The Massive Aftermath of the Spring Ceremony Pitch
The aftermath of the spring ceremony pitch was tremendous.
Pistol godlike lmao
The baseball community, always busy fighting, was no exception.
The sports news was all about Jin Yuha. However.
After the ceremony pitch, Jin Yuha hadn't shown up anywhere.
Not even at the final camp.
Even on the casual variety show where Jin Yusung—who was spending time in Korea after a long absence—appeared, there was no sign of Jin Yuha.
Jin Yusung's comment on the show revealed that Jin Yuha was training somewhere, but that was it.
Time passed like that until February 2040.
Jin Yuha finally showed himself to the fans.
"Oh, you filming this right now?"
The Titans YouTube team PD turned at the voice from behind.
"Whoa..."
He let out a low murmur of admiration.
He's seriously huge...
Since taking charge of the Titans YouTube channel, he'd seen plenty of players. Even to him, Jin Yuha's appearance was striking.
198cm, right? Genes on another level.
Nearly 2 meters tall, and.
"Whoa, those eyes are really blue."
Those blue-tinted eyes were rare for pure Koreans.
"Mm." "Ah."
As Jin Yuha shrugged, the PD realized he'd voiced his inner thoughts and panicked.
"Pretty unique, huh?"
Jin Yuha brushed it off with a light laugh, unfazed.
"So, you filming right now?"
The PD sighed in relief and snapped back to professional mode.
"Yes, yes! Spot on. Mind giving a quick greeting to the fans?"
Jin Yuha turned to the camera, reached out, and pulled in Jeong Hanseong, who was standing rigidly tense beside him.
"Titans fans, hello. I'm rookie Jin Yuha joining this year. Looking forward to a great season ahead."
"..."
"Hey, you gotta say hi too."
"...Ah! Uh, h-hello! Rookie catcher Jeong! Han! Seong! here. Hope to see you all lots from now on!"
Watching the two rookies at spring camp greet, the PD thought.
One screams rookie, the other feels like a total vet. Must be from being camera-savvy since young?
Unlike Jeong Hanseong, who reeked of newbie vibes, Jin Yuha oozed composure.
"Damn... already plotting to steal Park Cheongwon's spot, huh?"
"When did I say that...!"
"You said you wanna see us lots? That's code for taking the starter gig, right?"
"That's a mishear!"
"Truth's already on tape. You got it all, right?"
"Pfft! Yeah."
"Delete it!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Chatting like typical friends their age, sure.
"Mind a quick interview, you two?"
Anyway, with fans dying for these rookies—Jin Yuha overwhelmingly so—the PD jumped at the chance.
"Uh... we got time?"
"Of course. This is all club stuff anyway."
"Still... won't they mind us rookies holding things up?"
"See Baek Jihun over there? Thumbs up. Means go do the interview."
"...Really?"
After a brief chat, Jin Yuha and Jeong Hanseong nodded in unison.
"How've you two been up to now?"
The PD's opener was a simple check-in. But.
"Ah..."
Jeong Hanseong's face went distant.
"Mm..."
Even the ever-relaxed Jin Yuha furrowed his brow.
What? Did I mess up again?
As the PD pondered.
"Ha..."
Jin Yuha sighed and spoke.
"Stayed at my uncle's after signing."
"Uncle?"
"Yeah. Hanseong too."
At his name, Jeong Hanseong shuddered.
Contract was 1.1 billion, right... Jealous. But why the reaction to uncle's place... Oh!
Jin Yuha's mom was American. Meaning.
"You've been in the US this whole time?"
"Yep."
"So when did you get to Korea...?"
"Week ago."
"And back to the US today?"
"That's right."
"Wow..."
The PD briefly wondered then why enter Korea again? but held back. It made sense on reflection.
Both were rookies.
More importantly than pointless questions.
"So, what'd you do in the US? Any... training?"
Rookies' offseason was prime curiosity.
"Was... brutal."
"Gasp! For real? Hanseong too?"
"Needed someone to catch."
"You didn't throw me a single ball!"
"Did I not?"
Jin Yuha tilted his head at Jeong Hanseong's outrage.
