Jin Sambong's Baseball Classroom

The final pitch of the game soared high into the sky. The pitcher on the mound thrust his hand up triumphantly. The ball, hanging high, dropped straight into his glove.

A moment of silence. And then.

—WAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

The stadium shook like there was an earthquake.

"Uwaaaah!! Jin Yuha! Jin Yuha! Jin Yuha!"

The players on the field rushed toward Jin Yuha, buzzing with excitement.

"Whoa… he actually did it."

The Titans pitchers, huddled in the dugout, watched the historic scene unfold and clicked their tongues in awe.

"Yeah. No need for any of us to take the mound today."

"He's really something else."

Game two of the weekend series against the Rangers. The man on the mound for the Titans hadn't changed once. In fact, it had been that way every time Jin Yuha pitched so far.

"…Why does Yuha feel so distant even though he's the baby of the group?"

"'Cause he's too damn good, that's why."

Jin Yuha's skills were far too sharp to treat him like a cute rookie, and the feats he'd racked up in just three games were too monumental. The Titans pitchers—especially the bullpen guys—felt a growing distance from him.

"Ah! Jihun hyung! Don't mess up my hair! You think it's easy being short and still wanting to smack your head?"

"Call me hyung, you punk! And this is the epic jump that's gonna be the highlight of today's game!"

The hitters didn't get it. They couldn't understand how a freshly debuted Jin Yuha looked from another pitcher's perspective.

"Sometimes when our eyes meet on the mound, it's just… intimidating."

"Oh, I know that feeling. You feel yourself shrinking. Even though he's not looking down on us."

"Nah, that's not his style."

Jin Yuha was a monster.

"…I'm jealous."

That didn't mean the pitchers avoided him. If anything, they wanted to get closer.

Jin Yuha wasn't some arrogant prodigy with an attitude problem. He wasn't exactly sweet… but he wasn't mean either, and he always showed respect to his seniors.

"How about we go congratulate him now?"

"Eh, I'm a bit scared. What if it gets awkward?"

"Yeah, fair."

Still, he intimidated them. Maybe it was inferiority complex.

"Oh… James is going."

In truth, the pitcher closest to Jin Yuha was the foreign ace, James Gilbert.

"You hear what they talk about?"

"Jeongsu sneaks into their convos a lot."

"I catch like half of it and just nod along."

"You get the gist, though, right?"

"Half of it was trashing the Phillies and Yankees. Then they got into whether the Central or the East is tougher."

The one who chatted most with him was Baek Jeongsu, who'd once been called Korea's top starter.

"I thought they were swapping tips at least."

"If they were, you'd take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠advice from a rookie?"

"Skill knows no hierarchy. If Yuha's teaching, I'd lick the dirt off his shoes."

"Ew… he'd probably refuse 'cause it's gross."

That was why.

The Titans pitchers stared in shock at the TV in the locker room, tuned to another game's broadcast.

"What'd he just say?"

"Yuha gave him advice… when the hell?"

"Wait, didn't Jihun ask for Yuha's address once? Said Park Gwangho wanted it. Was that it?"

"Whoa…"

A single thought flashed through every Titans pitcher's mind.

Us?

They figured they were closer to Jin Yuha than Park Gwangho, at least.

.

.

.

"…So that's why you came all the way here?"

"Well, bonding among pitchers, and all that."

Jin Yuha, dressed casually, tilted his head.

"…Whatever."

He let out a shallow sigh, took the coffee handed to him, and spoke.

"Shall we head up first?"

* * *

It was a sudden housewarming. Nothing major happened, though.

"Whoa… living alone as a rookie. Jealous. Back in my day…"

"Hyung, that's kinda boomer talk."

"Oh, my bad."

"It's fine. I am getting special treatment."

They had to head out soon anyway. Time to clock in.

"How'd you all get here?"

"Taxi. We all live in the same complex."

Oh.

"For real?"

"Yeah. Places close to the stadium with decent surroundings are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠limited."

The seniors who'd shown up: pitching coach Park Oseon, fellow starters Baek Jeongsu and Kwak Jaewoong.

They'd always seemed tight. Made sense now. So.

"Ride with me to work?"

