Chapter 329 – Episode 321. Exhibition. (1)

“It’s my first time playing an exhibition game, so I’m a little excited. Well, is there anything else?”

“Is this your first exhibition game?”

“Hey, I was having a hard time in America with my senior at that time.”

“Oh, that’s right. “You didn’t participate last year because of the WBC, right?”

As he looked from the dugout at the spectators who had come to the exhibition game, his heart began to pound slightly. It was my first exhibition game, and it was my first baseball game in a long time.

“Are you nervous?”

Seeing me like that, Ki Ki-ju asked me if I was nervous, but I wasn’t particularly nervous. I’m just a little excited.

“I’m not the type of person to be nervous.”

“Still, since it’s an exhibition game, I’ll probably take one or two at-bats before going in. Just adjust your condition appropriately.”

“Where is moderation? It’s been a while since I played in front of the fans.”

However, it was disappointing that they were not Jamsil’s home fans. Today’s game will be held at Gocheok Dome, the home stadium of Shilla Triggers. Still, there were quite a few people wearing striped uniforms, perhaps because it was Seoul, or because they won last season.

“But make sure you don’t get injured. You know, right? “You are the most important thing in the team.”

“Injury? “I am Jimaenghon.”

“I get it. “You bastard.”

“Come on, everyone gathers around!”

While I was talking with Ki Gi-ju, there was someone who drew the players’ attention with a loud voice. It was Choi Jin-cheol, who took over as captain in place of Woo Kwan-hyung, who was undergoing rehabilitation training due to an injury this season.

“Oh, Jincheol hyung. “Has it already started?”

“Oh my! That’s not it, you bastard!”

The players burst out laughing at Choi Jin-cheol’s embarrassed voice. Of course, Choi Jin-cheol was recruited last year and has only been here for a year, but except for Woo Gwan-hyeong, there is no one more suitable for the captaincy than Choi Jin-cheol.

Before being traded, he spent about 7 years with the AT Thunders, including military service, and even after leaving the team, he did not give interviews criticizing the team, making him a player that fans did not particularly dislike. Of course, he got criticized when he played against AT. In any case, since he was from AT, he passed the test in terms of basic skills, and his skills were outstanding.

He was a legendary home run hitter who won various awards that are difficult to even talk about and hit 422 home runs, including 396 home runs in the KBA and 30 home runs in the majors. In particular, although he only played one season in the major leagues, he even had the experience of hitting 20 home runs in a season. Moreover, last year, he hit 44 home runs, completely dispelling the disbelief of those who thought he was on the aging curve, and took second place in home runs and the Golden Glove Award.

In addition to his skills, Choi Jin-cheol also had a good relationship with the players. The juniors who did not know Choi Jin-cheol well after being recruited from Mirae Buffaloes, who had a strong military discipline, thought Choi Jin-cheol was difficult, but Choi Jin-cheol was a good person on a human level.

Of course, he was not as open-minded as me as he was older, but he knew how to laugh when his juniors made jokes, and like a high-paid free agent, he often bought them food and coffee.

Fundamentals, skills, and even personality. Now that Woo Kwan-hyung is gone, Choi Jin-cheol is the perfect person to be our team’s captain.

“Was it good to win last year?”

“Yes!”

“Yes, I was happy because it was my first time winning. You guys. Hehe. Everyone knows that this game is not the first game of the season, nor is it an important game with the championship or fall baseball at stake, right? It’s just one of the exhibition games played before the season. Right?”

Choi Jin-cheol stopped speaking, looked around at the players, cleared his throat, and spoke again.

“But let’s not disappoint the fans who came to see us. Okay? You’re a professional, right? You have to work as hard as you get paid. “The winning team is Gao, let’s not show them failing.”

“Yes!”

“I understand!”

“And honestly, baseball is fun, right? Isn’t it? It’s more fun to win. You guys are probably feeling it too. “We have the power to win this season as well.”

And Choi Jin-cheol’s eyes turn to me. The other players followed Choi Jin-cheol’s gaze and turned their gaze towards me. The players’ facial expressions showed expressions of trust.

“… Of course. “I am there.”

And I also agreed with Choi Jin-cheol. We are a winning force. Although Kim Joo-yeop, who played as the starting center fielder last year, was missing, it honestly wasn’t a big blow. Soyoung was disappointed that she couldn’t recruit Lee Yong-gi, but even without Lee Yong-gi, we were strong.

Crongs and Bellingham’s foreign one-two punch, who signed a one-year extension contract, and Jang Yoon, a reliable domestic starter. In addition, the fourth starter, Park Jun-hyung, was a 10-win pitcher, and Jun-hoo, although stupid, was a talented guy. I was also nervous about the bullpen, but there was no team without a weak point, so I could tolerate that.

