Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Fall Camp 1
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The first-team, second-team, and development players already had their uniform sizes sorted out. There was no need to re-evaluate them, but Manager Han Geun-seong wanted to check their skills with his own eyes.
That made the wrap-up camp one focused on extra training for the underperforming first-teamers, second-teamers, and development players—while also serving as a skills assessment for the rookies, with the veterans sitting it out.
But on Manager Han Geun-seong's orders, every single player ended up getting a fresh evaluation.
"The manager doesn't play favorites or discriminate between players. This wrap-up camp is basically just to assess your abilities, so don't feel too pressured."
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
"The managers will be moving you according to the schedule from now on, so stay focused and follow along."
"Yes, sir! Got it!"
With so many players around, the Okinawa training field echoed with booming voices.
The managers started sorting players by the list, dividing everyone up by position.
Choi Seung-taek, naturally, was grouped with the catchers. Every catcher on the Daejeon MacPhies roster ended up together in one spot.
"Nine guys total, but we'll rotate three of you through three drills. First up: Park Geuk-po, Choi Seung-taek, Jeong Kyung-ho on blocking."
Choi Seung-taek glanced at the two other catchers he'd be training with.
One was an experienced veteran catcher, and the other was the Daejeon MacPhies' current starting catcher.
Choi Seung-taek headed to the blocking practice area alongside those two catchers.
"You Choi Seung-taek? The first-round first pick, right?"
"Yes, sir, Senior."
"Whoa, a first-round first pick catcher? I'm shocked, Senior. This kid's got something special."
As expected of a veteran, Park Geuk-po was the first to break the ice with some light chatter, easing what could have been a stiff atmosphere.
"Alright, let's get started. Get ready."
"I'll go first."
Choi Seung-taek kicked things off by receiving the first pitch, and the blocking drill began.
"Hup!"
Choi Seung-taek smoothly blocked the ball and fired it back.
"Oh! Not bad at all? Nice and steady!"
"Worthy of a first pick!"
"Thank you."
They gave him some easy praise when he handled it better than expected without freezing up.
"But why so quiet? You barely say a word."
'Why do you think? Gotta save my breath for training.'
Of course, he couldn't exactly say that out loud, so Choi Seung-taek just kept at it silently, playing the part of a slightly nervous rookie who stayed quiet and focused.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, they'd done 30 blocks each.
"Ugh, my knees. Test-wise, it's about time to wrap this up."
"Tell me about it."
Park Geuk-po was starting to feel the strain on his body.
"Feels like we've got a ways to go. You see that box over there?"
Choi Seung-taek nodded sharply toward the box where someone kept refilling pitches.
"No way we're going through all of that, right?"
The veterans had predicted their fate spot-on.
Before long, the block count passed 100.
"Something's off here."
"I'll ask. How long are we doing blocking for?"
"Manager said go through the whole box."
Jeong Kyung-ho finally cracked and asked, but when they heard it was the manager's direct order, they shut their mouths and kept going.
"Hoo... Hooo... Hoo..."
"Hah... Ha... Ughhh."
"Nngh..."
The blocking drill dragged on, leaving the three catchers utterly exhausted.
The lower halves of their uniforms were caked in dirt.
The two veterans who'd started off chatting casually gradually fell silent.
Even Choi Seung-taek, who'd never done this many blocking reps in a row, just hunkered down and focused without a word.
"Alright! That's the box—done!"
"Ugh..."
"Hoo-ah..."
After blocking nonstop through the entire morning session, the three catchers collapsed onto the ground, wiped out.
"Hold on, Coach. What's the plan for the rest of training?"
"Oh! Geuk-po! Uh... Lunch first, then stolen base prevention in the afternoon, followed by framing."
"Same intensity as this?"
"Probably? Yeah, I think so?"
Park Geuk-po's face darkened instantly.
The other two didn't look much brighter.
"Damn... We're screwed."
"Aigoo..."
Scattered groans rose here and there in the cafeteria during lunch.
The players, who'd been spread out for training, all gathered at the tables, chuckling at each other's dirtied uniforms.
