episode_0070

“Have neither of you played a full season yet?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Just before we began our intensive training upon arriving in Australia, Coach Woo called us over.

“What do you think is the main difference between amateur baseball and professional baseball?”

Coach Woo asked me while looking directly at me. Well, since I was the only amateur here, it was natural for him to ask me.

“Getting paid?”

“Well, getting paid is indeed a difference, but that’s not what I meant. The biggest difference between amateur and professional baseball is that you have to play baseball six days a week. That’s 144 games, something most players can’t endure.”

“I’m confident in my physical condition though.”

“Well, where would you find a pro player who isn’t confident in their physical condition?”

“True, as Sungtae said, there probably isn’t a pro player who lacks confidence in their physical abilities. However, no matter the player, they eventually hit a wall with their stamina during the season. That’s when slumps begin. Well, it’s just a part of being human.”

Hmm… Is it really that tough?

“Your expression tells me you don’t believe what I’m saying.”

“Senior, do you really need to explain this to an amateur like me?”

“Well, sometimes you have to experience things to truly understand them.”

“But Senior, aren’t you a designated hitter? Isn’t it easier for designated hitters?”

As far as I knew, Coach Woo had been a designated hitter for the past three years. If he doesn’t play defense, how tough could it be?

“……”

“Wow… Seriously clueless.”

“Anyway, um… I brought you two here before the season starts to teach you about things like managing your stamina and routines… Sungtae, how are you preparing for the season?”

“I plan to stick to the routine I had at Sangmu. My performance was decent last season, so I think it worked well.”

“Alright. And you, Maengho, what was your routine like?”

My routine…?

“I think I just trained before games, had sex, and things like that.”

Rossbi did the same.

“Sex? You’re a minor, kid?”

“I was legal, though.”

“Well, there are players like that. I know seniors and juniors who always have sex after games. But wouldn’t it be tough to do that during the season?”

“Oh, I found it harder to focus during games if I didn’t release at least once before.”

That was a fact. I couldn’t concentrate for about a week at the end of camp because I couldn’t have sex.

“Well, if it improves your performance, I can’t argue. During this training period, I plan to train like I do during the season. Sands, our team’s coach, ensures players’ autonomy, so if you don’t find a training method that suits you, you’ll likely fall behind. I won’t mention any names, but many players on our team fell for the myth of autonomous baseball and saw their performance decline.”

Ensuring autonomy? That sounds good.

“So during this training period, I plan to train like I do during the season. Watch closely and find a routine that works for you. Shall we start training?”

“Yes!”

“Yes.”

“Before the instructors I’ve called arrive to assist with training, warm up your bodies. You know that lower body strength is crucial, right? Let’s start with some light running.”

Due to jet lag, it was a bit tough, but I wasn’t incapable of running. Hmm… But having sex here would be a bit awkward, right? It’s too straightforward, and eating out isn’t really my style.

Sigh… Is this the beginning of enforced abstinence?

*

“Hey, did you read the article?”

“Article?”

On the final day of the intensive training proposed by Coach Woo, as I packed my bags to return to Korea, Yoon Sungtae approached me. We had become somewhat friendly over the two weeks of training together.

By the way, for two weeks, we didn’t even get to see any girls and just focused on training. Damn.

“Wow, have you seen the WBC national team preliminary roster that just came out?”

“What’s the point of looking? It’s not like we’ll be on it, and it’s not even for the Asian Games.”

“Just take a look.”

I accepted the smartphone handed to me by Yoon Sung-tae. Then, I checked the article.

“WBC preliminary roster of 50 players announced. 24 pitchers, 26 hitters confirmed!”

“Well, don’t just read the article. Look at the details too.”

Why all this fuss about the content?

‘The preliminary roster was announced later than usual. Finally, a list that seems carefully considered has been revealed. Hmm, skipping the irrelevant parts…’

I slowly scanned through the preliminary roster. It feels like there’s someone familiar. From our team, Kim Su-ho, Ki Sang-joo, and Choi Jin-cheol were selected as hitters, while pitchers included Jang Yoon and Park Jun-hyung?

