The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 81

81. Passing Score (2)

“Oh, former General Manager. What brings you here so suddenly?”

“General Manager Gong? What are you doing here?”

“Haha, aren’t I particularly close with President Park? I heard some good deer antlers came in, so I thought I’d stop by to say hello. Good things are meant to be shared, so we can help each other out when things get tough, right?”

A man in his late 40s with a neat appearance greeted Jeon Sang-ik. He was Gong Byeong-jun, the general manager of the Seoul Braves, and the man Jeon Sang-ik disliked the most.

He had caused trouble with trades the year before last and with free agent (FA)-related issues last year. Just thinking about the criticism he endured because of that man made him wake up in a cold sweat. However, personal feelings aside, he was clearly a capable man. Moreover, the fact that he could freely exercise his abilities without interference from the higher-ups, due to the club’s unique structure, was also a frightening aspect.

“Is it because of Choi Su-won?”

“What?”

“Honestly, that kid is too good for the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]. That’s why I’ve been saying we need to reform the posting system [system that allows KBO players to move to MLB]. Forcing talents who could succeed in the majors to play in Korea for at least seven years is a waste. Besides, the really confident ones just go without playing at all, and they end up wasting away in the minor leagues where no one cares. Frankly, among those who went directly to the US since the 2010s, there would have been quite a few who could have thrived in MLB if they had played in the KBO first. Don’t you think?”

“Well, maybe. And General Manager Gong would have made quite a bit of money too.”

“Hey, what big money are you talking about? Between the signing bonus, the annual salary, and the cost of developing them, we barely break even.”

“I think you recently earned about 16 billion won [approximately $12 million USD]? That’s breaking even?”

“Haha, if you only look at him, it might seem that way, but considering the period, facilities, and labor costs we invested for that, it’s just breaking even. Anyway, how about it? Should I share the data I’ve prepared for the posting system reform?”

Jeon Sang-ik frowned.

“And add your desired *yukseonghyeong yongbyeong* [foreign player development] reform to that?”

“I’d be grateful.”

“No thanks. No deal. The KBO under the draft system becoming a selling league? That’s a nightmare to even imagine. I’ll do it without your help, in a way that’s not your way, so you just take care of your own business.”

The draft is a system that distributes good resources to weak teams in the lower ranks, a system for the competitiveness of the league. But what if rapid posting is added there? In the worst case, it means that a deformed team could be created that constantly maintains the lower ranks, picks up promising players, develops them appropriately, and then sells them expensively, repeating this endlessly.

Jeon Sang-ik turned around and walked away. And Gong Byeong-jun shouted behind his back.

“Hahaha, geez. A selling league. I keep telling you, that’s all a misunderstanding. Anyway, if you need anything, feel free to tell me anytime. Don’t forget that I’m always on former General Manager’s side.”

*I knew that guy had eyes and ears everywhere, but I didn’t think he had reached the president’s office….*

*No, wait a minute. Could it be that he has people planted not in the president’s office, but in our team’s front office?*

***

-Thwack!!!

A practice game was held, mainly for the kids who didn’t play in yesterday’s game.

The opponent was Cheonnam High School.

“Wow, we’ve really gotten a lot stronger.”

“Jjoyu, how can you say that after seeing this?”

8:3

Of course, the 8 is on Cheonnam’s side, not ours.

“No, of course, the score is a bit like that, but compared to our time, it’s a real leap forward. Back then, would Cheonnam even play against us? They always called Baekwon High or Daedeok High for practice games.”

“There was a bit of a difference in class. Well, it seems like it’s the same now.”

-Thwack!!!

9:3.

Lee Jae-cheol handed the mound over to Go Han-gyeol.

The difference between a prestigious high school and a non-prestigious team is bigger than you think. After all, a prestigious school is bound to have a deeper bench. Just look at Cheonnam High School. They also had all their starting players in the first game, but the 3rd and 2nd graders who didn’t play in the first game are not much different from our starters.

-Whoosh!!!

“Strike!! Out!!”

Go Han-gyeol struck out and waited for the next batter with a blank face. No, to be precise, it was a face trying to be expressionless.

“Han-gyeol’s pitch is definitely good. It’s like seeing you in your first year.”