"Whoa... You guys got it rough too, huh? How'd it go?"
Park Geuk-po, with dirt smeared all over his knees, asked Woo Jung-geun.
Woo Jung-geun was filthy from head to toe, his face a picture of soul-crushing fatigue.
"The manager personally hit fungoes at me non-stop. Felt like I was dying. Think we did... a thousand? Just fungoes."
"Kekekeke."
"Whoa... Manager's still got it."
They grumbled quietly as they loaded their trays, but with no appetite, they picked at their food slowly.
The sudden ramp-up in intensity had left them a bit queasy—and nobody wanted to head back to the field anytime soon.
"Hey, Jung-geun hyung, how long we gotta keep this up?"
Jeong Kyung-ho asked Woo Jung-geun, who knew Manager Han Geun-seong best.
But Woo just shrugged it off.
"Just feel it out as you go. Think of it as building that error-free groove..."
"Sigh..."
"And yeah, this is still just testing. Real training hasn't even started."
"What? Hyung, say that again?"
"What else? This ain't training."
The faces around the table turned grim at Woo Jung-geun's words.
The grueling training finally wrapped up.
After dinner, the coaching staff and veteran players gathered in the meeting room under Manager Han Geun-seong's lead.
With the morning's one drill and afternoon's two done, they started reviewing and evaluating the players alongside the coaches.
"No pitchers stood out. We've only got one we can use as a starter."
Bad news first.
"Mm... Bullpen?"
"Not many good ones there either."
"Hardly any passed?"
"Just one closer-caliber guy."
"Then how the hell are we supposed to play baseball?"
The scouts and coaches exchanged uneasy glances at Manager Han's words.
Pitching is the flower of baseball. And barely anyone had passed muster in those key roles.
"We'll reinforce the staff through FA signings."
"Pitchers... crank up the training intensity from now on."
"Got it."
"By spring, at least half need to pass. Otherwise, who starts? Who closes? We gotta know."
"Understood."
The pitchers' schedule thickened.
Training, training, training, training.
A brutal lineup took shape: one morning session, two afternoon, one night.
"Fielders?"
"Our infield's definitely weak."
"Hm..."
That much was clear, especially after Manager Han hit fungoes himself.
The Daejeon MacPhies infield boasted two national-team-caliber guys: first baseman Tae Pyeong-yang and second baseman Woo Jung-geun. But outside them, shortstop and third base were shaky—and Manager Han had confirmed it today.
"They can't even handle basic defense right now."
"Yes, Manager."
The head coach said it with regret, and Manager Han pondered deeply.
"Ramp up infield training to boost their skills. I'll scout backup balls myself—know a guy. Time to call him."
"Got it."
The infielders' schedules filled up just the same.
"Outfield's solid. Center fielder Lee Geun-taek's still rehabbing and not back, but the others are holding up."
"Mm... Good. Add night batting practice for outfielders."
"Understood."
Even solid groups didn't get a break.
Night training got tacked onto the outfielders' charts too, despite most passing defense.
"Catchers?"
"Was worried sick, but they're better than expected."
"Really?"
Manager Han had heard the catcher corps was weak, so the response caught him off guard.
"No league-top guy, but we can finally run three catchers."
"Kyung-ho and Geuk-po as starter and backup, right?"
"Yes."
"So... who's third?"
"The new rookie, Choi Seung-taek."
"A rookie?"
He raised an eyebrow at a newbie catcher slotting into third.
"Yes. Rookies usually take time, but he tested well. Per your list, he's above the line."
"Better than the second-team and development catchers?"
"Yes. Clearly outperforms the others. Not elite in blocking, stolen base prevention, or framing—but solid across the board."
Rookie catchers typically needed years to adjust, so hearing one was already serviceable intrigued Manager Han.
"Alright... Tomorrow, focus on catchers. Gotta see for myself."
"Yes, sir. You doing it personally?"
"Damn right. That's how you know for sure."
Manager Han kept scribbling notes. The spot next to Choi Seung-taek's name started filling up.
And just like that, tomorrow's main training shifted to the catchers.