episode_0075

“Looks like all the top players are gathered here. Are they all national team members?”

“National team? I don’t see anyone here who could succeed in the majors.”

“Well, the major leaguers haven’t arrived yet, that’s why.”

“Are these guys even capable of handing me their business cards in front of me?”

“…Of course not.”

From the start, Rossby set the bar for success too high. However, regardless of Rossby’s thoughts, all the players gathered at the national team camp were indeed top-tier athletes.

“Oh, there was one player who played in the majors until last season.”

“Who?”

I looked at the man Rossby mentioned. A man with a robust physique concealing immense muscles.

“Han Beom. Why is he joining the national team at his age?”

“Hey! It’s my last day, too.”

“Haha, always avoiding training as a major leaguer.”

“The team wouldn’t let me go, you know.”

A man speaking in a thick Gyeongsang-do dialect. Kang Hanbeom. He led the short-lived glory days of the Charlotte Blue Mariners in the early 2000s and smashed over 100 home runs in the major leagues. Always a subject of debate on community sites in the ‘Joo Hyoungjin vs. Kang Hanbeom’, also known as the ‘Joo Kang Showdown.’

Alongside Cho Jincheol, they dominated the early 2010s KBA league. While Cho Jincheol missed out on the national team due to poor performance last season, Kang Hanbeom, a former major leaguer until last year, made it onto the national team at the age of thirty-seven.

I might not know the detailed stats, but I’m aware he had an OPS over 1 during his nine seasons in the KBA league, including three Triple Crowns. Moreover, having spent eight seasons in the major leagues, his skill was unquestionable.

“Is playing eight seasons in the majors considered good?”

“…In Korea, that’s quite impressive.”

“Well, even just playing in the major leagues is remarkable for those monkey kids.”

“Also, racial discrimination.”

“Still, having played in the big leagues, evaluate him after seeing him train once. Since he was in the majors until last year, see how you measure up against him.”

“Understood.”

If I make it to the main event, I might face real major leaguers. But for now, I was curious about how Rossby would assess me compared to Kang Hanbeom.

Apart from Kang Hanbeom, seeing other towering players made my heart swell with pride. Is this the taste of being on the national team? Seeing familiar faces like Kim Sooho and Gim Sangjun from spring camp somehow felt different here.

For reference, only three players from AT Thunders made it to the national team, including me. Gim Sangju, Kim Sooho, and me. That was it. Excluding the major leaguers, is 3 out of 25 considered many? So, if we calculate… what percentage is that?

“Don’t do stupid things with an empty head.”

“I was pretty good at math, you know?”

“But you can’t even calculate that?”

“Well, it might be a bit challenging. I’m a bit rusty right now.”

“So, if you have 25 at-bats and get 3 hits, what’s your batting average?”

“1 for 8?”

“If it’s 1 for 8, what percentage is that?”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

“Haha, you’re always entertaining.”

What’s so entertaining? One thing was certain; this guy was teasing me again.

“Long time no see, huh?”

What? Who is this guy? Jang Woojoo approached us while Rossby and I were talking.

“Don’t use informal speech, kid. I’m older than you.”

Already irritated by Rossby, the young guy’s informality didn’t sit well with me.

“Aren’t we classmates?”

“I repeated a year. Kid.”

“Oh…. Sorry. But still, we’re classmates….”

“You’re not me, are you?”

“No….”

Come to think of it, this guy seems familiar from when I hit that home run… Should I give him a pat on the back?

“Haha, even if you beat him, it won’t change the fact that you’re clueless, right?”

“That’s not it! It’s just because it’s awkward, that’s all.”

“Anyway, hyung. Take care of yourself as a fellow teammate.”

Yeah, what could you have done wrong? I decided to forgive this guy like a mature adult. Well, when you see someone with overwhelming talent like me, they might send jealous glances.

“Alright, let’s take care of ourselves.”

“Oh, are the youngest ones acquainted?”

“Seungcheol sunbae! Hello. I’m a fan.”

“I was also the youngest during the last Olympics. Back then, I was a rookie just like you guys… Time flies.”

He was Joo Seungcheol, the son of Joo Hyeongjin. He debuted like a comet in 2021, winning Rookie of the Year and becoming the first high school rookie to achieve 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Two consecutive 30-30 club seasons, two consecutive outfield Golden Gloves. He was the superstar of the current KBA, inheriting Joo Hyeongjin’s strong genes.

“Let’s do well together, the three youngest. Last year was tough since our age group wasn’t represented in the national team.”

“Oh! It’s an honor, sunbae!”

“Yes.”

“Are you Mangho? I’ve heard a lot about you from my father. They say your strength is beyond human. I can’t wait to hit a home run too.”

Indeed, he looks powerful. Though it may sound a bit biased coming from me, his physicality didn’t seem typically East Asian. Even Joo Hyeongjin had that vibe, but does he seem even more physically gifted than Joo Hyeongjin?

Is he really 194 cm tall? He looked about that height, and he seemed to weigh around 100 kg. With a body like that, stealing 30 bases while playing center field—what is he, a video game character? But if such a player exists and still can’t win championships, is it truly impossible to win solely on individual strength?

“He’s nothing special either. In my eyes, you look better.”

“How can you say that without even looking?”

“He’s the type who gets annoyed by encouragement. Get lost.”

If you’re going to encourage, do it properly.

