The Prodigy Who Rejected the Major League Chapter 26

Chapter 26

 

[Son, did you arrive safely?]

“Yes, Mom. I got here safely.”

As soon as I arrived in the United States, I called my parents.

[Aren’t you tired? The time difference must be rough.]

I told her the coaches would adjust the training schedule so we could adapt to the jet lag.

[Really? I’m sure they’ll take good care of you.]

“Where’s Dad?”

[He’s right next to me. Want me to hand the phone over?]

I immediately asked her to pass it to him. Even if I had to do it consciously, I was trying to talk to my father more.

“Dad, it’s Seongjun.”

[I know. You were just talking to your mom.]

“Haha. Right.”

[How’s your body?]

“I feel good.”

[No problems during training camp?]

“None.”

[The coaches aren’t running around swinging bats at you, are they?]

“Come on. Who even swings bats at players these days? Hahaha.”

I laughed. These days, I at least get to hear one of Dad’s classic corny jokes now and then. I liked that.

[Don’t get hurt. Come back in one piece.]

“You’re not going to say ‘Do well’?”

[Not getting hurt comes first. If it feels like they’re overworking you, just lie down and refuse.]

“I’m a catcher. How overworked could I get?”

[Do you even wear a catcher’s mask these days?]

Ahahaha. Does he know me too well or what? Did he secretly come watch my training or something?

[I heard it from Seunghye.]

Ah. If he heard it from Seunghye, then he probably knows everything.

Lately, I’d been telling her just about every little thing. Apparently, that earned me the label of ‘suddenly turned chatterbox.’

[I’ll be waiting for your call. Hang up and call her right away.]

He didn’t need to say the subject. I knew exactly who he meant.

“Yes, I will.”

As soon as I hung up, just as Dad ordered, I called Seunghye.

[Did you get there safely?]

“Yeah. Of course I did.”

[Aren’t you tired?]

“Nope. Not tired.”

Come to think of it, the start of this conversation was almost identical to the one with Mom.

But well, that’s how it is when someone goes abroad. Of course, they’d wonder if you arrived safely. After flying halfway across the globe, it’s only natural to worry whether you’re exhausted.

[Do well.]

“Yeah.”

[And don’t get hurt.]

“Got it.”

 

***

 

◆ Korean U-18 National Team defeats Puerto Rico, wins opening round game!

 

The national team, led by Manager Jung Joochan, secured victory in their first game on the 5th at Ed Smith Stadium in Florida, USA.

The start wasn’t good.

Starter Jin Seogeon gave up a two-run home run to Emanuel Hernandez in the top of the first, falling behind 0–2.

But Korea answered immediately. In the bottom of the first, Song Seongjun tied it up with a two-run homer.

In the second inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, the second pitcher, Kim Yugeon, turned the tide of the game. After escaping the jam, he threw 4⅓ perfect innings against Puerto Rico, striking out seven.

The offense backed him up.

In the second inning, Heo Juwon’s RBI hit, and Oh Sejin’s grounder made it 4–2.

In the bottom of the fourth, Shim Jeongu’s infield hit and a sacrifice bunt set up another chance, which Heo Juwon cashed in with an RBI single. 5–2, a three-run lead.

Then Oh Sejin drew a walk, Choi Ilhan singled, pushing it to 6–2, a four-run lead.

On Song Seongjun’s double down the right-field line, both Oh Sejin and Choi Ilhan scored, extending it to 8–2 and essentially sealing the game.

Mun Siwon pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh to close out the first victory.

The national team will face host nation USA at the same venue on the 6th at 6:30 p.m. local time.

 

***

 

The joy of winning the first game was brief.

The coaching staff immediately turned its full attention to preparing for the second game against the United States. Everyone looked visibly exhausted.

The analytics team had already reported that Team USA was the strongest roster in the tournament.

Still, no one expected their starter, Matthew Wetter, to single-handedly pitch six innings and defeat Australia by mercy rule in six innings, 11–1.

“So one of these three will start against us tomorrow?”

The United States was overwhelming opponents from the mound. Even excluding Matthew Wetter, who pitched against Australia, they had three more fireballing starters.

James Clark, a 198-cm right-hander who could hit 158 km/h.

Gio Schumacher, a 193-cm left-hander, is topping out at 157 km/h.

Trey Langell, another 193-cm left-handed fireballer capable of 155 km/h.

