75. Veteran Rookie
1. Seoul Guardians
2. Incheon Fighters
3. Gwangju Irons
4. Suwon Castles
5. Daejeon Pistols
6. Jeonju Dragons
1. Busan Titans
2. Changwon Rhinos
3. Seoul Rangers
4. Daegu Warriors
5. Seoul Wolves
6. Ulsan Carvers
The regular season was over. The results were a far cry from what the experts had predicted before the season began.
The biggest reason for that was this team.
Busan Titans. Until last year, they were the perennial doormat of the Eastern League, finishing dead last for two straight seasons. No expert had foreseen the Titans claiming the Eastern League crown.
And most people pointed to one reason why the Titans had reached first place.
"Well, it's getting old saying it, but it's all thanks to this player."
They singled out the high school grad rookie who had joined the team this year.
"He's a player who suits the title of Titans ace better than son of Jin Yuseong these days—Jin Yuha."
It might sound exaggerated at first glance to say one single player dragged a last-place team to a championship. But.
"He started 30 games, went 27-0, and led the league in wins and winning percentage."
Once you saw Jin Yuha's actual stats, you couldn't help but think, Yeah, that makes sense.
"In 225 innings, he allowed just 10 runs for a 0.40 ERA, topping the league in innings pitched while also leading in ERA."
Jin Yuha's numbers were simply unbelievable.
"302 strikeouts. Naturally, number one in Ks, and that's the single-season record. Just one of the many records he set this year."
"Three straight complete shutouts, most complete games in a season, most strikeouts in a game, consecutive strikeout record, three perfect innings, no-hitter... He achieved all that in one season."
"And he even has a save."
"Hahaha! I almost forgot about that."
So it was only natural that every sports channel was focusing intensely on Jin Yuha.
Postseason? Sure, it was an intriguing topic.
The Fighters vs. Irons Western playoff, Rhinos vs. Rangers Eastern playoff. And the regular season champs—Guardians and Titans—waiting for the winners.
There was plenty to talk about and analyze. But.
How do you contain Jin Yuha?
The high school rookie who shattered every record imaginable and claimed the Triple Crown, son of a baseball legend. No matter how you sliced it, Jin Yuha was more fascinating than any postseason preview.
"Remember his first post-start interview? He laid out his goals for the season."
"It was huge news. Some fans even bashed him for it."
"20 wins, sub-1.00 ERA, Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year... I get why fans reacted that way. It was bold talk from a rookie."
But.
"To cut to the chase, Jin Yuha achieved all his goals. And then some."
"...He hasn't won Rookie or MVP yet, though?"
"You're joking, right?"
"No, that's just the facts."
Jin Yuha had become the main reason this year's KBO awards ceremony would be a snoozefest.
"Alright, we've talked Jin Yuha's excellence to death. Let's switch gears. How will he fare in the playoffs?"
"No talk about the other teams?"
"We'll get to that later. This is what fans really want to know, isn't it?"
The panelists hesitated to speak up. They rarely got it right when they opined on Jin Yuha.
"Hm... If he were just your average high school rookie, I'd say he'd be nervous for sure."
After a brief silence, commentator Kim Choong-sik was the first to chime in.
"But it's Jin Yuha. He'll pitch exactly as everyone expects."
The guy once dubbed the "everyone-hater" was now called the "everyone-but-Jin-Yuha hater."
"He might get nervous and struggle. He's human, still young. But..."
Kim shrugged and wrapped it up.
"Even then, it'd be like 7 innings, 1 run. That's subpar by Jin Yuha standards."
"...is what he said, Yuha. Wow, I swear I've never heard Kim Choong-sik praise a player like that. What do you think?"
Instead of Jin Yuha, Jeong Hanseong answered Baek Jihun's question.
"What do you think he'd think? He's probably just smug like, Of course, it's me."
Jeong Hanseong was slurping spicy ramen at the table.
"That's true, but... why is everyone at our house anyway?"
Jin Yuha hadn't invited them.
