The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 71

71. Rules (2)

“Choi Su-won, you shouldn’t necessarily think of this negatively. Of course, I fully understand your desire to debut in the big leagues as soon as possible. But going through the NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s highest baseball league] is by no means a bad strategy. In fact, Dustin Knight, who was the 17th pick in the first round of last year’s draft, went to the NPB with a 5-year, $7.5 million deal.”

Typically, around the 17th pick, the signing bonus is a little less than $4 million. Even if you quickly grind in the minors for about 2 years and then go up to the majors, you’ll receive the minimum salary for 3 years, which is $1.5 million. Considering a total expected income of about $5.5 million, and then going through salary negotiations for 3 years before becoming a free agent, receiving $7.5 million for 5 years in the NPB and immediately gaining FA [Free Agent] qualification would definitely be financially beneficial.

“So, it must have been an early draft since it’s 5 years.”

“Oh? You know more than I thought. Recently, the international amateur age has risen to 25, so the trend is to base it on 7 years for high school graduates and 5 years for early drafts. Previously, it was an option only used when teams tried to cut signing bonuses, but considering the recent trend of first-rounders being tempered in the minors for 2 or 3 years, the consensus is that going through the NPB isn’t bad for mediocre talents. Boras’ agency pulled off another deal. Well, it seems like the CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement] will impose sanctions on this soon.”

“I see. But whatever the reason, I don’t like the NPB.”

“Wait, just a moment, Choi Su-won. Listen. The NPB is different from the KBO [Korea Baseball Organization]. You don’t necessarily have to play for seven seasons. You can re-enter the MLB through posting [a system allowing NPB/KBO players to be bid on by MLB teams] after just one year. The only reason we’re talking about this is that the MLB’s international draft situation isn’t very good next year. If Choi Su-won was in the draft, it might have been easier. But the strength of the international draft is that you can consider various factors instead of a small bonus pool, right? Dual position, signing bonus, suitable team roster situation, and quick call-up. You’re just playing the period you have to play in the minors in the NPB. The NPB’s generous signing bonus and a generous signing bonus when you re-enter the MLB are bonuses.”

In fact, it wasn’t an unreasonable story. No, in some ways, it was clearly the most rational direction.

The posting systems of the NPB and KBO are very similar, but they are definitely different. In the case of the NPB, there is no set period that you must play in your home league to be eligible for the posting system. Giving all MLB teams time to compete to acquire me, as he said, isn’t bad either.

Moreover, even if I go to the United States right now, even if I aim for the big leagues as a full-time hitter, it’s also true that my big league debut can’t happen immediately. Of course, objectively, my current skills are good enough to debut in the big leagues right away. However, after the Bonus Baby incident in the past, big league teams see the minors as essential for prospects.

It’s not just a matter of skill, but the minors are a necessary time to learn the tricks of playing in the league. No matter how short, it takes 3 months, usually about a year. Even Bryce Harper, who was said to be the best prospect of all time, needed more than a year to be called up, even though he was tearing up the league.

Even in my case, I was aiming for a dual position. I’m okay as a hitter. But as a pitcher? Considering the technique of pitching every 5 or 6 days and the time it takes for my skills to improve, it was clear that it would take longer than that.

But no matter how rational the choice, there are often things more important than rationality in the world.

“Still, I don’t like it.”

That’s my feeling about having to make that choice.

“Is it because of radiation? Or is it because of the traditional relationship between Korea and Japan?”

“Well, it’s not that those things don’t have an impact, but more than that, I just wonder why I have to go to Japan.”

“That’s…”

“No, the reason I signed with James Corporation was to avoid worrying about the various points you mentioned. What I want is simple. Dual position. And the fastest possible major league debut. And I want the process to be as efficient as possible, and I don’t like Japan. Well, if it’s under similar conditions, I might consider playing in Korea for a year or two and then going.”

“……”

Benjamin Palmer’s dark circles seemed to get darker, but that was probably just my imagination. In fact, it was nonsense. Players who have not played for more than 7 years in the KBO are never allowed to go to foreign leagues. Even if the club and the player secretly collude to release him completely, the association will thoroughly block it. In the end, my words to him were no different from telling him to find a team that would let me play dual position, give me the fastest major league call-up, and give me a generous signing bonus.

Benjamin Palmer nodded weakly.

***

“We’re almost there. Then go in well. Let’s see each other often in the future.”

“Will we really have time for that?”

“You live in Hyundai Apartment in Jungang-dong, right? It’s only three bus stops from my house, what do you mean by time.”

“Hyung [older brother or male friend] has to go to Busan now, right? Aren’t you going to sign with the Marines?”

“Ah……”

Hamin hyung’s unnecessarily handsome face was greatly distorted.

Looking at his expression, it seemed like he had erased the Marines from his mind. Well, I wouldn’t like it either. He’s living well in Seoul, but suddenly he has to go to Busan, and even that Busan team’s record is……

37 wins, 89 losses, 2 draws.

Winning percentage 0.294

Uh…… Um……

“Hyung, cheer up. Still, the Busan Marines give you a lot of money. I heard that their total salary is the third highest in the entire league this time.”

“Ah……”

Baek Hamin’s eyes became moist.

