s successor at one point, but recruiting a manager who was considered old-fashioned even in the 90s in 2014 caused a stir.

Baseball fans expressed both interest and concern, and Wales fans, in particular, were deeply divided.

Opinions clashed daily, with some arguing that he would ruin the players and lead to disaster, while others maintained that he was the best available option to turn a weak team into a championship contender.

The Scorpion changed its manager, but the successor was head coach Jang Kyung-tae.

Although the previous manager was fired due to performance issues, the team’s intention was to maintain its existing identity.

The Pegasus also fired its manager and embraced a philosophy of front office-driven baseball and data analytics.

They felt that relying too heavily on the manager had hindered their performance in short-term playoff series, leading to two consecutive years of disappointment.

The conclusion was that the manager’s experience and intuition could no longer be trusted.

Ham Seong-hoon of the Goats successfully signed a groundbreaking 5-year contract extension, and the bottom-ranked Phoenix also retained their manager.

The Goats’ Jamsil rival, the Wolves, maintained their contract with manager Jang Tae-seop, contrary to public expectations.

The consensus was that Jang Tae-seop, who was skilled at developing fielders, was a perfect fit for the Wolves, who prioritized internal player development.

“Thinking about all this, I think we should definitely go to spring training,” Song Seok-hyun said with a sigh.

There wasn’t a single easy team in the league, except perhaps for the Phoenix.

In Korean professional baseball, acquiring two exceptional foreign players could instantly transform a team into a championship contender.

The common denominator among the five teams—Pegasus, Scorpion, Wolves, Bulls, and Astro Boys—was that their lineups were already quite strong.

It went without saying that the top teams, Pegasus, Scorpion, and Wolves, along with the Bulls and Astro Boys, had lineups that could rival any team in the league.

If the Goats, who didn’t have a clear advantage in starting pitching, bullpen depth, or defense compared to other teams, couldn’t widen the gap in offensive production, they couldn’t be optimistic about their chances in the post-season.

The difference in offensive firepower had been the key to their Korean Series victory.

It was the explosiveness of Song Seok-hyun and Kim In-hwan that had propelled them to the championship.

However, the two most important players on the Goats were now facing a situation where their wives’ pregnancies would inevitably impact their training and performance.

“Then,” Kim Jung-ryul said, snapping his fingers.

“How about Okinawa?”

“Okinawa?” Song Seok-hyun repeated, surprised.

“Yeah. Let’s just think of it as a family vacation and go to Okinawa. It shouldn’t be too strenuous for pregnant women. Japan is close, and the flight is quick.”

“If it’s Okinawa…”

“What do you think? I’ll have to talk to Seon-ho *hyung*, but I think he’ll be okay with Okinawa.”

Song Seok-hyun looked at Kim In-hwan for his opinion.

Kim In-hwan shrugged. “I’m okay with it.”

“Okay. Then let’s plan on Okinawa. It’s good for both us and our families, right?”

“Well… I think it’s better to train hard for half a day than to completely skip training,” Kim Jung-ryul said.

“Good, good. Then let’s do that. We already know we’re starting late, right? Let’s decide now and head out next month. Talk to your wives and see what they say. It can’t be helped if it doesn’t work out, but we have to get our bodies ready before spring training. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. I’ll talk to them,” Song Seok-hyun replied.

“Yeah. We have to do what we have to do so that we can hold our heads high later.”

The three began to wrap up their conversation.

Then Song Seok-hyun stood up and said, “But what about free agency [FA] or trades? Other teams are in chaos.”

“The new team draft is over, so it’s time for that, but… there aren’t any free agents we can realistically bring in this season, and we don’t have many valuable assets to give up in trades, so it’s going to be a bit boring.”

“I see…”

Song Seok-hyun licked his lips, a sign of worry.

“It’s going to be tough next year if we don’t reinforce our team.”

Kim In-hwan put his hand on Song Seok-hyun’s shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

“The manager will take care of it. Don’t you remember how he brought in Seon-ho *hyung* and Ji-sung *hyung*? He must have a plan. What good will it do to worry about it?”

* * *

The Goats manager’s office at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Ham Seong-hoon took off his hat and scratched his head, looking stressed.