"Guess not. Whatever."
The PD chuckled softly at their banter and pressed on.
"Care to share what kind of training?"
"Mm... Focused heaviest on building the body. Pro level needs stamina unlike high school."
"Thought I was gonna die. For real."
"Be grateful. Where else you gonna get that training? I even paid."
"Super thankful! But it was hell!"
Come to think...
Eying the fuming Jeong Hanseong and Jin Yuha's smirking half-grin, the PD noticed their noticeably more chiseled builds since draft day.
...Both impressive kids.
As a diehard Titans fan before YouTube PD, he couldn't hide his pride.
The short interview wrapped.
"Jin Yuha, you're a natural at this. Trained since young, huh?"
Thrilled at the fan-pleasing content.
"Eh, sure."
Jin Yuha could only grin sheepishly. Couldn't say it was his MLB superstar-honed interview skills.
Come to think of it anew, I'd dominated MLB as the top player for over a decade. No one touched me—not even the team. In this game, the best hitter or pitcher is king. Of course.
I was a bit sharp back then too.
Anyway, point is.
"Jin Yuha. Bullpen pitching, start."
"Got it."
Whoosh!!
Thwack!!
"Nice ball!"
Whoosh!!
Thwack!!
"Great pitch!"
I couldn't even recall my rookie all-camp days.
Truth is, even as a rookie.
"Jin Yuha."
"Yes."
"You can grow more."
"R...really?"
"Yeah! I'll make you the ace!"
"...How?"
"First, raise arm angle! Learn my curve!"
"Oh."
No one said stuff like that to me.
"I'll think about it."
"A rookie... talking back?"
"Uh..."
"Hahaha! Kidding, kidding! Mull it over. Obey me, and you'll be an even greater pitcher."
The pitching coach patted my shoulders—tone half-joking, fully sincere—and I thought.
This is tough...
Living as a Korean rookie was trickier than I'd figured.
"...What'd you just say?"
"Just... way different from what I expected."
So, y'know. Venting a bit to family is fair game, right?
Two straight years dead last in the Eastern League. Yet the Titans' skipper stayed put. The baseball-serious owner declared rebuilding and gave the manager three years.
This year marked Jeong Hyeonho's third as Titans manager. Meaning.
"This is the last one."
This season decided if he'd keep managing or hit the unemployment line.
"Internals improved, but results sucked."
When Jeong Hyeonho took over, the team was a mess. Big-money FAs slacked off; young prospects rode the vibe. Not that there weren't gems like Park Cheongwon with skill and grit, but they were few.
"Shipped out the old fogeys dragging the mood, pushed prospects hard."
Still, two years dead last. The team's makeup was better, but results were dismal.
"Was ready to throw in the towel..."
Then Jin Yuha joined.
"...Electrifying."
Seeing Jin Yuha's ceremony pitch felt like a ray of light in his short managerial career.
"How's Yuha?"
Thus, Jin Yuha quietly had Jeong Hyeonho's backing.
Favoritism? Fine by him. A rookie like Jin Yuha deserved it.
"Ha... Kid doesn't listen much."
The manager had ordered the pitching coach to watch him closer.
"Really? Seemed sweet."
"Sweet but stubborn. If he'd just follow me, he'd pitch better. Why not?"
"Hm... Convince him, Kim Coach. No forcing though."
"Ha... Bro—er, Manager, you're too soft on him. That's why he ignores me."
"What can ya do... Yuha's our last hope."
Then.
"Who? Who's here?"
"Jin Yuha's family."
"Yusung?"
"No. Uncle."
"Came to see his nephew in the US? Close family."
"...Manager, Jin Yuha's uncle is Jack Gordon."
"Who?"
"Jack Gordon."
"The Jack Gordon I know?"
"Yes."
Sudden visitor, and Jeong Hyeonho realized Jin Yuha's light was brighter than thought.
"Why'd he come all this way...?"
"...Said he's part-timing for his nephew's team."
Three-time Cy Young. Mets dynasty ace. Hall of Famer. The legend with all the accolades was joining Titans spring camp as temp help.
Jeong Hyeonho withdrew support for Jin Yuha—no, he went all in.