Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: National Team VS UG Overroses (1)
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National team training was honestly nothing special. Everyone was a top-tier KBA player, and the coaches didn't nitpick much. If anything, AT's practices were tougher.
"That's it, wrap it up."
Lee Geum-hyun blew the whistle, signaling the end of base-running drills.
"Training's over for today. Do your individual workouts, or if you need something, ask the coaches or staff to set it up. Rest if you want. You guys know what to do, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Practice games start tomorrow, so don't overdo it. Oh, and don't forget what I said this morning. We're moving to the UG spring camp, so pack your gear today. No rushing around tomorrow. Dismissed."
"Thank you, sir!"
Practice games already? The national team had scrimmages scheduled against various clubs to stay sharp before the March WBC. These weren't official games, so no power analysis sessions.
"Hey, Gu Jin-mo!"
Tomorrow's opponent was last year's champs, UG Overroses. As training wrapped, players swarmed Gu Jin-mo, UG's star hitter on the national team.
"Jin-mo, we're the national team here. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if they mop the floor with us? Give us the scoop on UG's pitchers."
The national team's analysts were busy scouting international players, leaving no time for scrimmage foes. Hence the scene unfolding before me.
"Come on, then what about our season? And at national team level, you should win without intel, right?"
"Cold-blooded punk."
"Would you spill on your own team?"
"Well, yeah..."
"Alright, I'm off to the weight room."
Cool as ice. Gu Jin-mo brushed off the questions and headed to lift. If only our team seniors were that chill...
'Time for a break?'
While the vets mobbed him, I tried slipping to the lounge.
"Hey, Ji Maeng-ho."
"Oh, Sang-ju senior..."
'He was with Gu Jin-mo earlier. How'd he get here so fast? Ugh.'
It was Ki Sang-ju. Kim Soo-ho, the other AT guy, ignored me, but not Sang-ju. Unlike Jin-mo's cool vibe, this senior was all up in my business. Lectures galore.
The worst part? They never ended. We roomed together! From wrap-up camp, he probably picked me as his roomie... Damn it.
Why's he so obsessed with juniors? Worse than Woo Kwan-hyung. Kwan-hyung only spoke when necessary; this guy had a motor mouth.
"Come on, weights, right?"
"Uh... yeah. That was the plan."
"Man, you're not like these lazy kids. Real diligent. I like it."
'Only 'cause you're watching. Damn!'
"Th-thanks."
Forcing a smile while hiding my thoughts felt pathetic. Just last year, I ruled school like a king. How'd I end up here?
'Miss those juniors filling my glove with junk.'
'Karma.'
'Karma? I built their careers for college. They're grateful, probably.'
"What're you spacing out for? You zone out a lot."
How much does he watch me? Stalker...
"Oh, just thinking about baseball sometimes..."
"Nice. Happens to me too. Wait, you're from SY Agency, right? Why didn't you say?"
"Haha, didn't seem worth mentioning. Feels fake-name-dropping."
"SY doesn't take just anyone. Sneaky. Felt it at spring camp—you grind a bit more, you're set."
"Thanks."
"So what if it's buddy-buddy? Baseball time: locked in. Off-time: relax. I get the first-day hesitation, but I'm not that stiff. Rest when resting, grind when grinding. Kids were too loose back then. Hancheol wasn't."
"Oh, really? I didn't know..."
"Rookie thing."
The killer was the nonstop chatter. Does MLB make you like this? Choi Jin-cheol wasn't...
90% baseball talk. 10% baseball-adjacent.
"...You listening? MLB guys skip weights sometimes. Wish I'd known before going pro. Korea's infrastructure lags, so details like that make the difference."
My head throbbed. Why's the weight room so far? His yapping lasted till I crashed post-lift.
*
"Bro, why the long face? Not nervous about a scrimmage, right?"
Nervous my ass. Sleep deprivation. Sleep!
"Nervous? Like I'm even playing."
No reason to stress. We were benchwarmers. No starter spot, no sweat. Coach eyed me well in drills, but he wouldn't bench aces for a rook.
"True... But it's practice, so maybe a few pitches."
"Eh, one at-bat maybe."
