The Stray Cat Trio

Having claimed last place for three consecutive seasons, the Titans Gallery was practically a ghost town. Fans who had sworn off the team in disgust, chanting for the franchise to be disbanded, once again found themselves logging back onto the forum while shouting that familiar, cursed refrain: This year is going to be different.

After being betrayed so many times, anyone still falling for it was practically an accomplice to their own misery. Even so, Titans fans clung stubbornly to the delusion that this upcoming season would break the cycle.

Yet right as Titans fans were spinning their optimistic wheels of hope during the off-season, a rapid barrage of disasters detonated in their faces, leaving them boiling with rage.

And then came the knockout punch.

Deep down, every Titans fanatic believed the coming season was thoroughly ruined. Yet the moment a live stream of an exhibition scrimmage appeared, they flocked to the screens anyway. And when the Titans pulled off an unexpected, razor-thin victory against a premier NPB first-team squad, the fans immediately fired up their hopium engines once more.

Then, Yoo Seonghyun executed a picture-perfect, jaw-dropping web gem to record the out. The gallery erupted into absolute pandemonium.

Ten years ago, twenty years ago, Titans fans had shouted that this year would be different. And just as they always had, they tuned into the next scrimmage broadcast, repeating the exact same prayer.

As if rewarding the fans' bubbling expectations, Yoo Seonghyun stepped into the right-handed batter's box this time, ripping a scorching line drive into the gap for a stand-up double.

The Youngest Stray Cat, Yoo Seonghyun, was pulverizing scrimmage pitching. The Middle Stray Cat, Choi Kanghyuk, possessed catastrophic fielding mechanics but showcased blistering speed and undeniable contact skills. And the Eldest Stray Cat, Chae Gihyun, offered remarkably poised, effective innings on the mound.

Before anyone realized it, the Stray Cat Trio had become the undisputed darlings of the Titans Gallery.

Spring training came to an end, and our squad returned to South Korea. Thanks to Manager Park Taeseok's thoughtful consideration, I had a full week between our arrival and the start of official pre-season exhibition games. I spent every precious moment of that week at home with Eunha.

She was already in her tenth week of pregnancy. Under her clothes, her lower belly had developed a tiny, subtle curve, though to anyone else it was still barely noticeable. I gently reached out and rested my palm against her stomach.

"Do you think it's a girl, or a boy?"

"The doctor said we'll be able to find out in just one more month."

"Is that so? How's university going?"

"Well, things got a little awkward after I told people I was pregnant... But hey! As long as I attend lectures and keep up with coursework, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it doesn't matter. I'm taking a leave of absence after the first semester anyway. It's totally fine! Exhibition games start tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. You'll be able to watch them live on TV."

"My husband is in the starting lineup, isn't he?"

"Of course."

"Go out there and knock it out of the park!"

"...Are you sure you really need to watch the games?" I asked, hesitating slightly.

To be clear, in our previous lives, Eunha and I had grown up together in an orphanage in Philadelphia. Naturally... Eunha had been a dyed-in-the-wool Philigan. Born and raised in Busan in this life, she understood KBO baseball even better than I did. She was the kind of rabid fan who became infinitely more emotionally hyper-invested in game outcomes than I ever had as an active major leaguer. Honestly... I couldn't help worrying that watching stressful, high-stakes games wouldn't be particularly healthy for prenatal care.

"Of course I have to watch! What, you don't want me to?"

"No, it's not that. Mm. I'll make sure to play well."

"Fighting!"

Well, there wasn't much I could do about it. The only solution for good prenatal education was to win clean, dominant victories that kept her blood pressure nice and relaxed.

"Seonghyun-ah," Choi Kanghyuk called out, jogging up to me in the dugout before pre-game warm-ups. "Someone wants to meet you."

"Tell them I already have a child, and I'm sorry."

"Come on, man! Can't you just create an Instagram account? Just one?"

"It's a hassle."

"I told them you had a kid, and they told me to stop lying through my teeth!"

"Then just block them. Where do you even find the free time to stare at your phone? Make sure you don't drop any routine grounders today. These are official exhibition games. You need to put on a show during exhibitions if you want the front office to call you up to the majors the second June rolls around."

"Ahem. Fine, fine, I got it."

I stepped out onto the turf, feeling the chilly breeze against my neck. It was still a bit cold to be playing baseball. But even so, a professional had to do his job.