On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 27

“It’s better than I thought. If you keep up with rehab, you won’t have any problems with daily life or exercising like other people. It’ll take a year if it’s short, or two to three years if it’s long.”

“No baseball?”

“No, no baseball.”

“Why?”

“Why? What sport uses the waist as much as baseball? Besides, you’re explosively twisting your waist, so surgery is almost guaranteed if you do that.”

“Huh.”

Kim Jung-ryul sighed.

Surgery.

It’s just a rite of passage for baseball players, but it’s not welcome news.

Kim Jung-ryul also had elbow and shoulder surgery, but he couldn’t recover his former skills.

If he has waist surgery, which is an even bigger deal…

Baseball player Kim Hyung-seok will be gone.

“So, I decided to retire cleanly. Well, it was a predetermined course anyway. You insisting on coming to training this time was also a big part, and I wanted to try it one last time.”

“Hoo.”

Kim Jung-ryul lowered his head.

Kim Hyung-seok tapped Kim Jung-ryul’s leg.

“Don’t overreact. Why are you acting like that?”

“Ha, it’s because I’m lonely, lonely. We’re thirty-one now. There are kids who are just getting jobs and starting as rookies at our age, but we’re all retiring.”

“What, did you start playing baseball without knowing that?”

“I know. Even if I know, I feel like this. You and I are the only ones left among our classmates, and if you leave, I’ll be alone.”

“Lonely?”

“I can’t say no, hoo. If you leave, I think it’s my turn.”

“You should do more. You’re Kim Jung-ryul, so you’ll have more chances.”

“I don’t know. I’m working hard, but I’m not confident.”

“Start from the bottom. Like you said, others are joining as rookies at our age, so what are you scared of? Anyway, you can still throw the ball. I can’t throw the ball at all.”

Kim Jung-ryul showed his shoulder.

“I’ve had surgery on this arm three times. It wouldn’t be strange if I left anytime. My ball is completely hopeless.”

“If I could throw as well as you, I would have worked hard, you punk. Are you going to whine in front of me?”

Kim Jung-ryul twitched his eyebrows.

“I’m sorry.”

“Seeing you come all the way to Japan to train this time, it seems like you’ve made up your mind, so don’t forget that mind and keep going. You know what I mean, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Don’t be depressed because you don’t have any classmates left. Baseball players are old when they’re over thirty. It’s not strange to retire at this age. So, you should be a good senior.”

“Now I can’t even tell anyone that it’s hard.”

Kim Jung-ryul stroked his forehead.

The Goat [team name] is a young team.

There are no older veterans than Kim Jung-ryul on the first team.

If it were another team, they would have brought up a lot of young prospects, but the Goat was different.

Vague first-team players are often sent out as FA [Free Agent] compensation players.

The Goat was like a Siberian wasteland for veterans.

The reason Kim Jung-ryul was able to endure until now was not because he was good. It was because he wasn’t even put on the trade list by other teams due to injuries after FA and a drop in performance after injuries.

He’s even come to Japan to train, but will he really be able to return to the first team?

He wasn’t sure.

However, he was confident.

If he had been wandering around without knowing the way until now, he has now found his direction.

He thought that if he exercised with his friends and juniors in the second team, he would have another chance, since pitchers are always in short supply as the season goes on, no matter what team it is.

However, when Kim Hyung-seok even said he was retiring, it was like being hit in the back of the head. He realized that his retirement was just around the corner.

“So, what are you going to do in the future?”

At Kim Jung-ryul’s question, Kim Hyung-seok rested his chin on his hand.

“I’m thinking of three things right now…”

“Three things? Oh, it looks like you’ve prepared something.”

“It’s not preparation. I got a coaching offer from my alma mater. The club also offered me a scout position. Both seem like good ways to make a living.”

“What’s the other one?”

“One is overseas employment…”

“Overseas?”

Kim Hyung-seok smiled.

“Coach Hiroto offered me to work with him.”

“Coach Hiroto?”

“Yeah, he said he’s a hitter, so he needs a pitcher. He asked if I’d like to work with him while rehabilitating in Japan if it’s okay.”

“You can’t even speak Japanese.”

“That’s true. But it seems like a good offer. If I become a coach, the pay is a problem, and if I become a scout, I have to travel all over the country. Neither is my taste.”

“Do they give you a lot of money if you work here?”

