Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Exhibition Game 3
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Strikeout!
'Not bad at all. He's got skills.'
Yoon Jung-jin was pleased with Choi Seung-taek's handling of the game.
This was their first time syncing up today, yet Choi Seung-taek seemed to know exactly the pitches Yoon Jung-jin preferred and the spots he liked to target.
'Already two outs. This inning should wrap up easy.'
Their rhythm felt better than expected, letting him rack up two strikeouts in quick order.
[Middle Curveball]
'Nice. He's mixing it up smart.'
Yoon Jung-jin liked how Choi Seung-taek was bold enough to call for a curveball too.
This aggressive approach convinced him to stick with Choi Seung-taek's signs.
Screeeeech
Thwack!
Strike!
'Perfect.'
The curveball, dropped in at a timing the batter couldn't predict, made Yoon Jung-jin's main weapons—his fastball and slider—even deadlier.
[Outside Slider]
Nod.
Screeeeech
Thud!
The Sparrows batter, already fooled once by the curve, swung wildly at the fading slider.
But trouble erupted elsewhere.
- Grounder to shortstop... Oh~~~! The ball slips behind him.
It was a routine grounder to short, but shortstop Hwang Kang-kyung botched it.
'Tch. Defense is a bit shaky. Oh well, just get the next guy.'
Still only two outs, runner on first—Yoon Jung-jin steadied himself.
[Outside Fastball]
Nod.
Whiiiiiish
Thud!
- Third baseman Shin Hee-seong lets it slip behind too!
He'd called for an outside fastball against the Sparrows' lefty, and delivered it well.
The batter poked it weakly toward third, but Shin Hee-seong bobbled it, sending the ball rolling out to left field.
'Whoa... This is insane. What the hell are they doing?'
Two boneheaded errors in a row gave Choi Seung-taek a headache.
His anger hadn't cooled yet, and this nonsense made it worse.
'Damn. Even Min-jae would've fielded that. What's wrong with them?'
They'd already nabbed two strikeouts, cruising to the end of the inning—then two ordinary grounders turned into errors, loading the bases with two outs.
"What are you doing!!! What the hell!!! Arrrghhh!"
The internet streamer 'MacGandji,' running a biased Daejeon MacPhies broadcast, was gasping for breath as he screamed.
"No! Damn it! Why turn it into a circus again! This is pro sports! You're baseball players, not entertainers!"
MacGandji, decked out in an orange uniform with his mascot magpie, was genuinely suffering.
MacGandji's stream had a solid audience, with the chat buzzing.
It was one of the top broadcasts out there, but with a twist: despite being a hardcore MacPhies cheer squad, more people tuned in just to troll the team.
"How are they still making these basic mistakes... Gonna finish 9th again? No, 10th?"
"Guys, I'm skinny as an anchovy. Low body weight here, but watching MacPhies is gonna give me high blood pressure."
"Right! Guys! Wow! Isn't our manager Han Geun-seong now? Didn't he do that hellish fungo drill? Why are they still garbage?"
MacGandji was yelling, veins bulging in his neck.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's think positive. Regular season hasn't started yet. We're getting better little by little."
"Ooooh! Strikeout! Wow... Yoon Jung-jin closes the inning after all. Dude's 40 and carrying the team alone. So frustrating."
Top of the 8th—finally Choi Seung-taek's turn.
Runner on first after the cleanup hitter Taepyeongyang singled with two outs.
Choi Seung-taek eyed the opposing pitcher.
'Whoa... Who's this guy? No memory of him. Means he's not that strong...'
He stared hard, but without data, the system didn't trigger.
'Guess I just gotta do it. No choice.'
Whiiiiiish
Thwack!
Strike!
No system assist, but a grin crept onto Choi Seung-taek's face.
'What? Why's the ball so clear?'
He got this feeling sometimes.
No reason, but the ball slowed down—spin direction, seam shape, all visible.
'Off-speed next? Or fastball again?'
Choi Seung-taek glanced at the pitcher again. First- or second-team farm guy? Early 20s like him, anyway.
