Chapter 24
Chapter 24
It’s not luck, it’s skill! Park Siwoo, back-to-back 9-inning scoreless games! First complete-game shutout of the 2037 season!
Commentator Jang Daeho: “If he picks off like that, even I wouldn’t be able to steal.”
“Yeah, but he didn’t say he couldn’t, right?”
“Hahaha, but I still don’t understand what Jang Daeho was even talking about.”
“You too? Same.”
“Simply put, there’s a stealing method you use against left-handed pitchers, but that got shut down. So now you’d have to run after seeing the pitch, and unless you’re as fast as Jang Daeho, that’s basically impossible.”
“Then why don’t other left-handed pitchers do that?”
“That’s why Park Siwoo is insane even if you teach it, not everyone can do it, those scrubs would lose their jobs”
5,080 days since sole possession of first place! The Marines’ spring has finally begun!
“Five thousand”
“Fact) The last time the Marines were in first place was April 30, 2023”
“It’s been over ten years you bastards”
“And just so you know, they still didn’t make the postseason back then”
“If it weren’t for Park Siwoo, we’d be on a 6-game losing streak and dead last”
A knuckleballer who’s added pickoff moves, but still has weaknesses!
“So he pitched well because of luck? And he could pitch badly because of luck? You call this an article?”
“So the new pickoff move he showed today is luck too, right?”
“They’re just salty and trying to tear him down”
On the day of Park Siwoo’s shutout.
In Changwon, the season’s first matchup between the Daejeon Phoenix and the Changwon Dolphins took place.
A duel between both teams’ aces ended in a 4–2 victory for the Changwon Dolphins.
Unlike last season, when the Phoenix dominated early and held onto first place, this season they were struggling at 3 wins and 3 losses.
In particular, their closer was struggling, and they had lost both games started by their ace, Choi Myungjoon, causing unrest among Phoenix fans.
But Choi Myungjoon’s anger was even greater than the fans’.
“Bunch of idiots who don’t know a damn thing about baseball…”
He turned off the article harshly and replayed today’s game in his head.
At the top of the first, when the Phoenix lineup scored two runs, everyone expected an easy win.
But unseen defensive mistakes increased his pitch count, and in the top of the seventh, what should have been a double play turned into a no-out situation with runners on first and second due to an error.
Choi Myungjoon managed to get an out after a sacrifice bunt, but then gave up a bloop hit and was eventually pulled.
The team then collapsed helplessly.
“They’re not even players.”
If not for the errors, or if they had just scored more runs earlier.
Choi Myungjoon was consumed by anger for a while, only calming down when he saw the name on his phone.
“…Yes, Director.”
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.”
His voice clearly wasn’t fine, and Oh Gyujin sighed quietly before continuing.
“That’s good. Let’s forget what happened and focus on the next game. Speaking of which, about that next game.”
“Yes. That’s when I face him, right?”
Next week, the Phoenix and the Marines would face off.
If the rotation stayed the same, Choi Myungjoon would go against Park Siwoo in Game 3.
“What do you think about pushing that game back?”
“…Director.”
“There’s rain in the forecast for Sunday. If it gets canceled, the rotation will naturally shift.”
“…You’re telling me to avoid him?”
“I’m not saying avoid him. I’m saying let’s choose the timing. If we face the Marines now, there’s too much to lose.”
Park Siwoo and Choi Myungjoon.
The same age, they had been compared constantly since their days on the Phoenix.
There were plenty of reasons.
Left-handed Park Siwoo, right-handed Choi Myungjoon.
Both threw over 150 km/h, both seen as the present and future of the Phoenix.
But at some point, they diverged.
Choi Myungjoon took the ace role that was supposed to be Park Siwoo’s, while Park Siwoo, after injury, failed to recover and was traded.
Yet now Park Siwoo had returned in an unexpected form.
The bad luck that haunted him in Phoenix had vanished, and he had become a symbol of good fortune loved by Marines fans.
Meanwhile, Choi Myungjoon’s situation mirrored the team’s struggles. Nothing was going right.
As if Park Siwoo’s bad luck had transferred to him.
If he lost this matchup.
Could the already furious fanbase be controlled?
But Choi Myungjoon refused to back down.
“If I win, that solves everything.”
He was right.
If he won, everything would settle.
The angry fans would calm down, and the team’s momentum would return.
But if he lost?
It would become a trigger.
Whether for the fans’ anger, or for the one who pushed the trade.
Oh Gyujin soon realized he couldn’t persuade him.
“…Alright. I’ll talk to the manager first.”
Once Choi Myungjoon insisted, few managers could refuse.
After hanging up, Choi Myungjoon pulled up a video of Park Siwoo.
An average velocity of barely 120 km/h.
A pitching style that relied on luck.
But that would end here.
On the day they faced each other, Choi Myungjoon was certain the goddess of fortune would be on his side.
Because it always had been.
But soon, he felt a headache coming on.
It must be his imagination, but he thought he could hear Park Siwoo’s voice.
What Park Siwoo had said back then in the bathroom.
“Then let’s test it.”
“Let’s see whose luck is better.”
“I once told you that if you find someone lucky, you should keep them close.”
“Yes. I remember.”
“You’re doing well.”
Though it sounded vague, President Kim Sunghyun understood exactly what the owner meant.
At this timing, there was only one person he could be referring to.
Park Siwoo.
Looking back, when Director Lee Gyujin first came asking for approval on the trade, Kim Sunghyun had his doubts.
But supporting him back then had turned out to be one of the best decisions in years.
