Chapter 60
Chapter 60. There's No First-Round Pick Who Can't Even Crush a Minor League Pitcher, Right? (2)
In November, after the Korean Series had ended and the pro baseball season was officially over, only the "true" fans remained on the AT Thunderbirds Gallery—also known as Edge-gal. The forum was noisy with trade rumors.
[So is it true they're selling Jang Hyun-ho?]
Fuck, that bastard easily hits 20 home runs whenever he goes to a ping-pong stadium, fuck.
Lmao why would they sell him? An outfielder batting .300 with double-digit home runs.
What's the point of hitting .300? His OBP is only .030 higher.
So how are we supposed to play the season without Jang Hyun-ho? Lmao, there's no alternative.
When I think about how we missed the last train to fall baseball because of that bastard, fuck.
How is that Jang Hyun-ho's fault? Lmao. They just got eliminated because they suck.
Welcome, Hyun-ho moms.
[I'm a club official, look forward to this Stove League lol]
There's gonna be a huge signing.
Bullshit.
Don't feed the troll.
They're probably gonna pick up another old man, fuckers.
[I heard Ki Sang-ju is returning to the KBO this time, I hope he comes to our team.]
Please save this hopeless fucking team!!
You think he'd come? Fuck.
I wish those fucking migrant birds wouldn't come, just seeing them pisses me off.
Fr lol
But they say Hancheol Grizzlies are struggling lately. Honestly, besides us or fucking Silla Triggers, there's probably no team that can match his price lol
If he comes, it'd be a jackpot though.
The usual Edge-gal, burning up with the Stove League while looking forward to the next season. The people of Edge-gal, thirsty for baseball, soon found new bait.
[Hey Edge-gal losers. Are you surfing the gallery knowing that the Icheon boys' game is being broadcast right now?]
Go to the club's iTube.
Fuck, why are you telling us this just now?
It just started, idiot.
[Is Ji Maeng-ho playing?]
Yeah.
Who is Ji Maeng-ho?
Why are you even on Edge-gal if you don't even know our first-round pick? Gtfo.
[Game just started, let's watch the broadcast together go go]
Fuck, maybe because it's a club camera, the quality is fucking trash.
Just eat it gratefully, mutt.
Fr lol
The only thing capable of extinguishing Edge-gal, which was burning with the Stove League, was an actual baseball game! Even after the season ended, the "true" fans remaining on the forum began flocking to the club's iTube channel.
“Hello, fans of the AT Thunderbirds. I'm Yoon Jin-sung, the General Manager of the AT Thunderbirds, taking charge of broadcasting today's finishing camp intra-squad game. Nice to meet you.”
Ha, fuck, fucking Jin-sung is broadcasting.
If he makes another fucking trade, I'm going to set the stadium on fire.
Still, there's no one like the GM.
Fuck, can't believe there are GM moms here too, get lost.
Oblivious to whether such posts were going up, Yoon Jin-sung simply continued his broadcast.
“Ah, ah. The chat is scrolling up too fast. Hmm, please understand that I can't communicate much as I need to focus on the game. You're asking if the trade rumor is true? Everyone, rumors are just rumors, so you don't need to worry too much. And, I've invited a special guest to help with my broadcast.”
“Hello! I am AT Thunderbirds pitcher, Park Jun-hyung.”
“Well, Player Park Jun-hyung joined us here at my request even though he's on vacation. Thank you.”
“Hey, it's nothing. Just raise my salary instead.”
With the appearance of the AT Thunderbirds' third starter and de facto domestic ace, Park Jun-hyung, the temperature of the chat room grew even hotter.
Known for his soft, "tofu-like" appearance that attracted many female fans, clean interview skills, and being a Seoul native who completed all his schooling in Seoul, Park Jun-hyung was a franchise star who had never dropped out of the top 3 in uniform sales for the AT Thunderbirds since his rookie debut in 2015.
Wow, it's Park Jun-hyung!!
Player Park, how are you spending your vacation?
Great job this season!
You're so handsome!
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
There was a lot of fan interest, but...
You motherfucker, are you supposed to come out here after posting an ERA in the 4s?
This bastard isn't working out in the offseason and came out to something like this again.
Wow, making 250 million won with those skills, he has no conscience.
Did you get eliminated early again this year and go film a variety show in the fall? You fucker?
There were also a lot of insults.
However, fitting for a pro in his 8th year, Park Jun-hyung smoothly asked the stream manager to cut off the chats with swear words and greeted the fans who truly supported him.
“Nice to meet you, fans! I'll formally greet you again! I am Park Jun-hyung of the AT Thunderbirds.”
