Chapter 16
Chapter 16
"Dol If it looks like this season is screwed, upvote"
"Pro Ha… are we even making fall baseball this time? Won’t even finish 5th"
"Ul What the hell are we supposed to do with these garbage pitchers? Can’t we bring anyone in?"
From last season’s 1st place team to 9th, not a single team was free from complaints.
Up to this point, it was the usual WWE.
But for someone, it was UFC.
"Are we last place again?"
"One of the “foreign recruits” gave up 7 runs in 2 innings, and the hitter is batting .100 is this for real?"
"Other than Ha Seojin, there’s not a single decent hitter"
"Kim Mingi doesn’t look fully fit either?"
"Just forfeit the season "
"Pi Uh… hang in there"
They say when a team is truly doomed, not even trolls bother showing up.
That was exactly what the Marines community looked like right now.
Even in the exhibition games, they were dead last. That part was at least familiar, but both their batting stats and pitching stats were the worst.
Even if it was just labeled as exhibition games, the frustration wouldn’t go away.
The bigger problem was that there didn’t seem to be any issues that would be solved once the regular season started.
In the end, after they lost the final exhibition game in a lifeless manner, the anger of the Marines fans began to spread elsewhere.
"So where did Park Siu go?"
"I thought a national team ace was showing up or something"
"A pitcher who can’t play because the catcher can’t catch his pitches the world’s first"
"But the pitch itself was insane though"
"Can’t you tell? The team was pushing Park Siu with media play, then when he couldn’t control it they just made excuses"
"If controlling a knuckleball was that easy, every slow pitcher would be throwing it"
"Ah damn it, what am I supposed to do with my uniform"
"You really fell for this"
"Still, Park Siu might be worth watching for a bit? The knuckleball is something he’s throwing because of rehab anyway"
"Isn’t that just media play too?"
"No no, considering who acknowledged it, it’s probably not media play"
The higher you rise, the harder you fall.
And as Choi Junwoo, who had transferred to Phoenix, went on a hitting spree in the exhibition games, the voices of dissatisfaction grew even louder.
But the Marines only said they were training and gave no further updates.
Only a few people, like the general manager and the head coach, occasionally checked on the progress.
And recently, after hearing positive news, Lee Gyutae and Kwak Gubeom rushed over to Sangdong.
"What are the results?"
"Out of 30 pitches over 130 km/h, he caught 25."
A catch rate of 83 percent.
If they were ordinary pitches, it would’ve been grounds for losing professional status, but what Song Minseok caught was far from ordinary.
"You both worked hard. Honestly, I’m quite surprised."
"It’s all thanks to Siu working hard!"
"Yes. I worked pretty hard."
"...Hey."
Seeing how much closer the two had become, Lee Gyujin smiled.
"Coach, then how about letting him get real-game experience in the second team and then immediately bringing him up to the first team?"
"Hmm. Would you like to hear my idea?"
"Yes, please go ahead."
After hearing Kwak Gubeom’s idea, Lee Gyujin fell into thought.
There was clearly something to gain.
But if it failed, there was also a lot to lose.
Still, the Marines weren’t in a position to look back anymore.
"Player Park Siu, are you okay with it?"
"Yes. I’m fine with it."
After that day, the two were no longer seen in the second team.
But soon, news about them reached the fans as well.
"Park Siu made the opening roster? Together with Song Minseok "
"Huh? Really?"
"Phew. I should clean up first."
It was definitely his house, but it felt unfamiliar.
Right after moving in, he had gone to the United States, and after returning to Korea, he went straight to Sangdong. Had it been about four months?
When he first left for the U.S., he never imagined it would take this long.
Each day had felt incredibly long, but looking back now, it all seemed to have passed in an instant.
He won the lottery, got traded, signed this house, and met the general manager.
After that, he went to the U.S. and met James, Oliver, David, Minseok hyung, and Ethan.
"Ah, this was here too."
While organizing his luggage, he found a talisman.
A gift from the previous tenant, who said he was a Marines fan.
He had forgotten about it after putting it in one side of his suitcase.
He hadn’t carried it on his body, but thinking about everything that had happened so far, maybe it had some effect.
After a moment of hesitation, he put it back into the suitcase.
He took out all the other belongings, put them into the washing machine, and then packed again.
It was almost funny how he had just come home and was already packing again.
But when he thought about the destination, the smile disappeared.
Seoul. More specifically, Jamsil, where the opening game would be held.
Honestly, he never expected the coach to make such a suggestion.
To think he would suggest playing his first real game not in the second team, but directly in the first team.
It had been so shocking that he remembered the coach’s words exactly.
"What our team needs right now is a spark."
The players themselves knew best that the team’s power was weak.
