Chapter 379 – Episode 371. A Returning Veteran. (1)

[In the bottom of the 9th inning, Crongs takes the mound. 11:7. There are only 3 outs left until AT wins. There is tension lingering on the faces of the AT players who are out on defense. …]

Woo Kwan-hyung, who was watching TV at home because he had difficulty walking due to a hamstring injury, turned off the TV when he saw Crongs on the mound to protect the score.

“Honey, why aren’t you watching more?”

“If I look any further, I feel like I’m losing.”

“Ah, but uh…”

“For a moment! “Stop saying that!”

“Oh, you too. Even in this situation, because of superstition…”

“No, it’s not a superstition. Because you never know.”

Wu Kwan-hyeong blocked his wife’s mouth as she tried to rashly say ‘that word’. Although junior Choi Jin-cheol’s miraculous three-run performance tilted the victory toward AT, the 4-point gap was not enough to let one’s guard down. Even if there is only one inning left,

How many minutes passed with the TV turned off? An eternity passes by, where each minute feels like an hour. The once quiet house started to become noisy. It all started because of loud noises coming from several apartments.

There is only one reason for residents to scream during this time. Korean series.

‘Is the game over?’

“Honey, I guess it’s over.”

Woo Kwan-hyung wanted to turn on the TV after hearing his wife’s words, but his baseball life so far flashed like a flash in his head.

This was the first Korean series stage I went to after debuting as a high school graduate. And a disappointing loss. At that time, young Woo Kwan-hyeong made a firm promise that next year, he would be the one standing here and smiling. But at that time, I had no idea that the dark period would last this long.

Since that day, 20 years. AT Thunders and Woo Kwan-hyung have been through difficult times for 20 years, not being able to advance to the fall baseball league, let alone the Korean Series, and the young man who just graduated from high school has now reached an age where it would not be strange to call him middle-aged. The youngest member of the team, a rookie, soon became the captain and most senior member of the team, and during that time, he got married and had children.

Although he never won a batting title during that period, he achieved 11 Golden Gloves, 300 home runs, and 300 stolen bases, and was the first player in the KBA League to hit 3,000 hits, setting a milestone as the league’s most hits.

However, despite such a record of extraordinary achievements, Woo Gwan-hyeong’s heart was empty. The unfulfilled desire to win gradually turned into a simple dream of going to fall baseball, and every year at the threshold of fall baseball, I felt frustrated and wanted to give up. When he became a free agent, he didn’t think about going to another team that made a huge offer.

But Wu Kwan-hyung didn’t do that. He was too poor to move to another team. He has fans who only look out for him and support him, and he runs away from this team like a traitor. Even if I had to go, I wanted to show the fans a taste of the postseason.

So time passed and Woo Kwan-hyung grew old. The WAR he recorded in his prime was cut in half, and he was barely able to hit .300 and no longer hit 20 home runs. He wasn’t easy on defense, so he was criticized for monopolizing the team’s designated hitter position.

And several words coming to his wife’s stargram. There were swear words mixed with criticism and words that were difficult to put into his mouth, but it was not those swear words that hurt Guan-Hyung Wu’s heart the most. The words disguised as good intentions, saying that I understand your efforts, so you should step down for the sake of your juniors and create a new plan for AT Thunders, hurt Woo Kwan-hyeong’s heart the most.

But Woo Kwan-hyung still had more things he wanted to show. For AT, for the fans. And when people thought it was the end for Woo Kwan-hyung as he failed to hit .300 for the first time since his debut in 2022, Woo Kwan-hyung prepared for the season by working harder than usual. With the thought that this is really the last time.

I met that guy while participating in the team’s final training, which I can’t remember the last time I attended.

Ji Maeng-ho, a junior with a guest-hitting ability that cannot be considered a rookie, and athleticism that is comparable to the best in Korea, or even compared to the major leagues. While training together, Woo Kwan-hyung thought, ‘If this guy is… ‘I felt hope.

That hope gradually became a reality as the season progressed. He said the guy he had his eyes on since closing camp has become the best hitter in the league, and he has hit .300 with a double-digit home run, showing the world that Woo Gwan-hyeong is not dead yet. Fall baseball, where he advanced thanks to the performance of his teammates and others, semi-playoffs against his rival Hancheol… And injuries.

When he was injured, he felt like the sky was falling, but he also felt fortunate. Maybe, like some malicious fans, he feels like he is blocking AT’s path.

And now, Woo Kwan-hyung’s hand holding the remote control is shaking. He was paranoid that AT might not win the moment he turned on the TV.

In fact, even if he was injured, he could have gone to watch the game in person, but he couldn’t even go to the stadium because he was afraid that what he was seeing would be a burden to the players, or that he was actually the main culprit who was having a negative influence on the team as some fans said. Since it was Woo Gwan-hyung who came to visit, the period of worry was quite long.

“Honey… ?”

“Huh?”

“I got a call.”

While I was lost in thought, my cell phone seemed to be ringing. As if possessed by something, Guanhyeong Wu walked up to his cell phone and checked the caller’s number. The sender was Jin-seong Yoon, AT’s general manager and who played on the team as a rookie.

Woo Gwan-hyeong’s breathing becomes heavier when he hears the leader’s call. Maybe, maybe… Really…

“Hello?”

