Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Season Opener
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A heavy atmosphere hung over the Daejeon MacPhies' clubhouse meeting room.
The team had bolstered its roster during the offseason with investments from their parent company, but right before the season opener, their lineup had been nearly halved by injuries.
Present at the table were the MacPhies' GM, department heads, and the field coaching staff led by Manager Han Geun-seong.
"Quickly... report on the injury situations."
At the GM's words, the MacPhies' rehab trainer stepped forward.
"I'll brief you quickly. First, the most serious situation: our catchers."
"Materials are ready."
"Park Geok-po first—hamstring injury. Rehab will take about five months. Expected return in September."
"Whew... At least he'll be back during the season."
"Yes. The problem is Jeong Kyung-ho. Severe fracture in the shoulder clavicle area—looks like he's out for the season. Not even sure if he'll return next year."
"Aigoo..."
"Heh..."
The room filled with sighs at the news of one key player's major injury. Jeong Kyung-ho had been a franchise catcher they'd nurtured diligently, making it all the more regrettable.
"The hopeful note is Jo Woo-su—he should return within three months. But his knee still makes it tough to play a full game as the starter. He can manage about two games a week."
It was at least some good news. After all, Jo Woo-su was still the MacPhies' top catcher.
"Still, all three first-team catchers injured at once... We might need to rush a trade for a catcher."
The GM spoke with clear concern.
"We'd have to give up something equal in return, and we don't have much to offer. With our current roster, we can't land a good catcher."
"Then... what do we do? All three first-team catchers are out for a while."
"For now, install Choi Seung-taek as the starter and bring up a backup from the second team."
The scouting team explained why a trade was unfeasible, leaving them with no choice but to settle on that answer.
"We have to trust the rookie... Manager Han, you okay with that?"
The MacPhies' GM turned to Manager Han Geun-seong.
"Choi Seung-taek... he's passable enough, but the issue is we have no backup catcher."
"How about the second-team catchers' conditions?"
"What Manager Han values most is basic defense, and we don't have anyone at that level yet. Only Jeong Kyung-ho cleared the minimum bar for catchers."
The second-team battery coach's response was extremely negative.
"Basic defense? What about Choi Seung-taek?"
"Choi Seung-taek is fine. His defensive skills are on par with Kyung-ho's right now. As a rookie, he's already at the level of a pro with four or five years' experience."
"Really? We scouted well, then?"
"Yes. His hitting is solid too, so honestly, he's a promising asset. Give him a few years, and he could grow into an A-grade catcher."
The first-team battery coach gave a positive report on Choi Seung-taek.
"Then we'll go with Choi Seung-taek as the starter for catchers for a while. Brief the other positions."
"Yes. Woo Jeong-geun—wrist injury from batting practice. Needs two months focused on recovery. Fortunately, not major, so he might return sooner."
"Lee Geon-taek?"
"Lee Geon-taek's hernia was caught early, so treatment's straightforward. Back next week."
"Good. One week... Manager Han, this might be better than we thought?"
"The first month is the problem... But we'll do our best."
"Whoa, damn—that startled me."
Choi Seung-taek, who had parked at the Daejeon stadium for the season opener, jumped at the sudden message.
"Come on... stuff like this should pop up right before bed! Or when I'm just chilling! You scared me."
But it was good news, so Choi Seung-taek hurriedly checked his stats.
Before, it had just been letters, but now every hitting stat had a + attached.
'This means an overall buff, right? Nice!'
'Six months? That means build up my skills before then. If I work hard and earn those +s myself, it's basically permanent, right?'
The system's gifts didn't end there.
'Starting catcher? Oh! Makes sense—no catchers left... But they didn't even try a trade. Impressive.'
The popular baseball show Baseball Together had predicted Choi Seung-taek's rise to starter, but he hadn't believed they'd hand the keys to a rookie like him.
With three first-team catchers injured, he'd assumed they'd trade for at least one.
But the MacPhies chose to trust Choi Seung-taek, stirring complex feelings in him.
'Me as the starter... Things turned out like this. Coming to the MacPhies might've been the right call after all?'
"My mood keeps getting better."
Choi Seung-taek felt great driving to the stadium.
This stadium filled with 10,000 fans daily, even in last place, was sold out for the opener.