Well, after living with him, I could definitely tell. This guy’s competitive spirit is no joke. I’m not one to be behind in competitive spirit, but since a hitter is originally considered a good hitter if he hits .300, I’ve become a little detached from each small competition, but this guy is so obsessed with every little thing that it’s scary. And a team with more sweeps than winning series is waiting for such a person, so he can’t be energetic.

Above all, the really scary thing about the Marines was that the future didn’t seem to be any better than the present. It’s a mystery how they keep recruiting good players while always finishing last, but the future doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

Of course, as someone who knows that such predictions will really become reality, I had no words to comfort him.

“Oh? I’m here. Then hyung, I’m really leaving now!!”

I quickly got off the airport limousine bus.

The house, which I had returned to after almost a month, still felt desolate and without warmth. In the past, I used to resent my father for this. Other houses have mothers waiting with warm meals, but even after returning home after a long time, it was hard to see my father’s face.

But after going through a divorce while hearing a similar story, I understood. There are unavoidable parts for adults, or rather, because they are adults. Wouldn’t my father have wanted to see his son’s face after returning after a month?

I quickly organized my luggage and packed gifts for the manager, coaches, and children.

School classes would be ending soon, so it would be about time to start afternoon training. It was perfect timing.

-Thwack!!!

The ball hit by Jo Yu-jin far away soared high. It was a clean hit. Anyway, his swing form is really amazing during practice.

“Oh? Isn’t that Choi Su-won sunbae [senior/upperclassman]?”

“What? Choi Su-won? He was supposed to come tomorrow…… Oh? It’s really him?”

Someone seemed to have found me. The baseball team kids rushed towards me, carrying luggage in both hands.

“Sunbaenim, what is all this?”

“Okay, everyone calm down. It’s nothing special, just souvenirs. I bought them at Yankee Stadium, so share them.”

“Wow!! Thank you!!”

It wasn’t a great gift. If I were a big leaguer, or even just a professional player, I would have bought good gifts, but it was too much to buy expensive gifts when my father was paying for everything from living expenses to everything else.

“You’re here?”

Among the children.

Jo Yu-jin strode towards me. In a little less than two months, including the tournament period, he looked quite solid.

“Oh, Jo Jujahng [captain]. You didn’t look so good when you left the country, but now you seem to have the air of a captain?”

“What air of a captain? Speaking of which, you look like you’ve gotten a little more solid?”

“Yeah, I gained 3kg in a month. I thought I was going to die. Oh, and this is your gift.”

“Oh, what is it? You brought mine separately?”

Saying that you have to bring a friend’s gift separately was too cheesy.

“Of course, I have to take care of my precious ball receiver.”

“What, you punk?”

I threw the gift I had prepared for him in advance.

“Judge?”

Pinstripes with number 8 marked on them.

All of the Yankees’ single-digit numbers are retired except for number 0. And among them, number 8 was a joint retired number, and both of those players were catchers like Jo Yu-jin.

One was a Yankees legend and first-generation catcher who recorded eight World Series wins and was a coach who produced the best catchers in history, and the other was the best catcher in baseball history.

Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra.

The Yankees traditionally do not engrave names on their uniforms. Of course, there is no such thing on the uniforms sold to the audience, but I deliberately bought a uniform without a name engraved on it.

“Thank you. Oh, this is authentic? Wow, look at the meticulous embroidery.”

“Do you like it?”

“Of course. Oh, right. The manager and coach Yang Se-jun went to Wonkwang Middle School now. They’ll probably be back in a while.”

“Really? Did they go to see the kids?”

“Yeah, what are you going to do? You’ve been resting for a long time, you should loosen up a bit.”

“What do you mean I’m resting? Except for watching one Yankees and Angels game in New York, I’ve been training like crazy. On top of that, I’ve been flying for 14 hours, so I’m not even adjusted to the time difference, I’m going to die. I’m going to die.”

“So. You came all the way here, but you were thinking of going home without throwing a ball?”

Jo Yu-jin smiled and looked at me.

“Go quickly and put on your equipment. I’ll show you how scary a ball that’s been eating American food is.”

“Okay!!”

***

Manager Park’s face didn’t know how to unfold.

“Manager, don’t worry too much. The kids’ condition wasn’t very good today, but they’ll be back up soon.”

“Coach Yang, are you still checking on the kids?”

“Yes, but……”

Recently, following the Bonghwangdaegi [a national high school baseball tournament], even the President’s Cup. Joongang High School’s performance was not very good.

It’s said to be professional individual talent, but college entrance exams are ultimately about connections, appearance records, and grades. Especially in the case of pitchers, most schools still put wins in the bonus points even in 2025. They had no choice but to prefer strong schools.

“First, let’s just properly play the National Sports Festival when Su-won comes back, and let’s keep looking for kids who might change their minds.”

“Yes.”

-Boom!!!!!!!

The huge sound of the mitt, which didn’t suit Joongang High School, was heard as soon as I got out of the car.

No one could not know unless they were an idiot.

“What? Was Su-won supposed to come today? Wasn’t it tomorrow?”

A more solid body.

The ball thrown by Choi Su-won on the mound accurately pierced Jo Yu-jin’s mitt.