And in the first place, our team’s strength was not pitching ability; our team’s strength was the batting line that boasted the best offense in the league last year.

Looking at the batters, Woo Gwan-hyeong, who hit .300 last year, left due to injury, but was scheduled to return in May or June, and the Golden Glove trio of Kim Su-ho, Gi Ki-ju, and Choi Jin-cheol, who led the team’s batting, were alive and well. In particular, Ki Ki-joo hit 30 home runs last season, a career high, and Jin-cheol Choi hit 44 home runs, albeit with some help, and announced his second peak.

In addition, my partner, Seongtae Yoon, also showed decent results, although not at the Golden Glove level, and Jeongjin Baek also performed well in last year’s postseason and was selected as the starting right fielder in spring training. Although I was anxious about the catcher position, it didn’t really matter because, except for Lee Yong-gi, there were very few hitters who were good catchers in the first place.

In addition, Don Williams, a mercenary hitter who was ambitiously recruited to the lineup. Don Williams was a mid- to long-distance hitter who played all outfield positions and had decent contacted and gap power, making him a suitable hitter for Jamsil, our home stadium. His flaw was that he didn’t have a good starting pitch, but from what I saw at spring camp, he was a good hitter at the KBA level.

And in addition to those batters, there was me and Ji Maeng-ho in our batting lineup. With Rossby, we were able to achieve at least last year’s performance. Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Unlike last year, many clubs will target me by thoroughly analyzing the data accumulated over the year. Moreover, considering the strategy Moon Ki-taek showed in the Korean Series, it was clear that there would not be many pitchers who could compete properly with me.

But still, I was confident. That’s why I worked hard until the season started.

“Yes, there is a fierce tiger.”

“Ha, it would be great if that bastard didn’t say things like that.”

“Meng Hao, please take care of me this year as well.”

“Please just leave it to me.”

“Yes, Meng Hao as well, our team is strong. Of course, don’t get injured or anything like that in the exhibition game. Let’s safely show our fans how strong we are. “You can do it, right?”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go!”

Just like that, new captain Choi Jin-cheol’s assembly was over, and the top of the first inning began. The Shilla Triggers pitcher on the mound is Kim Won-ho.

‘They said he would switch to a starter this year, but he was a starter from the first game. Well, you might want to check it out. ‘I wonder what Wonho’s potential is.’

Wonho was a top prospect who received attention from professional teams ever since he entered school. In middle school, his velocity was in the mid to high 140s, and he continued to grow, reaching a peak velocity of around 155-6 when he graduated.

Since he had such skills, other members of the baseball team, except me, wondered why Wonho rejected the love calls from prestigious baseball high schools and entered Hanche High School, a weak baseball school. In any case, Wonho has had such a ceiling since his amateur days, so it was somewhat expected that Shilla Triggers would develop Wonho as a starter.

I can’t believe I’m going to be playing against my friend’s first starting debut. This made me remember the first time I signed with Rossby and went to bat. The pitcher standing on the mound at that time was also Wonho. At that time, he remembered the practice game and smiled slightly.

‘Huh, I guess I’ll have to do some hazing. I think it was a home run back then.’

I wanted to let him know that selection in the KBA League is not easy. As I walked to the plate with that thought in mind, Wonho grinned at me as if the situation was funny. Then he pointed to his opposite shoulder with his non-gloved hand.

‘Uh? That sign… ?’

It wasn’t the sign our team used, but it was a sign that remained in my memory.

‘Mr. Rossby, by any chance… ?’

‘It’s a fastball.’

‘Fuck!’

After all, that was the cause of death. A sign used in high school to send a message that you will soak a guy you don’t like. Perhaps sensing my gaze, Wonho nodded and smiled.

‘This bastard, I treated him so well… !’

I immediately walked away from home plate, prepared to dodge, and waited for his pitch. And I flinched at the trajectory of the ball flying towards my body.

“Strike!”

“… Uh? “Are you in?”

“… No matter who sees it, it’s a strike.”

When he saw Wonho standing on the mound after hearing the referee’s words, he waved his hand once.

‘Fuck! I was deceived!’

One strike with this. My head was a little heated, but if I think about it differently, if I had used this in a critical situation during the regular season, I would have definitely gotten hurt, but considering I learned it cheaply in the exhibition game, it was beneficial to me.

‘Huh, okay. I benefited. ‘This.’

‘… ‘Bloody hell.’

‘… Please tell me the next ball.’

‘It’s a splitter.’

‘Okay.’

Wonho Kim’s high-speed splitter. It was the pitch that made him the setup man for the Shilla Triggers. In high school, his angles were not as sharp as he showed in the pros, but as a conscientious guy, he showed a lot of polish, so it was a bit of a difficult pitch to play against.

