The End of the First Half
The last week of June brought rain. For the Titans, it was like a long-awaited shower ending a drought.
"Phew... Is heaven pushing us toward the championship? These rain cancellations are coming at the perfect time."
"Didn't you used to complain like crazy that the new stadium wasn't built as a dome?"
"Me? Nah."
"I swear you said Jamsil Dome was the best..."
"Enough with the rumors! YouTube's already blowing up because you called me a Guardians fan!"
"But it was true, right?"
"Actually, I'm from Busan. My grandpa was from there, I think."
"That's a stretch."
The Titans players were so grateful that Shin Sajik Baseball Stadium hadn't been built as a dome that even hardcore Guardians fans were willing to whitewash their bloodlines.
"Argh... No games. No chance to shine. This isn't good..."
Some players groaned like Baek Jihun, but most felt the same.
"Why's that hyung still making a fuss when the voting's already over?"
The All-Star voting had ended days ago. And.
"He probably wants to play like a real All-Star shortstop now. His bat's been hot lately."
Baek Jihun had barely scraped into the All-Stars.
"Eh, motivation's important."
The Titans players named to the Eastern League All-Star roster were as follows:
Catcher Park Cheongwon. First baseman Kang Gihoo. Shortstop Baek Jihun. Third baseman Yoon Kangyeol. Outfielder Jeong Suyeong. Outfielder Frank Rodriguez. And starting pitcher Jin Yuha.
Even excluding me—the overall vote leader—the Titans players had pulled away from second place with significant margins. Except for Baek Jihun, whose main rival was a former Major Leaguer.
"Rangers' Jo Youngwoo closes it out, and one outfield spot goes to Warriors' Baek Sangyeon. Second base is Wolves, relief from Carvers? Carvers made the All-Stars?"
"Dohoon. Kid's popular these days. Handsome and throws heat."
Hmm.
"You know him?"
"Yuha, remember your college teammates at least."
Oh.
"Right. That flashy lefty."
"Yeah, him."
He was definitely the lefty who struck pointless poses on the mound.
"Had good velocity."
"Lefty hitting 157 km/h."
"Velocity was the only thing going for him."
"His breaking stuff's been sharp lately, though."
Whatever.
"Whatever, nice to see him."
I was number one anyway.
"You're such a jerk."
"I get it, guys who don't even make the candidate list feel left out."
"Tch."
In the midst of this unexpectedly extended rest period, the Titans' roster saw quite a few changes.
"Long time no see, everyone."
Designated hitter Oh Daesu, who'd been off the roster due to injury since early June, made his return. With his bat fully dialed in from the minors, his addition solidified the Titans' lineup even more.
"...I figured, but it's still a shock."
On the flip side, Kwak Jaewoong—who'd struggled all June—got demoted. Manager Jeong Hyeonho said it was to let him return fresh for the second half, but Kwak Jaewoong couldn't relax.
The fifth starter spot he held was an endless battle royale. Rival Jeong Sangwoo had been stepping up nicely in spot starts lately.
"With Jeong Sangwoo hyung filling the rotation well, it kinda leaves a gap."
"Eh... just gotta hold out a week."
Another hole in the Titans' rotation. But it wasn't all bad news.
The new foreign pitcher had finally arrived.
"Still got that same dickhead look."
A familiar face to me.
"You're that kid monster, huh? Don't get friendly. I hate Korean players."
So I fully expected lines like that.
If you had to pick the most dramatic moment in Travis Turner's baseball career, it'd probably be a few months back.
"Travis Turner, right?"
Right before his big league debut, a freak injury forced Tommy John surgery. After a year of rehab, he returned but slumped hard.
Then one day, Jackson Morris showed up.
"Whoa, seriously Mr. Morris?"
"Who else would I be if not Morris?"
Who was Jackson Morris? The top agent in MLB right now, famed for his eye for talent.
'He's personally scouting me?'
This had only happened once recently.
New York's monster. Last year's Cy Young winner, Eric McClain. No one else had gotten "chosen by Jackson Morris" since.
"Join me?"
"Of course!"
So Travis Turner wouldn't turn down Jackson Morris's offer. But.
"...Where to?"
"Korea. The land of the Meteor."
Morris's next pitch was dubious in every way.
"Really?"
"What you need now is starts. Lots of them."
"True, but... why there of all places..."
"Not a fan?"
For very personal reasons, Travis Turner harbored negativity toward Korea—specifically Korean baseball players.
"...No. I'll go."
He lacked the guts to refuse Morris.
"Sigh... So this is Korea. Tch."
He ended up coming anyway.
"Of all teams, the one with Meteor's kid?"
Meteor's son, or the Mets' wonderboy, Jin Yuha. Once the mascot of the Mets dynasty, now this kid was a team's ace. A monster ace devouring the league.
