Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Massive Transfers Heating Up the Stove League! (1)
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AT Thunderbirds Sign FA Mega-Fish Ki Sang-ju for 6 Years, 15 Billion!
AT Thunderbirds have signed outfielder Ki Sang-ju (31), formerly of the San Francisco Giants, to a 6-year, 15 billion won deal.
Over 9 seasons in the KBA League, Ki Sang-ju appeared in 1,162 games, posting a .338 batting average, 181 home runs, and 976 RBIs, establishing himself as one of the league's premier hitters. In Major League Baseball, he played 3 seasons across 316 games, hitting .278 with 307 hits, 20 home runs, and 122 RBIs.
Whoa, Ki Sang-ju for real? LOLLLLL
Next year’s gonna be different! LOLLLLL
Still Hancheol, makes me uneasy.
Ki Sang-ju! Ki Sang-ju! Ki Sang-ju! Ki Sang-ju! Ki Sang-ju!
I knew it!!!!!
Thank you, GM Yoon! Thank you, GM Yoon!
Fuck, he’s just a failed Major Leaguer washout. Why’s everyone hyped?
Your team’s broke next year, can’t even snag legends, lol losers~
AT Thunderbirds Pull Off Three-Way Trade Including Jang Hyun-ho! Aiming Straight for Postseason Next Year?
AT Thunderbirds have sent outfielder Jang Hyun-ho to the JT Gold Eyes, and…
Meanwhile, Jang Hyun-ho debuted with the AT Thunderbirds in 2016 and played through 2022, appearing in 742 games with a .301 average, .798 OPS, 862 hits, and 98 home runs.
What the fuck, trading Jang Hyun-ho?
Goddamn, not kidding around—the guys we got back are all scrubs.
Baek Jung-jin’s a decent prospect, but trading Jang Hyun-ho?
Outfield spots were crowded, had no choice probably.
Still, not Jang Hyun-ho -_-
His defense sucked anyway, sweet deal lol
Anyone wanna burn Jamsil with me?
Fuck, give back Jang Hyun-ho you bastards!
AT Thunderbirds Crowned Big Spenders! Sign Jang Yoon for 6 Years 9.4 Billion, Choi Jin-cheol for 2 Years 2 Billion!
AT Thunderbirds have signed pitcher Jang Yoon (31) from the UG Overroses and third baseman Choi Jin-cheol (35) from the Mirae Buffaloes.
Jang Yoon appeared in 219 games for UG Overroses, posting a 4.09 ERA and 73 wins as a starter. He’s expected to bolster the Thunderbirds’ rotation significantly.
…(abridged)…
Choi Jin-cheol, a four-time home run king in the KBA League, was traded from AT Thunderbirds to Mirae Buffaloes in 2013. He claimed the home run title that year and followed up in 2015, 2016, and 2021. His career KBA stats: 1,430 games, .276 average, 352 home runs, 1,123 RBIs.
…
Jang Yoon’s fine, but what’s with that washed-up fossil Choi Jin-cheol?
Look at ‘em drop the Jang Hyun-ho trade heat with this signing article right away, fucking pricks.
Choi Jin-cheol! Welcome! Been a fan since your rookie days.
2 billion on a geezer fossil? Fuck, nursing home class.
Next year’s different! Ki Sang-ju-Choi Jin-cheol-Kim Su-ho-Woo Kwang-hyung. Perfect KBA lineup!
They’re going all out splashing cash lol
Welcome, Jang Yoon!!
Stop bringing in fossils like Choi Jin-cheol, fuck!
‘Phew, I can do this.’
This was a routine training session I’d done countless times, but it always made me tense. After all, I was facing a Major League legend in person.
Thwack!
A heavy sensation vibrated through my hands. This was a feel I never got against high school pitchers. Was this the pitch that dominated Major League Baseball? His velocity clocked 92-93 mph (147-148 km/h), but the weight behind it was on another level entirely.
‘Take a quick break?’
