The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 89

Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

My father’s expression wasn’t good right after the contract with the Marines was signed.

Well, it was similar before. Back then, I didn’t understand his expression. I even thought he was looking at me with eyes that said, ‘We invested so much, and the contract is less than 100 million?’

I was naive and short-sighted.

But now I think I know. My father just doesn’t want to be apart from me. I mean, even when a dog you’ve raised for 7 or 8 years leaves home, it feels strange. So, it’s only natural that he feels sentimental when his own child leaves home after 18 years.

But even so, it’s natural for a grown-up son to leave his father’s embrace.

Therefore, the best thing I can show my father is that I’m ready to leave his embrace.

The place my father took me was a bespoke suit shop.

Because I had to wear a suit to the induction ceremony. I remember that before my regression, I didn’t have a good relationship with my father, so I said something like, ‘Why would I get a custom suit? I’ll just buy one from a department store with my contract money.’

“This is the shop where I’ve always had my clothes made.”

A worn-out sign.

But the wear wasn’t dilapidated; it was a sophisticated shop that showed the traces of time. The building itself was clean, as if it had been recently remodeled, which added to that feeling. Before my regression, I only came here with my father after my advancement to the US was decided.

“Welcome, Mr. Choi. Ah, this must be the famous son I’ve heard so much about.”

As soon as we opened the door, an old gentleman with graying hair greeted us.

He was the previous owner, whom I had never seen before.

“I’m embarrassed. He’s graduating this time, so I brought him because he’ll need a suit soon. Please make him a good one.”

The old gentleman with graying hair exchanged greetings with my father, then took out a tape measure and measured various parts of my body. Next to him, the owner I knew, who resembled the old gentleman, held a notebook and wrote down the numbers he called out.

“Let’s see. You have an excellent physique.”

“Haha. Is that so? Well, Suwon has been exercising for a long time.”

“No, this isn’t just a body you get from exercising for a long time. In fact, athletes who train professionally often don’t look good in clothes. It’s probably because their bodies get too big. But your son has long arms and legs, so his proportions are perfect. It’ll be fun making clothes for him.”

“I think you’re being a little too complimentary today? Haha.”

My father’s lips curled up slightly.

“It would be better to discuss the design of the suit with my son here. I’ve been making clothes for a long time, so I can do it, but styles and trends are different these days. He studied in Italy until last year.”

“Oh, Italy?”

“Yes, just like the United States is famous for baseball, Naples in Italy is famous for suits.”

The two fathers laughed and talked. More than half of the conversation was about praising their sons, so I felt embarrassed listening from the side. And the person who would soon inherit the shop seemed to feel the same way, as his face turned slightly red.

“I heard you’re going to Busan as the first overall pick this time. Congratulations.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“I’ll make the suit as comfortable as possible. Your body has such a great shape that it’ll look sharp just by doing that. Your shoulders are especially good. If you had gone with ready-made clothes, your shoulders would have felt a bit tight.”

“Yes, please do.”

As the detailed discussion about the suit’s form was coming to an end,

I lowered my voice slightly.

“Excuse me, but…”

“Yes, go ahead.”

***

Induction ceremony.

The faces gathered in the waiting area looked familiar.

In the end, the players who come to the pros are bound to be those who have shown some talent during their three years of high school. Of course, even if you’re from a regular national tournament team, you can’t face every player, but most of them are familiar faces one way or another.

And the most familiar guy among them whispered to me.

‘Wow… this is a bit nerve-wracking, isn’t it, Suwon?’

It was Jjoyu.

That’s right.

Surprisingly, this guy was drafted as the first overall pick in the second round. No, actually, is it not that surprising? Well, he was originally a guy who would have been picked in the third round anyway. A catcher who can play defense is worth that much, even if there’s a problem with his offensive power.

Of course, in his case, the reason he was picked in the third round was because the scouts saw him hitting home runs in batting practice and judged that he had ‘potential.’ And the reason he was picked as the first overall pick in the second round now is because the team with the first pick is the Marines, and they judged that his changed batting form had sprouted that ‘potential’ to some extent.

This was a team where a catcher who could catch the ball couldn’t exist.

“Okay, everyone, come here and get your uniforms. Check the name markings carefully.”

I carefully took off the suit jacket that my father had made for me and folded it next to me.

The outfits of the kids gathered here were all the same. Suits and shoes with ties all the way up. But the fit was completely different. It wasn’t just that my body was long and looked good. In fact, it’s not easy for athletes to look good in ready-made clothes. Of course, high school players aren’t as seriously big as professional players, but it’s still a bit subtle.

In the case of shirts, everyone matched their shoulders, so their waists were too baggy, or their arms were a bit short. In the case of pants, it was even worse, with their thighs about to burst or too many wrinkles on their waists, but my case was a little different.

