Advance (2)
“Ha… I’m jealous.”
The Suwon Castleers, like most teams, envied the Titans. But their reason was a little different from the others.
“Our defense is actually better than Yumin’s, and if we’re talking potential, our hitting could grow to his level too… How the hell did the Titans snag a guy like that?”
The reason the Castleers envied the Titans was none other than Jeong Hanseong.
“…When’s Yumin coming back?”
“Earliest next month, I think.”
“This is frustrating.”
The Castleers’ weakness was painfully obvious right now. Their starting catcher was out with an injury. And not just any injury.
“He gets hurt way too often… It’s because he’s so passionate, so it’s hard to even complain about it…”
Their starting catcher, Seo Yumin, getting sidelined wasn’t a one-time thing. With his overflowing passion trapped in a body that was just too fragile, he booked an injury ticket every season like clockwork.
The so-called injury-prone type. It was a fatal flaw for a starter, but the Castleers had no alternatives. Because.
“There’s no one better than Yumin… And all the pitchers love him… It’s so damn frustrating.”
A healthy Seo Yumin put on performances rivaling prime Park Cheongwon on both sides of the ball, and the pitchers, inspired by his unique passion, trusted him completely.
“Think Haram can pull it off today?”
“He’s a legit hitter, at least.”
“…What good is a catcher who can only hit if the pitchers are scared to throw sliders because they might run? Is that even a catcher?”
The Castleers had been spinning the backup catcher carousel for ages, maybe even playing more games than the starter. But the results were disastrous.
Raising a catcher was just that damn hard.
“They’re the weird ones. How lucky can they be?”
The Titans were the outliers for suddenly producing a prospect catcher ready for the first team.
The 2040 rookie draft. Jin Yuha aside, the Titans had used up a lifetime of luck.
“If our GM had just talked a little smoother… maybe he’d be wearing our uniform.”
Back when the Titans were shopping for infield help to bolster their lineup, the Castleers’ GM had proposed trading Jeong Hanseong to Titans GM Hyeon Myeongun. But.
“Eh, I doubt it would’ve ever happened. Didn’t you hear? Hyeon Myeongun replied with ‘Did you eat?’”
“That wasn’t a joke?”
“Nope, not a joke. The GM showed us the X chat himself.”
Hyeon Myeongun wasn’t an idiot. Jeong Hanseong was NFS—non-fungible something special.
“Tch.”
The Castleers’ manager smacked his lips and stared blankly at the lineup card. In the eight spot, catcher Jeong Hanseong’s name was written.
“Man… Now he’s starting without Jin Yuha pitching? Kid’s growing fast.”
“Hoo…”
Travis Turner took a deep breath before climbing the mound.
His KBO debut. He hadn’t exactly chosen to come here, but he had no intention of half-assing the game.
He wasn’t wired that way to begin with.
And.
- WAAAAAAAAA!!!
He didn’t want to look embarrassing in front of the Titans fans who’d made the trip to this away stadium, distance be damned.
“You good! Very good! Trust me!”
The baby-faced catcher encouraged him. It was Jeong Hanseong, whom Travis had specifically requested.
The reason was simple. Jin Yuha trusted Jeong Hanseong.
Before he knew it, Travis had made the much younger Jin Yuha his role model. Something Jin Yuha himself would never admit, even on his deathbed.
Thud, thud.
Travis Turner stepped onto the mound and.
Thwack!!
began his warm-up tosses.
Thwack!!
His stuff felt great.
Tap, tap.
The catcher’s sign came through the PitchCom.
Bottom of the first.
Backing a two-run RBI single from Frank Rodriguez in the top half.
Whoosh!!
Travis unleashed his first pitch.
Thwack!!
“Strike!”
The four-seam, released from a high arm slot and diving down like a hammer, stabbed the top of the zone.
- 159 km/h
Nearly 160 km/h velocity.
- WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
The stadium shook.
Thwack!!
“Strike!”
