The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 7

7. Life Is Long (2)

“We’ll need to get an MRI to know for sure, but based on the symptoms, it looks like there’s some inflammation in your shoulder joint. It’s not too serious, judging by how well you can move your shoulder. But still, it’s a sensitive area, so be careful.”

The coach took me to a small, local orthopedic clinic, the kind where the old doctor’s face just screamed, “I’m a specialist!”

“How long will it take for him to get better?”

“He’s still in his prime, so if he takes his medicine and rests for a few days, he’ll be back to normal in no time. Here’s a prescription; take it and get some rest.”

While the old doctor scribbled illegible words on a piece of paper, the coach patted me on the back and sighed in relief.

“Glad it’s nothing serious. Don’t use your shoulder during practice for a while. Take a good rest until the next game, okay?”

“Yes, Coach.”

The old doctor, still scribbling, said,

“Coach Park says you’re a promising player. Don’t overdo it when you’re hurt. A baseball player’s body is their livelihood. I know it’s tempting when you’re on the mound, but if you feel anything off, tell someone immediately. By the time you think you can tough it out, it’s already too late, got it? Oh, and don’t forget to get physical therapy on your way out.”

“Yes.”

And that was it.

I said my shoulder hurt, and they took me to a local clinic they knew, gave me medicine, a little physical therapy, and that was the end of it.

Honestly, it was pretty much what I expected.

Of course, if the hospital found something seriously wrong, or if the pain was constant or severe, it might be different. I’m basically a successful prospect, and my family isn’t exactly poor.

But I’m not a pro yet, and I wouldn’t expect them to make a fuss over a sore shoulder and rush me to a big hospital for an MRI. Besides, an MRI costs a fortune and takes weeks to schedule.

And honestly, even if I got an MRI now, it wouldn’t show anything significant. The shoulder pain was a lie to begin with.

Looking back, I started overusing my shoulder in the summer of this year.

It’s hard to overuse your shoulder just playing weekend league games. At most, it’s one game a week, and you can only throw up to 105 pitches. Unless you’re practicing in some crazy way, it’s impossible to overuse it.

Of course, some schools surprisingly manage to do it anyway, but thankfully, my school isn’t that crazy.

The problem was the tournaments, including the King of Kings tournament, in the summer.

The King of Kings tournament runs from the first game to the finals in just two weeks. And if you make it to the finals, you’ll play five or six games during that time.

Of course, that’s very few compared to the pros. It’s less than a league game, let alone the postseason. But high school baseball is different from professional baseball. There’s a huge gap between the ace and the second starter, let alone a five-man rotation. So, most schools end up rotating their aces, which makes it pretty tough.

Fortunately, last year, we finished second in our region in the first half of the weekend league, so we only went to the King of Kings tournament in the second half, and we were eliminated in the third round, so I didn’t use my shoulder that much.

But this summer…

As I recall, this was the schedule I was given.

The Golden Lion Flag Tournament, then the King of Kings tournament in the first half.

May 20th: 75 pitches.

May 24th: 60 pitches.

May 26th: 60 pitches.

May 28th: 105 pitches. And we were unfortunately eliminated in the semi-finals.

Doesn’t that sound like a crazy schedule? But surprisingly, it doesn’t end there. We finished first in our region in the first half of the weekend league. Thanks to that, we participated in both the first and second half King of Kings tournaments.

And then the second half of the weekend league.

Since the second half of the weekend league isn’t a tournament to compete for a spot in the King of Kings tournament, they usually give opportunities to freshmen, sophomores, and reserve players. But the problem was that I was still a sophomore.

So, I consistently threw 105 pitches every week.

And then the Blue Dragon Flag Tournament, the King of Kings tournament in the second half, was held.

July 6th: 75 pitches.

July 10th: 60 pitches.

July 12th: 47 pitches.

July 14th: Another 105 pitches. And we were unfortunately eliminated in the semi-finals again.

Now that I’ve laid it all out, it’s a shockingly insane schedule. Of course, what’s even more shocking is that I blamed myself for not winning and then threw even more like a madman… I was so stupid.