The sea of orange he'd seen arriving made his heart race.
"Whew... Alright! As the starting catcher, I gotta do this right."
Steeling himself, Choi Seung-taek entered the stadium.
"Choi Seung-taek, you here?"
Shortstop Hwang Kang-kyeong greeted him.
"Yes! Made it!"
He entered beaming, but a corner of his mind felt uneasy.
The two empty seats next to Hwang Kang-kyeong had belonged to .300 hitters.
'Tsk...'
"Seung-taek, you skipped night training again yesterday. How do you keep dodging it? Faking sick works once or twice, not forever."
Hwang Kang-kyeong asked, genuinely curious.
'Ah... that?'
'Whoa... I'm gonna lose my mind. All this catcher training every day is driving me nuts.'
By Choi Seung-taek's standards, the night training was outdated and ineffective.
It was just boring, repetitive drills that offered no help.
'Might as well rest for my mental health. How do I get out of this?'
Hating the pointless repetition, Choi Seung-taek racked his brain.
"Manager, night training tonight?"
"Of course, every night. Why?"
"I don't think night training works for me anymore."
"What? You hurt too? You okay? Leg? Arm? Where?"
The rookie's sudden refusal of night training caught him off guard.
Normally, it'd be, "Who do you think you are, skipping the manager's orders?!" But with the MacPhies' catcher crisis, the manager panicked, checking Choi Seung-taek over.
"Not injured."
"You scared me! If you're hurt, say so. Manager always excuses hurt players."
"Got it."
"Then why skip? You're only doing catcher drills now anyway. Gotta train hard to be starter."
Haha... can't say it's pointless repetition. So Choi Seung-taek spun a tale about Manager Han Geun-seong.
'Jinx!'
"Season opener soon, right? I have my own jinx— no night training the day before a game."
"What?"
The manager froze at Choi Seung-taek's words.
"Hold on... Ah... Yeah, that could be. Manager's considerate about that stuff... Let me check with him now."
"Now?"
"Yeah. One sec."
The manager called Manager Han Geun-seong.
"Manager... uh... Seung-taek wants to skip night training..."
"..."
"Yes! No! Wait... he says it's his jinx."
"Jinx...?"
"Yes. He has to do it at home..."
After hearing something, the manager handed the phone to Choi Seung-taek.
"Explain yourself."
'Damn...'
Calming his pounding heart, Choi Seung-taek took the call.
"Choi Seung-taek... explain."
"Manager... it's that I need to do my own power analysis..."
"..."
Manager Han Geun-seong felt off.
A rookie catcher with subpar skills daring to skip training irked him.
But good catchers study opponents' weaknesses.
This newbie proactively wanting to do it himself created conflict.
'This kid... could he be the real deal?'
Of course, Choi Seung-taek was lying to skip, but the veteran manager wavered.
Park Wan-gyu, Cranes' second-team manager and catching guru, had the exact same habit.
"Hrm..."
Skipping night training was suspicious, but Choi Seung-taek's reason held water.
"Just show up game day."
"That won't work! I need to review the night before to lock it in while sleeping."
"Sigh... Fine. But if you flop in the opening three-game series, no more off days. Full games and night training."
Manager Han Geun-seong lost to Choi Seung-taek's silver tongue.
"Yes! Understood."
Unable to admit he'd schemed to skip, Choi Seung-taek fudged it.
"Manager just okayed it."
"What? That make sense?"
"Probably... catcher shortage, so they're managing resources."
"Yeah? Makes sense... Our catchers are wrecked."
Hwang Kang-kyeong nodded.
"Time for us to head in."
"Yeah. Let's go. Not hyped for the opener?"
"Super hyped. Driving in... the crowds are huge."
"Right? Real pros now—take it all in entering the stadium. Feels surreal."
Changed and geared up, Choi Seung-taek headed to the dugout.
The view from the dugout was epic. Orange waves filled every seat.
Unlike the barren second-team fields, playing opener here at Daejeon first-team stadium swelled his heart again.
He glanced at the visitors' dugout—players with seagull logos.
"Good, all familiar faces."
The MacPhies' opener pitted them against the Busan Sea Gulls.
"I might not know other teams this early, but I know the Gulls well."
Thanks to skipping night training consistently, Choi Seung-taek brimmed with confidence.