“Huff! Five More! Just Five More!”

“Huff!”

“Five more! Just five more, Tae-woong. Hang in there a bit longer!”

“Ugh, you really mean just five more, right, Coach? I’m dying here. I feel like I’m gonna drop dead.”

“If you die, I’ll bring you back to life, so let’s just do it. Come on, one more!”

Argh… I’d almost rather it be game day.

Tae-woong, who had unpacked in a hotel in Incheon—the away team’s lodgings—was sweating bullets as he powered through his packed schedule.

There was one big misconception people had: starting pitchers didn’t just lounge around or rest during the days they weren’t pitching. Sure, they might squeeze in some downtime when there was a gap, but Tae-woong was a fresh rookie. That meant he stuck strictly to the team’s assigned itinerary.

The day after a start began with him checking his body’s condition and reporting any issues to the training coach and pitching coach. Then came analysis time with the performance analysis team and data crew—breaking down his previous outing, how the hitters handled him, areas for improvement, and plans for the next game.

After that, an hour or two for meals and rest. Once that was done, he worked out to loosen up the muscles strained from throwing around 100 pitches: light stretching, running, and personalized exercises to ease the fatigue and check for any pain or tweaks.

When game time rolled around, he’d glove up in front of the dugout, ready to shield against any foul balls flying their way. It was to protect his bullpen-pitching teammates—a job called “keeper.”

On day two, he started ramping up for the next start: fifteen to twenty reps of 200-300m sprints (adjusted for stamina) to loosen the legs, plus weight training with the coach ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to rebuild strength lost in the game.

Day three: bullpen sessions and long toss to regain pitching feel, more running, light weights, and stamina management. Some pitchers even did light runs and catch on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠day before their start to stay loose.

Of course, I don’t go that far. It just saps my energy. Better to bulk up with weights in that time—it’s more efficient…

Today was day two after Tae-woong’s start, and he was wrapping up training with the coach.

“Finally dooone! Great work, Coach! I’ll handle cleanup.”

“You too, Tae-woong. Good job. Oh, and add an extra two pieces of chicken breast to dinner. See ya.”

“Got it, Coach! Thanks! Rest up!”

Running, weights, stretching—he’d nailed every task on today’s docket. Tae-woong pulled out his phone to check his next start.

“Next up… oh, heading home finally. Bears, huh? So who’s my matchup?”

All KBO teams ran a basic five-man rotation. More starters meant better stamina management, and stronger stamina led to better stuff on the mound—common knowledge. With six games a week, a six-man rotation (where you pitch once weekly) sounded ideal over the five-man (where Tuesday starters went again Sunday).

But KBO reality begged to differ. Pitching shortages meant even rotating five established guys reliably was a stretch. In the 2018 season—the current one—the resource crunch was still very real.

Tigers had lefty ace Yang Hyun-jung; Wyverns had Kim Kang-hyun. The other eight teams slotted foreigners as 1-2 starters, locals grabbing 3-4, and the 5-spot as a lab for new blood.

Starters went every five days, so with no Monday games, it was basically once a week (minus the Tuesday guy sometimes doubling up Sunday—not every week).

Of course, the Tuesday starter in any given week might go again Sunday… but not weekly.

Tae-woong’s last start: March 25, Sunday, as the 2-starter. Next up, per rotation with an extra rest day: March 31, Saturday, at Jamsil against the Bears.

“Bears… Their rotation’s still straight order, so… 1: Lindbral… 2: Harencopf… 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3…”

As Tae-woong folded and unfolded fingers, Ace cut in, watching with an exasperated look.

Tae-woong flinched.

“Y-yeah… as expected from the AI system! Quick math, huh? You knew I was holding back, right?”

He wasn’t about to look dumb in front of Ace.

Tae-woong pretended not to hear.

“Woo Hee-gang! Perfect chance to show who’s the real master of slowball artistry. Time to shine for real. Bring it on! I’ll sweep ‘em with my heat!”

“What’d you say? Didn’t catch that.”

“Anyway, no worries. Prep’s done—let’s hit the dugout. Game’s starting soon. Gotta do my part.”

Tae-woong grabbed his glove from his bag and headed out with Ace. Today, he wasn’t starting—he was keeper duty, guarding the mound crew.

Crack!

“I got it! I got—”

Whoosh.

“Huh…?”

“Think we’re busted?”

“How do they even spot it?”

“You think I’m an idiot?”

“Shut it.”

Wiz swept the opening two-game set and rode the early “momentum.” Back home at Wiz Park for a three-game stand vs. Wyverns: Gu Young-pyo and Kwon Min-cheol dominated for two wins, dropping the finale but snagging the series.

After Gwangju and Incheon roadies, 2018 home opener at Wiz Park. Foes: Bears, 5-0 out the gate with balanced arms and bats.

Wiz ace Fairband vs. Bears’ new ace Lindbral (ex-Giants): both dealing, scoreless to the 8th.

0-0 to the 9th—extras.

Then, 10th top: Wiz loads bases with one out (1st/2nd, one out). Cleanup hitter Yoon Sung-min up.

Crack!

Yoon’s two-run double: game-winner.

With the win, Wiz went 5-1 in six. Tied Bears at the top.

Post-game, maknae Tae-woong tidied with Baek-ho and hit the dorms, then dove into Bears data with Ace.

“This guy?”

“Weak low-inside. Hammer that?”

“…”

Tae-woong paused, then asked another.

“Tomorrow, fastball-heavy? Bears crush velocity.”

“You psycho, then what’s easy?”

Tomorrow: Tae-woong’s second start. With Ace’s new mission.

“Dude! Just say you didn’t wanna give full rewards from the jump. 10’s hard enough—20 straight groundouts? How?!”