episode_0055

A month passed quickly. My daily routine remained unchanged during that time.

After exercising, having rice cakes with Hyuna, Hyejin, and Joeun, and occasionally participating in exorcism activities with Soyoung. After spending a month like that, the AT Thunders finished the season in 7th place.

And then November. I participated in the finishing camp of the AT Thunders.

“Hello? Starting this season, I’m Ik Cheol, joining as the second team battery coach for the AT Thunders. Nice to meet you. Let’s get along well.”

“Hello!”

And the tiresome director, that is, Ik Cheol, joined the AT Thunders as the second team battery coach. I heard about it from Hyejin noona, but seeing his face here didn’t make me feel too good.

‘Tiresome guy. Following me all the way here.’

Of course, after the finishing camp, I won’t be joining the second team, so this is probably the last time I’ll see him here.

“Well, it seems like the coach introductions are done roughly, so let the rookies come and introduce themselves.”

After the coaches’ introductions were over, the second team manager, Lee Suhyun, gathered the rookie players who joined this year.

“Oh, starting from the first-round pick. Ji Maengho.”

“Hello. I’m Hanche High’s Ji Maengho. I’m an infielder and was born in 2003, taking a year off.”

Claps could be heard. Is this enough?

“Is that it? These days, the kids lack enthusiasm.”

But Lee Suhyun seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

“Yes?”

“Talent show! Talent show!”

And the players sitting in front started shouting together. Talent show? I didn’t prepare anything specific…

“Ross B, what should I do?”

“Why are you asking me? Just go in and do the talent show as the seniors tell you to.”

Ross B also dismissed me with an expectant look on his face. Damn. I don’t have anything prepared…

“I can’t show my talent for baseball here, but I’ll show it on the field with my skills.”

I decided to push through.

“Oh, he’s got guts.”

“Yeah, if you’re a first-round pick, you should have this kind of spirit.”

“What’s this guy doing? If the seniors criticize you, you should take it.”

Various reactions. Yes, bark. Anyway, I’m different from you guys in the second team.

Due to the nature of the finishing camp, most of the people here were second-team players. The first-team players went on vacation after the end of the season. Well, there were some 1.5-grade players or unexpected individuals.

“Stop, stop.”

It wasn’t the director Lee Suhyun who stopped the players, but an unexpected person, Woo Gwanhyung.

Woo Gwanhyung, currently the top player of the AT Thunders, emerged like a comet as a high school rookie in 2002 and has been protecting the AT Thunders even now after 21 seasons, the heart of the AT Thunders.

In other words, the “Emperor of the Unrelated.” Despite his tremendous career records, he had no titles or championship rings.

“Why did such a player come to the finishing camp?”

Usually, such high-ranking players don’t come to the finishing camp and take a break, but he seemed to have participated in the finishing camp as expected, like a god of self-management.

“Yeah, if baseball is your talent, you might want to show it in baseball. Let’s see, who’s the next one after the second round, number one?”

Thanks to Woo Gwanhyung’s intervention, I returned to my seat without doing the talent show. As I sat down, the next batter walked up.

“Hello! I’m pitcher Im Junhu from Hwiyoon High. Please take care of me in the future! I’ve hit a top speed of 152.”

Im Junhu, who defeated us in the Presidential Cup, a tall guy who keeps sending personal messages, I remember responding briefly.

“Oh, okay, Im Junhu. Welcome to AT.”

“I’ve prepared a song for the talent show!”

And Im Junhu began to sing the prepared song. Taking advantage of that moment, I approached Woo Gwanhyung.

“Thank you for helping me, senior.”

“Helping you. Still, be careful. No matter how skilled you are, you should play baseball while observing basic etiquette.”

Is it an old-fashioned style? Let me check first.

After that, the new rookie players who came in started introducing themselves one by one, and all 11 of us drafted through the draft finished our introductions.

“Yeah, there was one last rookie player who joined, right? Look at me. Jung Hwi-chul?”

“Hello, seniors! I’m Jung Hwi-chul from Gunsan High School. My position is outfielder! I will work hard! Please take care of me.”