“Um, no. They said they can’t give me a lot of salary right now because they’re in the process of settling down.”

“But do you want to work here?”

“If it’s going to be hard anyway, I want to work properly. Coach Hiroto knows a lot. Japan is better than Korea in terms of rehabilitation, so if I rehabilitate here and learn properly from Coach Hiroto, I think I’ll be treated properly even if I go back to Korea. My career would be at most an amateur baseball coach, but if I have the label of a Japanese graduate, I might be able to break through to a professional coach, right?”

“Have you already made up your mind?”

Kim Hyung-seok scratched his head.

“I haven’t made up my mind, but as I talk, this seems to be the best option. I’ve been living as a player without doing anything properly, but it’s perfect to rehabilitate and build a coaching career here.”

“…Hmm.”

“I should talk to Coach Hiroto later.”

“Then you’re not going back to Korea this time?”

“I have to go back together. I have to talk to the club and pack my bags and come back to Japan.”

“Japan… Japan…”

Kim Hyung-seok got up from his seat.

“Why are you acting so sentimental? I’m the one who’s having a hard time.”

“I thought I’d be very lonely if you weren’t in Korea.”

“Think the other way around, then. If I’m in Japan, you have a friend to visit.”

“Am I going to come all the way here just to hang out?”

“Why can’t you come? Korea and here are right next to each other.”

Kim Hyung-seok snapped his fingers in front of Kim Jung-ryul.

“You should also come to your senses and train. We’re about to be coaches soon. Retire 멋있게 [coolly]. Kim Jung-ryul’s last journey should be 간지 [stylish/cool].”

Kim Hyung-seok finished speaking and left first.

Kim Jung-ryul, who was left alone, closed his eyes.

“Time flies, flies…”

* * *

After finishing the 마무리 [final] training, the three said their final goodbyes to Coach Hiroto.

“Thank you for your hard work. I’m glad everyone seems to have achieved good results.”

Kim Jung-ryul took off his hat and bowed his head.

“I got a lot of help thanks to you, Coach. My arm angle has also increased a lot.”

“If you have a good spring camp, you can raise it to overhand. Of course, even if you do that, you’re fixing the yips [involuntary muscle spasm that prevents an athlete from performing a movement], but it’s difficult to regain your old speed. That requires another effort.”

“I’m satisfied with just fixing the yips. I have to gradually increase my speed.”

“If you raise your arm angle all the way, then gradually widen your stride. If you widen your stride, increase the rotation angle of your pelvis. If you fix them one by one, you’ll be able to increase your speed.”

“Thank you, Coach.”

“If you have any difficulties, please contact me anytime. I will do my best to help.”

Coach Hiroto looked at Kim In-hwan.

“I’m worried that I couldn’t help Kim In-hwan much.”

“No. I also got a lot of help.”

“Kim In-hwan’s reflexes are excellent. The problem is that he hits bad balls because his contact ability doesn’t keep up. Choose a clear route. You can improve your contact ability, but you have to fix your zone, even if it’s small, and then improve it.”

“Yes, thank you for your advice.”

Coach Hiroto’s eyes turned to Song Seok-hyun.

His relationship with the four people started with Song Seok-hyun.

“Seok-hyun.”

“Yes, Coach.”

“You are the smartest and most composed player I’ve seen among 20-year-olds. Your wrist strength is better than any player I’ve seen. Your mindset is also excellent.”

“Thank you for your compliments.”

“I heard that you couldn’t even get into the second team in Korea, which is a shame. If you leave that team, contact me. You’re a catcher and Korean, but if you build the basics for just 1-2 years, you can challenge the pros in Japan. I’m confident in that. So, don’t be discouraged and work hard. You’ll definitely succeed.”

“Thank you. Thank you, Coach.”

Coach Hiroto smiled and looked at the four people.

“Hyung-seok, you’ll be back soon, right?”

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

“Okay, finish well in Korea and come.”

“Yes, I’ll see you then.”

“Thank you all for your hard work. I hope that the experience you gained here, even if it’s short, will be of some help in your professional life. Thank you for your hard work. Goodbye.”

The four people left with Coach Hiroto’s farewell.

Coach Hiroto took a deep breath.

“I wish I had a little more time. It’s a shame.”

Catcher’s Rise

Solo

When he returned to Korea, nothing had changed.