“Hey, it’s not that level. Don’t you remember? I threw up to 144 kph [kilometers per hour] right after I entered school. And I hit 150 kph in 8 months. You couldn’t catch my ball properly back then, so you practiced with the coach every day, so there’s no way you don’t remember, right?”

“No, that’s what I mean. And if a 1st grader throws 135 kph, it’s still at a countable level. Byeong-yeong *sunbae* [senior] also threw 135 kph after the summer of his 3rd year.”

“That’s true.”

While Ahn Byeong-yeong was accumulating a mysterious 1 loss, Cheonnam High School’s batter pulled Go Han-gyeol’s first pitch.

-Thwack!!!

A high fly ball.

Go Han-gyeol raised his finger and actively pointed at the fly ball.

Lee Se-jin, a 2nd grader who played center fielder, strode forward and caught the fly ball. He was the only infielder who played in yesterday’s game and was selected as a starter in today’s practice game. His defense is definitely much better than that *Pumba* [derogatory term, like ‘bum’] guy who played center fielder last year.

“*Sunbaenim* [term of respect for a senior], nice catch!!”

Go Han-gyeol shouted loudly towards Lee Se-jin.

Nice catch on a good defense. Following the speed, even his personality was a complete defeat for Ahn Byeong-yeong.

That day’s practice game.

We lost 11:7. It was a much better result than expected.

***

“Hey, Jae-cheol. Shouldn’t you get your *bangjjol* [youngest/lowest ranking member] in line?”

“*Bangjjol*? Han-gyeol? And what do you mean by ‘in line’?”

“Yeah, the 3rd year seniors don’t say anything, but that 1st year punk is so cocky because he’s good at baseball.”

“Cocky? What do you mean?”

“No, from the moment he took over the mound, he was like, ‘Nice catch, *sunbae*’ when the *sunbae* made a good defense? He seemed completely crazy?”

“No, what’s cocky about taking over the mound? Why? Should he *samboilbae* [bowing every three steps as a sign of extreme humility] while coming to the mound? And if he says ‘Nice catch’ to a good defense, what, are you expecting a big bow?”

“Not a big bow, but… well. Let’s say that’s okay. But you saw his expression when he was taken off the mound, right? It was rotten.”

“Pitchers are bound to have a rotten expression when they come down from the mound. And Han-gyeol is usually nice and okay.”

Lee Se-jin sighed.

“Sigh, Lee Jae-cheol. You’re too nice. You don’t know anything. Hey, that kind of kid will eat the *sunbae* [senior] later. Do you think he’s being nice now because he’s nice? It’s because he’s not afraid of the *sunbae*. He’s thinking, ‘What can you do about it since I’m good at baseball?’ If you don’t step on that in the beginning, it’ll be a headache later.”

“So, you’re saying I should step on it now because I don’t want a headache later?”

He nodded.

“Of course. Lee Jae-cheol. Don’t ignore it. I’m saying this all for you. I’m an infielder, so it doesn’t matter to me, but you’re the same pitcher. You’ll end up like Ahn Byeong-yeong later. You heard it on the day of the college entrance exam, right? No, you saw it directly. He couldn’t even say a word to Su-won *sunbae* even though he didn’t have his own snacks and just went in. Honestly, wasn’t it so pathetic to see him groveling to his *hubae* [junior] at the end of his career?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t think it looked that pathetic. And did Ahn Byeong-yeong become like that because he was nice? The *sunbae* said that Ahn Byeong-yeong was the one who gave the most trouble when Su-won *sunbae* was a 1st grader. The only one who was nice to him was Jin-woo *sunbae*. Just looking at that, you can tell whether you should be nice to the kids or give them trouble, right? Anyway, don’t do anything stupid and just go rest. You have to train tomorrow morning too.”

*Ah, this saekki [son of a bitch] is giving me trouble even though I’m thinking of him. No matter how I look at it, he’s the type who will only listen if you step on him,* he heard grumbling in Jae-cheol’s ear as he turned around.

Jae-cheol’s heart was boiling.

It wasn’t because of Se-jin’s grumbling. It was because Jae-cheol himself was tempted by that grumbling.

