Chapter 17
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Blue Dragon Cup Debut
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Blue Dragon Cup.
A high school league tournament where every game felt like the finals—the ultimate stage.
In their first game, Hyun-jun took the mound as the starting pitcher, and the battery with Deok-gu led Seomun High to a perfect victory.
Seomun High Crushes Bucheon High 8-0! Advances to Round 2
Round 2 Opponent: Powerhouse Cheongju High
These were the headlines stirring up a bit of buzz in the local community.
7 Innings, 12K, Scoreless Gem
Seomun High Winning Pitcher: Southpaw Song Hyun-jun
Not the team's star, Shin Su-ho, but Hyun-jun's name was prominently featured in the articles. Before this result, there had been plenty of grumbling within Seomun High.
"Song Hyun-jun as the starter...?"
"Not Su-ho sunbae? Wait, why?"
"Every game in the Blue Dragon Cup is crucial. What if Hyun-jun sunbae makes a mistake? Why would the Manager make this call?"
Whispers about the Manager's decision to start Hyun-jun.
And when the starting catcher was switched to Deok-gu as well, the players' unease grew.
"Okay, starting pitcher, fine. But pulling Shim Chae-geun sunbae from catcher?!"
"Is this... really okay?"
"What the hell is the Manager thinking?"
Before the game, the Seomun High team was rattled. Sensing this, Coach Jo Jong-hoon approached the Manager cautiously.
"Manager, you think it'll be alright?"
"What?"
"Putting Song Hyun-jun and Lee Deok-gu as the starting battery instead of Shin Su-ho and Shim Chae-geun."
"Why not?"
"The players are getting antsy."
Manager Lee Min-han smirked at Coach Jo's words.
"The rookie draft is two months away. After that, Su-ho won't be our team's pitcher anymore. He'll head to a pro team or even MLB, just like Ki-gwang did last year."
"Manager..."
"Coach Jo, just between us."
"Yes?"
"Can a pitcher like Shin Su-ho really be trained? Did you turn him into that monster?"
"Well, that's..."
"If you rely on one genius to win games and tournaments, what then? What happens to the team after Su-ho leaves? Last year we had Su-ho in second year, but who do we have now?"
"Hmm..."
Coach Jo had no answer.
"Nationwide No. 1 Shin Su-ho, Park Jin-woong who just hit 150 km/h, and Song Hyun-jun. What's common? They're all third-years. When they all graduate, are we done with baseball?"
Manager Lee was firm.
"Is baseball about entrusting everything to one genius and winning?"
"M-Manager."
"What do the first- and second-years learn from that? If the Manager just puts a genius like Su-ho on the mound every game for an easy win, the other players think, 'If you're not Su-ho level, no point in playing. Even someone like Song Hyun-jun won't get a shot no matter how hard they try.'"
"..."
"Geniuses like Su-ho are rare. Most grow through effort, like Hyun-jun, Deok-gu, or Jin-woong. That's sports. That's baseball."
Hyun-jun, Deok-gu, and even Park Jin-woong.
The Manager pictured his young players one by one and smiled faintly.
"I want our kids to learn from the baseball Hyun-jun and Deok-gu play while they're still young. That's the right way."
"...Yes."
"We coaches teach players baseball you challenge through effort, not just talent. That's why I made Song Hyun-jun the starter for the first game."
Coach Jo bowed his head slowly.
"Understood. I'll explain it to the players so they settle down."
"Good."
The Manager's decision to start Hyun-jun today.
Behind it was a baseball philosophy aimed at proper growth for the players.
"I want our players to play Song Hyun-jun's baseball, not Shin Su-ho's."
"Yes."
Coach Jo nodded with a smile. Seeing it, the Manager smiled too.
"And... did Bucheon High's Manager prepare for Song Hyun-jun?"
"Pardon?"
"Put yourself in Bucheon High's Manager shoes. Would they prep for anyone but Su-ho?"
"...I'd drill Su-ho completely. That's the logical choice."
"Exactly. I'd spend all prep time on Su-ho strategies too."
"No way... Manager?"
Now grasping the intent, Coach Jo looked at him. The Manager replied with a mischievous grin.
"A lefty starter they haven't prepped for at all? Suddenly hurling 146+ km/h fastballs with breaking pitches shredding their lineup—what can the opposing Manager do?"
"Right!"
"Deok-gu's the same. Using power hitter Chae-geun as DH boosts offense too."
For this call, the Manager analyzed every player on his team for weeks.
He also scrutinized Bucheon High thoroughly.
The result: starting Song Hyun-jun.
"We're winning today!"
The game began with the Manager's conviction.
As predicted, Bucheon High's Manager froze seeing Seomun's lineup.
"Starter's... not Shin Su-ho?"
He'd assumed Seomun's ace was Su-ho.
No other options mattered.
With a pitcher like Su-ho, why consider alternatives?
"I'd go Su-ho all the way!"
So he'd trained his batters strictly on Su-ho's style.
Even adjusted swings for Su-ho's velocity.
But then...
"...Song Hyun-jun?"
He'd been had.
And a lefty to boot.
Bucheon batters' weakness: southpaws.
Seomun's Manager exploited it perfectly.
"He's a nobody, though... Our guys can handle him, right?"
