Chapter 64
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Lucky Shaun's Debut
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"Feels like you've got a handle on your control now. How'd that happen?"
Cha Si-hwan didn't answer right away. Instead, he rummaged through his bag and pulled out a folder.
"Looks like these materials helped a ton."
Cha Si-hwan handed the folder to the manager and headed back to the mound.
"It said that every time I threw, my arm angle and release point were off a bit..."
Lee Eun-seok nodded.
The handout detailed just how much Cha Si-hwan's arm angle and release point varied, complete with helpful photos.
"The solution was to build a habit of locking in my arm angle and release point."
Cha Si-hwan gripped the ball and went into his motion, freezing just before release.
"Practicing like this to lock 'em in seems to have worked."
A small sound of admiration escaped the manager's lips.
The fix itself wasn't anything revolutionary or groundbreaking—it was a standard approach.
But the quality of the materials in Lee Eun-seok's hands was impressive.
The writing was clear and logical. Call it what you want, but for a baseball player not exactly known for way with words, it was easy to grasp and motivated him to practice on his own.
And those attached photos? They looked like captures from broadcasts. You could tell countless trial-and-error attempts went into nailing the exact release moment.
This clearly took a lot of effort.
"Oh, and it said to create a routine."
"A routine?"
"Yeah. Make a routine and pair it with the practice, and it'll become second nature."
With that, Cha Si-hwan adjusted his cap brim twice and shrugged his right shoulder.
"Do this... then lock the arm angle and release point again..."
"Oh..."
Lee Eun-seok was genuinely impressed. The idea of using a routine to naturally stabilize the arm angle was pretty clever.
Now he had to ask.
"Where'd you get these materials?"
The manager approached, a hint of excitement in his voice, but Cha Si-hwan just shook his head.
"Uh... I'm not totally sure. Tae-hyun gave them to me. I heard it's from someone prepping to be a coach or something..."
"Cha Tae-hyun? Our ex-coach. Was he here today?"
"I saw him come in this morning."
"Alright, let's go find him."
The manager's lips curved into a wide grin as he left the pitching practice area.
Watching him go, Cha Si-hwan muttered,
"Man... if you're not gonna coach, at least leave the materials..."
Today was Monday—a rest day—but I swung by Sajik Stadium to loosen up a bit.
On my way to the weight room,
-Thwack!
-Ow!
-Thwack!
-Agh!
Batting sounds and groans echoed.
Who's training?
I figured it'd be empty on a holiday.
Following the noise, I reached the field—and found quite the unexpected scene.
Sunbae Chan-woo was sprawled on the ground, panting. Or more like mopping the dirt with his uniform.
His white jersey was caked in so much dirt it was unrecognizable.
"Chan-woo! We haven't even done much—get up!"
And why was that guy here?
Sunbae Sang-jin stood at first base, helping with fungos, it seemed.
The same guy who'd pushed drinks on me at our first meeting... Things really change with a new manager.
"Tae-hyun? Off day—shouldn't you be resting?"
-Thwack!
The infield coach kept hitting balls as he spoke.
"Just loosening up. What brings you here, Coach?"
"What brings me?..."
-Thwack!
"Chan-woo kept whining for fungos, so here I am. Geez, like a ghost haunted by bad fungos."
Hmm... My take, but yeah, maybe he is haunted by his fungo skills.
From what Su-ho sunbae and Lee Seung-tae said, no one even stuck around to hit fungos before.
Anyway, the team's definitely improving.
"I'll head to the weights then."
"Yeah. Good work."
Leaving the field for the weight room, I ran into another surprise duo.
"Oh! Cha Tae-hyun! Been looking for you. This the stuff you gave Si-hwan?"
The manager thrust the folder at me. Yep—Shin Ha-yoon's handiwork.
"I checked it out. Short and sweet, but packed with good stuff. Feedback's solid, and Si-hwan's control's improving—you can see the potential. Ask the guy who made it."
"Ask him what?"
The manager grinned.
"If he'd like to work with the Phoenix."
My lips curved up too.
Getting Shin Ha-yoon hired at Phoenix seemed tough before Si-hwan posted results, but this opportunity came quick.
"Uh... obviously, we can't hire him off this alone. Need solid results. You get me?"
"Yes. I'll talk to him and get more materials."
"Cha Tae-hyun, you catch on quick. Where'd we find a lucky charm like you? Right, Coach Gu?"
"Haha... Yeah. Total lucky charm. Even snagged us a good... coach, haha..."
Something about the pitching coach's eyes looked shaky.
"Hmm hmm hmm~."
Shin Ha-yoon stood in front of the mirror, trying on outfits and humming cheerfully.
Looked like he was heading out happy, but no—he had zero plans to leave the house.
So why the outfit frenzy?
[Tae-hyun: Mind if I swing by your place?]
This one text.
Whatever the reason, Cha Tae-hyun was coming over.
That birthday hangout was a blast, and now another chance? He was thrilled.
Perfect timing—sister at school, parents at work!
'This is the sweet life of unemployment!'
Twirling in front of the mirror, Shin Ha-yoon bolted at the doorbell.
He flung open the door so fast he slipped on his slipper.
"Wha—?"
The doorknob flew open, and he tumbled right into Cha Tae-hyun standing there. Basically hugged him.
Thump-thump.
His heart went wild.
"...Why'd you come out so fast?"
"Ah... sorry."
