First Greeting
October 2039. The day of the KBO regular season finale. At Shin Sajik Baseball Stadium, the home field of the Busan Titans.
Just like last year, the Titans had finished dead last in the Eastern League this season too, but the fans had packed the stadium to the brim. The baseball fever here was always intense, but there was a special reason today as well.
Today was the day the rookies set to join next year would greet the fans for the first time.
Shin Sajik Baseball Stadium, home team locker room. For a last-place team's locker room, the atmosphere wasn't half bad.
"At least we're not dead last overall!"
As the fourth-year shortstop Baek Jihun, who had fully stepped up as a starter this year, put it, the Titans had grown a bit more than last season.
"Shut it."
Park Cheongwon, the 35-year-old veteran catcher and franchise star as well as national team member, ruffled Baek Jihun's hair hard.
"Can't you see the kids are nervous? If you're a senior, look after the rookies."
"Me?"
"Want me to do it?"
"...Urgh."
The rookies standing side by side clenched their teeth and stared into space at the seniors' silly banter. Laughing along cluelessly could get them in trouble.
"Haha."
Of course, Jin Yuha was the exception. He wasn't your average rookie. In many ways.
"Funny, huh?"
"Yeah. Pretty funny."
"Oh. Figures, you've got that American vibe."
Baek Jihun let out a short exclamation and clapped his hands.
"Actually, the senior-junior thing is even stricter with Americans."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
"Then why are you...?"
"You're trying to loosen us up, so no need to stay stiff, right?"
Jin Yuha's receiver and second-round pick Jeong Hanseong, along with the rest of the Busan Titans rookies, had their eyes shaking wildly.
Baek Jihun, known for his goofy personality that earned him clown jokes from fans. But he was still a senior.
Jin Yuha, the first-overall pick and basically the rookies' rep, was talking to him without a hint of hesitation. It was only natural the rookies were tense. But.
"Approved."
Baek Jihun flashed a bright smile and gave a thumbs-up. He was never the boomer MZ type to begin with.
"Don't just stand there, sit down. My neck hurts. Especially you, Yuha..."
Baek Jihun rubbed his neck and pointed to a chair.
"Got it."
Jin Yuha answered nonchalantly and plopped down comfortably.
""Thank you!""
The other rookies shouted their thanks and sat ramrod straight, maintaining proper junior posture.
"Should I sit like that now too?"
"Nah. I'm not that guy. You all relax."
Jin Yuha glanced at his fellow rookies and said that, but Baek Jihun waved it off.
""Yes, sir!""
That's when Park Cheongwon, who had been quietly watching Jin Yuha, spoke up.
"Yuha. Remember me?"
Baek Jihun recoiled at his words.
"Eww... How big's the age gap? Don't make me call you bro, hyung. It's gross, coach."
Park Cheongwon was 35, Jin Yuha 18.
"I told you, we met when you were little. You called me hyung back then. Remember, Yuha?"
"I kinda do."
Jin Yuha dredged up an old memory.
"National team, right?"
"Yeah. You came to see your dad, Jin Yusung."
"Dad said you'd be a big leaguer."
"He... did?"
Park Cheongwon's mouth twitched at Jin Yuha's words. Jin Yusung was the batter every hitter in the era admired—including Park Cheongwon.
"Damn, Yuha's a pro at this social stuff."
"Hah, jealous? 'Cause Jin Yusung recognized me?"
Their banter kicked off again, ending only when Park Cheongwon ruffled Baek Jihun's head hard once more.
"Yuha. Can you touch 160 today?"
Baek Jihun asked, rubbing his heated head.
"Yeah."
Jin Yuha nodded calmly.
"Tch... Hard to believe. High school guys pumping up velocity ain't new."
Jin Yuha.
"Haha."
Just chuckled softly. He was fundamentally different from them.
As the broadcast team said, neither team wanted to lose today. Not that any game was ever truly meaningless.
"Titans' starter is lefty Baek Jeong-su. Season: 10-7, 3.68 ERA. The Titans' top domestic ace—make that overall ace."