Song Seok-hyun stayed at home for a day and then returned to the second team stadium.

Kim Hyung-seok officially announced his retirement and prepared to go to Japan.

Kim Jung-ryul and Kim In-hwan left again for spring camp.

The only pitcher left in the rehabilitation group was Go Chang-hyun.

Go Chang-hyun was also discussing retirement with the club.

The remaining rehabilitation group was Lee Il-seok, Go Young-jin, and Han Jin-cheol.

Among them, Lee Il-seok was 36 years old and Han Jin-cheol was 38 years old.

They were subject to release.

Only Go Young-jin was focusing on rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation group that started with seven is now two.

He knew it well, but it was not a future he could welcome.

* * *

“Come in.”

Before going to Japan, Kim Hyung-seok called Song Seok-hyun to arrange a meal.

“Thank you.”

Song Seok-hyun picked up a spoon and ate the soup.

“Wow, it’s delicious?”

“Right? The soup here is amazing.”

The food the two were eating was mung bean samgyetang [Korean ginseng chicken soup with mung beans].

“Eat a lot and cheer up, Seok-hyun.”

“Thank you, 선배님 [sunbae-nim – senior/mentor].”

“Is it hard?”

“No. It’s not hard at all.”

“It’s not hard. I’m leaving, and Jung-ryul is going to 스캠 [spring camp]. Everyone has retired, so you must have a headache, right?”

“No. I’m okay.”

Kim Hyung-seok tore off a chicken leg and deboned it.

“Wait a little longer. The situation isn’t that bad right now. How many are left in the rehabilitation group now?”

“Two including me.”

“Young-jin and you, are you two like this?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s even better. It’s a bit difficult to lead the rehabilitation group right now, right? Maybe you two will be promoted to the second team soon to do a showcase. I don’t know if it’ll be during 스캠 [spring camp] or during the season, but you’ll definitely be promoted once in at most three or four months? The second team right now is… um…”

Kim Hyung-seok frowned while tearing the meat.

“It’s ambiguous. The second team is doing well, but there aren’t any special prospects. It may take time for your turn to come. But once you show your potential, you can quickly get attention. Ah… Sss.”

Kim Hyung-seok tilted his head.

“It’s going to be a little difficult for you because you’re a catcher.”

“…”

“Everyone will recognize your true value even if you only participate in the second team training. Wait a little longer. If the rehabilitation group becomes vague, you’ll join the second team. Your batting is already top-notch, so they won’t be able to avoid using you.”

“Yes, well, I’ll have to wait and see.”

“Yes, work hard. It’s hard for the Goat to climb up, but there are surprisingly some empty spots, so if you get a spot, you can last a long time. Later, it becomes a problem because they only use the same guys…”

Kim Hyung-seok pointed to Song Seok-hyun’s bowl with his chin.

“What are you doing? Let’s eat.”

“Yes.”

“Eat a lot and cheer up. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up here. You know, right? The list is out, so you can’t go to another team even if you want to. Anyway, try to make a deal here.”

After the meal, the two took out a cup of coffee each and walked down the street.

Kim Hyung-seok blew on his coffee and drank it.

“선배님 [sunbae-nim – senior/mentor], when are you going to Japan?”

“In three days.”

“You’re going soon.”

“What’s there to do here even if I stay? If it’s decided, you have to do it quickly.”

Kim Hyung-seok quickly finished his coffee and put the paper cup in the trash can.

“You’re really going to do well. At your age, no, in the baseball world right now, there are few kids who study baseball as hard as you do. They say 낭중지추 [nangjungjichu – a talent that will eventually reveal itself], right? Wait a little longer. You’ll break through soon.”

“Yes, thank you, 선배님 [sunbae-nim – senior/mentor].”

“Cheer up, cheer up. Fighting.”

Kim Hyung-seok left with those words.

Song Seok-hyun sipped the remaining coffee.

“Hoo, now I’m really alone.”

* * *

The second team doesn’t play during spring camp.

Some of the good players from the second team go to spring camp, but there are dozens of players who stay in Korea.

The second team players stayed in Korea and practiced in the indoor practice field.

Recently, the second team also goes to spring camp separately, but the Goat replaced it with domestic training.

Song Seok-hyun expected to participate in the second team training, but the opportunity did not come.

The time alone became aimlessly long.