Farewell and Reunion
May was over, and interleague play had wrapped up.
The Children's Day game against the Pistols, where I'd racked up countless records.
The Dragons game, my first time getting pulled before finishing five innings.
My family and Mia's visit to Korea. That at-bat showdown with my dad. Celebrating my birthday with a no-hitter. And the Fighters game, packed with so many memorable moments.
After that, I had two more starts, each leaving its mark.
Like in the Guardians game, where after I finished seven scoreless innings, Sim Chando—the guy who'd been Korea's ace pitcher until I showed up—glared at me from the opposite dugout.
Or...
The away game against the Pistols, where I gave up my first homer of the season.
"...Man, that one."
After hitting the homer, he just stood there at the plate, frozen. At first, I thought he was taunting me. But the complicated look on Oh Seungjin's face told me otherwise.
How good must it feel to go yard off me...?
I'm human. Sometimes I groove a pitch, and it gets crushed.
The fact that it happened the day after Mia flew back to the States was just an excuse. I'd hung a meatball, and he didn't miss it.
It was just a solo shot, and the game was already out of reach by then—not a game-changer.
My final start in May ended with eight innings, one run.
And June began.
Every month-end brings the same thing: a recap of that month's highlights.
In other words...
Talk of the monthly MVP.
Busan Titans Jin Yuha (19)
5 games, 37 IP, 2 ER, ERA 0.49 (Strikeouts #1, single-game strikeout record, 11 straight batters struck out, No-Hitter No-Run)
Following March-April, I made the May shortlist too.
"...This one's a bit iffy, huh?"
"What kinda nonsense is this?"
It wasn't nonsense—it was genuinely close.
"Sim Chando from the Guardians threw more innings than me with a lower ERA. And Kang Gihoo hyung smashed over ten homers."
My rivals had put up monster numbers. Sim Chando especially, with five starts and just one run allowed—Jin Yuha-level stuff.
"Pfft."
But Jeong Hanseong scoffed, brushing it off.
"Dude, how many records did you set in May? A no-hitter no-run to boot. If you don't win, that's the problem."
Hmm.
"Honestly, I think so too."
"What, you punk?"
"You pass. You've got what it takes to be my personal catcher."
"That was a test?"
"I figured you'd pull the old 'Of course the ace is Sim Chando!' like back in the day."
Even Jeong Hanseong, Sim Chando's biggest fan, gave his nod. No upset happened.
The monthly MVP was mine.
While Jin Yuha was picking up his monthly MVP, KBO teams were hustling behind the scenes.
"The West is in panic mode. The Iron and Fighters lost starters, and the Casters' starting catcher is out for the season after a collision."
"Ugh, the Dragons have injuries galore too. They're not contenders anyway... Man, the Guardians have it good."
"No kidding. Anyway, time for us to move."
And the first to act...
Were the Titans and Fighters.
Park Haeseong, the prospect who'd impressed in two spot starts. Jegal Hoon, the power-hitting infielder stuck behind ironman Namgung Seong at second.
The trade went down...
"We get Park Haeseong. You get Jegal Hoon. Cool?"
—"Deal."
Lightning fast.
A win-win that filled needs and opened doors for the players—no backlash.
"Yuha. Thanks."
"Huh?"
Park Haeseong took the news stone-faced but pulled me aside to say thanks.
"Thanks to you, my changeup feels more natural now."
"No biggie. I just showed you a few grips."
"Still grateful."
Park Haeseong had been stressing over a third pitch. I'd demoed changeup grips and shared tips.
In his second start, he'd leaned on that changeup against lefties and crushed it.
That's just Park Haeseong hyung's talent shining.
He was the Titans' top pitching prospect, babied by Kim Pilsun and Jeong Hyeonho. I'd barely helped.
"...Feels good anyway."
I grinned watching him leave, satisfied.
"Hello! Jegal Hoon, reporting to the Titans!"
"Yeah, you're the guy who almost went deep off Yuha."
"...Pardon? Oh, yeah. Came up short, though."
"Yuha was nasty that day. Flipping balls... a bit much."
"Ahem!"
Every farewell brings a new hello. Jegal Hoon, a year behind infield captain Baek Jihun, was upbeat.
"You're Kang Yeol's classmate, right? Total opposites."
"Kang Yeol's quiet, yeah. That's why I like him."
Watching from afar, Jang Munwoo asked me, hands shaking.
"Yuha, should we start outfield drills now? What about outfield D?"
"Why ask me?"
I was a two-way player, not three.
The Titans, clinging to first in the East, got even stronger with Jegal Hoon. But uncertainties lingered.
"Another five-inning grind?"
Ivan Rodriguez, the Titans' second foreign arm, was slumping hard.
"Sigh... Didn't overseas scouting rate him low?"
"Yeah, but foreign signings are a lottery, right?"
"Tch."
Last offseason, the front office stayed quiet. Rebuilding teams rarely splash in FA.
"So we invested in foreigners instead."
They swapped out all the imports—a bold move that mostly worked. Except Ivan.
"Ugh... Does he even wanna come to Korea?"
"He's iffy, but his agency is pushing hard."
"Without Jin Yuha, we'd be screwed."
The replacement list was long ready, thanks to my dad Jin Yusung and his agent Jackson Morris.
"Our scouts' take?"
"Velocity's elite—rare late-90s heat from a big frame for KBO."
"Nice."
"But secondary pitches need work."
Not the type we'd normally import. Velocity-only foreigners rarely thrive here lately.
But...
"Morris and Jin Yusung flagged him..."
Endorsed by MLB's top agent and Jin Yusung's legendary eye.
"They think a curve gets him MLB-ready."
"Huh."
And the Titans had a curve guru: Kim Pilsun, who humiliated himself tweaking my mechanics in camp but teaches curves like a wizard.
"Can Kim Pilsun add the curve? If MLB coaches couldn't?"
"Dunno. Morris trusts us, weirdly."
"Jack Gordon hype him up? Heard there was beef at camp."
Actually, they trusted me, not the coach—but the front office didn't know.
"Travis Turner, huh... Let's watch."
They'd wait and see.
"Prep for a swap anyway."
A very swap-leaning wait.
Meetings are easy. Farewells, easier.
"Hope they swap him quick."
Honestly, I wanted Ivan gone.
"Harsh."
"James doesn't drag like that, right?"
"...Can't deny."
Post-rotation tweak, the pattern held: Me and James Gilbert dominate. Ivan implodes by foreigner standards. Baek Jeongsu hyung and Kwak Jaewoong hyung fluctuate.
Rinse, repeat.
"Our lead over second's shrinking instead of growing."
Pros chase rings. Ivan wasn't helping. Crucial in import-heavy KBO.
If he was even likable...
Struggling hard, he got snappier, angrier. No sympathy.
Step up or get slept on. Titans were saints for waiting.
"Front office'll handle it. Or Yuha, wanna pressure them too?"
"C'mon, this ain't basketball."
A player like me? Options limited.
"Just focus on ball."
"Yup."
Ivan's funk sparked a three-game skid right after spring. Eerie timing—fans tense, team edgy. I was the streak-buster they needed.
Opponent: Changwon Rhinos. They'd beaten us yesterday, closing the gap to half a game for second in the East.
"Rhinos... Good to see 'em again."
Hope they felt the same.