No data on Hyun-jun, plus relief at no Su-ho led to complacency.
The result was disastrous.
"Swing! Strike three!"
"Strike! Batter out!"
Strikeout calls rang out nonstop. Bucheon High's Manager was dazed the whole game.
"Seomun's Manager Lee Min-han played it smart."
In the stands.
Devils scout Seo Ji-hoon and chief scout Cha Seong-won watched.
Crack!
"Out!"
Hyun-jun on the mound, syncing perfectly with Deok-gu, carving up Bucheon batters.
"Song Hyun-jun fights like you said, Seo."
Cha was impressed by Hyun-jun's pitching.
Strikeouts when needed, groundouts otherwise.
Even rare jams handled coolly.
Especially his fastballs exceeded expectations.
Crack!!!
Hyun-jun's unique delivery easily topping 146 km/h.
Curve, fork, changeup mixes fooled Bucheon hitters.
"Impressive. Report said early-mid 140s, but he's hitting 146.4."
"Faster since the form tweak."
"Yeah, that delivery's got flair... Good breaking ball command too. Hmm..."
Cha was hooked on Hyun-jun's pitching.
Like a pro dismantling middle schoolers, Hyun-jun's mature game was the highlight.
Crack!
"Out!"
Tick!
"Ouuut!"
Out counts climbed fast.
The game flowed crisply.
"Could've struck him out, but induced the grounder instead."
"Better for pitchers to get outs that way."
"Right. 81 pitches minimum for all Ks, but 27 for groundouts."
"Smart pitcher."
Cha nodded at Seo's words.
"Seeing him live hits different."
"Some players don't fit on paper."
Song Hyun-jun.
Beyond the reports, certainty.
Watching him, Cha felt what Seo had: conviction.
"No anxiety here."
As Cha marveled,
Hyun-jun focused solely on his pitching.
"Bucheon cleanup, big swing, quick bat. Hunting bombs. Breaking ball, Deok-gu."
"Yeah. Curve or changeup—breaking stuff for the K."
"Curve it is."
"Got it."
First official sync-up, but breathing room with Deok-gu was spot-on.
I could unleash my strengths as a pitcher.
Whoosh!
Outside curve draws the whiff.
"Swing! Strike one!"
Inside changeup makes him flinch.
"Ball."
Inside fastball grabs the count.
"Strike two!"
1-2 in a flash.
No time to think—I fired the finisher.
Good count, no nibble.
Straight heat.
Crack!
"...Strike! Batter out!"
Late call, but the ump called the razor-edge curve a strike.
"...Ah!"
Hitter winced—perfect spot.
Inside-out, high-low.
As planned with Deok-gu: four zones to nine, sixteen by reaction.
Thwack!
"Swing, strike three!"
Tension gone after first inning, I teased the zone half-ball, whiffing Bucheon hitters.
Even drew praise from foes.
"Fuck, command like that? How we supposed to hit?!"
Bucheon cleanup slamming his bat in rage.
I wasn't satisfied yet.
"Nice! Great D!"
"Yessir!"
"Good work! Keep it up!"
Occasional flies or grounders fielded cleanly.
I cheered them wildly, firing up the team.
Baseball's a team sport.
Result: 8-0 shutout.
First start in ages—did right?
Rave reviews say yes.
In the 8th, Su-ho relieving tossed me an impression line before game end.
"Song Hyun-jun."
"Yeah."
"Good game today."
"Huh?"
We barely talked usually.
Fierce rivals.
Su-ho's sudden praise widened my eyes; he chuckled.
"Watched close."
What?
Su-ho compliments people...?
A swelling thrill filled my chest.
Feels good?
Seconds later, Park Jin-woong crashed the vibe, but hey—praise from Su-ho, I'm rising.
"Hey, Song Hyun-jun. I could do that."
"Sure you could."
"For real!"
"Yeah yeah."
Normally I'd tease more, but now? Jin-woong irrelevant.
Post-game rewards mattered.
Winning Pitcher Achieved!
Settling victory rewards.
→ High school league penalty applied.
→ Additional reward for major tournament appearance.
→ High victory contribution: extra reward.
Blue Dragon Cup start bumps the rewards?
Wonder how much.
D-grade velocity potion needs big points.
My anticipation turned to joy.
→ Starting pitcher winning bonus
→ Quality start bonus
→ 7+ innings scoreless bonus
→ 10+ K bonus
→ Three straight perfect innings bonus
I nodded at the scrolling list.
I did all that. Sniff.
Rewards are huge?
More surprises.
Received recognition from Devils Scout Team.
"What? Not just Seo scout, but Devils Scout Team?"
Higher-up recognition?
Before finishing the thought...
Received recognition from Angels Scout Team.
"Huh?"
Received recognition from Unicorns Scout Team.
Received recognition from Fighters Scout Team.
400P awarded.
Messages piled up; hard to keep a straight face.
One Blue Dragon Cup game flips my life...?
Suppressing the grin, checked points.
Held Points: 2,200P
Blasted past 2,000 in one go.
Worlds away from bullpen sneaking pitches.
Stepping up as starter changed everything.
On the mound, I finally found my place.
"Yeah, starters from now on!"
Conviction set,
Blue Dragon Cup schedule raced to the next round.