Chapter 37
Chapter 37
KBO’s first four consecutive complete-game shutouts, achieved with a no-hit, no-run! History being written by Park Si-woo.
Park Si-woo achieved a 9-inning no-hit, no-run against the Seoul Challengers! The only baserunner allowed was in the top of the first inning due to Cha Jae-hoon’s error.
“Would have been perfect if not for that error?”
“It’s not like Cha Jae-hoon did anything wrong, but still, something felt off.”
“Hitting multi-home runs and getting criticized is not easy haha.”
Park Si-woo said, “I was only able to set this record today thanks to my teammates, especially the support of senior Cha Jae-hoon.”
“Da Si-woo, wow.”
“Are they trying to clean Cha Jae-hoon’s name here?”
“But Cha Jae-hoon made that great play in the 7th, and there were several other good defensive moves too.”
“If Cha Jae-hoon secretly cries after reading this article, that would be hilarious haha.”
Era of average pitch speed 148 km/h! Yet the star of the era is Park Si-woo, averaging 117 km/h!
“Just yesterday he got injured… Park Si-woo, isn’t this overuse controversy a problem?”
“The controversy is made by reporters like you.”
“The average pitch count over five games is 107, so what does it matter? And it’s a knuckleball, anyway.”
“But if records are at stake, you do need to manage him.”
“No worries. Oliver White is already checking him after every game.”
“Our Kong-dong is unmatched at pitcher management, even if he can’t do the Korean Series.”
Coach Kwak Gu-beom said, “I never imagined baseball would feel easy at this age…”
“Right haha. You go out there and finish nine innings without letting a run score, and baseball feels so easy haha.”
“Pitcher rotation is great too. Park Si-woo starts = bullpen gets rest day.”
Five games, five wins, no losses, 45 innings, 56 strikeouts, ERA 0.00
“Is this really the headline?”
“But it looks so cool.”
“Seeing it like this, it’s completely insane.”
“Si-woo, how are you feeling?”
“Just a little stiffness, otherwise I feel the same as usual.”
“Yes. That stiffness is because you were more tense than usual. Aside from that, your previous tests are consistent. Everything’s clean.”
Oliver handed over the test results, and I checked them carefully.
“Honestly, I can’t tell much just by looking.”
“That makes sense. It took me over a year to fully understand these results. Even that is relatively fast.”
“That’s impressive.”
“At the time, I was desperate. Do you want me to explain?”
“No. I’ll just trust you, Oliver.”
Oliver smiled leisurely and sat in front of me.
After every game, I receive these checks.
I mustn’t forget—I’m still in rehabilitation.
No pitcher in the world would record a no-hit, no-run during rehab, but here I am.
“Oliver.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think if I choose to keep throwing knuckleballs even after my velocity returns?”
“As a sports scientist or as a friend?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Hmm. As a scientist, it’s a shame. You’ve proven the hypothesis, but you don’t know what will happen next. As a friend, though, I’ll respect whatever choice you make.”
“I see.”
If I had followed the original plan, enlisted by now, and continued rehabilitation with knuckleballs, I would have waited for this day.
But now… I can’t say I’m as desperate as before, though I haven’t abandoned velocity completely.
Whether it’s the knuckleball, the old pitch, or a 135 km/h two-seam fastball, I just want to play baseball.
Honestly, except when talking with Oliver, I rarely think about my velocity.
“That’s nice.”
“Huh?”
“You remember I said my velocity returned when I wasn’t even thinking about it? That day was really ordinary. The weather was good, my mood was good, and I just happened to throw a ball.”
Oliver smiled slightly as if recalling that moment.
“Maybe that’s even a condition. The only certainty is there is no certainty.”
“I see.”
“Yes. But if there’s ever a day when your velocity returns, it will be like that. Nothing much different from normal, just a day like today.”
A day like today…
“That’s nice.”
“I adjusted my elbow angle a bit.”
Gale glanced at my expression and chuckled.
“No, I didn’t adjust it to copy your form. In fact, the new form might feel different.”
“Will it be okay?”
Changing pitching form mid-season is common.
Usually, players with poor results do it, but Gale’s performance wasn’t that bad.
“I felt I needed my own weapon. Whatever that may be. So I’m trying different things.”
“How?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be more fun to see it in the game?”
Gale left after saying to expect it.
Seeing Gale’s expression slightly relaxed made me more comfortable waiting for the game.
“Hey. Mind if I sit here?”
“Sure.”
“It’s an honor, no-hit pitcher.”
Danny, who joined the team yesterday, sat naturally next to me.
“Yesterday was amazing. My first game with the team is a no-hit. I must be lucky tomorrow.”
“It will be. Definitely.”
“Hearing that from you makes me feel reassured.”
“Maybe Hailey’s words help even more than mine?”
“Hmm. Hailey, probably.”
Danny has a friendly nature, but some things are awkward to ask about.
Anyway, Danny laughs easily with all the players.
“Hello? Hey.”
“Oh, right. Hello.”
He learns Korean proactively and embraces Korean culture without hesitation.
