Wrapping Up Camp 2
As soon as the wrapping-up camp ended, the coaching staff gathered in the meeting room. After three weeks of sweating it out and drilling the players, it was time to assess the results. Kim Young-ho, seated in the manager's chair with his arms crossed, scanned the coaches. His gaze was as sharp as ever.
"Alright, let's go over the rookies' conditions. One by one."
The chief coach nodded as he opened the prepared file.
"Yes, Manager. First up is pitcher Lee Tae-sin. He's already at a first-team level. Top velocity hits 150 km/h, and control isn't crumbling badly. He can handle a short inning no problem."
Kim Young-ho shot back immediately. "Control—it's really there? At that velocity?"
"Yes. But the difference between fastballs and breaking balls is still obvious. If the opposing team analyzes footage, they'll pick it up quick. So for spring camp, we need to prioritize minimizing the form differences between pitches."
"Hmm, makes sense. A flaw like that won't last three months. Still, that fastball is solid..."
The chief coach moved right on. "Next, infielder No Jun-hyuk and outfielder Gwon Tae-hyeon. Both have decent fundamentals, but they're not first-team ready yet. They need game experience in the second team. Plenty of potential, though. Put them in the second-team lineup to build reps, then decide whether to call them up based on how they do."
"Really? Having usable rookies for infield and outfield isn't bad. We've got MLB assignments lined up—one outfielder this year, one infielder next—so it was getting tight..."
Kim Young-ho nodded curtly.
"Catcher Yang Hyeon-jin looks promising too. Stable arm, good pitcher-leading instincts. Keep him as second-team backup for steady reps, and he'll grow fast. On pitchers, Bae Ji-ho deserves a shot as a second-team starter. He's got good stuff."
Kim Young-ho perked up. "Bae Ji-ho? Stamina holding up?"
"Yes, Manager. Control's decent too. Velocity's the slight issue."
The chief coach lowered his voice for the finale. "The rest of the rookies need more time. They'll be bench guys in the second team at best. Basically, developmental players soon."
Kim Young-ho uncrossed his arms and nodded. "Got it. Promote the standouts quick, park the rest in the second team and watch."
A brief silence fell, then Kim Young-ho asked, "Oh, right—Chief Coach. Any word from the front office on spring camp locations?"
The chief coach smiled. "Yes. Thanks to second place, first team goes to Arizona in the US, second team to Taiwan."
"What? Arizona in the US?"
Kim Young-ho's eyes widened. "That's MLB spring training territory. Taiwan's got good facilities too—front office really stepped up!"
"Yeah, it was brutal before. First team to Okinawa at best, second team stuck domestic... Landing this feels like a real perk for second place."
"Good then. For the rookies..."
Manager Kim Young-ho pondered. Hmm...
"Send the solid five with the first team to the US, the other five to Taiwan."
"Five rookies to first-team camp? Roster spots..."
"What, all our first-team guys stars? Ship the meh ones to Taiwan. Give the first team some tension too."
"Understood."
By the end of wrapping-up camp, us rookies had grown a bit tighter. Shared suffering, I guess. Ten of us total. Why not eleven? We were supposed to have eleven, but one smartass skipped signing and went to college instead. Thanks to him, we were a neat ten.
A rookie group chat popped up naturally, and we'd chat about this and that during training. At first, everyone was awkward and quiet, but three weeks in, we were talking, and somehow a "let's all do our best" vibe formed.
But amid that shifting atmosphere over three weeks, rivalry sprouted too. And at the center was always Lee Tae-sin.
"Lee Tae-sin."
The pitching coach often called him out. Living up to his top-prospect hype, the guy delivered, so the coach stuck by him constantly, explaining everything. Like he wanted to pour his whole body into developing him. Fastball was sharp, control solid. How the hell did I hit that for a single...?
It happened on the last day too. The pitching coach pulled Lee Tae-sin aside, said a few words, then announced loud enough for everyone:
"You'll probably get first-team treatment from spring camp. Manage yourself right, and you'll pitch in games right away."
The air shifted instantly. I could feel the other nine faces change. Some gritted their teeth, others nodded with determined eyes. They were fired up, no doubt.
Me? My gut churned a bit. Lucky bastard.
That last afternoon, the first-team manager rounded us up.
"You all worked hard these three weeks. Time to talk next training—spring camp. Rumor has it... half the team to the US, half to Taiwan. So same for you: half to Arizona, half to Taiwan."
"Uh... which is first team, which second?"
"Obviously US for first, Taiwan for second."
Rookie catcher Yang Hyeon-jin asked, and rookie infielder Bae Ji-ho jumped in.
"Haha, nah—first and second mixed. Doesn't matter where; what counts is how hard you grind and grow. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
The rookies nodded in unison. Short answer, complicated feelings. US vs. Taiwan. No matter how he spun it, US was first-team turf, Taiwan second. Even mixed, not by much. Maybe injured first-teamers to Taiwan?
At the same time, conviction hit me. I'm not making US. The coaches' eyes had already said it. As camp dragged on, their vibe toward me shifted. Started with checking my basics one by one. Now? "Do you." No big expectations. Barely paying attention...
Especially compared to infielder No Jun-hyuk and outfielder Gwon Tae-hyeon. Third-round infielder and fourth-round outfielder. No reason to shine over me at first, but training proved otherwise.
The hitting coach called them out often.
"Good."
"Yeah, hit it like that."
Praise nonstop. Ah... right. The bat difference.
Me? I just kept grinding silently on the side. My name stopped coming up. No big reactions to my plays. Defense coach gave some nods, at least...
"Your defense is solid. Problem is, to play first team, you need early .200s. No chance, right? So what now?"
"Uh... work harder? Make defense elite?"
"Hmm... yeah... think about direction. Even must-use defense... at .100... first team only uses you for glove. Be cold and realistic about your path."
Quit bullshitting—level up the bat.
"Got it."
This vibe, this treatment? Not new. High school was the same. Shadow in the dugout under the spotlight stars, prepping silently. Tough inside, but I didn't show it. Flaunting it just makes you pitiful. Familiar enough to endure.
Didn't show with rookie buds either. Posted "good work" in the group chat like usual, laughed and chatted at dinner.
Do they know? I'm already mentally on the Taiwan crew. Erased "US" from my head. No expectations, less disappointment.
Last day, packing to leave dorms. Buds fist-bumped: "See ya spring camp."
"Send pics if US."
"Yeah~ I'm Taiwan."
"Tae-sin's US, right?"
"Yup. I'll drag four under me."
Jokes flew.
"Yeah, see you camp. Grind wherever."
I said casually to them.
"Taiwan locked—must be chill."
"Jealous bastard."
"Kinda nice being reverse Tae-sin, locked in."
Damn! These guys know too.