‘I’m good.’
‘Let me explain again. Pete mixes fastballs and sinking fastballs, so watch for that. But if you get too fixated on fastballs, you’ll miss the timing on those occasional curves entirely.’
The pitcher I was facing now was Pete Alexander, who ruled the National League from the 1910s. With 373 career wins and three Triple Crowns, he was one of the greatest hurlers in Major League history.
‘1920s Pete was the best I ever faced. Sure, he went downhill after that.’
His velocity matched pitchers back home who were considered fast, but was it the delivery? My timing was off. That casual-yet-blazing motion kept throwing me.
‘Two balls, one strike. Last tip: pitchers back then loved nibbling corners, so keep that in mind at the plate.’
‘Got it.’
As Rogers Hornsby’s advice wrapped up, Pete Alexander wound up and fired again from Hornsby’s memory. His signature quick motion wrecked my timing, so I yanked back the swing I’d started.
No point swinging like that—it’d be weak contact for sure. Pete’s sinking fastball broke and buried into my knee.
‘Strike.’
‘It caught the zone?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Time out for now.’
‘Disrupting the pitcher’s rhythm when it’s a battle of attrition is smart.’
So far, Pete had thrown two sinkers, one four-seamer, and one curve. I’d laid off the first-pitch curve easy, fouled the four-seamer. So what’s next?
‘Hmm… Testing with a curve? Still balls to work with. Nah, they loved nibbling, so maybe something to mess with my eyes. Sinker? But he’s thrown two already. Hmm… Fouled the four-seamer, so probably sinker again?’
I couldn’t see him coming straight with a four-seamer in a pitcher’s count. I set for sinker and stepped back in.
Pete went into his quick windup again. The ball left his hand and flew at me. Familiar arc after a few looks—I swung on time.
Thwack!
The ball rocketed high. The sting in my hands told me it was flushed.
‘Pop fly to the pitcher. Tough break—it was a four-seamer.’
‘No way he read my mind and threw that, right?’
It was just an illusion from Hornsby, so possible, but I knew it was whining. Training’s training.
‘Cut the dumb shit—one more?’
‘Yeah.’
Swinging in Hornsby’s visions drained mental energy more than regular workouts. But failing to square up a 100-year-old pitcher while chasing all-time great second baseman status? Ridiculous.
I refocused. Then Hornsby spoke up.
‘What’s got you monkey bastard training like a maniac? Something happen at that girl’s place?’
‘Just… heading to the States without a title feels off, y’know?’
So-young’s request lingered, but yeah—going to America as the best second baseman without a Korean championship? Embarrassing. With Judge-level talent like Ki Sang-ju joining, no excuses for not winning.
…Hmm, AT Thunderbirds might struggle. But I’d be greater than Judge, so dragging them to a title should be easy.
‘Heh, don’t know what’s up, but good timing. Gotta grind now or fall behind in the majors.’
‘So cutting back on sex is fine?’
‘You monkey fuck! That’s different! Been pissed lately ‘cause you’re glued to her.’
‘You still hooked up with other girls sometimes.’
‘True, but…’
Since first time with So-young, she got most sessions, but I kept others going. Each had unique flavor. Hye-jin noona’s milk play was peak! Sucks delivery’s soon—no more.
Anyway, my volume shocked even Hornsby. Wanted live games for feel, but winter kept me indoors—mental reps via him only.
Better than batting machine, no complaints.
‘Let’s go again.’
Bzzz! Phone rang as I resumed. One of my girls? Snatched it quick.
“Hello?”
-“Hyung! You hear the news?”
Fuck, dude voice. Im Jun-ho, draft buddy. Gloomy guy tone already killed motivation.
“What? Gotta hear your drab dick voice midday?”
-“Quit acting like a player. Anyway, saw the articles? Total chaos.”
“What about?”
-“Whoa, they traded senior Jang Hyun-ho! And signed Ki Sang-ju!”
