Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 94

“Well, that’s a relief. There’s no major problem. Just a slight bruise?”

“Oh, my…”

A deep sigh of relief escaped as the trainer’s right hand traced down my chest.

“And it’s even more fortunate since you’re a right-handed pitcher. Try making a fist with your left hand.”

“Yeah… sure.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No? Not really.”

“Then you’re fine. Just keep up with the ice packs and manage it well. It’s not even a hairline fracture, so don’t worry too much, Trainer.”

All clear, stamp, stamp, stamp.

The doctor concluded.

“Oh… you scared me, Hanwool.”

“You think I wasn’t scared, haha.”

“I’m really glad.”

“We should think like the doctor said, though. Where else would I rather be hit than my right hand, and where else but my face?”

“That’s really fortunate. Leaving aside the right hand, if it had hit your face directly…”

The image of the batted ball rocketing off the bat, filling my vision, was still dizzying even thinking about it now.

For the sake of an out count, for the sake of a double play, whatever. None of that mattered; I was really just trying to survive. My survival instinct saved me.

“…I wouldn’t be in this world.”

I said, looking down at my reddened, swollen left palm.

“But it’s not a part of my pitching arm that’s the problem. I can pitch tomorrow if I have to, so it’s okay.”

“I know. I do know…”

The trainer signaled a left turn. After a moment of waiting, the shoulders of the two men shifted, following the blinking light.

“Do you know why I became a trainer?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“I got hit in the head with a pitch in high school.”

“Ah…”

“After getting hit once, I became afraid to step into the batter’s box. It’s called trauma, right? Just standing there, and the pitcher hadn’t even lifted his leg yet.”

The fear that this time, instead of the helmet, it would hit my face.

He muttered like that and straightened the steering wheel, which had been turned to the left.

“I was already injury-prone anyway. I’d break something at the drop of a hat, or strain a muscle. I took that as my chance to quit.”

“And after you quit?”

“What else was there to do? What does a guy who played baseball until sophomore year of high school know? I didn’t study, and all I knew was baseball theory. But there was one more thing I knew.”

“What to do when you get hurt?”

“That’s right, that’s it. I was injury-prone, remember? Before I had to play a game, before I had to succeed, before all that. Before all that, if you’re a person, you don’t like being in pain.”

Only someone who’s been in pain knows. That visceral pain.

“Ah, this is it. No, this is all there is. Or is it? Let’s just do this. That’s how I started studying this field and have come this far.”

“You’ve been successful, though.”

“In some ways, yeah.”

The luxury sedan of a foreign brand.

The car I’m riding in now symbolized one part of that success.

“But there are a lot of regrets… too.”

“Because you couldn’t be a player.”

“Of course.”

“Can’t you even play in amateur leagues?”

“I still can’t step into the batter’s box. And I can’t pitch either, even though I’m a former player. I just do some casual catch sometimes.”

He laughed heartily and slid the car’s transmission into the P position.

“So don’t get hurt. It hurts me more to see players get hurt.”

Gurgle!

He laughed, filling the space to the side. I smiled at his sincere concern.

“I shouldn’t be in pain.”

* * *

The pain in my left palm hadn’t completely disappeared, but it didn’t affect my pitching.

Of course, just because I’m a right-handed pitcher doesn’t mean I don’t use my left hand at all, so I was still a little worried.

“Haaah!!”

Ding-!

[Com-fortable]

– Record 3 strikeouts in 1 inning comfortably (1/1)

– Reward – Changeup +2

Control – Top

Power – High

Stamina – Medium

Four-seam – 71

Curve – 62+2=64

Slider – 56+2=58

Splitter – 56+2=58

Changeup – 58+2=60

Sinker – 58+2=60

Traits

Detachment – I take any batted ball or situation in stride.

Discomfort – Makes opposing batters uncomfortable when they see the pitcher on the mound.

Comfort – Those who see me feel comfortable.

Focus – The number of things I can focus on increases.

There was no major difficulty in cleanly finishing the inning.

“Is your hand okay?”

“Yes, yes. It’s fine.”

I took off my glove and showed him my palm, which was turning blue in places. It hurt when I pressed it, of course, but conversely, it didn’t hurt if I left it alone.

“Keep this on it.”

“Oh, thanks.”

I put the ice pack the trainer handed me on my left palm. As I sat there quietly, I looked like some kind of ascetic monk.

“Trainer.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’m thinking about using a band one level up. What do you think?”

“Tubing?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

I felt like I’d become much closer to the trainer since we went to the hospital together yesterday.

“Not really?”

So a bridge was built where questions and answers could be exchanged without burden.

“Just use the original one?”