Jung Hwi-chul, he also joined? I remember him catching my home run hit at Bonghwangdae. I vividly remember him sitting down hesitantly after hitting a come-from-behind home run against me, shedding tears.

“Yeah, since you came in as a rookie player, you have to work harder than your peers. Understand?”

“I understand! I will work hard!”

“Yeah, why don’t you sing a song before we go in.”

“Uh…”

He started trembling and began singing a trendy idol song. Did I miss out on doing that too?

“Why? Are you scared?”

“I am. Maybe because he’s doing it and I’m not, it bothers me a bit?”

“You’re scared.”

“Yes, yes. Think whatever you want.”

After Jung Hwi-chul’s song ended, Lee Soo-hyun clapped, drawing the players’ attention.

“Alright, now let’s all go to our rooms, unpack, and meet back here in 30 minutes. Got it? Since we’ll be sharing rooms for two weeks, get along well with your roommates. Dismissed. Room assignments are posted in the dormitory hallway.”

“Dismissed!”

If we were to point out one downside of the closing camp, it would be that we had to stay locked up in the dormitory facilities of Ichon 2nd Division for two weeks.

Moreover, here I was, the youngest, tasked with laundry and chores no matter who I shared a room with, and escaping like at school was out of the question.

“Please, don’t let me end up with some weirdo.”

For the two-week closing camp, I headed to the dormitory hallway where room assignments were listed, carrying my luggage.

“Hey, I envy you!”

“What? And we’re the same age, hey? Are you crazy?”

“So what, we’re the same age.”

Lim Jun-hoo, who checked his room assignment first, approached me, patting my shoulder. What’s there to envy?

[Room 204: Woo Gwan-hyung, Ji Maeng-ho.]

Damn! Why did it have to be with the top player! Looking around, Woo Gwan-hyung was also looking at me.

“Let’s do well.”

“Yes, senior.”

He seemed a bit old-fashioned earlier… Can I endure for two weeks?

“So you’ll be sharing a room with him?”

“Yes. I want to teach and learn together for two weeks.”

“Well, that’s good. If you’re with a senior like Gwan-hyung, anyone can learn something.”

A few days before the closing camp of AT Thunders, AT Thunders’ 2nd team coach Lee Soo-hyun and AT Thunders’ top player Woo Gwan-hyung were having a conversation.

“I saw the interview, he’s not just anyone, can you handle it?”

“I’ll have to try.”

Ji Maeng-ho, a prominent rookie who made headlines among fans with a sensational interview during the rookie selection ceremony. Lee Soo-hyun, who was already contemplating how to deal with this guy, welcomed Woo Gwan-hyung’s suggestion.

“If Gwan-hyung, a veteran like him, can help, it might be possible.”

The epitome of self-discipline, the embodiment of consistency. A collective consciousness of professionalism. Lee Soo-hyun believed that if it was Woo Gwan-hyung, reforming a cocky rookie wouldn’t be a big deal.

“If it’s Gwan-hyung, he’s trustworthy.”

In 2002, his final season at AT Thunders, Woo Gwan-hyung, who debuted as a rookie and tirelessly worked, was the basis of that trust.

Who is Woo Gwan-hyung?

When you think of AT Thunders, who comes to mind as a player? Without a doubt, it would be Woo Gwan-hyung, NO. 10 of AT Thunders. The most famous nickname for him is ‘Thunders’ Heart.’

Well, there were other famous nicknames like ‘Our Hyung’ and ‘Guan Yu’ that fans called him, but his official nickname was ‘The Heart of the Thunders.’ And fittingly, he was a player who represented the Thunders in the 2000s.

Debuting as a high school rookie representing AT Thunders in 2002, Guan Hyung played exclusively for the Thunders for 21 seasons until 2022. The reason he participated in camps with second-tier players was simple.

It was all about the desire for victory! No, not just winning, but also the desire to play in the autumn baseball games!

Debuting as a rookie in 2002, he announced his debut as a top rookie with a .303 batting average, 115 hits, and 13 home runs in his first season. In 2004, he achieved his first 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, becoming a representative figure of the KBA with seven more 20-20 seasons.