Still leaning into Cha Tae-hyun's chest, Shin Ha-yoon only pulled away when he got a look.
"Sorry for dropping by sudden. Important talk, and stuff to grab."
"N-no... No need to apologize. Come in."
Shin Ha-yoon patted the bed in his room, but Cha Tae-hyun shook his head.
"It's important but quick."
"But... your legs'll hurt."
Cha Tae-hyun turned away, ignoring Shin Ha-yoon's slight pout.
He started stuffing the Phoenix analysis files from the desk into his bag.
Even as his precious files vanished, Shin Ha-yoon just watched, no protests.
"The stuff you gave Si-hwan? Caught the manager's eye."
"Huh? That? For real?"
Shin Ha-yoon wasn't sure if he should be happy or worried. Half and half.
"...What'd the manager say?"
Cha Tae-hyun lowered his gaze with a sigh.
Shin Ha-yoon deflated like a golden retriever who'd lost its snack.
"Guess it wasn't good..."
Suddenly, Cha Tae-hyun grinned.
"Kidding. If it sucked, I wouldn't be taking it. Manager loved it. Asked if you wanna work for Phoenix."
Snack retrieved—the retriever lit up. Shin Ha-yoon jumped from the bed.
"...For real?"
"Not hired on the spot, but more materials should do it. That's why I'm here. These are heavy—can't ask you to deliver. Anyway, good work. I'll pass 'em to the manager."
As Cha Tae-hyun turned to leave, Shin Ha-yoon stared blankly—then lunged.
"Wait... dude."
Too excited, he shoved Cha Tae-hyun down. Cha let out a dry laugh, looking away.
"Thanks... really. Seriously, thank you so much."
Face beaming with joy, repeating thanks, Shin Ha-yoon leaned his cheek on Cha Tae-hyun's back.
"I... I'll never forget this. I'll repay you forever! Thanks, Cha Tae-hyun."
"Come on, repay what? You've worked free this whole time... This is your skill's doing, not mine."
Shin Ha-yoon shook his head against Cha Tae-hyun's back.
"No. It's thanks to you. Without you, it'd have taken way longer."
"...Fine. Whatever. Now get off."
"Ah... yeah."
Finally snapping out, Shin Ha-yoon stood, face burning with embarrassment.
Silence crashed in.
"I'm really going."
"Uh... yeah. B-bye!"
In the awkward air, Cha Tae-hyun left the room.
Shin Ha-yoon poked his head out the window, watched him leave the complex, then flopped onto the bed.
"Ugh... I'm crazy crazy crazy! Seriously. Out of my mind!"
Roll-roll.
Wrapping in the blanket, rolling more, he eventually tumbled off the bed—headfirst.
"Oof...! Haha!"
Somehow... it didn't hurt at all. Head gone wrong?
Whatever.
So happy—a little crazy's fine.
Shaun White, today's starter against Gwangju Angels, approached me.
"Hey, Tae-hyun. Know why a black guy like me's named Shaun White?"
I flinched.
Wrong answer could be bad.
Luckily, he spilled first.
"Both my parents are white. Thought they'd get a white kid, obviously."
"Uh... yeah."
"Surprised? Black kid from white parents—totally unique!"
Is that how it works?
He drops weird stuff sometimes, but he's fun. I like his type.
"Definitely unique."
"Right? Guy with that kinda luck—that's me! So my debut's gotta be lucky. No worries about the three-peat."
Yeah... I desperately hope Shaun's luck beats even our bullpen.
Please.
Despite Lucky Shaun White, Phoenix's top of the first ended in three quick outs.
"My turn at last? Let's go!"
Anyway, starter Shaun bounded to the mound full of energy.
"Hey, Shaun. What you ball."
Shin Si-woo asked in brutal English—what pitch plan?
Shaun tilted his head, then nodded like he got it.
'Asking how good I am, huh.'
"Um best okay?"
'Best? Trust my judgment—black bro's a riot as always.'
"Okay good."
This is why signs matter in baseball. Without 'em, this battery would've wrecked today.
Back home, Shin Si-woo donned his mask.
'Angels ain't pushovers.'
Back when Winners, Phoenix, Angels lingered bottom—called WIPA—but that's history.
Seoul Winners escaped early, won titles, betrayed the bottom alliance.
Angels slacked but hold most KBO titles. Different pedigree.
'Pisses me off thinking it. Traitors... Only Daejeon Volcanoes were real allies.'
"Play ball!"
Umpire's call—Shin Si-woo cleared his mind, signed low-inside fork first pitch.
Shaun nodded, fired.
-Whoosh!
Fork dived perfectly at the plate—bat whiffed air.
'Nice...'
Shin Si-woo snagged it, impressed inside. Exhibition fork was decent; now it's sharper. Game-time guy.
Next: outside slider.
-Crack!
"Striiike!"
Slider grazed the corner—maybe off, but ump called strike.
Two strikes—feelin' good.
Could chase a chase pitch, but...
'Inside fastball? Fun!'
Shaun grinned at the sign—go for the heat strikeout.
Big windup—Shaun unleashed.
Batter swung hard.
But
"Strike—out!"
156 km/h
'Bold...'
Unexpected sequence—batter laughed dryly, trudged back.
[Angels #1 Batter, 3rd Pitch (Fastball: 156km/h) Whiff. Out.]
[Angels #2 Batter, First Pitch Hit. SS Cha Tae-hyun Fields & Throws Out.]