The Second Half Begins: Endurance Battle Ignites
The start of the second-half weekend league marked the true onset of an endurance test for high school baseball players. It was the time of year when the weather truly began to heat up. Playing under the scorching sun drained your strength just from standing there.
Regardless of the reasons, the starting lineup showed no major changes ahead of the second half. However, there were shifts within the lineup related to player nominations.
June 27th. If Lee Ho-seok was picked in the first round, it would leave a massive gap in North Myeong High's batting order. Of course, every high school team with a first-round prospect, including Gyeong-sang High, would face a similar imbalance. Speculation was rife that the upcoming Blue Dragon Tournament might see some unexpected upsets because of it.
In any case, North Myeong High's lineup was heading into the Blue Dragon Tournament with a glaring hole.
The silver lining was Park Chang-sik, a first-year who was already making his mark despite his inexperience. He couldn't fully fill Lee Ho-seok's shoes, but it minimized the damage—a huge relief.
While the batting side fretted over Lee Ho-seok's absence, the pitching staff saw positive developments. Namely, Yoo Min-hoo's emergence.
Stepping up in place of Kim Ji-seok, who had suffered a fingernail injury in the final game of the Golden Lion Tournament, Yoo Min-hoo had taken the mound. Though his velocity was low, his array of breaking balls had kept the game against Gyeong-sang High from collapsing entirely. Even without prior intel on him, holding off their powerhouse lineup was no small feat.
His raw power hadn't spiked yet, but as his delivery form settled in, his command sharpened bit by bit. Control alone was a devastating weapon.
Finding pitchers with elite command among high school baseball's top arms was surprisingly tough. The reason was simple: in high school ball, overpowering velocity was often enough.
Take Jeju High's Lee Soo-min, who burst onto the scene like a comet this year—even he wasn't known for pinpoint control. But his monstrous speed and movement made it hell for high school hitters to square up even poorly located pitches. In the pros? Forget it. Professional hitters were leagues ahead in skill and physicality.
Look at the minors: pitchers touching 100 mph who couldn't escape Double-A? Nine times out of ten, it was command issues. Beyond that, mastering both velocity and control at a young age was just brutally hard. If you could, you'd be an instant pro contributor.
Anyway, Yoo Min-hoo's rise gave the pitching staff some breathing room.
June 19th.
Crack! The ball leaped off the bat with a clean swing, soaring high into the sky. The hitter, Lee Ho-seok, tracked its path while sprinting to first.
As the drive cleared the fence, he thrust his right arm skyward. From the dugout, teammates erupted in cheers, chanting his name.
A home run to cap North Myeong High's final weekend league game of the first half—and the last swing of Lee Ho-seok's high school career.
Knowing today was his final regular at-bat of high school season, every scout eyeing him was in attendance. That homer drew all their eyes.
High-fiving teammates amid the roar, Lee Ho-seok was a prize: a power-hitting catcher prospect coveted by Daegu and Incheon.
Suwon, the expansion team that finished dead last last year, was a lock to take Kim Yong-soo, this year's top blue-chip draft pick. With MLB scouts salivating over him too, rumors swirled of a massive signing bonus. He might even shatter the record for rookie contracts.
The game ended, and North Myeong High advanced to the Blue Dragon Tournament tied with Jeju High in win percentage.
June 20th.
With the weekend league schedule wrapped the day before, the baseball team had the day off. Yoo Min-hoo waved off classmates heading to self-study and strolled toward the school gate.
Suddenly, hands covered his eyes. "Guess who?"
"My immature big sis."
Pain shot through the back of his head. Ella had smacked him.
Chuckling lightly at Yoo Min-hoo, she said, "You're such an old soul. Why'd you turn into such a grumpy old man all of a sudden?"
"Some life-changing moment made me grow up mentally."
She sighed at his playful tone. "Anyway, what's up at school?"
"Mom said she'd be home late. House is empty, so I got bored."
"Auntie next door?"
"Yeah."
Yoo Min-hoo's mother, Kim Mi-hyun, had been close neighbors with Lee Ho-seok's mom a decade ago; now they were best friends and met often.
Scratching his head, Yoo Min-hoo muttered, "Chicken for dinner?"
That's when it happened.
"You!"
"Huh?"
Turning to the unfamiliar voice, Yoo Min-hoo spotted a burly guy. Taller by three or four centimeters than the already tall Yoo Min-hoo, and bulkier too. With a sharp sports cut, he was someone Yoo Min-hoo knew well.
"Oh, Gyeong-sang High's Kim Yong-soo."
The guy nursing a grudge from that intentional walk with three and two.
Kim Yong-soo glared at Yoo Min-hoo's indifferent mumble. "You chickenshit who bailed on the at-bat!" He jabbed a finger accusingly.
Yoo Min-hoo stared silently, then turned to Ella. "Chicken for dinner?"
"Hmm? Pizza sounds good too."
Ignoring the fuming Kim Yong-soo completely, Ella chimed in. Enraged, he yelled, "Don't ignore me!"
Yoo Min-hoo made no effort to hide his annoyance. "Why'd you hit me with that intentional walk back then?"
Wow, still hung up on that? Impressed inwardly by the pettiness, Yoo Min-hoo tossed him a line he'd like. "I was scared of you."
"…"
Kim Yong-soo fell silent, clearly pleased despite trying to play it cool.
Shaking his head with a chuckle, Yoo Min-hoo asked curiously, "What brings you to North Myeong?"
"Meeting with Coach Park Sung-tae."
Contract stuff, huh.
Kim Yong-soo was a prospect hyped domestically and in the States. KBO teams drooled, but MLB clubs had reached out too—most notably Tampa Bay.
In Yoo Min-hoo's past life, Kim Yong-soo never made MLB. Whether he skipped it or washed out in the minors was unknown.
"MLB teams hitting you up hard?" Yoo Min-hoo asked, intrigued.
Kim Yong-soo puffed up. "Heh, New York Kingdomz, Boston, Tampa Bay—all calling."
"Impressive."
Tampa Bay was one thing, but big-market powerhouses too? Legit.
Kim Yong-soo beamed at the genuine praise, then glanced at Ella shyly. "Who's the girl?"
Ella's beauty drew eyes naturally. Staring curiously, he waited.
Yoo Min-hoo draped an arm around her casually. "My girlfriend."
"…"
Silence. Then Kim Yong-soo bolted, yelling, "I'll go to America and snag a hot girlfriend too!"
"…"
Yoo Min-hoo blinked at the absurd exit. "Total weirdo."
Somehow, watching him seemed entertaining. "Hot," Ella grumbled, shoving him off. Being that close was stifling.
"Who was that?"
"Kid from another high school."
"What'd he say to freak out like that?" She'd missed the fast talk.
"Said I called you my girlfriend."
"Hilarious guy. You two close?"
"Nah, first real chat."
"Hmm." Ella squinted toward where he'd run off.
Heading home, Yoo Min-hoo put Kim Yong-soo out of mind. He didn't know just how childish and straightforward the guy really was.
Three days later, June 23rd, Thursday. News hit that Kim Yong-soo signed with Tampa Bay for $1.3 million. Yoo Min-hoo could only shake his head in disbelief.
June 27th.
Pro league rookie first-round draft. Ten first-round picks headed to pro teams: four collegians, six high schoolers.
Lee Ho-seok went fourth overall to Incheon, pocketing a 500 million won signing bonus.