'Nah, no overthinking. Just swing. What can't I do now that I'm back? Form's solid.'
Right now, animal instinct ruled him—it screamed to just battle.
'Exhibition game. Even if I whiff, no biggie. Let's battle.'
No proof it'd work, but he felt it would.
'Whatever. Challenge me.'
Choi Seung-taek gripped the bat long, timing the opponent's fastball.
Whiiiiiish
Late 140s fastball, sharp to the outside corner.
Crack!
- The ball's screaming off the bat~!
- Ooooh!!! Ah... foul.
It flew deep, but foul.
'Close. But damn, I can hit this.'
Hitting it, the ball felt watermelon-huge.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
Focus sharpened—even his heartbeat rang in his ears.
'Bring it. I'll crush you.'
Once more, long grip, prepped a pure extension swing like before.
Whiiiiiish
'Meatball!'
Spooked by the deep foul, the Sparrows pitcher's next one wobbled middle-in.
Crack!
- This one's really flying deep.
- Choi Seung-taek! Homer in the exhibition game!
Choi Seung-taek pounced on the hanger, yanking it hard over the left-field fence at Jamsil.
'Clean.'
He flung the bat with flair and trotted to first. Not quite floating on clouds like before, but a homer still buzzed.
Round the bases, he scanned the stands for Park Ga-young.
She was in the third-base seats—he spotted her right away this time.
Choi Seung-taek waved to the third-base side, and the MacPhies fans there cheered him on.
"Choi Seung-taek! Choi Seung-taek!"
Thwack!
'Ugh!'
"Hey! That's Choi Seung-taek! Nice one, man!"
So lost in spotting Park Ga-young, he'd jogged in dazed—only for waiting cleanup hitter Taepyeongyang to slap his back hard in praise.
"Thanks!"
Score: 2-0. Dugout vibes soared.
"Good work out there."
Riding Choi Seung-taek's homer, the MacPhies notched their first win combining spring camp and exhibitions.
"Finally a W. How many Ls did we take? Brutal."
"Isn't this that jinx? Teams that shine in exhibitions tank the regular season."
Choi Seung-taek piped up to hype the mood more.
"True that. Dump all the errors in exhibitions—then no mistakes after opening day. Win 'em all."
"Right!"
Captain Taepyeongyang backed him, lifting spirits higher.
As the players buzzed, manager Han Geun-seong called over his chief coach.
"Today's... errors. How many?"
"Five."
"Opening day's right around the corner. Errors make sense to you?"
"No, sir."
"Back... in Daejeon, drill defense."
"But tomorrow's Falcons game..."
"Drill anyway."
"Yes, sir!"
Han Geun-seong had the win, but hated the path to it. Good result, bad process.
Packing up, Choi Seung-taek headed for Park Ga-young...
"Seung-taek, where you going?"
The manager stopped him.
"Me? Just finishing up... heading home."
"Manager ordered night training. Straight to Daejeon Stadium—dinner then drills."
'What? Say that again?'
Horror froze Choi Seung-taek's face.
"Can't... another catcher go? I'm..."
"Defense drills. You especially gotta come—no other first-team catcher."
"Use a second-team guy..."
"Second team's playing Gangjin. Can't make it."
Smack!
"Ow! Choi Seung-taek! Killer job today. Let's roll."
"Huh? Thanks~!? Ack."
His soul fled in real time—but senior players swarmed from behind.
They dragged him straight to the bus.
"Yo, Choi Seung-taek! You're kidnapped today. Sit by me—we gotta talk."
Captain Taepyeongyang, loving the homer, wanted him next to him.
'Ah... shit. Screwed. What now?'
As the kidnapping unfolded, one forgotten detail hit Choi Seung-taek.
"Sorry, seniors. I joined late—drove myself!"
"Oh right! Wondered how you got here... Can't leave your car. No choice."
"I'll drive straight to Daejeon Stadium. See you there."
"Cool! Catch you in Daejeon. Great game today. For real."
He barely escaped.
'Haa... Now hurry to Ga-young...'