“Do you remember what I said after that?”
“Yes. I’ll move forward with it right away.”
“Good.”
The owner left the stadium in high spirits after the thrilling win.
But for Kim Sunghyun, the real work was just beginning.
If you receive fortune, you should give back.
That was something the owner always said.
“Has Park Siwoo received any advertising offers?”
“None yet.”
Young players without agents usually received such offers through the club.
Even though Park Siwoo had pitched consecutive scoreless games, it had only been two games, and today’s had just ended.
While his name was starting to spread, especially in Busan, there hadn’t been any concrete movement yet.
“Is that so? Then offer him the department store Marines Shop model position.”
“…The department store?”
The marketing team leader immediately understood what that meant.
The KBO had firmly established itself as the dominant sport in Korea.
Especially within local regions, its influence was overwhelming.
So although it was called an offer, the team decided the model for the Marines Shop.
And that meant they were pushing Park Siwoo as the next face of the franchise.
The previous model had been Ha Seojin, and before him, Lee Donghoon.
It wasn’t strange.
Though compared to those players, Park Siwoo was being selected incredibly quickly.
But currently, only Ha Seojin sold more jerseys than Park Siwoo.
And even that would likely change by tomorrow.
“Yes. I’ll prepare the proposal and proceed tomorrow.”
“Good. Let’s call it a day.”
As Kim Sunghyun left the stadium, he thought.
Money.
That was what Park Siwoo needed most right now.
After a long rehabilitation and his recent trip to the U.S., he was surely low on funds.
Especially since his current salary was barely above the league minimum.
This would be the first step in supporting him.
Or perhaps, if his performance continued, everything would come naturally.
At that point, he might need something other than money.
In any case, this was the best option for now, and Kim Sunghyun didn’t think Park Siwoo would refuse.
As expected, Park Siwoo didn’t refuse.
However.
“…He wants to do it with Song Minseok?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That would change the pay.”
“Yes. But he said knuckleballers and catchers are like one body, so he wants to do it together.”
After a brief thought, Kim Sunghyun nodded.
“The image works.”
“Alright. If that’s what he wants, make it happen.”
After the marketing team leader left, Kim Sunghyun leaned back.
Was it clever, or sincere?
This was no longer an era where just playing well was enough.
Skill could bring money and fame.
But to go beyond that, something else was needed.
Star quality, national team status, or character.
From that perspective, Park Siwoo’s decision was excellent.
An image, once formed, was hard to change.
Especially a negative one.
And that image was directly tied to money.
Fans were people too.
They avoided players with scandals or bad reputations.
Teams were influenced by that as well.
And teammates mattered too.
You spent years together.
All of that had to be considered.
From that angle, Park Siwoo’s decision had both justification and loyalty.
He didn’t even ask for more money.
Who could criticize him?
Unless it was a calculated move.
But Kim Sunghyun shook his head.
Would he even have the mind for that?
It was more likely genuine.
Or maybe just a fortunate coincidence.
Either way, it was good.
He called the marketing team leader again.
“Let’s leak this a bit through our YouTube channel.”
“Accept my bow, Siwoo.”
“Hyung, are you crazy?”
“No, I have to bow. Just once. Please let me.”
As soon as they made eye contact after arriving, Minseok ran over and started this.
“Why? At least tell me why.”
“I heard you said you’d do the model gig with me.”
“Oh, that.”
“So what?”
“…You really don’t know?”
“Is it because of the money?”
“That too. But kids who grow up watching the Marines all share one dream.”
“Becoming a Marines Shop model!”
“…That’s why?”
“That’s why? You don’t understand how big that is?”
He went on for over ten minutes explaining what it meant and how kids dreamed of it.
“Got it now?”
“…Yeah. I understand.”
“Anyway, let me bow once.”
“No. That’s still not happening. Do something else.”
“Anything! Just say it!”
“I have to go see Oliver now. We’ll talk later.”
Using Oliver as an excuse, Siwoo finally escaped.
Still, seeing Minseok happy made him feel good.
He had wanted to show his gratitude, and the offer had come at the perfect time.
Without Minseok, he might still be throwing knuckleballs at a wall.
The money wasn’t small, but he still had over 2 billion won left from his lottery winnings.
Seeing Minseok happy made him happy too.
Still, he hadn’t realized it meant that much.
It had only been two games, yet the team was already doing this.
It was both burdensome and exciting.
Last year, this would have been unimaginable.
Anyway, he quickened his pace.
Meeting Oliver wasn’t a lie.
He had thrown even more pitches than in the opener.
He needed to check his condition, especially his elbow.
“Ah, Siwoo. One moment.”
When he arrived, someone else was already there.
Even if it was just in name, Oliver still checked on players whenever he had time.
“Hello, sunbae.”
“Yeah.”
A curt reply came from Ha Seojin.
They had barely spoken before, and he rarely talked to anyone.
Training, games, meals, sleep.
That was his routine.
He was someone to learn from.
Even if it was awkward.
“You’re good.”
“Thank you.”
After the translator relayed it, Oliver nodded, and Ha Seojin left.
“Shall we start?”
“Yes.”
The session was boring, but it was also a chance to talk with Oliver.
Usually about baseball, but today was different.
“He’s a very good player.”
“Ha Seojin?”
“Yes. Even in the majors, you don’t see many players that disciplined.”
This was the first time Oliver said something like that.
“At the same time, he’s a bit unfortunate.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sometimes there are players who push themselves to the extreme… and eventually break.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Maybe I’m wrong. Just something I’ve felt before. Now, try the next movement.”