Amid gazes mixed with awe and doubt.
Tap, tap.
Taking the sign.
Whoosh!!
The ball flew.
Buzzz!!
The cornered hitter swung for dear life, but.
Thwack!!
“Swing! Strike! Out!”
Three pitches, three strikes.
- WAAAAAAAA!!
It was all too familiar.
Dynamic delivery. Classic overhand. Even the curve.
Travis Turner’s pitching.
Thwack!!
“Strike out!”
Bottom of the first.
Travis Turner’s final pitch.
- 160 km/h
Hit 160 exactly.
“Haha. How was that?”
Travis returned to the dugout laughing and asked me.
“Hm… You did good.”
That’s all I could say.
“This is all thanks to Kim and you helping me out.”
Huh?
“What help did I give you?”
I was the one who brought Travis to Korea, sure, but I hadn’t done much since.
“Don’t play dumb… I know you put on that All-Star performance for me.”
What the hell?
“D-didn’t you hear who I was imitating?”
“Oh, yeah, I heard you were copying this team’s legend.”
You know that and still say this?
I stared at him in bewilderment, and he just shrugged.
“O… Just cosplaying some reptile or whatever is one thing, but copying a past legend has to mean something. And by coincidence, the guy you imitated uses the curve as his out pitch, and that day’s pitching plan you showed matched exactly what I’m aiming for. No need to be shy.”
“Ah.”
This guy was always like this.
“Coach Kim helped a ton too, of course. But watching you pitch showed me exactly how I should attack going forward. Thanks.”
The world revolves around him.
“Think whatever you want.”
“Whoa… I’ve seen that personality somewhere before.”
“Shut up and catch.”
We called guys like that starting pitchers.
“But you know four-seam and curve alone won’t cut it, right?”
“Of course. My other stuff’s solid too. Look forward to it.”
Whoosh!!
Travis’s slider sailed way high.
“Ugh!”
Jeong Hanseong jumped in place, stretching the mitt just in time to snag it.
“Hey, you said you could throw it fine…”
If it had gotten away, the runner on third would’ve scored—a dangerous moment.
“…Ha, he caught that. Jealous. So jealous.”
I heard that voice from somewhere.
Of course, a team win isn’t just about the pitcher dominating. Even if the staff shuts out the opponent, no runs scored means no victory. And the Titans, a team that got it done, had their bats firing too.
The Titans’ lineup got caught off-guard early by the pitcher throwing something other than splitters when they expected them, contrary to scouting reports. But with no dropper to worry about, they quickly mauled the Castleers’ mound.
Crack!!
Leading the charge: Kang Gihoo, whose hunger for the home run title grew after settling for runner-up in the Derby.
Crack!!
And Frank Rodriguez, the Dominican who started scorching as summer—and homesickness—neared.
Cleaning frame. Score: 6-1.
Travis had met the win criteria, but he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted a perfect KBO debut.
Thwack!!
“Strike out!”
And the Titans were plenty greedy.
Haha! Power pitcher with romantic flair lands in Busan! Titans’ new import Travis Turner nails debut: 7 IP, 1 ER.
“Jin Yuha gave me huge help.” Travis name-drops Jin Yuha nonstop in interview. The Jin Yuha effect?
“Oh, and thanks to pitching coach Kim too.” Travis finally shouts out Kim Pilsun, who looks sheepish.
Career-high for Baek Jeongsu: Quality start, 6 IP 2 ER in successful second-half opener. Can he hit 10 wins again?
“Fans, you can look forward to it.” Titans’ Baek Jeongsu shows rare confidence. Fans beaming.
Kwak Jaewoong rebounds from late first-half slump: 5 IP 1 ER in return. “Fifth starter is me!”
Titans starters win five straight. Western League trembles at their advance!
Pistols’ nightmare returns. Titans announce Jin Yuha for Friday vs. Pistols.
Friday. Daejeon.
Jin Yuha added another kill mark.