Chapter 21
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Pitching Rotation
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Park Jin-woong.
The second-in-command pitcher of Seomun High, overshadowed only by the unrivaled ace Shin Su-ho, but boasting high school-level dominance in sheer power.
Lately, he'd been sensing something off about the team's atmosphere.
"Hyun-jun sunbae told the Angels' chief scout yesterday..."
"Hyun-jun sunbae's routine is bench press, shoulder press, leg press in that order..."
"You gotta add arm curls too. Hyun-jun sunbae says forearms are crucial for pitchers."
"Got it."
Song Hyun-jun's name echoed everywhere on the training field.
"Hmph..."
Park Jin-woong didn't like it one bit.
So he approached one of the junior pitchers sweating it out nearby.
"Seung-hwan, what're you doing?"
"Working out."
"That's not what I mean. Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why aren't you throwing?"
Even as Park Jin-woong's expression darkened, Yoo Seung-hwan answered with casual ease.
"Gotta build power."
"Then practice pitching."
"Just chucking balls won't make your stuff any nastier. Consistent chest work like this builds a thick chest, and that's how you get overpowering velocity."
"Who said that?"
"Hyun-jun sunbae."
"Song Hyun-jun again... You actually buy that?"
Despite Jin-woong's irritated question, Seung-hwan's conviction didn't waver.
"He's already proven it with results. Why wouldn't I?"
Proven with results.
Jin-woong couldn't argue with that.
"Hyun-jun's stuff... has changed a lot, yeah."
He had to admit it.
Song Hyun-jun had boosted his top velocity from 139 km/h to the mid-148s.
In the process, his once-weak power had spiked too—spin rates up over 200 rpm—earning rave reviews from the manager and the whole team.
Pitching coach Jo Jong-hoon had gone so far as to sing his praises.
"Just do it like Hyun-jun."
Following the coach's advice, Jin-woong had even tried mimicking Hyun-jun's workouts and drills.
"Damn it, what the hell am I doing? Why am I copying Song Hyun-jun?"
That was why he'd ditched his own routine to hunt down Hyun-jun.
"Hey, where's Song Hyun-jun?"
CRACK!!!
A thunderous boom shook the indoor training facility.
Then, stark on the pitch-tracking monitor: his velocity.
"Whoa."
A short gasp escaped as he clocked the insane number.
【159.7 km/h】
Shin Su-ho's velocity had ticked up again.
If memory served, his previous peak was 159.4 km/h.
Now up 0.3 km/h, with just another 0.3 to the magic 160.
160 km/h.
A legendary mark.
He's pulling even further ahead.
"Shin Su-ho."
"What, Song Hyun-jun."
"You drink Sol's Eye too?"
"What're you on about?"
"Nothing. Hey, you heading to the States?"
The wall all high school pitchers wept over.
The nemesis every hard-thrower had to conquer.
Shin Su-ho.
The guy's aura was so intimidating, even striking up a convo felt daunting.
Still, he wasn't a total robot—he actually responded.
"The States? If you mean a majors deal, sure. America."
"You going for it?"
"Korea's fine too."
"Dodging like that, guess you don't feel like answering."
We weren't buddies or anything; no reason for him to spill his future plans to me.
I was just curious because he was such a powerhouse rival.
No way I'd snag the top rookie draft pick with him in the pool.
Plus, the pro scouts eyeing me had been acting weird.
The Angels scout especially—he seemed to pick me as a fallback after Su-ho eyed the States.
"Got it."
I turned to leave, but Su-ho tossed back an answer.
"Still thinking it over."
"...Yeah?"
"Heard Gyeongin High's Sa Seung-jun's in talks with the Dodgers."
"What? Sa Seung-jun with the Dodgers...?"
"Yeah. Got me thinking too. Couple MLB clubs have made offers."
Ahh...
So that's why the Angels scout mentioned Sa Seung-jun.
If he bolts to the majors, who becomes the top lefty high school arm right now...?
"Me!"
"Huh?"
"Kidding."
"Why the sudden grin?"
"Good news. Anyway, you saying you're going majors too, Su-ho?"
I switched topics fast, but the smile stuck on my face.
Lefties are rare.
Hard-throwing lefties? Even rarer.
Even with my velocity jump, I'd been pessimistic about first-round status because of Sa Seung-jun.
But if he's majors-bound?
Huge opening for me.
Any club needing a lefty starter comes knocking first.
"Heh heh heh. Hope our Seung-jun kills it in America."
I grinned, then frowned at a sudden realization.
Angels scout.
He knew this and still tried lowballing me at third round, 100 million won?
Nope, not happening.
My already sour view of that Angels scout meeting just auto-upgraded to disaster.
"Angels are off the table for now..."
"What? They scouted you too, Hyun-jun?"
"Kinda."
"Hmph..."
"Heard Angels manager Jang Sung-hwan visited you personally, Su-ho?"
"How'd you know that?"
"Overheard. True?"
"Yeah, but... not feeling Angels."
Somehow I was counseling Su-ho on his career now.
The guy always felt distant despite being same year—total pro vibes.
But frowning over his future with that handsome face? Peak high schooler.
Shin Su-ho's got a cute side. No wonder fans obsess.