“Who’s Jang Hyun-ho? Ki Sang-ju the Major Leaguer? Why’s he joining us?”
No clue on Jang, but Ki was Korea’s star hitter. Thought he was MLB-bound.
‘Wait, Jang Hyun-ho? Rings a bell…’
-“Hyung, you don’t know Jang Hyun-ho? Harsh.”
“So who is he? Sounds familiar…”
Recent game? AT’s last one maybe. Eh, fuck if I remember guy names.
-“Jang Hyun-ho: AT Thunderbirds franchise star. Drafted 2nd round pick 2 in 2013, debuted 2016 post-military. Proved it in ‘17 with 10 HRs at Jamsil. Steady .300+ hitter, double-digit HRs yearly as starting right fielder.”
Why’s this punk so encyclopedic? Thesis?
-“2022: .301, 13 HRs, first time breaking .800 OPS wall post-breakout. AT’s rep outfielder. Woo Kwang-hyung successor maybe? But trash plate discipline, baserunning brain farts, sloppy D—fans hate him. Lol.”
“Lol? Quit reading Namu Wiki, spit your own words. When’d you search?”
-“Whoa, how’d you know? Namu Wiki.”
“Who answers a pro like that?”
-“Haha, busted. Anyway, Hyun-ho hyung was solid outfielder, but team shipped him. Internet’s exploding over it.”
“That why you called? Ki’s surprising, but no need to phone.”
-“Cold. Check it—fan sites blowing up over Jang Hyun-ho trade.”
“Quit wasting calls, bye punk.”
Hung up rough, refocused. But…
‘Kinda curious now.’
So-young’s title plea fresh. Baseball’s team sport—teammates matter.
‘Jun-ho’s freaking, so must be big. Peek?’
Searched Jang Hyun-ho.
‘Hey monkey, ain’t that the guy?’
‘You know him? Wild. Hornsby knows Koreans too.’
‘Bald idiot. That outfielder from before. Dropped the easy fly. Shocking, stuck with me. Good riddance.’
Crept into memory—yep, that clown.
‘Perfect. Shocked me too.’
Face jogged it. Tapped top Jang article.
“Shock: AT Thunderbirds, JT Gold Eyes, Silla Triggers three-way with Jang Hyun-ho. Everything’s ‘shocking’ huh.”
Sent Jang to JT for semi-regular + prospect. Flipped semi-regular to Silla for two minor leaguers.
“Kang Se-ho, Baek Jung-jin, Kim Yoon-ho. Who’re these?”
Two pitchers, one outfielder. Not my issue. Train.
Phone buzzed again as I geared up—Im Jun-ho.
‘Pick up?’
Hesitated, but he’d spam. Answered grudgingly.
-“Hyung! Real big news! Big news!”
“What now?”
-“Signed Jang Yoon and Choi Jin-cheol! What? Season’s wild. We winning it all?”
“Choi Jin-cheol? That fossil? Why’s he to Jamsil?”
Uppercut swinger—no Jamsil fit. Not my call? Debuted AT, traded to Mirae over Jamsil wall, proved it, MLB stint.
AT black mark kinda.
-“Nah, fossil? Ex-MLB stud. Filled FA slots with three studs. Salary cap tweak via Hyun-ho? Dope anyway.”
“Dope your training. See you in first team next season.”
-“Thanks for worry. You grind too. Fighting!”
Hung first this time. Punk.
Knew Jang Yoon, Choi Jin-cheol. Choi 2021 HR king. 2022 crashed hard tho—old man rep.
Curiosity up—baseball tab buzzing with AT’s aggressive FAs.
“2 years 2 billion? Big burn.”
2022: .230/.311/.475/.786—underwhelming for name. No one biting, but AT did.
Headache. Bzzz—phone again. Jun-ho why?
“Punk! Quit calling. Dumb shit nonstop!”
-“See the news? New signings… Maeng-ho?”
Not the thick dude voice—soft, tickly woman’s. Nothing like drab guys.
…So-young.