Anyway, that’s why you shouldn’t show Japanese baseball manga to young kids too much.

In any case, the reason I said my shoulder hurt now isn’t so I can go to the hospital for an MRI and rest.

This is enough for now.

Plus, the doctor even lectured the coach.

“And Coach Park, you need to pay attention to the kids. They don’t think much of their own pain. That’s why adults need to take care of them.”

“Of course, of course. Look, I rushed over as soon as he said he was hurt. Back in my day, they’d say, ‘What’s a little ache?’ Besides, there are regulations these days, so we can’t push them like we used to.”

“Just pay attention, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

The reason our coach made me throw so much wasn’t because he had a grudge against me or because he was a power-hungry, bad person.

It’s just that he did even more in his day, and it’s common for many high schools to run their aces tightly according to the regulations. More than anything, the relationship between the coach and my dad was very close, thanks to the envelopes that went back and forth [a common euphemism for bribery or under-the-table dealings].

So, about five years after graduation?

I was having a drink with the coach, and he cried and said he sincerely thought it was helping me. He said he could see me growing a little bit every time I threw 105 pitches.

Well, it was natural to gain experience and improve since it was a time when my skills were increasing rapidly. The problem was that my durability was being worn down, and I never got it properly repaired, so it became irreparable.

Anyway, what kind of reaction will the coach show now that he’s heard the doctor’s words?

“Soo-won. You heard the doctor, right? This coach knows all about it from when he was your age. You want to grit your teeth and throw through the pain to win. So, you think, ‘It’s nothing, right?’ But that’s how you get messed up. So, if you feel anything off, tell me right away, okay?”

Yes, that’s exactly the reaction I wanted.

***

Unlike Japan, high school baseball in Korea isn’t very popular. Not that I’m jealous of Japan. It’s just a fact.

Anyway, thanks to that, there are hardly any spectators at weekend league games. At most, it’s the players’ families and relatives. But sometimes, there are exceptions. Like today.

“It’s crazy today.”

“All ten pro teams are here, I heard?”

“Have the pro teams finally recognized my genius?”

“That idiot’s talking nonsense again. Do you think they came to see you? They came to see the Baek Ha-min versus Choi Soo-won matchup.”

I could hear the voices of the Cheonnam High guys bickering over there.

Baek Ha-min.

A pitcher who’s sure to be a first-round pick in this year’s draft. His top speed is 151 km/h [approximately 94 mph]. His control tends to be a bit erratic, but as you can see from me, if a high schooler throws over 150, they’re almost guaranteed to be a first-rounder.

If there was still a first-round pick three years ago, he would have gone to a Seoul team for sure, so this many scouts might not have gathered. But with the full draft in place, all ten teams can’t avoid the intense game of strategy.

The team that finished last year in last place has to think about who the best player in the country is, or who is the piece they need most, even if they are less talented. The team that won the championship has to think about which players others will pick and what the best choice they can make is.

And in the midst of such heated interest from scouts, the other players warmed up, harboring hopes of their own.

For students living in Korea, senior year is an important time for everyone.

But unlike those who study for the college entrance exam [the ‘suneung,’ a high-stakes standardized test], we don’t have retakes. Now that the clause requiring teams to draft college players has disappeared, it’s even more so.

The opportunity comes only once.

And the number of days left until the draft is now four months.

Whether or not we can continue playing baseball, which we’ve poured our entire short lives into, will be decided by the remaining games. And how many opportunities will there be to show off our skills in front of all ten team scouts like this?

In that sense, that Mung-gae guy’s gaze is piercing.

He’s probably praying desperately to God in his heart.

That my condition isn’t good today. That my pitches are a bit wild and I get taken off the mound quickly. So that an opportunity comes to him.

Okay. I’m not God, but I’ll grant your wish today.

Of course, the outcome of that wish is entirely up to you.

Weekend League Game 3.

Joongang High versus Cheonnam High.

Top of the 1st inning.

I went up to the mound.