Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 77

※ Episode 77. Captain

Only a day had passed, but it felt like another year had gone by with it. Just like that, I turned 31.

Turned… turned… Ah…….

I think I can consider myself to have finished the tutorial for my 30s well enough.

I even signed a huge FA [Free Agent] contract, and my first year was truly perfect.

Now, all that’s left is to tease my juniors, who are a year younger than me and have just entered their 30s tutorial.

Be prepared, Jeon Seong-moon. You’re in your 30s now too.

What was I doing a few hours before turning another year older?

It sounds grand, but I didn’t really do much.

Woo-seok, Gyu-jin hyung [older brother/friend], Myeong-gyu, and I, the four of us, drank heavily and sprawled out.

The sight of four grown men, whose ages combined totaled 125, drunk, putting their arms around each other and solidifying their friendship… recalling it now, it was truly touching. Bullshit.

Other than that, not much. The off-season was similar every year.

I ran moderately to take care of my body, tubed without rest, and lifted weights just enough to not affect my physique.

However, this year, I paid a little more attention to my body’s ‘condition’ rather than just ‘management’.

I had a minor shoulder injury, and I also pitched a lot of innings in the later half of the season to make up for it.

Thanks to that, I got scolded quite a bit by the trainer and the doctor.

– Are you trying to break down after only one year of your contract?

According to their assessment, my current physical condition is almost the worst it’s ever been.

It would be stranger if the body of a relief pitcher who has thrown over 50 innings every year for the past 10 years was normal.

More than anything, the fact that I’m feeling it myself is the most painful.

Even when I swing a towel in the air, it doesn’t make a strong whoosh! sound like before, but a weak whoo… sound.

This is a big problem.

“So, you’re going to Japan now, right?”

“Yes. For the camp and… Ugh, my head.”

For a baseball player, the start of the year is spring camp.

It’s the only time to judge how well you’ve managed your body under freedom full of responsibility, and how much you’ve compromised if there are any shortcomings.

The day before spending about a month on Japanese soil, I was sitting across from Min-young, having lunch.

The disappointment was immense at the thought of not seeing each other for such a long time, a whole month. To soothe that disappointment, today’s date was quite long.

We ate, watched a movie, played games at the arcade, and chatted over coffee.

After a good night’s sleep, I took a taxi to the stadium instead of my own car. The sight of everyone gathered here with a load of luggage was common to all of us.

After a short time of greeting people I was happy to see after a long time, and getting acquainted with new faces, we all boarded the team bus and headed to the airport.

The time it took to get from the stadium to the airport was shorter than the time it took to fly from the airport to Japan. I was spacing out for a moment, and then we arrived.

The scenery of the airport, which I arrived at after a year, hadn’t changed at all.

A place I’ve been coming to for 12 years.

The space, which I felt beyond familiarity to the point of comfort, was only temporary, and soon I took another bus to the team’s accommodation.

As always, I didn’t do anything on the first day of arrival. It’s harder than you think to move your body right after a long break of about a month and a half.

While everyone was resting, I was called to the manager’s office from the first day.

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Yes, Manager.”

To the place where the conversation ‘Have you ever thought about being a closer?’ took place exactly a year ago.

The manager’s voice was so serious that I was scared and went in.

The pressure made me wonder if I had done something wrong.

“Hmm…….”

I remember he got straight to the point last year. This year, he couldn’t bring himself to speak easily, as if something was bothering him.

“What’s the matter?”

Let’s have the guilty party stab first [take the initiative].

“Well… I’ve been thinking about it.”

“Yes, yes…….”

“Sung-hoon seems a bit… more tired than I thought.”

“Pardon?”

Lee Sung-hoon.

A senior two years older than me. He is the starting third baseman on the team.

He is mainly fixed in the 6th batting order and is a batter who can be expected to have a batting average of about .280 and a power of slightly over 10 home runs every year.

His defense is above average, as befitting a Wonha member.

And decisively, he has been the team’s captain since the 2016 season.

As soon as Sung-hoon’s story came out, the information was quickly organized.

“How long has Sung-hoon been the captain?”

“Probably… 3 years? Until last year.”

“Right. It was from the 2016 season.”

“Yes. Manager, by any chance…….”

The quickly organized information quickly led to a conclusion.

“Yes. I’d like you to be the captain from this year.”

Oh my god.

Suddenly, everything went dark. Did I really, really do something wrong? Is this some kind of pressure for that?