“Yeah. If you’re going to do that, you might as well do weight training.”

“I’ve thought about weight training, but hmm…”

“You’re not a hitter or a starter. It’s a bit ambiguous. And you’re not exactly a player who’s been working hard at weight training, Hanwool.”

“That’s right… I wonder why Eun-gu is like that. Doesn’t it put a strain on him?”

“Choi Eun-gu has been doing it that way for a long time. It’s his routine, that’s all.”

Hmm.

A dissatisfied sigh leaked through my nose.

“That’s why it’s really amazing to see you, Hanwool.”

“Me?”

“No, you don’t do intense weight training, you don’t do intense running. And you don’t really do anything special during the off-season.”

“……”

Suddenly attacking me with facts…….

“But your velocity keeps increasing. Honestly, tell me, what have you been doing?”

Ah, well, there’s this system, and once you awaken it and raise your stats, your velocity keeps increasing.

“Well…”

…If I said that, they’d think I was crazy.

“I’m still pretty strong, though.”

“That’s right. You’re in the top tier in the team. In fact, if we’re just looking at your physique, it’s normal for you to be throwing even harder.”

“Physique, huh…”

I’m 188cm tall [approximately 6 feet 2 inches]. My weight is 109kg [approximately 240 pounds] with a bit of muscle.

Even considering that I’m an athlete, it’s clear that I have a huge build. It’s not like the manager was talking nonsense when he mentioned the major leagues when I first came to the pros.

“Of course, there’s also the mechanics. It’s not like there’s a rushing section, or anything creaky. You use your whole body, so why didn’t your velocity come out like that…”

“I’m still wondering about that, too.”

Thwack-!

Sung-hyun’s batted ball was hit pretty well. It went over the corner of Munhak Stadium. I’d estimate the distance to be about 110m [approximately 360 feet].

Yeeeee!!

Kang Sung-hyun! Kang Sung-hyun!

“You used to throw 110m when you threw long toss, even when your velocity wasn’t coming out.”

“I did.”

As soon as I returned to my seat, a number similar to the home run from just now was mentioned.

“Maybe you were on the wrong path… and then suddenly veering in a good direction had a good effect.”

I can’t say exactly, so I’m just spouting whatever comes to mind.

“You said you followed Hyuk-joon?”

“Yes.”

“Exactly what aspects?”

“Well… when you look at Hyuk-joon, he’s so refreshing.”

“He’s exhilarating.”

Even if the story I made up based on my experience belongs to fiction, it clearly contains truth.

“I wanted to try doing that.”

All I could boast was the best control in the league. Instead of developing other parts that weren’t improving, I tried to further solidify my strengths.

“Well, it’s hard to survive in this day and age with just good control.”

That was the misstep.

“Are you going to be a coach when you retire?”

“Hey, you’re saying weird things again.”

“You know a lot of players want you to coach them, right?”

“They’re all bad guys.”

While chuckling, I glared at the most likely suspect who came to mind first. Hyuk-joon flinched as if he felt the murderous intent and turned around.

“Do you have any trendy management methods?”

“Management methods? Where do you want to manage?”

“Around my waist.”

“Does your waist hurt these days?”

“It didn’t before, but my waist feels a bit stiff when I pitch in consecutive games these days.”

“What are you going to do if you’re already like that when you’re not even married yet?”

Hey, don’t say that.

“First of all, plank is the most basic, right?”

“Isn’t that just good for the abs?”

“It has an effect on the entire core. Don’t do that thing where you just wiggle your upper body.”

“Ah… that. I know it.”

“Don’t do that. It’ll make it worse. And… it’s good to lunge and twist to the side.”

“Hmm… oh. That’s good.”

I received recommendations for various other postures. He even got up and demonstrated them.

I even brought a notepad fluttering around to write down everything so I wouldn’t forget.

To pitch better? No, to not be in pain.

“But don’t do too much. You know that overdoing it is worse, Hanwool.”

“I know, I know. I know it to the bone.”

I know it’s a selfish thing to say. That a pro’s goal isn’t to pitch well, but to not be in pain.

“You can’t get hurt, Hanwool. I’m sorry to the other players, but it’s true that there’s no pitcher as stable as you.”

But considering my current position, that’s actually right. The answer and the theory is to last a long time without getting hurt.

I’m already doing well. There was a slump at the beginning of the season, but now that it’s converged to the average, I’m once again the best relief pitcher.

My not being in pain is directly related to the status of the bullpen. I must not be in pain so that I don’t burden the other bullpen pitchers.

“Sunbae-nim [senior teammate], hwaiting [fighting/good luck]!!”

Clap clap clap-!