I put on the uniform with the 2027 draft patch over the shirt I was already wearing.

Then I left the locker room and headed for the ground.

It was a short path.

But among the kids walking together here now, it will take a very long time for someone to arrive on this short path, and someone will never walk this path again after walking it today.

On the ground, a front office employee grabbed the microphone and rambled on. It wasn’t a very important story, and it didn’t really come to my ears.

What was bothering me was the families of the rookie players gathered in groups of three or five behind home plate. To be exact, it was my father, who was sitting alone in the middle. My father’s expression wasn’t much different from usual. A stiff face. Eyes that looked a little angry.

We lined up in a row and announced our impressions of joining the team.

“I want to make the Marines win the championship next year.”

The expression on General Manager Jeon Sang-ik’s face, who was waiting to present the induction rings in the next turn, became a little strange. Well, winning the championship is the goal, but considering that my posting condition is winning the championship, it would be a bit difficult to win in just one year.

Jo Yu-jin and the other guys also rambled on.

First pitch and batting. And back indoors to set up a photo wall in the back and do a simple interview. The fairly long event was over.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing. Are you okay, Father? Is it okay to take a day off from work like this?”

“On a day like today, it’s unavoidable even if it’s not okay.”

On the way back to Busan Station after the event.

We were sitting in a taxi and talking, but the conversation didn’t last long. Well, it wasn’t much different from usual.

A moment of silence.

And what broke the silence was the taxi driver, who was tilting his head and driving in front.

“Excuse me. I’m sorry, but are you Choi Suwon?”

“Yes, I’m Choi Suwon.”

“That’s right!! I almost didn’t recognize you because you were wearing a suit. It looks like you had your induction ceremony today.”

“Yes.”

“Is that your father next to you? Wow, he must be very proud. You’re good at baseball and you look so handsome, don’t you think?”

“Thank you for seeing my lacking son in a good light.”

“What do you mean lacking? What’s lacking is the Marines. These guys only care about baseball, but they can’t play baseball. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve watched all of your son’s games in the world championships.”

The nostrils of my father, who was sitting silently, widened a little again.

I wonder why I couldn’t figure out something so easy before.

“But it looks like you and your son are wearing matching clothes. It looks very nice.”

“Ah, yes. That’s… I told him I’d buy him a suit for his induction and took him to the shop I usually go to, but you know, he secretly bought my suit with his own money. I mean, he’s already spending so much money as soon as he earns it. What is he going to do? Isn’t that right? Just because a baseball player gets a big signing bonus doesn’t guarantee that he’ll keep getting a lot of money for the rest of his life. He might be playing for the minimum salary for several years. The signing bonus is there to be used in times like that, but he’s wasting it on buying his dad a suit.”

“Oh my, you must be very happy. The first money he spent as soon as he earned it was on his father’s suit. He’s not like the sons these days.”

My father casually dusted off the lapel of his suit once.

Ugh, I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment. Of course, I like being praised, but to praise your own son like this in front of his face.

“Oh my, we’re here at Busan Station.”

“Thank you. Here’s the taxi fare.”

“Oh, no. You came for a good reason, so there’s no need for the taxi fare. Just give me an autograph here.”

“Of course, I have to give you an autograph. And please take the taxi fare too.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Give Suwon a discount when you pick him up next time. Please just accept it today.”

What should I say about that appearance?

My father’s smiling face wasn’t bad. No, rather, it was so nice to see him so excited about just one suit.

So, I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment, but I held it in. It was my own way of showing respect to my father, who had raised me alone for 18 years.

***

The Marines’ minor league coach.

Choi Jeong-sik, a hypertrophy enthusiast, puffed out his breath.

“What? He’s not going to participate in training right away?”

“He said he has training planned.”

“No, General Manager. Do you believe that? Training planned? Isn’t it obvious what high schoolers are like? They’ve been training for 7 or 8 years. The moment they get drafted, they feel like they’ve achieved something, so they just let loose. If you don’t tighten them up in advance, it’ll be a big problem. And training too. Honestly, where in Korea can they train better than us?”

At least eight places definitely seem to exist, the voice rose to Jeon’s throat. But he swallowed the words with superhuman patience.

Strictly speaking, Jeon Sang-ik is a newcomer. Choi Jeong-sik is a fixture who has been with the Marines for 20 years, including his time as a player.

It wasn’t the time to say whatever he wanted yet.

“As Coach Choi knows, that’s not something we can force. We signed the contract, but strictly speaking, the period starts in February next year. No pay, no work is too obvious.”

“Yes, that’s true, but there’s a custom. If you look at it that way, are the other kids who participate in training right away all idiots?”

“Now, now, Coach. Calm down. Let’s watch for a while.”