I Caused Another Accident

Thanks to it being a day game and a pitchers' duel, the match had wrapped up quickly.

The early finish, combined with the excuse of having won a must-win game, led to a sudden dinner schedule. A kind of team dinner, I suppose?

At the pork belly restaurant our team always hit up for occasions like this, every player gathered except for a few who absolutely couldn't make it due to personal reasons.

With another game tomorrow, we had to go easy on the alcohol, but they still showed some flexibility and allowed one bottle of beer per person.

Somehow, I ended up sitting with Seo Gyeongmin, Jo Sangjun, and Kang Chanjung.

I'd arrived a bit late thanks to interviews and other stuff, but the moment I stepped into the restaurant, those three called me over.

"The kids are all pretty young, so they feel awkward around us."

They explained why the three of them were sitting alone, even though I hadn't asked.

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what about me? I'm young too, aren't I?

Of course, I didn't say that out loud. Truth was, I was fine with this seat.

These three top veterans talked nothing but baseball the whole meal. Most of it was about how to keep our current first-place ranking going. Seo Gyeongmin and Jo Sangjun would ask questions, and Kang Chanjung would answer.

Because... our team hadn't been this high in the standings in forever. Kang Chanjung, on the other hand, had finished first in the regular season with the Dolphins recently and even had Korean Series championship experience.

The other players tried not to get mixed up with our table's conversation, but I found it oddly fun. There was a lot worth taking notes on.

"But are you sure about the stamina, playing as a hitter too?"

Jo Sangjun asked with a worried look. Seo Gyeongmin and Kang Chanjung nodded along.

"Well... how many times am I really going to go out there? Doesn't seem like it'll be a big problem..."

I'd just made my first start and stepped into the batter's box today, so fretting about stamina already felt premature. That was my answer.

But the seniors seemed to think differently.

"From what I can see, they're going to give you plenty of chances. They sent you out to check the vibe and adapt, and then you went and caused an accident, right? With our manager's style, he's not just going to let this slide."

"...Then what?"

"You're starting on Sunday, right?"

"Yes."

"He'll probably give you a chance around next Tuesday or Wednesday?"

"Huh?"

"Even if not as a starter, maybe as a pinch hitter."

"...... Well, I don't know."

"Just my thought, that's all."

Seo Gyeongmin said it was just his opinion, nothing special, but his expression looked like he was sure of his gut feeling.

It wasn't bad for me either. I'd even practiced hitting during the off-season just to step into the box, so if they gave me the chance, I'd just say thank you.

The meal wrapped up as the meat we'd reordered several times finally ran out. The one bottle of beer each had been emptied long ago, so with no more meat, there was no reason to stick around.

We ended it with a final "Let's go hard and win again tomorrow," but...

Whoooosh.

"It's not going to stop, is it?"

"Probably not?"

Saturday. The rain that had started after three in the afternoon showed no signs of letting up.

"I'm fine either way."

"Marte says he's okay too."

Past four o'clock, the rainout was finally called, and Manager Park asked Marte and me directly about how to handle the Sunday starter. Whether Marte, who'd adjusted his condition for today's start, would be okay coming out tomorrow, and whether I, who'd prepped for tomorrow, would have any issues starting next Tuesday.

As for me, it didn't matter at all. Ever since my Dragons days, I'd been the type they called on whenever, so I'd never fretted much about same-day condition. Sure, it'd be nice if I felt as good as the day I threw that complete-game shutout. But if not... well...

And Marte wanted the start too. He said he wanted to take the mound anytime. A starter getting pushed back a day was common enough, so no problem—he insisted strongly on pitching tomorrow.

So tomorrow—Sunday—the starter was set as Marte.

"......"

"Got it? Today you're hitting with this bat!"

"I'm not even going out there."

"If you do, I mean. Even as a pinch hitter, use this one, okay? OK?"

"Well..."

"Wait a sec. Yours is too heavy for Hajin. Use mine. Mine."

"This kid's strong, so it's fine."

The reason for this chaos: Kim Tae-seong and Lee Won-jeong had each brought their own bats and were shoving them at me to use.

Why the sudden fuss from these two? The cause was Jo Chanjung.

For the Children's Day game, I'd borrowed a bat from Jo Chanjung. He used the lightest bat on the team, and with my big swing, I figured a lighter bat might help the bat speed a bit.

But before today's game, Jo Chanjung had taken that bat back. "This bat feels charged up thanks to you. Gonna try it out today," he said, with that ridiculous reason.