-“Hyung Kwan! Kwan-hyung! Were you watching?! It’s a win! Win! “We really won!”

Although the leader’s voice was watery, he was so full of joy that one wondered if he was a person who could make such a happy voice. Hearing that voice, Woo Kwan-hyung pressed the remote control. And on TV, AT players are seen having a victory ceremony.

“And!! Honey!!”

Although his wife hugged him, Wu Guanheng didn’t say anything and just shed tears. The winning scene shown on TV was a little different from what he had imagined.

… He seemed happier, more joyful. Even though I wasn’t there, I remember the last time I had such a happy day while playing baseball.

-“Hyung Kwan? Kwan-hyung?”

“… Yes, leader.”

-“Come to Jamsil. I have to have fun with my fans and have company dinners. You can come out, right? No, you know that you have to come out unconditionally, right? AT won the championship, so you can’t be left out.”

“Yes. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Honey, I will drive. Because your legs hurt too.”

That’s how I visited Jamsil Baseball Stadium. Ji Maeng-ho was seen walking around with a panel that said “Korean Series MVP” And what was so good about the players who were already heavily drunk.

“Uh! Senior!”

“Yes, Meng Hao. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Well, it’s basic. That’s Ji Maeng-ho.”

“Yes, you are Ji Maengho. Thanks. “For letting me win.”

“Thank you. It’s a team. Ah!”

While they were exchanging greetings, Ji Meng-hao started rummaging through his pockets.

“Take this, senior.”

What Ji Maeng-ho took out was a gold-colored watch. An expensive watch that the chairman of AT Group specially prepared for the player who won the Korean Series MVP. At the time, it was a watch whose price exceeded the price of an apartment, and even now, Ji Maeng-ho handed over the watch to himself without a moment of hesitation.

“This, me?”

“Yes. In fact, the senior who has been guarding AT all this time is the Korean Series MVP.”

“No, how can I…”

“Oh, please accept it. And I looked it up, and found that my watch was better. Have that senior. “You don’t need me.”

I had to refuse. Because this watch was worth more than just its price. But the words of rejection never came out of my mouth. Because it was the watch he had been looking for 20 years.

‘Ha, but I can’t shamefully take my junior’s watch.’

When he made up his mind and tried to refuse, the players gathered around Woo Kwan-hyung. And,

“Woo Kwan-hyung! Woo Gwan-hyung!”

“Hey, senior, get it!”

“Honestly, you are the MVP in my heart.”

“If my brother played, it was his anyway. Just take it.”

People around me urged myself to see if my life so far had been in vain.

“Senior, my arm is going to fall off. “If I don’t take this, I’ll throw it?”

“Uh?! Stop! Hey!”

He grabs Ji Maeng-ho’s arm as he pretends to throw the watch. However, Ji Menghao’s arm was so easily caught that he probably didn’t intend to throw it in the first place. And a brightly shining watch in your hand. And the sound of applause from those around you.

“Senior, you know that it’s ugly for a man to cry after reaching 40, right?”

“That bastard is talking to Kwan-hyung. Hey! Catch Ji Maeng-ho. “Let’s talk about that bastard today!”

“Yes! Senior!”

“Ahh, stop! Stop!”

Woo Gwan-hyung laughed at the sight of Ji Maeng-ho crouching and being stepped on, but everyone else was focused on Ji Maeng-ho, so no one made fun of Woo Gwan-hyung for crying and then laughing.

“Thanks. It’s Meng Hao. I’ll keep this well. And later, I will give you a gift.”

It may not have been relayed because he was too busy getting hit, but Woo Kwan-hyung made a promise. He said that in the next Korean series, he will become a real MVP and give Meng Ho a watch like this.

And time passed. As the saying goes, he was the embodiment of self-management, and he faced the hellish rehabilitation training with a smile, and his injuries recovered. And depending on the level of recovery, everything from batting training to base running and defense. And the 2nd team match.

-Woo Kwan-hyung, the signal for his return! In good shape with 4 hits in 4 at bats in the 2nd team.

ㄴMy brother, please come back quicklyㅠㅠ

I miss you… Kwan-hyung, are you Eun-jeo? ㅠㅠ

The second-team field was too narrow for a batsman named Woo Gwan-hyeong, and he proved that he was in perfect condition, hitting over .400 before being promoted to the first-team.

“Congratulations on your return. “Kwan-hyung.”

“It has finally arrived.”

And now, Woo Kwan-hyung has arrived in Suwon. The first place Woo Kwan-hyeong visited when he arrived in Suwon was where the director was staying.

“Clock. That’s cool.”

“… “Isn’t it cool?”

“Yeah, I wanted one too, really.”

Since he understood the feelings of coach Lee Soo-hyun, who debuted at Thunders and went through the 2002 Korean Series with him, Woo Gwan-hyeong smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth.

“I will become a player worthy of this watch.”

“It already suits you? “You’re probably the best fit than any other guy on the team.”

“… Thank you.”

“Anyway, you know that we rose to first place this time, right? Let’s try to win the combined championship this year. Today and tomorrow, I can stand by as a pinch hitter, and starting next week, I can play as a starter, right?”

“My physical condition is perfect. “You can leave at any time.”

The opportunity to be ranked first in the regular season came after 1/3 of the league had been played. Woo Kwan-hyeong was confident that he would not miss that opportunity.