“Player Jun-hyung, then I'll act as the caster, so could you take on the role of commentator?”
“Of course. They are all my peers, seniors, and juniors, but I will try to commentate as objectively as possible.”
Wow! Player Jun-hyung's commentary! I have to listen to this!
You bitch, just play baseball well.
Jun-hyung oppa!! You're handsome!!!!
This season was such a shame ㅠㅠ
Fucking Jin-sung you bitch, if you make another retarded trade I'm going to burn down the club.
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
“Oh my, I'll work hard next year.”
“Let's wrap up the greetings here. Then, before we start the game, I'll let you know in advance that because it's an intra-squad game, they'll only play 5 innings.”
Once the proper greetings were over and the atmosphere was set for the game to start, GM Yoon began reading the lineup he received from the Manager.
“Then I'll announce the lineups for both teams first. For the Blue team, batting 1st, Kang Ju-hyun. Batting 2nd... Batting 4th, Ji Maeng-ho. Batting 5th... The White team's defensive positions are...”
Why isn't Kim Su-ho playing?
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
It's a finishing camp, so only the minor league is playing.
Ah...
But why is Woo Kwan-hyung here?
Who is Ji Maeng-ho that he's batting 4th?
A rookie this year. He smashed high school baseball last year.
While reading the rapidly scrolling chat, an interesting comment caught Park Jun-hyung's eye.
“Oh, GM. This kid seems to be a rookie drafted this year, but he's already the cleanup hitter?”
“I heard from the Manager, but he said this player, Ji Maeng-ho, is amazing. They've already played two intra-squad games, and he's showing a great performance, recording 2 hits in 3 at-bats, with one home run and one double.”
“Oh, is it because he's a first-round pick? I'm looking forward to spring camp. I want to face him once. As some of you may know, our Icheon Thunderbirds placed 1st in the Northern League last year.”
“Seeing a 20-year-old player proudly take the cleanup spot among such players, I'm really looking forward to next year.”
Anticipation my ass, they'll just DTD (Down Team is Down) again next year.
[ATTHUNDERSTV] ※ For a clean online culture, please refrain from swearing/criticizing comments. Spamming and malicious comments may be deleted without notice ※
(This message has been deleted.)
Wow! I'm so excited.
(This message has been deleted.)
Is Player Jun-hyung not playing today?
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
“'Is Player Jun-hyung not playing today.' Yes. Today is the finishing camp period, so I'm on vacation. Hahaha, fans! I'll see you at spring camp.”
“The game is about to start now. Player Jun-hyung, which team do you think has the advantage?”
“Hmm... I think the White team, led by Senior Kwan-hyung, will have the advantage. Honestly, for us pitchers, seeing Senior Kwan-hyung sitting in the dugout is reassuring. It's like, even if I give up a run, it feels like Senior Kwan-hyung will tie the game up again? Because of that feeling, I think we can pitch more aggressively, creating a good pitching flow.”
“As expected, a player of Woo Kwan-hyung's caliber has that kind of aura.”
“I think I'm lucky to have joined the AT Thunderbirds. Because I don't have to face Senior Kwan-hyung. Hahaha.”
Our hyung ㅠㅠ Don't age ㅠㅠㅠ
Kwan-woo old man definitely has a presence.
This bitch at least has the conscience not to say he'd reverse the game.
Our hyung lol
Why? Does Player Woo Kwan-hyung just sit in the dugout when the pitcher throws? Is it perhaps because he's 40 years old, only playing as a designated hitter, and blocking the team's future?
Restrain yourself from dropping facts.
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
Fr lol
[ATTHUNDERSTV] ※ For a clean online culture... ※
The fact bomb above got deleted...
Don't insult Player Kwan-hyung. I'm taking screenshots and reporting you all.
The Coffin Squad is here lol
(This message has been deleted.)
(This message has been deleted.)
(This message has been deleted.)
GM, it looks like we're being attacked from malicious sites, please ban them all!!!
Let's push them back with firepower!!!
Heave
Ho
Heave
Ho
As soon as the topic of the AT Thunderbirds' superstar, Woo Kwan-hyung, came up, the chat room flared up again. It was somewhat natural, given that Woo Kwan-hyung had as many anti-fans as he did fans. GM Yoon pressed his throbbing temples.
Ha, these demon-like bastards have already gathered.
But what could he do? They were AT Thunderbirds fans too. GM Yoon forced a smile and appeased the fans.
“Now, now. I don't know what's going on, but please don't fight, phew, the chat scrolled up too quickly. Oh, the game has started. Oh, the Blue team's leadoff batter, Player Kang Ju-hyun's first-pitch swing! He flies out to center field.”