Then Jo Chanjung came out as the leadoff hitter in the first and smashed a home run. A massive one that he knew was gone the second he hit it.

Rounding the bases and returning to the dugout, Jo Chanjung said, "Guess it's 'cause it's packed with Hajin's energy. Hits real nice. Hahaha."

Only then did Kim Tae-seong and Lee Won-jeong realize Jo Chanjung's bat was the one I'd used the other day, and they came over with their own bats.

Choosing between the two was a no-brainer. Kim Tae-seong's bat was way too heavy.

"I'll go with Won-jeong hyung's..."

"...... You bastard. Traitor. If you start, I'm making an error."

Threatening an error just because I didn't pick his bat? Is that guy right in the head?

Both teams had the starters who should've gone yesterday pitching today, and neither seemed in perfect early form. They traded runs from the first inning, and by the end of the third, it was 3-3.

But as the innings passed, both settled down a bit, and the 3-3 score held through the sixth. Both bullpens held well through the seventh, and for us, Jo Sangjun came in and erased the top of the eighth with just eight pitches.

Then the bottom of the eighth.

Crack!

"Run! Run! Sideways! Slide! Sideways!!"

With one out and runners on first and second, Ko Mandeok dropped a single in front of the right fielder, and the runner from second charged home. But the Falcons' right fielder Callio Jackson fired a laser straight to the catcher from way out there.

"Out!"

Kim Tae-seong was out at home, failing to score. Runners now two out, first and third.

Manager Park sent Ju Yang-gyu in as a pinch runner for Ko Mandeok at first and put Jeong Jong-seong in as the pinch hitter. Then came the steal. The catcher didn't throw to second, so the runners moved to second and third, and after that Jeong Jong-seong worked the count well and drew a walk. Bases loaded.

Then the Falcons' pitching coach climbed the mound. And the new pitcher was Yang Chan-yeong, their closer this season. The Falcons were going all-in here.

But...

Crack!

Jo Chanjung, using the bat packed with my energy, caused trouble again. He slapped a single that dropped in front of the right fielder. Considering Callio Jackson's arm in right, the runner from second didn't come home, but the score was now 4-3.

Our team finally took the lead. And then the bases-loaded chance continued.

"Pinch hitter, Hajin."

"Hajin, get ready quick and go."

My name was suddenly called while I was just happily zoning out. I scrambled to find a helmet, put it on, and grabbed Lee Won-jeong's bat that I'd taken in the first inning.

Just as I was about to leave the dugout, someone grabbed my arm from behind.

"Time it for the off-speed. His two-seamer isn't that fast, so even if you're set for the breaking ball, your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bat can catch up. You know what I mean?"

It was Seo Gyeongmin.

"Yes. Should I time it for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠changeup?"

"That works too."

I knew what he meant. Whether I could do it was the question.

I stepped out of the dugout, took a few practice swings, and headed to the plate. Seeing our runners packing the bases, the pressure hit me full force.

The home plate umpire signaled to resume play, and Yang Chan-yeong on the mound started his delivery from the set position.

Time it for the off-speed. Confidently. Confidently.

The mantra I'd memorized when I got that hit the other day. I chanted "confidently" in my head.

The ball left Yang Chan-yeong's hand, and just as Seo Gyeongmin had said, I started my swing a beat late to time the breaking ball. The pitch coming in at my waist height. Just as my bat started a beat late... I saw the ball drop sharply.

Oh shit...

Not a changeup. This was definitely a forkball. I hadn't even considered a forkball. I never thought he'd throw a risky forkball as the first pitch with a run ready to score if it dropped. From the height, it looked like it was going to drop almost to the dirt. Yang Chan-yeong's fork was famous for its big break.

Watching the dropping ball, I unconsciously pulled my wrists down. It wasn't a conscious decision. My body just reacted that way.

CRAAACK!!!

"Wooooaaaaahhhhh!!!!"

"Hajin! It's gone! It's gone! Hahaha!"

As first base got closer, the first base coach shouted at me with a bright smile. Only then did I realize the ball I'd hit had gone over.

"...It's gone? Bases were loaded?"

Stepping on first and running to second, I could finally see and hear it. The frenzied crowd and the opposing pitcher with his head down.

Rounding third, I could see our dugout jumping up and down. And the three runners from just now waiting for me behind home plate.

I'd hit a grand slam. I'd caused another accident.