According to the data team, all of them had the stamina to throw six innings or more.

“It’s obstacle after obstacle.”

No matter who started, it wouldn’t be easy.

“In my personal opinion, I think the U.S. will start a left-hander against us,” said Coach Jeong Minseok of Dongsin High, selected for this tournament’s staff.

“Our hitters aren’t used to facing that type.”

He was right.

In Korean high school baseball, you rarely see pitchers that tall throwing upper-150 km/h fastballs from the left side.

Even in the KBO, to find a left-hander over 190 cm throwing in the upper-150s, you’d have to count on one hand among foreign pitchers in league history.

Of course, they were still 18-year-old high schoolers. They wouldn’t be technically polished yet.

That was the only hope Korea clung to.

 

***

 

The next morning.

Under the guidance of the coaches and a local guide, the team visited a batting cage they had reserved in advance.

This was America, the land of baseball, and the facility, also offering lessons, was excellent. Among places conveniently located between the stadium and the team’s lodging, this one was the best.

The players set the machine to speeds in the upper-150 km/h range and took free batting practice.

“I don’t know how much this will help.”

“It’s better than doing nothing.”

The tournament was being held at Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles. WBSC had rented the ballpark for the event.

Time passed into the afternoon.

Both Korea and the United States arrived at the stadium and took turns holding team workouts.

6:30 p.m.

The second matchup: Korea vs. USA.

 

***

 

[ Korea 0 : 0 USA ]

 

┗ hi hi

┗ hello!

┗ Wow, it’s the weekend, and you all woke up early lol

┗ Early? It’s almost 8 already

 

The first game against Puerto Rico had been on a weekday during commute hours, making it difficult to watch.

But today’s game against the U.S. was at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday back home. Sure, it meant sacrificing sweet weekend sleep, but at least it wasn’t at dawn.

 

[Today’s game between Korea and the U.S. might be the big match that effectively determines who secures a Super Round spot from Group A.]

 

The sports cable commentators were on air.

 

[Today’s starter for Korea is Seong Jinseong of Myeongji High.]

[Korea is sending out their ace, Seong Jinseong.]

[For the U.S., Gio Schumacher takes the mound.]

[193 cm tall, 86 kg. A bit slender. A left-hander who throws up to 157 km/h.]

 

┗ A lefty throwing 157??

┗ I looked it up… the U.S. prospect pool this tournament is insane

┗ Seongjun throws 160 though

┗ Goguma hi~

┗ But he’s right-handed lol

┗ Goguma is still madly in love with Song Seongjun as always, hahaha

 

[We begin with Korea batting at the top of the first.]

[Leadoff hitter is Oh Sejin.]

[With the KBO rookie draft right around the corner, this is a prime chance to make an impression.]

 

The commentator was right.

Many players had raised their draft round and position through performances with the youth national team.

 

┗ Pitch 1: Ball, 154 km/h

┗ Pitch 2: Ball, 154 km/h

┗ Pitch 3: Strike, 155 km/h

┗ Pitch 4: Strike, 136 km/h

┗ Pitch 5: Pitcher groundout, 155 km/h

 

Oh Sejin managed to make contact on a fastball, but it wasn’t solid.

Next up was Shim Jeongu, batting right-handed.

 

┗ Pitch 1: Ball, 156 km/h

┗ Pitch 2: Ball, 155 km/h

┗ Pitch 3: Swing and miss, 135 km/h

┗ Pitch 4: Groundout to first, 154 km/h

 

Shim pushed an outside fastball to the opposite field well enough.

But it didn’t carry much force. A routine grounder to first.

 

┗ Daaaaamn

┗ What’s with the U.S. pitcher? Everything’s 155 lol

┗ No solid contact lol

┗ Are we even scoring today??

 

[Two outs. Now it’s the third batter, Song Seongjun.]

[Song Seongjun needs to show us something here.]

[He’s Korea’s most reliable hitter with the best power, isn’t he?]

 

***

 

I watched the first two at-bats carefully from the on-deck circle.

And I confirmed that Gio Schumacher was indeed the Schumacher I knew.

“That guy still has that habit of bullying with pure velocity.”

We had faced each other multiple times in the same minor league. I knew him well.

And he wasn’t the only familiar face out there.

Whether that was good news or bad news, I wasn’t sure.

Anyway, two outs. My turn.

