Chapter 31
Chapter 31
“Every time I watch Siwoo, I wonder if a player that young can really do this.”
The pitching coach’s words made Manager Kwak Gubum nod.
“He’s been through so much from a young age.”
From the moment he debuted in the pros, misfortune seemed to follow Park Siwoo relentlessly. At this point, what was happening now might have been nothing to him.
“Still, I would be nervous just standing out there myself.”
“You would?”
Park Seunghyuk, the Marines’ pitching coach, feigned exaggeration, earning a slight smile from Kwak Gubum.
Though he hadn’t played for the Marines, Park Seunghyuk had a notable record as a pitcher.
“Still, it’s a bit frustrating as a pitching coach. I wish I had something to teach him. Right now, I can only say hello and that’s it.”
Though recognized for his skill both as a player and a coach, Park Seunghyuk had no expertise with knuckleballs. His insight on game management and mental guidance was also limited, as Siwoo handled much on his own.
“Don’t you want to hear your name come from Siwoo himself someday?”
“That too, a little. Ha.”
“Wait a bit. If what Oliver says is true, his velocity should return within a year or two. Your help will be needed then.”
“I’m waiting for that time too.”
Considering knuckleballers can pitch well past forty, Park Siwoo’s baseball life could extend for twenty more years. A year or two was a blink in comparison.
For now, though, even if his velocity didn’t return, he had already succeeded as a near-perfect knuckleballer.
But if he regained his speed, it would be unprecedented in the baseball world.
Kwak Gubum reflected on Siwoo’s past pitches, feeling goosebumps crawl up his arms.
“This could be the luckiest a manager has ever had.”
Few managers would ever witness a player’s prime like this.
Even more exhilarating was the certainty that Siwoo would eventually need no manager at all.
Kwak Gubum, with decades of experience, trusted this instinct. He didn’t know how long it would take, but it was inevitable.
That made the present crucial. It could be the only time Park Siwoo needed a manager’s guidance.
Even if it seemed unlikely watching Siwoo now, Kwak was determined.
“Batter’s meeting.”
He wouldn’t just watch and wait.
After the top of the fourth, the score remained 0-0.
Kwak Gubum called his hitters together.
“Miguel Castillo is a great pitcher. If he were on our team, he’d be a huge asset.”
Being a former Major Leaguer was no empty title. Castillo proved every doubt wrong with his performance.
“But remember, our team has a pitcher even greater than him, and all he needs is just a little run support.”
The best pitcher in the KBO now was on the Marines. Kwak didn’t have to say who. Everyone there knew.
The batters’ eyes changed instantly.
“Right, we only need one run to win.”
“One run... even if that pitcher throws well, we can find a way.”
Kwak nodded. For a true ace, more than stats mattered.
“The first pitcher must make our players believe we can win whenever he’s out there.”
That was the real reason Park Siwoo was the ace.
As the game continued, both teams’ batters thought in remarkably similar ways.
“Damn, scoring just one run is this hard?”
“It’s suffocating, really.”
Both starters were flawless through seven innings.
Park Siwoo: 7 innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 0 runs.
Miguel Castillo: 7 innings, 3 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs.
Siwoo’s knuckleball sometimes caused wildness, but he allowed no solid contact. Castillo preferred controlled aggression, aiming to beat batters head-on.
Every difference in approach made the fans’ anticipation unbearable.
In the top of the eighth, Castillo struck out the first batter. He waited to watch Siwoo on the mound before returning to the dugout.
“Castillo, prepare for the ninth.”
Nodding at Manager Choi, Castillo calmed himself. He didn’t need to focus on the opposing pitcher.
Siwoo stepped onto the mound again.
Three consecutive shutouts and 36 innings without allowing a run. Fans split between wishing his streak to continue or break.
Strike! Siwoo began the inning with Kim Siyoung.
Castillo noticed the Falcons batters were swinging at nothing, chasing luck like Rex Graves had earlier. With that mindset, they couldn’t hit Siwoo.
The difference between Castillo and Siwoo today came down to a single pitch in the ninth.
Strikeout!
When the game ended, every baseball forum buzzed about one player.
Why didn’t we even try to draft Siwoo?
If he’s the level of Choi Junwoo, we could’ve had him too. So jealous.
The Mariners fans went wild.
Park Siwoo finally emerged outside.
Today, he felt more intense energy than ever before.
“Your wish is really to win?”
The fans’ questions momentarily froze him.
A wish. Only one thing could it mean.
It was from Lee Donghoon’s 400-game celebration video.
Siwoo realized the small misunderstanding between him and Donghoon.
“My wish?”
It didn’t matter if it shattered the fans’ excitement.
“Yes. To win. I will win.”
Park Siwoo declared boldly in front of the fans: Our goal is victory