On top of that, their performance in the exhibition games had been poor.
No matter how much they reassured themselves, the players’ anxiety was starting to show.
That was why they needed him.
"The players have seen up close what Siu’s pitches are like. Just having Siu in the first team will give them great strength."
He knew exactly what that meant.
When he was a rookie, there were days when just the fact that he was pitching changed the team’s atmosphere.
Especially when he returned from injury, everyone’s expressions had brightened.
After that… well.
Of course, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t feeling the pressure.
But if it was something he could do, he wanted to do it.
If there was one problem, it was that he had to pitch in the first team without a single real-game appearance.
"We’ll match your appearance to the most comfortable situation possible."
He had no choice but to believe those words.
To be completely honest, he was confident he could throw his pitches no matter when he was called in.
Anyway, Minseok hyung and he both made the opening roster.
Still, he probably wouldn’t appear in the first two games.
To begin with, it would be better if he didn’t appear at all.
The opening two-game series was something the team absolutely had to win, and a “comfortable situation” didn’t necessarily mean something good.
Either they were overwhelmingly winning, or losing miserably.
Or if neither of those happened.
"Geonwoo, Jiho! Hurry up and warm up!"
If an unexpected variable appeared that no one had anticipated.
"You look like you’re in a good mood?"
"Ah, sunbaenim. Hello."
"I’m not doing well. Can’t you see my face?"
Park Hyunwoo made an exaggerated grimace, and Park Siu barely held back his laughter.
"The team hasn’t been great lately. Ugh, I hate this kind of thing. Anyway, did what you were working on go well?"
"Yes, more or less."
"Well, I guess that’s why you’re here. Anyway, don’t feel too pressured. Heh."
As Park Siu glanced at Park Hyunwoo, who had naturally sat next to him, Park Hyunwoo asked,
"What, you don’t like it?"
"No, it’s just… where did senior Lee Donghun go?"
"Media day. Ah, here, take this."
Park Hyunwoo pulled out an eye mask from his bag and handed it over.
"It’s made of microfiber, so it’s really soft. Helps you sleep well."
"Oh, thank you."
"Don’t lose it. It’s essential if you want to survive here."
As if he truly meant it, Park Hyunwoo put on the same eye mask and leaned back immediately.
That was it.
He didn’t get up even once until they arrived in Seoul.
"Ah, that was a good sleep. What?"
"...No, it’s just… I think you’re amazing."
"Try playing here for ten years. This is basic. Ah, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"I’m not sure. Probably training?"
"Yeah? Then let’s grab a meal together."
"Yes. Understood."
"Alright. Get some rest."
The opening game was in two days at 5 PM.
There was still time left, but Park Siu felt like a rookie again.
In his second year, he watched the opening game on TV due to injury, and last year, he didn’t even get a chance to play for a while, let alone the opening game.
"It’s not like I wanted to go out there anyway."
Despite working hard all winter, his velocity hadn’t returned, and Park Siu had become extremely withdrawn.
In contrast, this year, although the velocity of his pitches was similar, he felt confident.
"Hey, aren’t you tired?"
"Not really. I haven’t been throwing much lately, so my body feels itchy."
Maybe that was why, even the day before the opening, he spent time throwing with Song Minseok.
And then, the day of the opening.
For the first time, Park Siu stepped onto the field wearing a Marines uniform.
The Jamsil Dome, completed in 2032.
A spectacular sight filled with 35,000 people.
Among them, about 15,000 were Marines fans.
Naturally fewer than the home team, the Seoul Friends, but they still came to support the Marines despite the recent poor performance.
What was surprising was seeing fans here and there holding his uniform.
"...It’s been a while."
Maybe it was just his imagination, but it even felt like there was a familiar-looking woman holding his jersey.
Soon, Park Siu regained his focus.
He wasn’t the starting pitcher today.
It was the newly recruited foreign player, Max Dalton.
With a top speed of 157 km/h and powerful stuff, he was the most preferred type of pitcher in the current league.
"But his control is way too unstable."
Park Hyunwoo whispered while watching Max Dalton pitch in the bullpen.
"Really?"
"Yeah. His velocity isn’t even what I expected. Tsk. Well, he’s probably having the hardest time himself. I heard he’s been having issues with his family too."
It wasn’t uncommon for players to give up their Major League dreams and come to Asia to support their families.
In fact, teams often preferred them because they had clear motivation.
"I hope he does well. Max, nice ball!"
Even though his control looked terrible at a glance, Park Hyunwoo shouted loudly to boost his energy.
Of course, that didn’t suddenly fix his control.
"It’s starting."
The bullpen in Jamsil Dome was underground.
So Park Siu watched the game on the TV installed there.