“Oh! Andrew~ Long time no see?”

As I stepped in, I greeted the umpire first, then gave a friendly hello to Andrew Costello behind the mask.

“You know me?”

“Of course I do.”

Andrew and I had both been in the Phillies organization, teammates in the minors.

We had shared a similar fate.

Thanks to the franchise’s number-one overall draft pick, a white, local golden-boy superstar prospect, both of us ended up eating the leftovers.

Andrew might’ve felt it even more unfairly.

I was a foreigner from Korea.

He was born and raised in Pennsylvania… yet even he got pushed aside.

“You go to Pennsylvania Cathedral Prep, right?”

I couldn’t see his expression behind the mask, but I imagined it was something like, ‘Huh?’

“Foul!”

Having watched Schumacher’s velocity, I swung at the first pitch. Foul ball.

The scoreboard showed 96.5 mph (155.4 km/h).

I needed a slight adjustment.

“So you researched my school? Should’ve spent that time swinging the bat more.”

Andrew’s tone was dismissive. It didn’t quite have the same biting edge he used to have in the minors.

Maybe that’s why it felt oddly nostalgic.

“Ball.”

Another fastball.

This one clocked at 97.5 mph (157 km/h).

He still lost some command when he reached back for more velocity.

“How’s Maggie?”

Andrew had married his high-school sweetheart early.

Their daughter was beautiful, fortunately taking after her mom, not Andrew.

“What? How do you know Maggie?”

“Of course I do. When you told me you were getting married, you introduced me…”

“I introduced Maggie to you? To someone I’m seeing for the first time today?”

Today, for the first time?

…Ah.

Right.

For this version of Andrew, I was a stranger.

I’d been so happy to see him that I’d forgotten.

What a mistake.

We weren’t just fellow leftovers.

When I transitioned to pitching, Andrew had helped me. We had formed a battery for a long time afterward.

That history made me slip up.

“Andrew, sorry. Pretend you didn’t hear that. Okay?”

“What the hell are you talking about? How do you know Maggie?”

“I’ll explain step by step. The reason I know your girlfriend Margaret Walton is…”

“What the fuck! You even know her full name?”

At that moment, the home plate umpire cut in.

“Both of you! Save the family reunion for after the game.”

“Yes, sir!”

I answered immediately.

Honestly, I was relieved. I wasn’t sure what I could’ve said next.

Third pitch: a fastball up and in at face level.

Pow!

“Ball.”

Ahahaha.

I hadn’t meant to, but I guess I did end up trash-talking the catcher.

“Andrew, relax. Relax. Okay?”

Before the umpire warned us again, I left it there.

Grind.

Andrew, you’ll crack your molars at that rate.

2 balls, 1 strike.

On the mound, Schumacher shook his head repeatedly. There seemed to be a disagreement over pitch selection.

Given Andrew’s personality, he was probably calling for something tight inside again.

Before he was promoted to Double-A, Schumacher’s inside command hadn’t been that great.

‘Then maybe it’s outside.’

If not a slider, then a fastball.

Schumacher threw fastballs, sliders, and changeups. But he rarely used his changeup early in games.

After finally agreeing on the sign, Schumacher went into his windup.

I focused sharply on his fingers gripping the ball.

No visible red dot.

That meant fastball.

In the majors, I had adopted a style of tracking the ball as long as possible and hitting from deep in the zone.

Usually, that reduced power.

But I overcame it with bat speed.

Same now.

On the outside fastball, I aimed toward right-center and swung.

Crack—!

 

[To the right! Deep! It’s carrying over the fence! Solo home run! Song Seongjun!]

[That was a home run the moment it left the bat!]

[Left-handed pitchers are said to be easier for right-handed hitters to see, but the scoreboard just flashed 98 miles per hour!]

 

98 mph (157.8 km/h).

 

[Even at 98, his bat speed didn’t lag at all! What an incredible hitter.]

[At this velocity, even full adult national team hitters would struggle, not just youth players.]

[Watching the first two batters, it looked like today would be tough offensively.]

[And he didn’t even pull it! He drove it the other way over the right-center fence!]

 

To Song Seongjun, it wasn’t going the other way at all. He always aimed at right-center. The commentators simply didn’t know that.

 

[Top of the first! 1–0! Korea takes the lead!]

[Song Seongjun delivers a thunderous home run to put Korea on the board first!]