First Hit and the Beverage Rule
A bit bittersweet, but even though the game wasn't over yet, the atmosphere in the Gocheok Turkeys dugout had already lightened up considerably. It was because my stolen base had finally gotten a runner to second, putting them in position to score the go-ahead run.
Runner on second. At the plate: leadoff hitter Kim Han-seong.
Kim Han-seong. He was the big star shortstop for the Gocheok Turkeys, following in the footsteps of Kim Ho-seong who went to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kim Hyeon-seong to the San Diego Padres. He'd already notched a hit today.
"Should we keep trusting Thompson... What do you think is the best move?"
"It'd be a good time to make a change."
The Gwangju Pigeons dugout quickly exchanged opinions.
"But his pitching hasn't been that bad so far..."
"True. It's not like Thompson was bad; the guy's just fast and caught us off guard. Tough call."
The Gwangju Pigeons manager decided to stick with the current plan. And that choice turned out to be the worst one.
Crack!
A clean hit echoed through the stadium. He'd thrown outside, but the ball tailed back toward the middle just enough to drop in front of the left fielder.
"Run! Keep running!"
The third base coach's arm kept circling, and I bolted straight for home like a madman.
Left fielder throws home!
Thwack!
But Kim Hu-seong beats it out!
I slid in safe without much trouble.
"Nice!"
The moment I crossed the plate, No. 2 hitter Hong Yu-chan hyung, who was prepping for his at-bat, flashed a big grin and raised his hand. I slapped it with a solid high-five and headed back to the dugout.
As I entered, the players formed a human tunnel for me.
"What're you waiting for? Get in here."
That meant go for it, right? I dove into the tunnel.
Whap! Thud! Smack! Pow!
"Good job."
"Nice one."
"Hurts, doesn't it? Tough it out!"
Back in the dugout, the first-team guys pounded my back. Sure, I'd been a bit intimidated as a rookie tagged with the 11th-round label, but in that moment, it all melted away.
Ah... my back feels wrecked.
An insane wave of pain hit me, but it didn't feel half bad.
"Hey, quit whining and take this."
Son Tae-ho hyung approached with those words. He was today's cleanup designated hitter and the first-team captain.
But what was this about all of a sudden? In his hand was a ball and a cold bottle of a sports drink.
A ball? A drink?
"Congrats. This is the ball from your first pro hit."
Oh! Right!
My first hit in the pros. He'd brought it for me.
Hearing that, my mind went blank for a second.
"Ah... uh! Thank you."
The ball made sense. But the drink?
Reading my face, Son Tae-ho hyung grinned.
"Oh, you don't know, huh?"
He patted my shoulder and led me toward the locker room.
My head was full of question marks. What didn't I know?
But hyung just smirked and kept walking without answering.
Once inside the locker room, there was a notice posted that I hadn't seen on my first day.
"There. See that?"
Son Tae-ho hyung gestured for me to look.
Gocheok Turkeys Beverage Rule
Players, due to the club's current financial situation, we're implementing restrictions on drinks. It's embarrassing, but please help conserve and support the team's budget.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
A rule? For pro players drinking in the dugout?
Reading further, it was utterly ridiculous.
[Single: one sip]
[Sacrifice: full capful]
[Double: two sips]
[Triple: three sips]
[Home run: one full bottle]
I burst out laughing in disbelief.
What the hell was this bullshit rule? Even mid-game drinks on a performance basis?
"Hyu... hyung? Aren't we a pro team? We're the players... can't we at least drink freely?"
Son Tae-ho hyung nodded like it was the most obvious thing.
"Yeah! Our club's broke as hell. Thirsty? Drink water from the purifier over there. Lee Sang-hyeon should've told you rookies all about it."
Ah... that? He hadn't mentioned it this extreme.
I'd never imagined the first team was like this.
"Then... what about the second team? Same there...?"
"During games, tap water. So guys bring their own bottled water."
Insane. If I'd stayed there, I'd have been chugging tap water.
Come to think of it, everyone had their own bottles...
I'd ended up doing the same without realizing.