“Ah, Senior Ju-hyun showed a good swing, but it's a shame. You could see it as Senior Jin-hoo throwing a really good pitch. In fact, Senior Jin-hoo spent most of this season in the minors, but he's actually a much better pitcher than me.”
That bastard swings at the first pitch and dies even in an intra-squad game.
Anyone, just win!!
The Icheon boys are doing well.
Kim Jin-hoo, fighting! Let's see you in the 1st league next year!
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
After the stream manager swung his sword once, the swearing comments had almost completely disappeared.
[Fuck, the club's YouTube censorship is insane]
I got deleted for swearing once, thought I was in a dictatorship. You Edge-gal losers better be careful too.
Did you insult our hyung? You fucking bastard, be grateful that this team even has a batter of our hyung's caliber.
The Coffin Squad was here too, huh.
This is the main base, didn't you know? Idiot lol
Be grateful that Woo Kwan-hyung is playing for this fucking team, you motherfucker.
Actually, why don't we Edge-gal members who like our hyung hit the like button?
Yeah, it's because of his dark aura that we haven't made it for 20 years~
Fact) Before Woo Kwan-hyung joined, the AT Thunderbirds went to fall baseball 8 times in 12 years. But since the year after Woo Kwan-hyung joined, they haven't made it to fall baseball for 20 years. Is this still not a dark aura?
Of course, those fans had all moved over to Edge-gal to argue, but out of sight, out of mind is how the world works. GM Yoon, satisfied with the disappearance of the malicious chats, continued the broadcast.
“And a walk is issued here.”
“Ah, Senior Jin-hoo's pitches are really good, but sometimes his control acts up. Honestly, if it were me, I think I would've grooved it right down the middle.”
“The next batter is shortstop Yoon Sung-tae. Everyone knows Player Yoon Sung-tae, right? He enlisted in the Sangmu (military team) last year and just got discharged this year. He's a player you can look forward to next year.”
“Oh, Sung-tae. He's already discharged. Actually, this friend—no, this player has tremendous power but his contact was slightly lacking, yet he became a player who makes us look forward to next year by winning the home run title in the Sangmu.”
“He watches the first pitch. Feels like his batting eye has improved too, right?”
Yoon Sung-tae should've been a right-handed batter, but he's left-handed again lol
If he was a righty, he probably would've flopped lol
Haven't seen Player Yoon Sung-tae in a long time!!!
Sung-tae! Fighting! Noona is watching you!!!
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
“Oh! Good hit! It pierces through the gap between 1st and 2nd base. Now the White team is in a crisis with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd!”
“Wow, Sung-tae has really improved a lot.”
“Now, the Blue team's cleanup hitter, Ji Maeng-ho, steps into the batter's box.”
“This player was the first-round pick this time, right?”
“That's right.”
“Wow, it feels like just yesterday when I was a first-round pick... Ah, come to think of it, when this player was drafted in the first round, his interview was really funny...”
“Jun-hyung, that story is...”
“Ah, sorry. Uh, uh. Ah! According to what I've heard, Ji Maeng-ho, this player completely chewed up high school baseball this year—ah, am I not supposed to use these words? I apologize. There are a lot of evaluations saying he dominated high school baseball, but honestly, I didn't have the luxury to watch the games during the season. I'm looking forward to it, too.”
“Actually, I know that fans were very worried when we drafted Player Ji Maeng-ho. Like, why draft a batter with the first-round pick? Things like that. But everyone, please don't worry. Player Ji Maeng-ho is the player with the highest potential for development among all the players I've seen so far.”
“Huh? More than me, GM?”
“Fans, you don't need to worry! Because he'll turn out better than Jun-hyung!”
“Ah, GM!”
Wow! I'm looking forward to it!
Looking at Ji Maeng-ho's high school records, it's pretty sick lol
Honestly, they'd be idiots if they didn't pick him.
First time seeing him, but Player Ji Maeng-ho is handsome!!!!!
AT Thunderbirds, punish Ji Maeng-ho for assaulting a fan!
Huh? What was that chat that just appeared and got deleted?
Probably just some bugs passing through, what fan assault lol
Sounds like they're talking about him catching a stalker? lol Are you the stalker yourself?
Wow, his physical build is insane. That's a second baseman?
He's a right-handed batter! Righty!
He's handsome!!!
Jun-hyung! Call out noona's name!!
Tell her to stop calling out for you, you fangirl.
At the GM's words, the fans' expectations amplified, and all eyes began to focus on Maeng-ho's at-bat.