Throughout his 21 seasons with the AT Thunders, Guan Hyung left behind a record of 2587 games played, 2955 hits, 389 home runs, and 394 stolen bases. He earned 11 Golden Gloves combined as an outfielder and designated hitter. Despite never hitting 30 home runs in a season, his consistent performance with 389 home runs showcased Guan Hyung’s reliability.

Moreover, he recorded impressive ratio stats of .317/.383/.507/.890, which were remarkably beautiful for a hitter at Jamsil.

Guan Hyung’s records were nothing short of brilliant. Though he never held a title, his consistent efforts led to such remarkable achievements.

However, these shining records only added to the criticism towards Guan Hyung, who couldn’t even reach the postseason, let alone win a championship.

He was criticized for lacking teamwork, focusing solely on personal records, being a jinx, selfish, the king of indifference, and more.

Furthermore, last year, his streak of maintaining a .300 batting average for 20 consecutive seasons was broken, leading fans to casually suggest retirement.

-“Guan Hyung is past his prime. He’s a has-been. We need to get rid of that guy for the team to thrive. Guan Hyung is blocking the blood of AT Thunders. How long will you use an old man as a designated hitter? We need to nurture rookies.”

Guan Hyung wanted to prove that he was still alive. He wanted to confront the criticism from fans head-on.

So, to improve his declining stamina as he aged, he participated in winter camps and trained harder than usual during this winter.

He wanted to make the fans who loved him and AT feel the same excitement of autumn baseball that he felt when he was a rookie.

But to reach autumn baseball, he knew he couldn’t do it alone.

“Of course, our team’s players aren’t bad.”

Guan Hyung had also pondered over the Thunders’ underperformance. Looking at the Thunders’ roster, they weren’t far behind other teams in terms of individual talent.

While they didn’t have players dominating the league, their individual performances were decent enough to put three to four players in contention for the Golden Glove after each season.

However, AT Thunder’s unique sharp baseball always hindered them from reaching the postseason. If the batting lineup and starting pitchers are good, then the bullpen is. If the starting pitchers and bullpen are good, then the batting lineup is, and if the batting lineup and bullpen are good, then the starting pitchers are! And injuries to key players erupting at the crucial moment of the postseason!

Even if it is said that a dark cloud surrounds AT Thunder, it is not an exaggeration to say that the past 21 years of AT Thunder were unlucky.

With one end always lacking, AT Thunder always tasted the bitterness of being eliminated from the postseason.

Always starting the season with ‘This year is different!’, but ending up in 6th or 7th place. Not gaining any advantages in the rookie draft and continuously recording ambiguous rankings that can’t make it to the postseason, the team gradually sank deeper into the abyss of darkness.

‘To change a team like this, one player is not enough.’

Kwanhyung was a superstar who was often counted on with one hand when talking about KBA, but alone, Kwanhyung couldn’t achieve the impossible dream of the postseason.

To fulfill that dream, a game-changer who could change the game was needed. In regular baseball, a game-changer could be an ace pitcher throwing fastballs or a home run hitter who could change the momentum of the game.

In an attempt to become such a player, Kwanhyung changed his swing style to aim for 30 home runs, but ended up with the worst record since his debut, ruining it until the first FA.

And watching the team’s superstar Kwanhyung fail after transforming into a home run hitter, the club became even more reluctant to prefer home run-type hitters. A vicious cycle.

‘Maybe it’s true that I’m ruining the team. Since that season, the club has become more passive towards home run-type hitters.’

If he had succeeded in transforming into a home run hitter, could the team’s composition have changed? Even if he speculated, it was meaningless. He failed.

So, Ji Maengho, a promising home run hitter who joined the team after a long time, hoped not to follow the same path as himself. He wanted to pass on everything to Ji Maengho, who could be the club’s final first-round pick. From how to prepare before the season starts, how to manage stamina, how to overcome slumps, and so on.

As a result, he ended up going to the second team coach and requesting to share a room with Ji Maengho during the closing camp.

And now, as the closing camp begins.

“I’ll do my best. Senior.”

Ji Maengho stood in front of Kwanhyung.