Huh? Why is my name under infielders?

“Did you see it?”

“My name is on there too?”

“That’s right. Just as I expected the article to say.”

“The article is out?”

I hadn’t had time to read the news as I was focused on training.

“They’re picking both Jang Woo-joo and you. Don’t you know about the article?”

“How would I know? Unlike someone who spends more time on the internet than training, like you.”

“This guy, seriously clueless.”

“That clueless guy.”

Ignoring Yoon Sung-tae’s words, I reread the last part of the article where my story was written.

– ‘Meanwhile, there is something unique about this preliminary roster. The names of this year’s high school rookies Jang Woo-joo and Ji Maeng-ho are included. The KBA Technical Committee explained the reason for including the two players in the preliminary roster, stating that “the two players who showed outstanding performance in high school baseball are already considered players at the pro level by the Technical Committee. For the advancement of Korean baseball, the Technical Committee believed it was appropriate to give rookie players the opportunity to represent the country.”‘

Hmm… I’m not sure who the Technical Committee is, but one eye seems to be working fine. While I may not know about Jang Woo-joo, I am definitely pro-level.

‘It seems there are some people in this monkey country who have their heads screwed on right. Recognizing the masterpiece of Mr. Losbi. Hehehe.’

‘I guess it’s because I’m doing well.’

‘Shut up, you monkey brat.’

‘Yes.’

‘Keep reading the article.’

‘As you command.’

– ‘On the other hand, the Technical Committee has stated that if the physical condition of the two players is satisfactory during this spring camp, they will be scheduled to join the national team. Some experts have raised doubts about the Technical Committee’s decision.’

“Doubts? Are those experts blind or what?”

“Why are you swearing so harshly while reading?”

“Oops, caught me off guard.”

Yoon Sung-tae seemed curious about the part I was reading as I suddenly swore.

“But isn’t this person right? What’s with all this talk about the national team?”

“Are you jealous, hyung? Oh, how pitiful. I’ll go to the national team before you do.”

“You wish.”

“Well, honestly, hyung felt it too while training with me. You realized it wasn’t working for you.”

“….”

Yoon Sung-tae remained silent in response to my words. With all the praise from the batting ball pitchers and instructors, I could sense a barrier forming.

“Stop it.”

Yoon Sung-tae raised his middle finger. Heh, how petty.

“Hyung. You should consider yourself lucky. I was a shortstop until my second year. Probably wouldn’t have made it to the first team this year if I stayed a shortstop in my third year.”

“So the reason you switched from shortstop to infielder was because of me? How considerate. If I saw you as a shortstop, it would’ve been too heartless of me.”

“Ridiculous.”

“Anyway, are they coming to see me at the spring camp? It’s a bit unfortunate to be associated with Jang Woo-joo, but not bad.”

“Have you faced Jang Woo-joo?”

“Once, I suppose? We probably clashed. Of course, I hit a home run.”

“He throws 160, how did you manage that?”

“That jerk is nothing. Just a feather. The ball is clean, nothing special.”

“Well, with your fastball speed, no wonder you can hit anything.”

“Now, they finally acknowledge my greatness. Hehehe.”

“Yeah, you’re pretty good.”

“Are you just cheap and loud?”

While Yun Sung-tae and I were fooling around like that, Woo Kwan-hyung entered the room.

“Oh, senior. Have you arrived?”

“We were just chatting.”

“You kept making noise, so I thought you wanted to stay here.”

“No!”

Yun Sung-tae replied nervously to Woo Kwan-hyung’s words. The man lacked confidence.

“Meng Ho.”

Huh, why is he calling me? Suddenly, Woo Kwan-hyung called me.

“Yes. Did you call me?”

“Heh, this cheeky monkey. What are you scared of…?”

“I’m not scared; I’m just showing respect to the senior who allowed me to participate in special training after spending millions on me. Eastern manners, you know?”

“Bewongsin.”

“Congratulations.”

“What?”

“National team player. I saw it too.”

“Oh, thank you. But it’s not confirmed yet as an official entry.”