The opening game between the Busan Marines and the Seoul Friends began with the Marines’ offense.
The Marines’ lineup, especially the top order, was among the strongest in the league.
At the center of it was the third batter, Ha Seojin.
Last season, he recorded a .300 batting average, 20-30, and an OPS of 0.918, making him the best hitter on the Marines.
The problem was that aside from Ha Seojin, it wasn’t easy to overcome the Friends’ starting pitcher.
"Strikeout! Back-to-back Ks! Drake starts the season with a dazzling strikeout show!"
The Friends’ ace, Drake McNeil, a two-time consecutive strikeout title holder.
He didn’t allow any runners to reach base before facing Ha Seojin.
And that decision proved correct.
"Crack!"
"Ha Seojin records the Marines’ first hit of the opening game!"
With a lightly pushed hit on a slightly inside pitch, it was two outs and a runner on first.
But the cleanup hitter, Rex Graves, swung hard and struck out.
The Marines’ offense ended just like that.
Then Max Dalton, encouraged by the bullpen players, headed to the mound.
The battery of Max Dalton and Kim Mingi.
As soon as he received the warm-up pitch, Kim Mingi let out a quiet sigh.
"His four-seam control is completely gone. I’ll have to rely on the slider."
The problem was that a pitcher, especially one making his first appearance, was unlikely to accept such a suggestion.
In the end, Kim Mingi couldn’t break Max Dalton’s stubbornness and called for a four-seam, but not a single pitch entered the zone.
"Ball!"
"So he’s not even going to swing?"
The Friends’ batters, realizing the lack of control, held back their bats.
Eventually, the leadoff hitter walked to first base.
The matchup with the second batter was even worse.
"Thwack!"
"Ugh!"
A 156 km/h four-seam fastball struck the batter in the back, instantly tensing the atmosphere.
Fortunately, it wasn’t an injury, but now it was runners on first and second with no outs.
Now the heart of the Friends’ lineup stepped in.
There was no other choice.
Kim Mingi gave the slider sign again.
Fortunately, the slider entered the zone, but it was so flat it might as well have been a fastball.
"Crack!"
"Waaaaaah!"
Fireworks erupted in the first inning, as if celebrating the moment, and the batter who hit the home run slowly rounded the bases.
Walk. Hit by pitch. Home run.
Could there be a worse start?
"We’re screwed."
But Kim Mingi didn’t yet realize that the nightmare had only just begun.
Ball ball ball ball. Ball ball ball ball.
Once again, bases loaded with no outs.
As the bullpen coach, realizing the severity, told the pitchers to warm up, it happened.
Another pitch slipped from his hand and hit the batter.
Even that was terrible, but it wasn’t the batter who collapsed.
It was Max Dalton.
With a serious expression, he stepped off the mound.
The Marines had overlooked one thing.
That sometimes, because of strong motivation, players hide their injuries.
The foreign pitcher who had been slated as the team’s ace left the mound due to injury.
The Marines bullpen was thrown into chaos.
"Geonwoo, Jiho! Hurry up and warm up!"
In the worst situation, someone had to go up to the mound without even properly warming up.
Coach Kwak Gubeom quickly assessed the pitchers’ conditions.
"This game is going to be tough."
They had already given up three runs, and it was bases loaded with no outs.
And now they had to send in a pitcher who wasn’t fully warmed up.
No matter who they sent, there was no good answer.
Should they force a starter?
Impossible.
Except for the foreign pitcher scheduled for tomorrow, none of the other starters were even on the roster.
But a decision had to be made.
"First, we need Lee Geonwoo to end this inning."
At that moment, the pitching coach approached.
"Coach."
"Speak."
"Um… Siu says he’s fully warmed up."
Given the situation, the Marines had been given more time than usual.
But to be fully warmed up in that time?
"...It’s not impossible."
The biggest strength of a knuckleball was its unpredictable movement.
That movement didn’t require strong force.
That was why knuckleball pitchers could survive even into their 40s.
For the same reason, they could also warm up relatively quickly.
"Coach. What should we do?"
Coach Kwak Gubeom had said he would put Park Siu in during a comfortable situation.
But this was anything but comfortable.
Bases loaded, no outs, bottom of the first inning, opening game.
At that moment, a decision that could become the worst possible choice, Kwak Gubeom made a call he normally wouldn’t.
"Busan Marines substitution. Number 92, catcher Song Minseok."
First, the catcher was changed.
Understanding the situation, Kim Mingi nodded and returned to the dugout.
And behind Song Minseok, who had quickly prepared, a pitcher appeared.
"Busan Marines substitution—"
"Phew."
The pitcher glanced at the mound for a moment, then started running with force.
"Number 77. Pitcher Park Siu."