"Stats... unreal. Is the Korean league just weak?"
A starter holding a sub-1.00 ERA.
"Makes sense. That damn Meteor never played here either."
Travis downgraded his view of the Korean league.
"Nice to meet you, Turner. Your debut will be after the All-Star break. You need time to adjust."
At least the league wasn't old-school in operations. Small mercy.
"Since you're here, want a stadium tour? Games are rained out, but most players are around—say hi."
"Sure."
That's how he ended up face-to-face with Jin Yuha.
"You're that kid monster, huh? Don't get friendly. I hate Korean players."
A bratty prank. Though his dislike for Korean players—especially Jin Yusung—was real.
'Heh. Bet he's flustered.'
He looked up, expecting a flustered kid's face. But.
'He's... smiling?'
Jin Yuha's expression defied expectations.
"Nah, it's cool. I don't like Texas guys either."
His words did too.
'...How the hell does he know I'm from Texas?'
Travis was the flustered one now.
Travis Turner's beef with Korean players had its reasons. Pretty understandable ones, even.
He was from Texas.
'Rangers and Korean players don't mix well...'
As everyone knew, not great chemistry. And.
'Their latest shot at a title got crushed by a Korean on the other team.'
His dad.
In 2023, after a brutal Game 7 with rival Houston Astros to reach the World Series, the Texas Rangers met my dad's Mets—and settled for best supporting actor.
'Whatever, that's fine.'
Didn't change that this guy was a lunatic. Hate Koreans all you want, but walking up and saying "don't get friendly with me" to my face first? Not normal.
No wonder I rate my personality as decent for a pitcher.
"...How'd you know?"
"Know what."
"That I'm from Texas."
"Your shitty drawl gives it away."
"Tch."
Anyway.
"You sure you wanna bitch at me?"
Because.
"I'm the one who recommended you to Jackson."
"What?! How do you even know me."
"Don't need to know that. ...You didn't think he scouted you 'cause you're some genius, right?"
"..."
"Guess you did. Delusions of grandeur. You can't even pitch as good as me."
Of course, Travis Turner becomes a stud pitcher in the future. But first, time to humble that ego.
'He does suck compared to me, fact.'
Anyway, this team's ace is me, number two is James Gilbert. A third starter strutting? Please.
'Gotta smack him down early or he'll climb.'
At least.
"Damn, no wonder Morris came sniffing around a nobody like me..."
He wasn't just a dumb arrogant prick.
"Fine, won't admit it? Watch me pitch. You'll get it quick."
Pretty quick on the uptake, too.
Thwack!!
"Nice ball!"
Bullpen. Every time Jin Yuha's pitch popped the mitt, a satisfying sound echoed.
I heard today was supposed to be his start. So he could show real pitching right away.
'Figured a teen pitcher couldn't throw anything special...'
Shocking.
Thwack!!
"Good!"
Four-seam.
Thwack!!
"Whoa... look at that angle."
Sweeper.
Thwack!!
"Bat just broke!"
Cutter.
Thwack!!
"Righties are toast!"
Two-seam.
Thwack!!
"Oof... tough grab. How does Hanseong catch this easy?"
Splitter.
Thwack!!
"No wonder it's your out. Perfect."
Slider.
And.
Thwack!!
"Why the hell does he call this lacking?"
Curve too.
The bullpen catcher's chatter didn't reach Travis Turner's ears.
'How many pitches?'
And.
'Velocity faster than mine, breaking balls more polished.'
Meaning.
'League's not weak. He's just a freak.'
Damn geniuses. Guys who skip minor league hell and rocket to MLB stardom. He saw them in Jin Yuha throwing.
Travis gritted his teeth.
"No, no way! Won't believe till I see you in a real game!"
Pathetic, even to him.
"Oh, so this is the phase where you had pointless pride."
The much younger Jin Yuha just tilted his head curiously at the nonsense.
"Do what you want. Last first-half start's mine—watch then."
And nodded.
"Shxt..."
That stung even more.
'Won't buy it off bullpen tosses, huh?'
Fair enough. A pitcher's true colors show in games.
But I'd forgotten something.
- "Grant me the honor of your advice. My growth gets the team closer to winning—good for you too. You want a title, right?"
Pre-regression. Even back when this Texas pitcher had some humility from grinding minors, he was peak starter personality.
"Yu-ha! Teach me curve. Morris said one curve gets me big league ready! You called me here—least you can do!"
"Piss off! Why teach a guy who won't even respect me!"
"That's separate!"
Starters gonna starter—self-serving by default.
"I can't throw curve! Learn from pitching coach!"
"Saw you bullpenning—quit lying!"
Egoistic punks who only care about themselves.