His coaching staff sat in front of him, awaiting his instructions.

“No matter how I look at it, it seems difficult to recruit anyone with a big name to play second base or shortstop. Right?”

“Yes. The available players who can contribute both defensively and offensively are already spoken for…”

“If this continues, we’ll be starting with almost the weakest offensive production at second base and shortstop again next year.”

Ham Seong-hoon turned to the side, seeking input from his analytics team.

Team leader Kim Hak-in of the operations team and team leader Yoo Jang-seok of the power analysis team were sitting nearby.

“What do you two think?”

“We share similar concerns. If we bring in Kim Se-gyun, the shortstop defense will improve, but there’s not much difference in offensive output between Young-soo and Kim Se-gyun…”

“This is… We have to lower our expectations for the bottom of the lineup again next year… Ugh, this is giving me a headache.”

Ham Seong-hoon shook his head in frustration.

“The general manager should be in charge of this, so why are they entrusting this to me?”

Kim Hak-in chuckled at Ham Seong-hoon’s grumbling.

“Didn’t the chairman tell you to do everything as the manager wants? That’s why the president and general manager have been replaced by the chairman’s relatives.”

“I wish a professional general manager who was knowledgeable about baseball would come… This is too much of a burden.”

“Instead, didn’t you receive a promise of the most reliable support? You’re the most powerful manager in the league now, right?”

“Having too much power is also a problem. My head is throbbing. I’m going to lose my hair at this rate.”

The others laughed.

Ham Seong-hoon joined in for a moment before lowering his voice and becoming serious.

“So, are you really going to push me hard on this?”

“Of course. Of course,” Kim Hak-in confirmed.

“Can we really bring Kim Wook from Pegasus?”

Kim Hak-in smiled confidently. “All the problems in the world boil down to money. What can’t be done with enough money? Negotiations are in progress now, so please be patient.”

Ham Seong-hoon swallowed hard, contemplating the possibility.

“Kim Wook… If Kim Wook joins us, we can solidify the 8th and 9th spots in the batting order, even if they’re not power hitters…”

Success as a Catcher

Stove League (1) [The period of intense activity and rumors surrounding player acquisitions and trades during the off-season]

Ham Seong-hoon asked, “How far along are we with Kim Wook?”

“First, we expressed our interest to the player. Kim Wook didn’t reject the idea outright and said he would consider it.”

“That’s not just lip service, is it?”

“The impression we got was that he was genuinely considering it.”

“Hmm…” Ham Seong-hoon pondered.

Who is Kim Wook?

The cleanup hitter of the Pegasus Dynasty.

If he plays for another four years and then retires, it’s highly likely that Pegasus will permanently retire his jersey number.

It would be the first permanent number retirement in Pegasus history.

Pegasus is a wealthy team, so they wouldn’t easily let go of Kim Wook in free agency.

The Goats could tempt Kim Wook with a massive contract, but Pegasus could offer him both money and the prestige of having his number retired.

Many players receive lucrative contracts as free agents, but it’s rare for a player to have their number permanently retired, especially in today’s game. It’s an honor that only comes along once every few years.

“What do the coaches think?” Ham Seong-hoon asked, seeking their opinions.

The coaches’ opinions were divided.

“Well, I don’t think it’s possible unless we significantly overpay what Pegasus is offering. Kim Wook may have just been polite because of his personality.”

“I’m a bit against it. They’ve failed to win the Korean Series for two consecutive years, right? At this point, it’s not just a matter of skill; something is clearly wrong with the team’s chemistry. I wouldn’t want to join that team for some reason.”

“It’s also true that Pegasus will be a little weaker next year because Jo Jin-hee is leaving [presumably for a Major League team via posting].”

“Hey. Pegasus is still Pegasus even without Jo Jin-hee. Looking at their overall talent, Pegasus will definitely be in the top two next year. They have plenty of money from Jo Jin-hee’s posting, so it doesn’t make sense that they would miss out on Kim Wook because they’re short on funds.”

Team leader Kim Hak-in spoke up, trying to manage expectations.

“Please be patient. He said he would contact us soon, so we should have a clearer picture of his intentions shortly.”