“M-Me? Oh, Manager, you’re joking… Haha. How dare I wear the hat of captain, ha, ahaha, ahahaha!”

“Why not?”

“Yes……?”

A year ago, the person I’m talking to now offered me the closer position here. And I declined.

The look of looking at a crazy person was a bonus.

And today, that person was different from last year. The text of suggestion or choice disappeared, and only an order-like tone remained.

It wasn’t far from the expression that said, like a predetermined answer, you just have to say the five letters, ‘I understand’.

“Um… Isn’t my seniority or age… a bit young to be a captain……?”

“You’ve been here for over 10 years. How many years has it been?”

“I… This is my 12th year.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m thirty-one.”

“What’s missing?”

Ah…….

“Why not other seniors besides me…….”

“Honestly, they’re all guys whose positions are ambiguous right now. What can I entrust to them? If they go down to the minors, the captain’s position will be vacant right away.”

“Um… What about Seung-joo among the hitters? He’s the same age as me and is a DH [Designated Hitter], so he spends a lot of time in the dugout.”

“No. Seung-joo gets along well with people his age and older, but he’s a bit ambiguous with people below him. It’s not that he treats them badly, but… I don’t know.”

“Then… Sung-hyun… or something…….”

“He’s ambiguous too. He’s still a bit young.”

“Even if he’s young, he’s good at his skills. And he has a good pro fighting spirit.”

“Too much. More than anything, the younger guys are really scared of him.”

“…Then what about Gyu-jin hyung [older brother/friend]…….”

“Gyu-jin isn’t bad either…….”

What about me? Wouldn’t Han-wool be better than me? He has a bit of a crazy streak, but thanks to that, people gather around him. He’s subtly central to the team. He treats the higher-ups well, and he does everything for the lower-downs while grumbling. Above all, he’s the type to say everything he wants to say, so it’ll be comfortable for the manager, right?

“…or something.”

Bad hyung [older brother/friend]. Are you dumping it on me?

“Um. Th-That, Manager. But, what if. Really, what if.”

“Just say it coolly. What are you hesitating for?”

“What are you going to do if I go to the minors?”

“Why would you go to the minors?”

“I’m a human too, so I might screw up.”

“Are you going to screw up?”

“No.”

“Then it’s fine.”

“You’re being too irresponsible.”

Haha ha.

The laughter seemed to say, ‘Ah, I got caught?’

“You’re not going down. Have you ever seen Sung-hoon go to the minors?”

“Well, in early 2016…….”

“That was because of an injury. He went down for a while because of that.”

“Ah…….”

“I know what you’re worried about. But I’m taking that into account. The captain isn’t just about performance.”

“Then what are you looking at when you appoint someone?”

“Character.”

“Am I a good person?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Even if I am, would I say that myself?”

“You can say it.”

“…Yes. Well, I…….”

Damn it.

“Putting aside performance, you have good fan service. You treat your seniors well. You take care of your juniors well. You talk to the coaches without hesitation. Your image is good with the fans. What more do you need?”

“Ah…….”

“Then I’ll assume you’re doing it.”

“…Ugh. Ulgeutseupneudeu [mumbling].”

By trembling alone, I couldn’t stop the new captain of the 2019 season Wonha Challengers from being appointed.

“Then, do an interview with the Mytube PD [Production Director].”

“…Why the Jjomul… that PD [Production Director]?”

“You’re the new captain. We have to let the fans know.”

Ah, please.

I trudged out of the manager’s office. I ran into Tae-woong, who was passing by.

“Senior, hello.”

“Hey, Tae-woong.”

“Yes?”

“…Don’t call me senior anymore.”

“Did you quit baseball?”

What are you talking about?

“Now call me Captain.”

“Oh. Are you the captain now?”

Hehe, I’ll show you what injustice is.

“You, if you don’t get 10 wins this year, you’re going to get scolded by me. Got it?”

“…Yes, yes.”

“Hehe. I’m the captain, hehe.”

I think I’ve gone crazy.

I was clearly ready to enjoy the precious rest of the first day. Where did my rest go?

As if possessed by something, I headed to the camp cafeteria. Lee Sung-hoon senior and Eun-seo were already there.

“Senior. Did you have to do this to me?”

“What?”

“…Never mind.”

Ugh.

I was appointed to the captain position that wasn’t in my fate. I had to film a new video to inform the fans of this.

“…….”

The camera setup was complete, and my appearance in the lens looked quite haggard.