He was so angry that he felt like he wanted to turn around and say, ‘Should I do that?’

What that feeling was was too obvious.

It’s dirty jealousy.

When *sunbae* Choi Su-won threw better, he didn’t feel this way. *Sunbae* was *sunbae*, after all. But it was too hard to bear that a young kid who had just entered high school was throwing a better ball than him.

Lee Jae-cheol hated Ahn Byeong-yeong as much as he respected Choi Su-won.

*Why is sunbae so eager to eat hubae? He must have a problem with his personality.* That’s what he thought.

But ridiculously, after receiving a talented *hubae*, he felt like he understood Ahn Byeong-yeong’s feelings.

*Annoying.*

That’s why Jae-cheol couldn’t help but face his own wretchedness, that understandable feeling was so hateful.

Today’s practice game, 32 pitches.

1.2 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs.

Jae-cheol moved his steps to the indoor practice field.

And there was Choi Su-won, who was finishing up his *ma-mu-ri un-dong* [cool-down exercises].

“Oh? Jae-cheol is here? You threw the ball today. Don’t overdo it?”

“It’s okay. *Sunbaenim* [term of respect for a senior]!!”

“Hey, baseball isn’t about *jeongsinlyeok* [mental strength]. Injuries don’t not come just because you *jjikneundago* [believe that] *jeongsinlyeok man-ttang* [mental strength is full]. But if you really want to, let’s just warm up lightly together. Okay?”

“Yes!!!”

***

Bye in the second round.

And the third round.

Too *dangyeonhage* [naturally/obviously], Jungang High School won a complete victory. Even Coach Park moved Choi Su-won to first base in the 4th inning and put 2nd grade pitchers on the mound.

-Thwack!!!

“My ball!!!”

Of course, there were runs given up.

But the points that Jungang High School had created during the preceding 3 innings were too big to overturn the game with just 1 or 2 points given up.

Even while the game was in progress, that score gradually widened, and finally, when the 7th inning ended, Jungang High School finally created a 10-point difference and finished the 3rd round with a called game.

14:4

Jungang High School wins.

“This is a somewhat familiar pattern?”

“Hey, it’s not a familiar pattern yet. Jungang High School *manghajana* [will be ruined] when Choi Su-won can’t throw the ball. Today, Choi Su-won only threw 37 pitches. If he rests tomorrow, he can throw again the day after tomorrow. In my opinion, about the 5th round? Around that time, Choi Su-won will *wantu* [pitch a complete game] again and ‘Jungang, who poured all their strength into the *satu* [desperate fight] with OO, suffered a *chamhae* [disaster] like a lie in the following 6th round.’ Ending, right?”

“No, but Choi Su-won *eun-geunhi* [secretly/unexpectedly] takes care of the *junwooseung* [runner-up] well. In my opinion, he’ll *wantu* in the 6th round and lose in the 7th round.”

“Will he?”

Originally, it was rare for reporters to come to high school baseball. But now, it felt rather *dangyeonhage* [natural/obvious] that a few reporters came to Choi Su-won’s game.

“Hey, but why do there seem to be a lot of kids today? Isn’t that Donghu Ilbo over there? Didn’t they *chuksohaji* [downsize] their sports section this time?”

“What, haven’t you heard the story?”

“Story? What story?”

“Ah, a reporter *saekki* [son of a bitch] is so slow to hear rumors. Don’t you even eat with the pro baseball kids these days?”

“Hey, who wants to do that? There aren’t even enough people as it is, and the higher-ups dumped all the *amayagu* [amateur baseball] on me, so it’s not that I don’t eat with the pro baseball kids, it’s that I don’t even have time to eat alone. I don’t have time. But what’s the story?”

“Ah… this is…”

“Okay. I’ll buy you coffee later.”

“Not Americano, but Einspanner. With firm cream.”

“I know, so tell me quickly. What is it?”

“That is…”

A small whisper.

The eyes of the fat reporter with the perm widened.

“What? 2 billion won [approximately $1.5 million USD]?”

***

4th and 5th rounds.

Was it because the draw was good? Or was it because our team’s condition was good? Maybe it was both.

I only threw 27 balls in the 4th round and didn’t even pitch in the 5th round.