Center Field Call-Up
As time passed after the away team's players finished their warm-ups, the stands began filling up with fans. Whoa... it really fills up like this...
I was momentarily stunned. Even though it was Seoul's Gocheok Dome, the Gocheok Turkeys fans only filled about a third of the seats. The remaining two-thirds were packed with Gwangju Pigeons fans in their bright red uniforms. The cheers pouring from the away section were already overwhelming before the game even started. Is this really our home stadium? I'd talked about it with Lee Tae-sin already, but seeing the stands completely full made it hit home for real.
"Hey, rookie, you scared?"
Seeing me overwhelmed by the atmosphere in the stands, Lee Sang-hyeon, the starting outfielder, walked over.
"Pardon? Ah... yeah, a little? I didn't expect the fans to outnumber us even at our home park like this..."
"It's always like this. Especially with Gwangju Pigeons—they're a provincial team, but they've got a nationwide fanbase. Early in the season or when the team's hot, they bring that energy everywhere. You only see it die down a bit at other popular provincial parks. Realistically, Seoul teams never get the edge from fan momentum against the Pigeons."
"I see..."
"But sports is ultimately a game of skill. Last year, we barely lost to them at home."
Lee Sang-hyeon's words instantly washed away the feeling of being overpowered. Whoa... this is why experienced players are so valuable.
"Anyway, now that you're up here, watch and learn."
"Yes, sir."
The opening ceremony kicked off soon after, with the ceremonial pitcher taking the mound and firing a pitch to hype up the crowd. Flashes popped, fans roared and shook the stadium, and the national anthem rang out, signaling the start of the game.
"Whew..."
As the anthem ended, I felt my heart racing for no good reason. I was just a defensive sub who might or might not play today, but the atmosphere alone was enough to tense me up. My first major league game as a pro. I hadn't expected this moment to come so soon, but it was plenty to get my blood pumping.
Then the starting pitchers took the mound. As expected, both teams went with their foreign aces. The media had predicted a pitchers' duel beforehand, and from the first inning, that forecast proved spot on.
The Pigeons' starter fired sharp sliders that shut down the Turkeys' lineup early. Most batters whiffed on them, racking up strikeouts. The Turkeys' starter, meanwhile, held firm against the Pigeons' power hitters. Bats couldn't touch him—any weak contact turned into grounders or fouls.
The game settled into a tense pitchers' duel, neither side yielding an inch.
Top of the 7th. It was still locked at 0-0. The pitchers' duel had dragged on with no real threats, making for a frustrating flow.
How's this game gonna end...?
"That slider's got insane break."
"Velocity's solid too..."
"The deception makes it tough to pick up early..."
As the game progressed, the Turkeys hitters swapped notes on the opposing pitcher's stuff from the dugout, but there weren't many success stories to share. Still, both starters had to be tiring now. I hoped for a shift this inning—and that's when it happened.
The Pigeons' cleanup hitter stepped up. Cheers swelled even louder for their star slugger. The Turkeys starter gathered himself and unleashed a fastball, but it caught the sweet spot of the bat. Crack! The ball rocketed off toward deep center.
Center fielder Kim Seok-hyeon turned and gave chase immediately. Using his speed, he pursued it to the wall, then launched himself in a spectacular leap to snag it.
Thud! Pop!
The crowd buzzed, then erupted in applause. What a play. But the trouble came right after.
"Nngh..."
Kim Seok-hyeon had slammed hard into the fence. The impact dropped him to the ground, and he couldn't get up. Tension gripped the dugout and stands alike.
"What are you waiting for? Go check on him!"
At the manager's order, the trainer rushed out. Lee Sang-hyeon, now in right, hurried over with a worried look to check on him. Kim Seok-hyeon showed the ball to the umpire for the out call, still gripping it tight, but his body gave out. The trainer signaled for a sub.
"Whew..."
Kim Young-ho, watching from the dugout, let out a deep sigh. An injury to key personnel right at the season's start pissed him off. But he couldn't show it. The game was only top 7—three innings left. He coolly assessed, exchanged a glance with the chief coach, and nodded.
"We have to sub. Send in the replacement."
The chief coach whipped around toward the dugout.
"Kim Hu-seong! Get ready!"
Me? Oh! Right, me! Outfield backup!
I shot up from my seat the second I heard my name.
"Got it!"
My heart pounded like crazy. I hadn't expected it this soon, but my turn had come at last. I strapped on my glove tight, adjusted my cap. Tried to steady my breathing, but no dice. My whole body shook, tension buzzing to my fingertips. The moment I'd only imagined was now real.
Murmurs rippled through the stands as I jogged out.
"Who's that guy?"
"No idea?"
"Never seen him..."
Yeah... still a rookie. That's it? Plus, I hadn't played in the exhibitions, so most fans wouldn't know me. Unless you're a headliner like Lee Tae-sin, fans don't pay attention to subs like me.
The trot to center felt endless. Kim Seok-hyeon limped off with the trainer's help, and I hustled to fill his spot.
But... time to step up. I can do this.
Finally, I took my position in center. The pitcher returned to the mound as I settled in. I regulated my breath, raised my glove.
Alright. Here we go. Let's do this.
And just like that, I took my first steps on the pro major league stage—in front of tens of thousands of fans, as center fielder.
Meanwhile, Kim Se-rin was at Gocheok Dome. The Pigeons had a game in Seoul, so no long trip—plenty of time to spare. In the prep room with the other cheerleaders, she got her uniform on, did makeup, and scouted the away cheering section route.
"Woooah, cheerleaders!"
"Who's that blonde? She's gorgeous."
"That's Kim Se-rin the cheerleader."
She could already hear voices recognizing her.
Whew. Keep it cool...
Seasoned pro that she was, Kim Se-rin stayed composed and stuck to the schedule.
"Choi! Kang! Pi! Geons!"
As the game started, the Pigeons cheer squad jumped right into cheers at the fan section. True to their nationwide fandom, they filled more than half the stands, their roar dwarfing the home Turkeys cheers by miles. Kim Se-rin and the crew led the chants, jumping high, syncing dances, firing up the fight songs. The early vibe was electric—fans belting anthems, drums and horns pumping the heat.
But as the pitchers' duel dragged unexpectedly, the energy dipped subtly.
Haa... tough one today.
Cheering thrives on fan reactions. No runs meant cheers fell into rote patterns, cooling fast without hits or homers.
Time ticked to top 7. The Pigeons' star cleanup ripped a deep fly, and the stadium buzzed.
"Wooooaaah!"
"Is it gone? Gone?!"
Chaos erupted around her.
"Ah..."
"Haa..."
But center snagged it with a dive. Sighs swept the crowd. Then the fence crash hushed everyone. Injury confirmed, play stopped. Cheerleaders paused, sat, caught their breath.
That's when the jumbotron lit up with the sub announcement.
Center Fielder Substitution
Kim Hu-seong
Kim Se-rin's eyes widened instantly.
"Kim Hu-seong?"
The familiar name sparked something. She murmured to herself, digging through memories. She'd heard it before. Then it hit—months ago. She glanced at the field, and there was that silhouette. Far away, but unmistakable: the guy she'd run with in the park.
He's really made it to the majors?
Not a big name yet—no one paid him much mind—but Kim Se-rin couldn't help staring at him in surprise.