"Sure… wait, isn't that yellow sports car yours? Too cramped for all of us."

No problem.

"I'll take the other one."

I pulled out the keys to a luxury SUV.

"Another car? Where's a rookie's money come from…"

Kwak Jaewoong glanced between my house and me, then.

"Ah."

A gasp of realization.

"Your family's loaded, right."

Dad was one of the guys who'd kicked off the MLB one-billion-dollar contract era.

* * *

The rain was coming down harder.

"This might turn into a rainout. Jeongsu's lucky."

"Why me?"

"Pitching after Yuha the next day isn't stressful? Feels like you're being compared."

"It is."

"Ahem, I'm right here."

"Not wrong, though."

The three seniors' chatter filled the car nonstop. Who knew.

They're all pretty chatty.

Anyway.

"You guys really need my advice?"

They didn't forget why they'd come to my place, did they?

"Wanna get close to you is the big reason, yeah."

"Fair enough."

"But! Advice from the monster who just notched three straight complete games? Even better. Whatever you told Gwangho works. We're all ears."

"Wasn't anything special."

We'd talked for four hours straight, but it wasn't some profound wisdom.

"Mm… we're almost there. Conference room?"

If that's cool, I could share.

* * *

Time when the game should've started. The field was blanketed under a massive tarp.

"…Pouring buckets."

Titans and Rangers players alike sat in their dugouts, staring blankly at the rainy field. Then.

"Jeong Hanseong."

"Yes!"

"Scout mission."

"Huh?"

Baek Jihun called, and Jeong Hanseong sprang up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a crisp reply, looking puzzled. And then.

"Where's Yuha, anyway?"

Baek Jihun clutched his stomach laughing at dry Jeong Hanseong's tarp dance from the dugout.

"In the meeting room with some pitchers. Shooting content or something."

"Oh… Cheongwon hyung. You're back from the dead. Butt okay?"

"Tch. Starting next week, I'm catching again."

"Worried the rookie's stealing your spot?"

"Hanseong did well… but he's got a ways to go. I'm Park Cheongwon."

The reply came from Park Cheongwon, who'd sat out yesterday with an injury.

"Content? Jeongsu hyung too? He's pitching today."

"Look at the sky. We all knew it'd rain out."

"Why wait till game time, then?"

"To flex the home field's drainage?"

"Doesn't seem that impressive."

Baek Jihun's gaze shifted to Jeong Hanseong, still dancing.

"Jeong Hanseong!"

"Yes!"

"Return!"

"Got it!"

Baek Jihun called him back and stood.

"Wanna go watch?"

But.

"Hitters not allowed."

Park Cheongwon's words forced him back down.

"…What kinda content bans hitters?"

.

.

.

Shin Sajik Baseball Stadium meeting room.

Under the bold whiteboard lettering, Jin Yuha stood holding a mic.

* * *

A few hours earlier.

The Titans YouTube PD ran into Jin Yuha and three pitchers on the way in.

"Oh? That's a fresh combo."

Offhand comment.

"Yuha's giving us a lesson."

"Pfft, lesson? It's not like that."

Hearing that.

This is content gold!

Fate called.

"Mind if we film?"

But.

"Do we have to?"

Jin Yuha was lukewarm.

"Won't be that exciting."

"No! Anything with you is guaranteed views!"

True story.

Not even a month into pro ball, and Jin Yuha was already a superstar.

His videos always crushed numbers. Even the spring camp departure vid.

Top video this season? Yuha eating a banana in shorts.

A pre-game banana munch topped Titans YouTube. PD begged.

"Not just our fans—everyone will watch. Please…"

"Seniors might not like it."

"Ugh."

Couldn't deny that.

Fair.

A high school rook teaching vets? Not a great look, no matter his stats. But.

"Eh, I'm cool with it."

"Me too."

"Just make us look good."

Salvation from the other pitchers. So.

"…Fine by me then."

Thus.

"Pretend we're not here. Be natural. If it sucks, we won't upload."

Jin Yuha nodded at the PD's empty promise and spoke.

"I think hitters are morons."

"Pardon?"

PD instantly regretted his words.

"Recording, so maybe soften it? Hitters are toys. That's how I see 'em when I take the mound."

Ah…

He killed the camera.