“What do you want? You little monkey.”

“Well, that’s actually better.”

“Why are you staring at people so intensely? Well, handsome guys like me are rare, right? You’re not bad-looking yourself.”

“Excuse me? I wasn’t thinking anything. And honestly, I think I look better.”

“Hahaha, you’re quite funny, huh? Hey, Universe. Who do you think looks better objectively?”

“Oh, um…”

“Just answer comfortably, freely.”

As Joo Seungcheol pressured Jang Wooju with his words and gaze, I clenched my fist tightly, making sure Joo Seungcheol couldn’t see it.

“Speak up clearly. You punk.”

“Um… Actually, Mangho hyung’s face…”

“Hahaha, these days, kids really lack common sense.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Oh, you seemed so frozen, I was just kidding. Just kidding. Anyway, let’s get along well, us youngest ones.”

Saying that, Joo Seungcheol laughed heartily again. While his father Joo Hyeongjin seemed aloof, Joo Seungcheol gave off a more lively vibe. Laughing like that, Joo Seungcheol suddenly put his arm around me and spoke softly.

“Hey, Dongjin said you’re good at debating. Let’s do it together sometime.”

“Dongjin said that?”

I hadn’t particularly interacted much in front of Kim Dongjin, had I? Did Junhu say something to Kim Dongjin?

“Well, with a one-year difference, we talk about this and that.”

“But even seniors do that?”

With someone like Joo Seungcheol, a named athlete, I thought girls would naturally be interested, but it was surprising to hear that he also goes to clubs.

“You have to enjoy your youth, right? Let’s meet after the WBC.”

“Yes, sure, no problem.”

If it’s Joo Seungcheol, surely even celebrities know him… I did feel a slight desire to try hitting on a celebrity.

“Hey! What are you talking about so seriously?”

“We were just bonding as the youngest members.”

“Oh yeah? Does it feel different when an old-timer like me joins?”

“Not at all.”

“Then let’s grab a meal and chat. Since it’s your first time in the national team, I’ll give you some advice.”

“Who’s that? It’s hard to distinguish your face because you’re not wearing a baseball cap.”

“Senior Cheol-yeong. Hello!”

“Oh, it’s you…?”

“I’m Jang Woo-joo.”

“So, you’re Maeng-ho, right? I know you. Shinla Park Cheol-yeong. I play second base too, let’s do well together as second basemen.”

When he mentioned Park Cheol-yeong, it seemed familiar. He was the stolen base king of Shinla Triggers and ranked second in stolen bases last year. His batting average had been .300 for four consecutive seasons. A typical second baseman unlike me.

“Oh, yes. Nice to meet you.”

“And the interview was fun. We need a character like that in Korea too. But you really don’t watch KBA?”

“No.”

Park Cheol-yeong paused for a moment after my answer, as if taken aback, then spoke again. But what’s the big deal if I don’t really watch it?

“Hmm… Oh, for a second baseman, you’re really tall. I envy that. If I had your physique, I wouldn’t have played second base. Honestly, isn’t the outfield much easier?”

“Oh, come on, hyung. The outfield is tough too.”

At the dismissive remark about the outfield, Ju Seung-cheol got annoyed. But Park Cheol-yeong didn’t back down and continued.

“You only want to play infield? Just catch some fly balls. Isn’t that right, Maeng-ho?”

Suddenly? Well, it’s true that the outfield is easier.

“That’s a fact. In Little League, outfield seems easier to those who can’t play shortstop.”

That was a fact. If you have good athletic instincts, you tend to play pitcher or shortstop. Was Ju Seung-cheol influenced by his father? He was playing outfield with that physique. He was too tall for an infielder, but in the Major Leagues, you often see shortstops in the 6’3″ range, so that didn’t seem to be a problem.

“Hey! I was a pitcher until middle school, man!”

“Is there anyone here who hasn’t pitched? I watched pitchers until middle school and played shortstop.”

“Oh, I’ve pitched and played shortstop before.”

Even when Jang Woo-joo joined in to tease Ju Seung-cheol, Ju Seung-cheol tapped his chest with a frustrated expression.

“Man, are outfielders really going to live in regret? Were you a pitcher too?”

“Well, I’ve tried it. I’ve even been a pitching machine. But, the outfield is kind of like that, isn’t it?”

“This is driving me crazy. Seriously.”

“Stop going crazy and let’s go eat.”

Maybe it’s because young people are gathered here? The atmosphere seemed quite pleasant. Well, it’s better than being all military-like just because it’s the national team. Besides, they were representing the league’s players, so there was no need to slack off on training.

“Oh, Woo-joo. Aren’t you supposed to eat with the pitcher guys? No, I’ll call all the twenty-somethings. Let’s foster camaraderie among the young blood. Well, technically, everyone knows each other except you guys.”

“Thank you. Sorry for that.”

Ah, dealing with a lot of people is a bit annoying. But since they’re the ones I’ll be with until March, getting along wouldn’t hurt, I thought.

And they say there are so many pretty girlfriends of baseball players, so getting slightly closer and getting introduced to their friends wouldn’t be a bad idea. After all, women are plentiful, so why not take advantage of the opportunities.

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Kang Han-beom, right-handed batter and thrower, first baseman. Charlotte Blue Mariners

(Mobile version)

Ju Seung-cheol, center fielder, right-handed batter and thrower

(Mobile version)