“Hey, no-hit catcher.”
“Yes! Bro!”
Min-seok already puts an arm around Danny, calling him bro.
The duo might be a little intimidating in a different sense.
Meanwhile, game preparations continued steadily.
“Wow, we haven’t changed, but the Challengers have prepared a lot.”
“Yes, indeed.”
I looked at the scoreboard after Hyun-woo said that.
The only change in our lineup was Kim Min-ki replacing Min-seok.
The Challengers, however, changed more than half of their hitters.
They were careful preparing for Gale as the next batter.
The starting pitcher today is the Challengers’ foreign ace.
Gale is good, but comparing the two, Gale is slightly weaker.
Still, we have a plan.
Gale approached the mound with a slightly tense expression and threw practice pitches.
“Oh, not bad?”
“Gale said he adjusted his elbow angle.”
Originally, Gale kept his release point quite high.
According to Oliver, that matched me well.
The new form lowered the release point diagonally.
This created a clear advantage against left-handed batters.
He struck out Moon Kyung-joo cleanly, who had been troublesome yesterday.
However, it’s not all advantage.
Velocity decreased slightly.
The top speed, previously 148 km/h, is now 145 km/h.
Not sure if slower due to new form or intentional control, but average speed was slower than last time.
Still, horizontal movement improved, slider angle sharper, creating hellish pitches for left-handed Challengers batters.
Right-handed hitters remain a weakness, but left-right ratio is 5 to 4 today.
Strikeout after strikeout.
Lefties are in hell.
Result: six innings, seven hits, one run, quality start.
Left-handed batters: no hits. Right-handed: seven hits.
Extremes, but good results.
Gale returned to the dugout smiling.
“I need to refine this. Also thinking about off-speed pitches against righties.”
We won the game.
Last week, we would have used multiple pitchers for the 7th inning, but with Danny joining, Seung-ho covered the 7th for a 2-4 victory.
Foreign starters two, bullpen three, lefty one-point, other innings covered.
After almost a month, our pitching staff feels stable.
The key is Danny performing his role.
If a foreign pitcher collapses again, everything fails.
Fortunately, Danny seemed calm before his first outing.
“No-hit catcher, shall we make tomorrow a perfect day?”
“Perfect? Oh my god! Bro!”
It should be fine.
Although it hasn’t been long, Danny Jones liked living in Korea.
Even without the playful catcher, there were many advantages.
Most impressive: Park Si-woo.
“A knuckleball.”
He never thought he’d see a knuckleball in Korea, much less a no-hit game with it.
“Come to think of it, there was a knuckleballer who caught Eden in winter.”
It was quite a topic even in the Major Leagues.
But that didn’t matter.
Tomorrow is his Korean debut.
“Adapted to the official ball. Perfect.”
Although last season was poor and he couldn’t find a proper team, he was happy to be in Korea.
“Hailey, shall we go?”
Hailey grabbed On-aeun’s hand, reluctant.
On-aeun smiled and said, “Bye! Hailey, see you tomorrow!” Hailey then nestled into Danny’s arms.
Not just On-aeun, the whole team cared for Hailey.
Could a dad be happier? Even if he’s been a dad only a year.
Danny gently stroked Hailey’s head, thinking:
“...Should I ask?”
He hesitated, finally asking after getting home:
“Hailey, do you want to watch daddy’s game tomorrow?”
Hailey stayed silent, staring. Danny’s lips went dry.
When Hailey nodded slightly, Danny smiled brightly, holding her.
“Okay. I’ll win tomorrow.”
No time for daydreaming.
Danny prepared meticulously for tomorrow.
“Thank you so much.”
Hailey asked On-aeun to accompany her to the stadium.
Now, only one thing remains.
Pitch well.
Shut them down cleanly, then go see Hailey.
The start was good.
Danny trusted the signs with Min-seok and threw.
“I don’t have my own data.”
Now was not the time to insist.
It worked. Three innings, no runs.
“Nice! Danny!”
Danny Jones had been a 4th-5th starter in the Major Leagues.
Even after a brief dip, he excelled in KBO.
Checking Hailey’s position on his way back to the dugout, Danny smiled.
“If we win like this, it’s perfect.”
Win, then whisper to Hailey it was thanks to her.
Step by step, approaching.
“...No.”
His plan began to falter.
Marine batters couldn’t score; Danny gripped the ball too hard.
A shot over the fence in the top of the 5th.
Runner from second scored, 2-0.
Danny finished the inning calmly but was already thinking of Hailey.
He pitched two more innings, giving up one more run.
KBO debut: seven innings, three runs, QS+.
A few crises, but showed durability.
Unfortunately, the final score: 3-2 loss.
Even if not a win, Marines’ coaching staff was satisfied with his pitching.
“...Please.”
After the game, Danny ran to Hailey. He found On-aeun helplessly watching.
He embraced Hailey, transparent tears streaming down her face.
What tore Danny apart wasn’t the tears.
“It's okay, Hailey. It's not your fault. It's okay.”
Hailey cried silently, barely making a sound.