My eyes, which seemed to have lost focus somewhere, and my mouth, which was stupidly open.

“Okay, applause!”

Eun-seo’s applause was a sign like a slate [starting signal]. Next to her, Sung-hoon senior also started clapping with relief. I…….

Clap… clap… Claaap…….

“Oh, Han-wool, do it with more energy. Let’s film again. Okay, applause!”

Clap clap claaap…….

Applause with more artificial emotion than before.

Having received a passing grade, Sung-hoon senior started talking at Eun-seo’s sign.

“…Therefore. I have stepped down from the captain position, ending with the 2018 season last year. From today, the captain of the Wonha Challengers will be Han-wool here. He usually takes good care of the people around him…….”

He’s a bit crazy, but he still takes good care of people more than he looks. He has a refreshing taste because he’s the type to say everything he wants to say. Anyway, I believe he’ll do well.

“…so I believe Han-wool will do well.”

Clap clap clap―

2. 5 people’s worth of applause filled the wide cafeteria.

“Then, let’s ask Kim Han-wool for his thoughts.”

“…Ah. Me?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Pull yourself together.

“First of all, Sung-hoon senior, thank you for your hard work as captain for 3 years… I don’t know if I can dare to take on the big position of captain… I’m grateful that you recommended me… Um… Yes. That’s it.”

What are you talking about?

Even when Sung-hoon hyung [older brother/friend] poked me in the side because he couldn’t listen anymore, I couldn’t come to my senses.

“…Han-wool. Can’t you be a little more energetic?”

“Yes… Energetic… I have to be.”

Whew…….

“Um… I have been newly appointed as the captain from the 2019 season with the recommendation of my seniors and the manager. Um… I am always grateful to those who believe in me, and I will try to repay that belief.”

The series of lines made up with forced tension barely met the PD’s [Production Director] high cutline.

After finishing the recording with difficulty, Sung-hoon senior, with a truly relieved expression, told me things I should be careful about in the future.

“And, don’t scare the kids. But you still can’t be looked down on. Be a funny senior, but don’t be a ridiculous person. And…….”

There wasn’t really anything special. It’s the kind of role that anyone would think of when they think of a captain.

Lastly, he said that a certain amount of activity expenses, 1 million won per month in cash, would be paid to the captain, but I wasn’t very impressed.

That’s not my money anyway.

The source of the meal expenses that I used to buy for my juniors or bullpen catchers was simply changed from my wallet to the club’s wallet.

“Yo, Han-wool. You’ve really made it. Captain.”

“You know. No, I’m really curious.”

“Yes.”

“…Does Eun-seo really see me as someone who can be the captain?”

“Yes.”

The expression of asking what was so obvious made me even more angry.

“But why! Why!”

“Why else. You heard what Lee Sung-hoon said earlier.”

“What did senior say!”

“He takes good care of the higher-ups and lower-downs. He says what he wants to say straight. I think it’s all true.”

“Have I lived too kindly? Should I live as a bad boy from now on?”

Pfft―

“Are you laughing?!”

“Do well. I think Han-wool will do well.”

Jjomultakyi [derogatory nickname for the PD] made me angry until the end and then disappeared from my sight.

* * *

The next day, all the Wonha-related people staying here gathered in the same auditorium as last year.

Some people who weren’t seen last year were seen, and some new people were also seen.

The procedure was almost the same as last year. Instructions from the coaches, led by the manager, and the manager’s pledge for this season.

Meanwhile, the fact that the names of the starting members written on the whiteboard were no different from last year hurt my heart.

No, let’s think positively. Let’s be thankful that no one is missing from there.

And unlike last year, one procedure was added. It was the transfer ceremony according to the change of captain.

Sung-hoon senior and I stepped forward.

Wow! A happy day! Wow! I’m so happy!

I tried to express that feeling on my face, but it wasn’t easy. Gyu-jin hyung [older brother/friend], who met my eyes, couldn’t hold back his laughter and turned his head to the side.

I won’t let you go. I will never let you go. I will show the appointee what injustice is.

First, Sung-hoon senior said something. Thank you for everything so far, I will do better in the future, trite but good words.

And my turn came.

“Han-wool too. You’re the new captain, so you have to say something.”

“…….”

Stupidly, feeling the gazes being gathered on me, I slowly opened my mouth.

My one word with sincerity will move the hearts of everyone here.

“To everyone here, I promise tyranny and injustice.”