So, Jeong Hanseong had shown up first.
"What?"
"Nothing to do anyway, so I came over. Let's watch Game 1 of the playoffs together."
"Do we have to?"
"Mia won't be back till the Korean Series, right? Better than being lonely by yourself."
"Those idiots still messing with you?"
"Huh? They're bad at baseball, but they know better than to touch the Titans' second catcher and future lady of the house."
"Fine, whatever."
He was right about being bored, so Jin Yuha let Jeong Hanseong in. And that was the beginning.
"Oh, by the way, I invited a few seniors on the way. Cool with you?"
"...What?"
Ding-dong!
"Yuha! Bro's here!"
Baek Jihun grinned brightly as he rang the bell.
"Yuha, thanks for the invite."
"Same here."
Kang Gihoo and Yoon Gangyeol thanked him, clearly under some misunderstanding.
"Oh... so this is the gathering of the young generation leading the Titans' future."
Jegal Hoon arrived last, full of admiration.
"Tried to drag Travis and Frank, but they had plans."
"...You were gonna invite more?"
His house was spacious enough for a few more, sure. But.
Good thing they didn't come.
Spacious house didn't mean he had the bandwidth.
"Still, it's nice having everyone together, right?"
Jin Yuha surveyed the living room at Jeong Hanseong's words.
"...Dude, your place is huge. You always this loaded, Yuha?"
"Jihun, what kinda dumb question is that? Yuha's dad is THE Yuseong."
"Oh yeah."
The room erupted into lively chatter in no time.
"Not bad."
Definitely better than being alone.
"Whoa... those Rangers guys are tough."
"Yeah. Insane focus."
"Rauer's struggling, though."
The Eastern playoff Game 1 kicked off with the Rangers' early lead.
"Tch. Guys like Rauer often flop in short series."
"Jihun hyung, speak after you swallow. Stuff's flying out of your mouth."
Whatever, Baek Jihun wasn't wrong.
Even back in his KBO days, he struggled in the postseason.
Before regression, MLB's Carl Rauer hadn't shone in playoffs either.
Lots of excuses flying around...
Like finesse pitchers like him naturally falter in short series. Or that he was just chicken and couldn't handle the pressure.
In my view...
Both.
"Pitchers like Rauer can't dominate short series like the regular season. He's not overpowering with raw stuff, right? But in playoffs, scouting's sharper, hitters more locked in. He ends up pitching passively."
"Whoa... pitcher’s eye, huh."
Come to think of it, he was the only pitcher here.
"So you picking Rangers in Game 1, Yuha?"
"Eh..."
The Rhinos weren't just a pitching team.
Ex-MLB vets.
And future MLB stars leading the lineup.
"Ooh... Gallen's rattled. This turning into a slugfest?"
Kang Gihoo muttered while inhaling ramen.
No more runs after that.
"Ha... Just thinking about facing him makes me dizzy."
"Eh? Doesn't every matchup make you dizzy, Jihun hyung?"
"Jihun. Sometimes you could learn from your classmate."
"Gangyeol?"
"Yeah. A bit more stoic like him."
"..."
The game rolled on to.
The Rangers, who struck first, took the win.
"Watching someone else's game is pretty fun."
"Whichever team wins, they'll face us, you know."
"Still fun, right? ...Yuha, which team you hoping advances? Or think will?"
All eyes turned to Jin Yuha at Baek Jihun's question.
Why the heavy stares?
Scanning their tense faces, it clicked.
Oh, hardly any of them have postseason experience.
This year's 1st-team debuts Jeong Hanseong and Kang Gihoo, Titans lifer Baek Jihun, traded-from-Dragons Yoon Gangyeol—none had playoff time. Jegal Hoon from Fighters had some, but as a backup.
"Hm..."
His job was simple.
"Doesn't matter who comes up. I've got this."
Show the usual confidence.
"Any day I pitch is an automatic W. Relax, everyone."
No need to worry. After all, he was a veteran rookie who'd built a dynasty in MLB.