9 innings, one AB possible. I sat on the bench, watching seniors warm up. Inning 1 gone, 2 gone... suddenly top 9.
Jang Woo-joo got pulled mid-game by the pitching coach and stuck to me. Only rookies, so he clung. Annoying.
"Tch, kinda boring."
"Just loosening up."
Crack!
"Nice!"
"Han-beom senior! Clutch hit!"
"Whoa, Kang Han-beom still got it?"
Top 9, Han-beom singled. Coach called me.
"Maeng-ho, pinch-runner ready?"
"Yes, sir!"
Yesss, tired of sitting.
"Know who's on the mound?"
"Kim Geun-woong?"
"Right, one of Korea's best at holding runners. Coach saw your drills yesterday—pinch-running potential. Show us in a real game. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
Blowout, sloppy game, but motivating.
"Player substitution! Pinch-runner Ji Maeng-ho!"
Slid on running gloves, stepped on first. Heart raced a bit. First real action since wrap-up camp's intra-squad, 3-4 months back.
'Real game vibe after so long...'
'Scrimmage, dude.'
"Still feels real. Wrap-up's 2nd team game was sloppy."
'True. This country's baseball level sucks.'
'Been a while—pitch types, please. Gotta run.'
Coach gave green light. Means steal freely. I'd earned it with fast feet in drills.
"You the rookie national team buzz? Lucky kid."
'Snide on first meet? This guy...'
UG's backup first baseman—Jin-mo was on the team.
"Jealous? Be young."
"Punk's got attitude. Jin-mo hyung say nothing? Don't know me?"
"Nope. Focus on the game."
"Wow... Funny punk."
"No cussing. I'm not your punk."
No reason to indulge envy. I snapped back, locked on the pitcher. He shut up, stunned.
'First pitch: fastball grip.'
Pinch-run debut—would he hold? At nearly 190cm, no one guessed my wheels. Avoided steals in HS due to injury.
Go? Standard three-step lead. But enough power for second...
Glanced his look. Ignored, eyed right foot. Pro hold artist—couldn't tell pitch from fake.
'HS guys telegraphed. Pro level? Stay put first pitch.'
Need to see more. Bench view differs from infield.
"Ball."
First: ball. Mid-140s kph? Stealable. Holds great, but delivery not lightning. Maybe catches 'em off-guard.
'Huh, actual analysis?'
'Hey, I got game too.'
'Heh, impressive.'
UG catcher behind plate? Arm's weak from what I've seen. Break on off-speed like usual?
'Off-speed it is.'
Waited for Rogers on grip. Second, third pitch. Pitcher ignored my stillness.
'Curve.'
'Go.'
Half-step bigger lead. Still no hold.
'Good stay. Ignoring me?'
Timing his familiar motion...
"To second!"
Ball left hand—I bolted. Head-first slide, rare for me. Base grit on chest, bag under hand.
"Safe!"
"Phew."
Perfect steal—second baseman no touch. Dugout cheered; coach clapped, pleased.
Solid debut impression?
*
"Fast, as expected. Thought real game might spook him, but bold steal. Legit talent. No wonder Joo-hyung praised him."
"Drills showed real athleticism."
"Early, but guts for pinch-run duty."
Head Coach nodded at Lee Geum-hyun's words. Old-school manager saw beyond-rookie in Ji Maeng-ho. Drills evoked swapping Park Chul-young for him as starter.
"Jang-hoon, your take?"
"Guys say he's chill, no pressure type."
"Hmm... Tough call."
Crack!
Game raged on, but Lee Geum-hyun's dilemma persisted.
"Jang-hoon. Vs. Chul-young?"
Whispered low to Head Coach Lee Jang-hoon.
"Chul-young? Different tiers."
"Fair."
Overreaching? Nodded.
Park Chul-young: 2019 full-timer, three straight Gold Gloves (19-21), two steal titles (20-21), .300+ career. Ji Maeng-ho solid, but unfair compare.
'Yet Maeng-ho pulls me. Drills impressive.'
Steal success, inning end. Through scrimmage end, National Team manager Lee Geum-hyun pondered.
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Park Chul-young, right throw/left bat, second baseman.