Elite talent, killer physique, looks, and charm. Guy's got it all.
Damn world.
"This region's priority draft first pick is Angels, right? High schoolers like us don't get choices. 'Choice' means skipping pro for college league, or..."
He trailed off.
The revived 'High School Regional Affiliation Priority Draft'—aka first-round pick, regional loyalty rule—from a few years back.
Before the national rookie draft, teams could claim local prospects first.
Capital region's first dibs: Angels.
No way they pass on Su-ho.
But the pick himself wasn't into Angels?
"Shin Su-ho, you're majors-bound!"
Big news.
Top high school prizes Shin Su-ho and Sa Seung-jun both to MLB!
My 100-million-won tag? About to skyrocket.
High school value's all relative.
Before Phoenix Cup finale, bump velocity just 1-2 km/h more?
300 million contract gold easy.
So please, Su-ho, go majors.
Your move pumps my stock.
Su-ho's response to my silent plea:
"Still deciding. Cubs offered big—kinda tempting."
"Chicago Cubs? How much?"
"Just over 2 million bucks."
"What?! That's all-time record territory."
"Money's not everything."
Zen monk bullshit.
If not cash, what? Contract value's the ultimate measure.
"Listen up, Shin Su-ho! Money matters!"
No, wait—that's not it. Baseball matters. My baseball.
For my sake, hit the MLB.
I geared up to sell him on it.
"What's this? Song Hyun-jun, Shin Su-ho. Why're you two hanging?"
Park Jin-woong barged in.
Eyes on us standing close, his face turned grave.
"Don't."
"Don't what outta nowhere? What's his deal?"
"You two, don't get chummy!"
"The hell?"
Park Jin-woong bee-lined for me, pulling some inexplicable stunt.
"Hey, Song Hyun-jun. Teach me the forkball grip."
"Forkball? Now?"
"Yeah. Right now. And I got private business with you, so let's move spots first."
Looked ready to grab my hand if I stalled.
"Hmph..."
Su-ho crossed his arms, stepping back from our weirdness.
Hey, no—Park's the weirdo. I'm normal. Don't get it twisted.
Then—
"Everyone's here."
"Ah, Manager!"
The awkward tension dissolved with the manager's arrival.
"Got news on Blue Dragon Cup schedule. Shin Su-ho, Park Jin-woong, Song Hyun-jun—you three, my office."
"Yes, sir!"
At the manager's call, we three pitchers filed into his office.
"...Yeah."
Sitting side-by-side before him, the vibe between us was stiff.
Manager, oblivious, cut straight to it.
"Per KBSA rules from two years back, Blue Dragon Cup mains: no pitcher over 95 pitches can re-ascend within four days. Youth protection."
"Pardon?"
"Seomun High's slate's set. Win quarterfinals, semis, finals—games on the 10th, 12th, 14th—and we're champs. But a starter hitting 95 on the 10th can't pitch semis or finals on 12th/14th. Rules."
We straightened up at his words.
Rotation incoming.
Fully locked in, we awaited.
"So, you three rotate the last three starts."
Gulp.
Swallowed hard.
Per manager, each of us locked one start left in Blue Dragon Cup.
Sweet. Make it a big one...
"Next game starter: Park Jin-woong, vs. Yushin High."
"Ah...!"
"Semis: Song Hyun-jun. Finals: Shin Su-ho. Non-starts: bullpen duty all. Dismissed. Questions?"
"None!"
"Alright, prep."
Blue Dragon Cup rotation locked swift.
Click.
Office door shut behind us, silence hung between the trio.
This basically stamped me above Park Jin-woong in the manager's eyes.
Finals Su-ho, semis me, quarters Jin-woong—Seomun High's pitching pecking order.
"..."
Worried by Park Jin-woong's tight-lipped stare, I asked.
"Park Jin-woong, you... said you had something to tell me earlier?"
Expected meltdown, but he flashed a grin instead.
What's with him?
"Heh, I'm the next starter. What would I need to tell you?"
"Huh?"
"Win quarters, semis exist. Makes me more vital than you, Song Hyun-jun."
"That's twisted logic."
"I'm right."
Mental gymnastics at pro level.
His headspace felt off, but illusion, right?
Should I check him?
"See you game time."
No time—Jin-woong vanished to the field.
"Entrusting our quarters fate to that guy..."
Worrying.
Suddenly Su-ho cracked up watching us.
"Hahaha!"
"What?"
"Nothing. Your line, the situation—just funny."
Grinning mysteriously, Su-ho headed back to pitching practice.
"Blue Dragon Cup... we can win it, right?"
My high school resume's thin; need that trophy.
Boosts rookie draft stock months from now.
"It'll work out. Skip the worry—grab another bowl of soup, hit training."
Anxious, but quarters day vs. Yushin High: Park Jin-woong dominated the mound.
CRACK!!!
His pitch filled Mokdong Stadium.
"Whoa...!"
Then stunned the crowd with velocity.
【151.4 km/h】
Su-ho followed by Jin-woong—another upgrade.
Seomun High Blue Dragon Cup title hopes lit green. I nodded deep.
"My turn next?"
Once more, start looming.