Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: National Team vs. UG Overroses (2)
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"Then you've all worked hard!"
"Yeah, rest up today and we'll see you tomorrow. I trust you'll use your free time to review the game. Dismissed!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lee Geum-hyun dismissed the players and headed to his room, provided by the UG organization. The accommodations prepared by UG for the national team were quite satisfactory.
Alone in the luxurious room, the thoughts that had crossed his mind during the game lingered in Lee Geum-hyun's head.
Hmm... Ji Maeng-ho. This guy's a tough one.
When the commissioner first announced that Ji Maeng-ho and Jang Woo-ju would join the national team, Lee Geum-hyun had strongly opposed it. The national team wasn't some playground for kids—he couldn't fathom selecting twenty-year-olds with no pro experience.
But when the commissioner pleaded that it was essential for boosting Korean baseball's popularity and growth, Lee Geum-hyun asked to see their footage. He couldn't outright dismiss the commissioner's request, and if their high school performances were lackluster, he'd cut them immediately.
Jang Woo-ju was as expected. He had a fastball, but his control was below average. Still, that speed was at least 10 km/h faster than typical pitchers, making him worth a look.
Especially upon seeing the 160 km/h fastball—it suddenly made sense why the commissioner was so insistent.
A hundred miles had always been something baseball fans went wild for, then and now. He could even see how they might become the future of Korean baseball, just as the commissioner said.
Then came Ji Maeng-ho's footage, which shocked him by defying expectations. A high schooler pulling and oppo-ing home runs, timing every pitch—breaking balls or fastballs alike—in a bizarrely perfect way.
Even for a guess-hitting genius, he'd never seen a hitter match the bat to every pitch like he knew what was coming. But Ji Maeng-ho made it possible.
This guy's interesting.
With his good looks too, if he exploded onto the scene, he'd surely lead Korean baseball.
The commissioner wasn't barking up the wrong tree after all. With that potential, bringing him along isn't a bad idea. WBC rosters have 28 spots anyway—plenty of room.
Unlike the Olympics or Asian Games with 24 players, WBC allowed 28, so reserving a couple for prospects seemed fine. Public opinion wasn't bad either, framing it as an investment in the future.
Then training camp began. Ji Maeng-ho's workouts matched the footage—immense power, and surprisingly quick feet for his size.
Even as a pro manager, Lee Geum-hyun had only seen a few players give off that vibe through training alone: Joo Hyung-jin in his rookie days, Kang Han-beom on the cusp of breaking out during Olympic prep, Choi Jin-cheol gearing up for the season after transferring to the Tigers.
All historic figures who left their mark on Korean baseball—home run kings who hit them like meals. Ji Maeng-ho carried that unique scent of a big slugger.
The issue is his defense is a bit lacking.
But on the international stage, shutdown defense was crucial. Fresh out of high school, Ji Maeng-ho lagged behind pro veteran Park Cheol-young. His athleticism and arm looked great, but his throws lacked accuracy, and his glove work was rough.
Especially the glove work—it felt like he was using an old-school mitt from his industrial league days, not modern gear. Fingers splayed wide, poor shock absorption. His defense just seemed sloppy overall.
Is that why he moved from shortstop to second base? With that power, he could play third or first... Though that'd waste his athleticism.
Lee Geum-hyun didn't know it, but that sloppiness stemmed from Rogers Hornsby, who trained him without proper gloves back in the day. Of course, he'd never find out.
Purely as a hitter, Ji Maeng-ho edged out Park Cheol-young, but the national team didn't need a slugging second baseman. For contact alone, Park Cheol-young—who'd already proven himself—was superior.
Factoring in fielding, Park Cheol-young was the clear choice. Their baserunning was similar, but Park's two straight stolen base titles and experience tipped the scales.
"Changing the starter will be tough, huh?"
No matter how fearless Ji Maeng-ho was in stealing during practice, a pre-debut kid taking the national team starting spot was absurd. His role: pinch-runner or pinch-hitter against weak teams.
In real games, it was inevitable. Bigger stages demanded conservative management.
Still, if he's giving me this much headache, he must be the real deal. Like the commissioner said, he could spark a Korean baseball renaissance. Just like Joo Hyung-jin's era.
Joo Seung-cheol, Ji Maeng-ho, Jang Woo-ju—the young guns on the roster could revive Korean baseball's popularity like the 2008 Olympics.
"Still, I'd love to see him start. It's just practice games, so one or two should be fine. Ji Maeng-ho at second..."
With lingering regret, Lee Geum-hyun began sketching tomorrow's lineup.
*
"Today's starter: Jang Woo-ju."
"Yes?! Me?!"
"Yeah, gotta see what the rookies can do. You all want to watch, right?"
"Yes!"
"Oh! Let's see that 160!"
"Congrats, Woo-ju. Practice game or not."
"And second baseman is Ji Maeng-ho too. Ninth spot, second base. No pressure—just play like in training."