"But... hyung, why a whole bottle for me? The rule says only home runs get a full one."
He looked me straight in the eye for a moment, then smiled.
"You're a rookie. But today you got your first hit, stole a base successfully, and used those quick feet to score. That's worth a full bottle. Normally it's home runs only, but you just created a big opportunity, so we're cutting you some slack."
Ahh... got it.
"Gotta get back—my at-bat's coming up. Anyway, good work."
Whiff! Thud! Pop!
Strike three! Oh Seung-min grabs the final out!
The Gocheok Turkeys snag the win in their opener!
The moment the final out was recorded in the top of the ninth, Gocheok Dome erupted in deafening cheers.
Closer Oh Seung-min had finished it off with a clean strikeout.
In the end, the Gocheok Turkeys claimed a valuable victory over the Gwangju Pigeons, who continued their poor record against us from the previous season.
There were plenty of jubilant players, but I was quietly packing my gear in one corner of the dugout.
As a rookie, the spotlight naturally didn't come my way.
Game MVP went to starter Spencer for his dominant eight innings, and Player of the Game was Kim Han-seong for the game-winning hit from the next ace.
The two took turns in front of the cameras for interviews.
I just watched enviously from afar.
Standing there someday was my dream, but it felt so far off.
What could I do? That was reality.
I slowly packed my stuff to head home.
Glove sorted, spikes in the bag. As I headed to the locker room for the rest, someone called my name from behind.
"Kim Hu-seong."
Turning, I saw the first-team manager.
I jumped and bowed quickly.
"Yes, Manager."
He smiled and patted my shoulder.
"Congrats. You did great today. You might stick around the first team a bit longer."
"Really?"
"Yeah. But that's not why I called. Where's your place again?"
"Mapo area."
He nodded and asked again.
"Got a car by any chance?"
I hesitated, then answered honestly.
"Yes. Drove it from Goyang."
He grinned.
"Nice. Then no need for the dorm while you're with the first team. Commute from home if you want. Whatever's easiest."
"Huh? Is that okay?"
He patted my shoulder lightly again.
"Sure. Our club's big downside is no rookie dorm near the first-team stadium. Pretty inadequate. Other teams at least provide rooms."
True. Others usually had rookie dorms near the first-team park, with buses to second-team games. Some even had separate second-team dorms. Ours was different—we basically used the second-team dorm as rookie housing, and once you had seniority, you found your own place in Seoul.
What about veteran second-teamers? Most didn't stick around.
Kind of felt like they pushed players out.
"But hey, more freedom. Go home tonight and brag all you want. Your family's gonna be thrilled."
"Got it."
I headed straight home, and my parents greeted me.
"Son's home?"
"How'd you get here?"
"The club said first-team guys with homes in Seoul can commute. Crashing here tonight."
"Ohhh?"
They were a bit surprised but obviously happy.
"Son, watched the game. Good call tuning in—you came right up."
"First hit and a steal? Bet you got tons of praise."
"Yeah... something like that. Food around? Kinda hungry."
"Just finished the game, huh?"
Another stingy thing about our club. Most provided post-game meals, but ours was too broke for that.
Better to come home anyway. Home cooking hit different.
Eating Mom's food, a bittersweet feeling washed over me again.
"Ah! Gonna jog a few laps around the neighborhood real quick."
I stood after finishing.
"Again? Right after a game?"
"Too much training lately—feels itchy if I don't move."
On one hand, it was bittersweet. The club's poor setup kept nagging at me. Rookies should live with the first team to adjust, but no dorm meant fend for yourself.
On the other, the freedom was a relief. At least I had a place in Seoul.
Out-of-town rookies would struggle.
Lost in those gloomy thoughts as I walked, a familiar voice called out after ages.
"Huh? Kim Hu-seong?"
Huh? Turning, I spotted a woman in a cap pulled low, dragging a suitcase.
Thump thump.
"That's you, right?! What gives? My team's the one that lost, so why's the star of the game looking all mopey?"
Platinum blonde, pretty eyes. It was cheerleader Kim Se-rin.