"With the foreign pitchers slumping, he's the pillar of the Titans' staff."
"Countering him: Seoul Rangers' Harold Gallen! 17-3, 2.24 ERA. Hands down the Eastern League's best."
"Righty with 158 km/h heat and killer curve. Word is good news after the season?"
"Yeah, MLB clubs are reportedly interested."
The broadcast team's eyes kept drifting to the mound even mid-call. Everyone in the stadium was doing the same.
"Special event before first pitch today?"
"Yes. Ceremonial pitches from next year's Titans rookies."
"2040 KBO Draft overall number one! Titans rookie Jin Yuha takes the mound!"
Jin Yuha, in his Titans uniform, bowed atop the mound.
- Waaaaah!!
The fans roared in welcome.
"Hahaha! Busan fans giving Jin Yuha a hot welcome!"
"Rookies always get the love. Plus..."
Commentator Jeong Jung-eop trailed off thoughtfully.
Jin Yuha's father, Jin Yusung, was Korea's greatest baseball player ever. Far from media-shy, he was practically an attention hog.
Naturally, Jin Yuha had been in the spotlight since childhood. He'd even appeared on family variety shows with his dad off-season. Many, including Jeong Jung-eop who remembered that, felt a mix of emotions seeing the grown Jin Yuha.
"He's grown up well, Jin Yuha..."
He had grown well.
"A bit too well, haha!"
Unlike the tiny kid fans remembered, he'd grown a lot.
"At the plate: second-round catcher Jeong Hanseong."
"Seoul High alum like Jin Yuha. Teamed up on youth national team for a no-hit complete game in the finals."
"Titans GM Hyeon Myeongun called Jeong Hanseong the next ace catcher after Park Cheongwon."
"He's got the tools, no doubt."
'Though how much he'll grow... who knows.'
Jeong Jung-eop thought to himself.
Prospects were prospects. Few pros hadn't been called geniuses in amateur days—especially high draft picks.
Jeong Hanseong had catcher potential, sure, but what he'd become in pro ball? Unknown. Catchers were the hardest to develop.
'Same for Jin Yuha, but...'
Even the generational prospect Jin Yuha was still a prospect. But.
'Yuha's different.'
Jeong Jung-eop was convinced: the question was how far Jin Yuha would go in pro—not if he'd succeed.
- Who knows, maybe 'prospect' doesn't even fit Jin Yuha. He's got big-league stuff already—as hitter and pitcher.
MLB scouts had called his amateur two-way game big-league level (with some hype, sure).
'Why come to Korea, then?'
That's why Jeong Jung-eop found Jin Yuha's Korea choice baffling at his age.
'Born and raised in the States—Korea can't feel like home...'
Anyway.
'Good's good. Whatever.'
Getting to see pro baseballer Jin Yuha up close? All good.
"Hoo..."
Jin Yuha took a deep breath on the mound, eyes on home plate.
"Jin Yuha! Fires!"
Shwooo!!
Seamless windup to release. The three-quarters delivery shot the ball with natural tail straight to the plate.
Thwack!!
Dead into Jeong Hanseong's mitt. A crisp sound echoed through the stadium.
"Insane... That's next year's rookie?"
The Rangers dugout couldn't hide their shock.
"We knew, but... did we really snag a monster?"
"Yeah. Saved a country in a past life or what?"
"We were last place last season."
The Titans dugout was shocked too—but smiling underneath.
And.
- Waaaaaaaah!!
The fans filling Shin Sajik erupted in near-screams. Titans fans, even Rangers road fans—all of them. And why not.
"Titans' future ace greets the home crowd with a perfect first pitch!"
162 km/h
"Board shows 162 km/h! One pitch, and Jin Yuha proves why he's the top prospect ever!"
Unofficial, but the fastest by a Korean pitcher ever.
"Jin Yuha smiles after the pitch! Titans fans can't wait for next year! A new legend is stirring in Shin Sajik right now!"
His crooked smirk—just like dad Jin Yusung's—was etched into baseball fans' minds that moment.