Me starting? I hadn't even thought about it...
"Got it!"
Heh heh, even the manager sees my talent.
Not bad eyesight for a monkey.
See? Mr. Hornsby believed in me too.
If the guy I taught sits on the bench, it'd be embarrassing. Like yesterday.
Heh heh, let's do great today too. You know—usual swing. Nail the impact and snag the starting spot...
Leave a strong impression today, and it'd be enough. I was clearly better than Park Cheol-young anyway.
"Hey, Maeng-ho, congrats. Hit well and give your big bro a break."
Just then, the national team's starting second baseman, Park Cheol-young, approached me. We'd trained together as the same position, chatted a lot, and our ages were close, so we'd gotten pretty friendly.
"What if I make you rest forever?"
"Oh, cocky, huh?"
"I'll demote you to pinch-runner."
"Heh heh, you're a funny one. Bet? If I get on base today, coffee's on me."
"Nah, on base is too easy."
"Getting on is easy?"
"Yup."
"Then extra-base hit?"
"Extra-base bet! Seniors! Cheol-young hyung says he'll buy coffee if I get an extra-base today!"
"Hey, it's just between us, you madman?"
"Oh! Cheol-young made some cash?"
"I'm not even FA yet!"
"Nice. If Maeng-ho whiffs on extra-base, I'll buy!"
"Oh! The 15 billion man, Ki Sang-ju!"
"But if you miss, special batting practice with me tonight, Maeng-ho. Got it? Hit it big."
Damn... Butt in like that... Even in this good vibe, I couldn't pour cold water.
"Yes..."
"Then, help Maeng-ho get as many at-bats as possible, everyone!"
"Hahaha. Sang-ju's looking out for the rookies."
"We're teammates, right? Maeng-ho, show 'em AT's power. Yeah?"
"Ha... ha... Right."
This guy joined later than me but had more pride in AT than Kim Su-ho. Technically, I was the earlier draftee...
"Su-ho hyung! Thunderbirds, huddle up and fire up!"
"Me too...?"
"Pride of Seoul, AT, right?"
"Sang-ju hyung, we got Hancheol too..."
"Boooo! Traitor, out with Ki Sang-ju!"
At Ki Sang-ju's words, Hancheol catcher Lee Yong-gi and Kim Jung-hyun jeered immediately.
"Hey, AT's the pride of Seoul. Ji Maeng-ho, right?"
"Yes."
Sang-ju was an annoying senior, but he was right here. It was So-young's team, after all. AT as Seoul's pride was as natural as her being my girl. Yeah, spot on.
"Whoa, switched teams already? Nice—Ki Sang-ju stabs his old team in the back!"
"You punk."
Thwack!
"Ow! Hyung! Maeng-ho, watch out. You never know when he'll swing. He was no joke at Hancheol."
"Brat, when did I ever hit you?"
"Just now! That's assault!"
"This is affection. You telling kids weird stuff? Can't have that. Hancheol guys, team meeting tonight—been a while."
"Sorry, senior!"
Sang-ju seemed tight with his old Hancheol teammates. Makes sense—they peaked together. The juniors followed him well; he had leadership.
Teams need clubhouse leaders like him to win.
Problem is, he's way too interested in me...
I had to crush an extra-base today. No way I was getting dragged to BP till dawn!
*
UG Overroses—a KBA powerhouse that never fell from the top ranks, powered by slugger Koo Jin-mo's lineup executing sticky small-ball and a dominant rotation. Even in a small park, their pitching rivaled Hyunseong for top 1-2.
But with their ace and closer on national duty, and yesterday's #2 starter pitching, UG's staff was half-gone. Yesterday's #2, Lee Seok-gyun, had national team talent but missed out due to last year's injury.
"Strike!"
The pitcher I faced now was UG's #4, Seo Dong-ho. He'd anchored UG's staff with Jang Yoon until last year.
Seniors said he hits 150 often, but spring blues? Not as fast as I thought.
Felt mid-140s. Late riser type. But fouling some off confirmed his stuff was leagues above high school or 2nd-tier minor league arms. Good movement too.
Two balls, two strikes. Changeup coming?
Two-seamer. Trying to bully the rookie.
Ugh... Two-seamers are tricky. Throw a change, man.
Catcher's mitt—inside.
Righty's two-seamer tailing into a righty. Focus. As Seo went into windup and fired, I swung timed to past two-seamers.
Crack!
Shit, foul.
Felt it on contact. This one's staying in the infield. Probably SS grounder.
I tossed the bat and sprinted to first.
"Run!"
"First!"
The mud-caked white bag came into view. Then the first baseman's outstretched glove.
Thud. Ball smacked into leather.
"Out!"
"Argh! Tch."
Broke more than expected. Pro is pro, huh? One more step and safe. Oh well, scouted one at-bat.
Even Bonds couldn't hit safely every PA. Minimum three left, even swinging lightly.
Plenty of chances...!
Won't miss next time!