Event (2)
Fighters manager Kim Unhyeon, who had spent his playing prime with the Titans, chewed his gum with a smack and spat out his complaints from the dugout bench.
"Tsk, this is the worst."
The Fighters had faced the Titans more than any other team in the Western League this season.
Even so, fans called the Fighters a lucky team. Kim Unhyeon had secretly thought the same.
After all, they had never once faced Jin Yuha—until today, that is.
If the team had been in normal shape, Kim Unhyeon wouldn't have grumbled even against Jin Yuha. But.
"Of all times, when the team's in this mess..."
The current Fighters were far from normal, not even as empty words.
Their ace Yoon Seongin, who had a fiery temper but great results, had caused a massive scandal with drunk driving. The guy who threw fastballs in the mid-150s was flooring it at 150 km/h through the city after getting wasted.
"Damn it."
Thank God no one got hurt, but the Fighters' season had been derailed for ages.
Losing their ace and emotional pillar—the 'rough but warm big bro' Yoon Seongin—to drunk driving before they could even recover. And then facing their kryptonite, the Titans—no, Jin Yuha himself?
Anyone would imagine the worst.
And on top of that.
"Sukoya. How're the kids holding up?"
Jin Yusung, retired for ages but still an absolute idol to Korean hitters.
"...Not great."
And he'd just struck out against the very pitcher they had to face, even if it was an event toss.
"Ha... it's not like he was slaying a yaksha or something."
The Fighters players, already down in the dumps, deflated even more.
"This is driving me nuts..."
Kim Unhyeon, newly nicknamed the 'Secret Giant' this season, sank deeper into worry.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
Hmm.
My matchup with the leadoff hitter was a bummer. I walked him after a six-pitch battle.
"Tsk. Got too hyped, huh."
Seemed like the ceremonial pitch got me a bit excited. My command wobbled.
'Eh, that was still a hittable zone. He just did well.'
Fighters' leadoff Namgung Seong had the sharp eye the scouting team hyped up.
Tap.
I took the ball from Jeong Hanseong and eyed the next batter stepping up after Namgung Seong reached base.
'Huh.'
The hitter, who had been all hunched up moments ago, suddenly squared his shoulders. Seeing the leadoff walk must've boosted his confidence.
'Thinks my stuff's off today or something.'
First time on the mound in a while, walking the leadoff.
'Fair enough.'
Especially since I was known for almost zero walks. But.
'Useless confidence.'
Pat, pat.
I nodded at Jeong Hanseong's sign.
Fighters' #2 hitter was an aggressive type, a Triple-A home run king foreign slugger. The best pitch against that?
Whoosh!!
Buuuzz!!
"Swinging strike three!"
My sky-high high school alum's bat whiffed pathetically. The pitcher who K'd the 300-HR pride of our school calmly stepped off the mound.
"Whoa..."
Titans' 2040 draft fourth-round rookie Jang Munwoo—today's second baseman and #9 hitter—couldn't hide his awe.
'No wonder everyone's obsessed with Jin Yuha.'
He'd never dreamed of outshining Yuha skill-wise. Yuha had been an uncrossable wall since high school. But.
'I figured popularity-wise, I might hold my own if I played it right...'
He had some confidence. Jang Munwoo was Titans blue-blood, born and bred.
Sure, Yuha was already a megastar, a natural headline machine. But his background was irregular in the KBO.
Born in New York, high school in Seoul—that was Jin Yuha. Born in Busan, grew up on Titans baseball—that was Jang Munwoo.
Fans would feel closer to the latter. Hometown boy love never dies in rooted sports.
Or so Jang Munwoo thought. But.
"Yeah, no way."
Running his first game with 'Jin Yuha's game,' Jang Munwoo had to admit he was wrong.
Fans not feeling the intimacy? Who cares.
Just be insanely good, and it doesn't matter. Like someone said, the best fan service is crushing baseball and winning.
'...And his background's stacked.'
Dad's Jin Yusung, uncle's Jack Gordon. Baseball royalty everyone knows, MLB's No. 1 prospect.
'Girlfriend's pop star Mia, even?'
Outpopping Jin Yuha was impossible from the jump.
'So then.'
One conclusion.
'Gotta befriend Jin Yuha.'
Craving fan love, Jang Munwoo found the ultimate way to get attention on the Titans.
'Tougher than topping Jeong Hanseong, but...'
His goal from today: Yuha's second-best friend.
"Ahem, Yuha. Your stuff's nasty."
"Oh? Thanks, man."
In a way, this was the debut of the 'Titans Core 4' the owner-chairman dreamed of.
"You know Munwoo?"
Dugout bench. Jeong Hanseong asked as he stripped off his gear.
"Nah? Just found out he's my teammate yesterday."
Fourth round meant some high school name value, sure.
'But first-rounders? Unless they're Cheongdae studs, I barely remember.'
He was in that fuzzy memory spot for me.
"Hmm... okay then."
"What the hell's with that face."
A curse slipped out. Jeong Hanseong's look was straight trash.
'Jealous of me and Mia, now he's side-eyeing my friends...'
Something glitched in his head—he'd started envying anyone close to me.
"Gross."
I shoved aside the suddenly clingy mitt and refocused.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
Leadoff Jeong Suyeong-senior walked.
Like my top of the first. But.
'That ain't me on the mound.'
Fighters' starter was an inexperienced replacement for the drunk-driving ace. He looked panicked, sweating bullets after the walk—almost pitiful.
"Kang Gihoo-senior's up? ...Gonna go yard."
And as I said, the future MLB superstar, killing it since rookie ball.
Craaaack!!
He didn't miss the shaky pitcher, sending it over the wall.
Top of the second.
Crack!!
Fouled-off grounder rolls to second. Easy play. But.
"Whoops!"
Second baseman Jang Munwoo botched the fielding.
Whoosh!!
And an awkward throw to first.
Thwack!!
"Out!"
Luckily, Kang Gihoo-senior stretched his mitt and scooped it for the out.
"Tsk."
Annoying from the pitcher's view.
'Manager said that guy's D was solid...'
Not at all.
'Arm's good—maybe outfield?'
Bat looked promising, though.
'Miss you, Hwang Doyang-senior.'
Hwang Doyang-senior, starting 2B until yesterday, sat for stamina management today.
'Lower lineup? Better glove over bat anyway.'
Kang Gihoo-senior and Frank Rodriguez were still scorching hot. Titans' lineup could scratch a run off anyone.
And if they gave me one, I'd win.
'Minus Baek Jihun-senior, infield D's shaky overall. Yoon Gangyeol-senior looks gassed...'
So.
'Focus on Ks over grounders.'
Fighters, the slugger brigade, were full of strikeout-prone bats. HRs and Ks correlate, usually.
'Except freaks like Dad.'
I called time, waved Jeong Hanseong up, and laid out the plan.
"Got it."
He nodded. Creepy cling aside, he listened as a catcher should.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Early innings. Just a three-run lead, but the cloud over Fighters looked awfully dark.