“No, I heard from a senior in the technical committee that it’s almost certain.”

“Oh, Ji Meng-ho. Going to the national team before making a pro debut?”

“Indeed, the future of Korean baseball seems bright. Recognizing talents like me.”

“You’re fine, but it would be better without that strange overconfidence.”

“Oh, senior. An athlete needs that level of determination. Right, senior?”

I said while looking at Woo Kwan-hyung. Having been together for two weeks, I realized that Woo Kwan-hyung didn’t particularly dislike this kind of talk.

“That’s right. An athlete should have that level of confidence. It’s much better than lacking determination.”

“But how about the national team? I’ve never been there.”

“Wow, you haven’t been to the national team? What did you do in high school?”

“I played sports. Did you go?”

“I was a regular there.”

“It’s not common for a professional player to lack national team experience.”

If only it weren’t for Lee Ki-cheol, I would have gone to Cheongju too…

“Still, I went once as a batting pitcher.”

“Boasting, huh?”

“Still, I’ll make it to the adult national team before you do.”

“Yeah, you’re pretty good. Kid.”

Yun Sung-tae either got upset or cursed once before heading back to his room.

“When you’re selected for the national team and wear the national team uniform, always behave carefully. Each of your actions represents the country.”

“Understood.”

Whether he wanted to say these words or not, Woo Kwan-hyung finished speaking and returned to his room.

The national team… My heart raced for some reason. To think that I could wear the uniform I watched while playing as a batting pitcher in St. Louis, it was exciting.

“Why are you getting excited over such a small thing?”

“But it’s the national team. When I was young, the baseball national team won the Olympics. I must have been five years old? That’s when I started playing baseball. It’s been my dream since then.”

“This guy talks nonsense whenever he opens his mouth.”

“What? What part of what I said sounds like a lie?”

“A stubborn guy like you remembers things from when you were five years old? Do you remember what happened in middle school?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I’m speaking seriously.”

“Heh, you need to make sense for me to take you seriously. From what I see, you can’t even remember what happened a year ago.”

“Oh, come on! I remember things from when I was young. And if something left a deep impression on my young mind, of course I’d remember it until now.”

“Then who was at bat in the last inning?”

“How would I know that! I just remember the impression. And we were probably on the offensive, right?”

I remember this. They showed it on TV so many times. The pitch that induced a double play was still artistic to watch.

“You just guessed from watching TV. You don’t have the intelligence to remember that time.”

“What, I am remembering it. Ah, forget it. Just leave me alone. I want to be alone.”

“Hehehe, stubborn guy. You resort to cursing when you have no counterarguments.”

I began to ignore Rossby’s words and silently started organizing my luggage. Come to think of it, I remember….

*

Sigh. As soon as I arrived at the airport, I breathed in the familiar air of Korea. Even though I had been in Australia for just two weeks, is Korea still the best after all?

After Christmas ended, I spent two weeks in Australia from late December, so this year was my first time breathing Korean air. I did celebrate the New Year abroad, but I didn’t feel annoyed or anything. After all, there was no one to meet.

Maybe what’s annoying me is not having sex?

“Well then, thank you for your hard work, senior. It was an honor to train with you.”

“Sure thing, Seongtae. Let’s meet in the main team this year. You’re good enough for the main team.”

“Thank you, senior. Maengho, see you during the scam. Take care.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

One by one, they left the airport. As soon as the seniors left, I picked up my phone.

“Are you busy, Soyeong? I just finished training.”

-“You’re here? I’m a bit busy…. The salary negotiation hasn’t finished yet…. But I can spare some time. Is tonight okay?”

“Yes, let’s meet tonight then.”

After making plans with Soyeong, I dialed another number. Hyuna is in the middle of the season, and Hyejin noona is about to give birth, so the remaining choice is Joeun!

“Joeun, what are you doing right now?”

-“Maengho! I’ve been waiting!”

“I’ve been busy with training. Anyway, are you free now?”

-“Yes…. Shall we meet at the center as usual? Or at home?”

“Let’s go to my place. Comfortably.”

Damn it, let’s just have sex for now!