The most basic courtesy to teammates, especially those in the same position.

If we keep this up, we can remain a strong team forever.

* * *

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

A game that starts in the afternoon on Sunday naturally ends before evening. After going through several essential finishing steps, I get home around 7:30.

What should I eat? What should I eat to make it known that I ate well?

I stared at the menus on the delivery app, lost in thought.

Spicy pork stir-fry, kimchi stew, chicken, sweet and sour pork, stir-fry…….

Your love is a wildcard―

“Ah, shit. You scared me.”

Suddenly, a loud ringtone burst from the phone I was blankly staring at with drool. Only after being startled enough to make my large body flinch did I find out the identity of the caller.

“Yes, Min-young.”

– Hello! I watched the game today. Ah… Sangsoo lost today, which is a shame. If they had won, they would have been tied for first place again…….

“It can’t be helped. Visco’s bullpen is strong.”

– Oh, if Hanwool had been able to pitch! Why does the manager keep using Hanwool so much?

Giggle.

– You’re off work, right?

“Yes, yes. I just got home and took a shower.”

– Have you eaten yet?

“I haven’t… not yet. I was just thinking about what to eat.”

– Ah, I’m near Konkuk University right now! So… if you haven’t had dinner, I was wondering if we could have dinner together… that’s why I called.

“Ah!”

Call.

“I’d love to! Can I go right now?”

– Yes, yes! Come slowly! I’ll text you the address.

“Yes, yes.”

Call ended. And…….

Thump thump thump―

Even when I blocked Bae Deok-hyun’s batted ball heading for my face, my reflexes didn’t explode this much.

I casually tossed my phone aside and quickly opened the closet. What should I wear, what should I wear? After hesitating for a moment, I grabbed whatever I could find and put it on.

I stood in front of the mirror and quickly ran wax through my hair, and the preparation was complete.

“That’s it.”

Tap, tap tap.

I turned off the lights in the house and quickly went down the stairs. I quickly opened the car door, squeezed in, and started the engine.

“Where is this?”

I entered the location written in the text message into the GPS and moved slowly. I didn’t speed, but I maintained a speed that was just below the legal limit.

After a while, You have arrived at your destination.

“…Huh?”

One of the insanely crowded areas of Konkuk University. The GPS, which had suddenly announced my arrival, died and ended its navigation.

I had no choice but to press the call button on the steering wheel and call Min-young.

“…Ah, yes. I think I’m almost there. Where should I go?”

– Did you bring your car?

“Yes.”

– Then… you’re near, right? If you see Three Layers… what was it? Just a moment!

Crash, screech! Pow, pow!

…What is it?

– There’s a restaurant called Three Layers of Meat! Can you see it? What’s around you?

“Around me… ah.”

I fixed the phone to my right ear and quickly saw long hair being waved around.

“I see Min-young. I’ll go right there.”

– You see me? Yes, yes!

Click.

I hung up the phone and carefully headed to the restaurant.

Don’t people have work tomorrow?

I slowly moved through a space where I would have to call the insurance company if I made even a slight mistake. Even though it would take quite a while, Min-young didn’t think about going into the restaurant. She stood in front of the restaurant and waited for me.

She should have gone in first, it’s hot.

I turned on the hazard lights and parked the car. Even though I put it in reverse, the warning sound of beep beep beep- was deafening because of the people walking right behind the car.

“You’re here?”

“You should have gone in….”

“Hehe.”

As soon as I got out of the car, Min-young came hopping over.

“Let’s go in! They say it’s delicious here.”

“Yes, yes.”

I slowly entered the restaurant and sat down at the seat Min-young had reserved. Water and spoons were already set up. The grill was heated to the right temperature.

I familiarly picked up the tongs and put the meat on the grill.

“You’ve worked hard, you even had a game today. Should I have just gone near Hanwool’s house?”

“No, no. It’s not far from my house.”

It wasn’t even a casual remark, but she was moved and started to tear up. What’s the point?

And I have to come quickly when Min-young calls.

I wondered if she would burst into tears if she heard the next words I was about to say.

“But what were you doing around Konkuk University?”

“Yes? Ah, that… well….”

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s hard to say.”

“No, it’s not that….”

“Did you meet a friend or something?”

“A friend? Yes! Yes, I met a friend, I met them after a long time, I met them after a long time and… I met them for lunch. I met them for lunch, but….”

Where is the broken part?

I smiled because her fidgeting fingers were cute.

“Eat. It’s cooked.”

“Yes… thank you….”

With the expression of having overcome a big mountain, Min-young picked up her chopsticks with difficulty. Seeing that, I changed the weapon attached to my hand to chopsticks.