But…

‘It’s been a while since you last won, do you want to go inside, Wonho? You’re not going to avoid it, right? It’s not a regular season, it’s an exhibition game.’

It was clear that the Wonho I knew would not shy away from competition. Even in high school, during practice games, Wonho would not throw the ball unless it missed, so it was clear that this ball would probably fall into the zone.

‘Come.’

And then his splitter fell, showing the splitter’s characteristic backspin, and I just bent my knees slightly and scooped up his splitter.

Ta – Aak!

And the cheerful hitting sound I heard at a baseball stadium for the first time in a long time. It was a perfect hit without even needing to see the destination of the hit.

‘Fuck, this is the taste.’

Looking at Wonho, who was laughing helplessly as if it were absurd, he sneered and then turned to face Wonho and pointed the bat like a gun.

“Hey!”

“Congratulations on becoming a starter!”

And while congratulating Wonho, he threw the bat and walked toward first base.

*

“You worked hard, kids.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The AT Thunders players greeted the first game of the exhibition game with Ji Maeng-ho’s two home runs and headed toward the parking lot with bright faces. However, among those bright-faced players, there was one player who could not smile.

“Under…”

It was Lim Jun-hoo, who has been having a harder time these days. The girlfriend he met as soon as he returned to Korea was crying, and the money Junhu had was gradually drying up. Now, the only money left in the account is about 1 million won. But her girlfriend’s father’s company was still not operating normally. And her girlfriend still needs about 500. Junhu was unable to find the money, so his future was at a loss.

“Hey, this guy hit two home runs, is he sighing? Are you a spy?”

“Ah, Brother Meng Hao.”

And then a fierce tiger came into Junhu’s eyes.

“Club Go?”

“What kind of club is this? “I have a girlfriend.”

“Oki, good work.”

“Oh, bro, just give me a ride home.”

“Huh? What about your car?”

“… “I sold it.”

‘… ‘Are you an asshole?’

When Meng Hao heard that the car had been sold, he immediately realized what was going on, and his eyes turned cold when he looked at Jun Hu. However, it wasn’t difficult to give him a ride, so Meng Hao took Jun Hu to the parking lot.

“Bro, bro, this was called BenXri.”

“Uh.”

“How much does this cost? “It must be really expensive.”

“I don’t know either.”

Since the car was a gift from So-young, Meng-ho did not know the true price, but Jun-hu could tell that Meng-ho had a lot of money and did not care about the price of the car. After thinking about that, Junhu’s eyes caught the clothes Meng Hao was wearing and the watch hanging on his wrist.

‘The clothes are all luxury goods, huh? Isn’t that DX? I think it’s over 200? Now I see that the shoes are DX sneakers. Wait a minute, that thing on my wrist… ‘It’s Patek Phil X?’

Junhu’s mouth opened as he felt as if what he was wearing was worth tens of millions of won. Looking closely, I saw that the scent of wealth was flowing from Meng Hao’s body. Of course, they were all gifts, but the smell was real anyway. And when Junhu smelled it, the words came out of his mouth without even realizing it.

“Brother, I have 5 million.”

“Why? Should I buy a lighter?”

“No, only 5 million won.”

“Are you an asshole? Take a taxi and go. Good work.”

“Ah, why! “You have a lot of money!”

“Where’s my money, you bastard!”

“Brother, you receive a lot of awards and the biggest bonuses. “I will pay you back right away.”

“Fuck, I don’t have any money either!”

“Ah, bro!”

Thinking that he should not miss this opportunity, Junhu lost his temper and tried to cling to Mengho’s body, hugging him.

“Oh my!”

In a shitty situation where the man tried to hug him, Meng Hao unknowingly turned Jun Hu’s chin.

“Hey, Lim Jun-hoo! Lim Jun-hoo! Oh shit, this bastard passed out. Anyway, it’s so fucking annoying. “Where was this bastard’s house?”

Still, Meng Hao had to take responsibility for knocking him out, so he searched Jun Hu’s body to find Min ID, and at that moment, Jun Hu’s cell phone vibrated and rang.

“What? Message? I heard Junhu is in a hurry. My brother is around 500… This guy is borrowing money from anyone. What’s behind it? The sender is Kang Ho-cheol? Who was Kang Ho-cheol? … Oh, that gangster?”

‘Hehe. When the mafia and sports players get involved, funny things are bound to happen.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Think about it yourself.’

Meng Hao racked his brain at Ross Bi’s meaningful words, but was unable to accurately grasp the situation.

“Mr. Rossby, I’m really curious. Can this kid recognize eye contact? Is it fingerprint recognition?”

Hearing Rossby’s words that aroused his curiosity, Maeng-ho opened Jun-hu’s cell phone, which was locked.