Talented FA Catcher - Chapter 366
Only Krnovel
Last Chance – 3
#
The Major League Baseball is a league where the best baseball players from around the world gather.
Any player who has made it this far has a different path from ordinary people, whether it be in skill or mental strength.
Of those players, only 52 will make it to the World Series.
But no matter what modifiers are added to it, there is one fact that does not change.
After all, they are people too.
“strike!”
As anyone who watches baseball knows, a two-run margin is ambiguous.
It’s too tight to be considered leeway, and sometimes the score seems too big.
-Ta-aak!
“Foul!”
The players feel the same way.
A score that can be turned around with one swing, but not even with 100 swings.
The moment the thought that this might be his last at-bat creeps in, even the players who have come this far start to lose their composure.
-Pfft!
“Strike out!”
Don Riley, in particular, was caught on just three pitches, as he had already shown a lot of excitement in his previous at-bats.
The Yankees now have 11 outs left.
Since Snickers had already thrown over 80 pitches, it was difficult for him to take responsibility for all the remaining outs.
Still, there were no major problems.
Starting with the Cup, the winning combination of Barkley, Green, and Hennie, who completely dominated yesterday’s game, started warming up a long time ago.
If we win today, we’ll be the winner.
There was no need to spare the pitcher as long as we could win.
Of course, a two-point difference was already too small a score to celebrate.
Moreover, with Pablo Sanchez coming up to bat, it was too soon to eat kimchi stew.
Pablo Sanchez, who broke and shook the perfect pitch of sneakers.
He stood at the plate in a neat uniform, living up to his nickname, which he said best suits him, Finn Sprite.
Then, the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium, which had been suffocated by Don Riley’s three-strikeout, changed in an instant.
I didn’t do anything special, I just stood up to bat, and this is what happened.
Even now, if we had achieved meaningful results at bat, it would have been easy to predict that things would go in a bad direction for us.
So, we need to break the flow here.
The problem is the condition of the sneakers.
Just as the Yankees’ hitters were impatient, the sneakers weren’t in perfect condition either.
He was shaken up badly after allowing a home run to Pablo Sanchez, and his control wasn’t completely back.
It was in this situation that I met Pablo Sanchez again.
If you look at it objectively, now was the perfect time for a change.
But there was no movement on the bench.
In the end, the manager decided to trust Ace.
Since the director made that decision, what we had to do was also decided.
I trust Ace.
The score is 2 points.
As soon as I sent the sign, I spread the meat out wide so that it was clearly visible.
Snickers, who had checked the signature, looked at me for a moment.
If we were to roughly interpret the gaze, it would be like asking if he had finally gone crazy.
Unfortunately, I am completely sane.
Even if we hit a home run, we’ll only lose by one point, right?
2 points and 1 point feel different, but the fact remains that we are ahead.
So, let’s properly repay that home run we hit earlier.
Snickers also seemed to have the same idea and soon started pitching.
-Pfft!
“strike!”
The speed is a slightly slower 97 mph.
At the same time, Pablo Sanchez’s expression becomes distorted.
Even the most composed batter would have been annoyed if he had just missed this pitch.
Surely no crazy pitcher would throw the ball on the same course where a home run was hit?
And that too in this important match.
It was most likely thought of as a low-hanging changeup.
Anyway, now that that calm expression has cracked, the next ball has become important.
Since I missed this course, I was most likely focused on the low ball.
Well then, let’s do this this time.
Now, he decided to enjoy sneakers as well, and as soon as he saw the sign, he started pitching without saying a word.
This time, the outer high core.
-Ttaaak!
“Foul!”
The bat came out a bit late, perhaps due to the effect of the first pitch.
Even Pablo Sanchez wouldn’t be able to hit a Snickers ball with that much power with that swing.
Pablo Sanchez, realizing his condition, briefly stepped away from the plate to buy time.
-Pfft!
“Strike out!”
Pablo Sancher was frozen as the knuckle curve passed low through the zone.
Perhaps frustrated at being kicked out without even taking a proper swing, Pedro Sanchez headed to the dugout with his head held high.
Once I got past the hardest hitter, the rest was easy.
-Ta-aak!
Richard Rogers tried to hit the first pitch, but the ball flew high and went straight into my mitt.
This leaves 9 outs remaining.
The victory is one step closer.
#
Unfortunately, we failed to add any points in the top of the 7th.
Actually, I wasn’t that disappointed.
“Didn’t you earn your keep with that defense earlier?”
The piston combination of Mondtom and Allen.
These two struck out each other in a friendly manner against the Yankees’ winning pitcher who came up after Jun Nakamura.
Using a pinch hitter is one way, but that leaves a hole in the infield.
As you are winning, you need to avoid creating variables as much as possible.
In that sense, the pitcher has changed.
Barkley, the only left-handed pitcher in the winning team, was the first to come up to the mound.
Of course, the advantage of being left-handed has largely disappeared since the three-batter rule was introduced, but the advantage of being left-handed is still clear.
“strike!”
After watching Snickers throw 100 mph fastballs all day, would you go crazy if you saw someone throw a 93 mph fastball with their off-hand?
“Phew.”
White exhaled deeply and focused on the plate.
There wasn’t much to say to each other.
But we’ve been talking in a different way since a while ago.
Which ball to throw, which hit to make.
Our conversation soon ended.
-Ttaaak!
The ball hit the ground once and flew high, past Barkley.
As soon as Barkley finished pitching, he reached for the ball but couldn’t reach it, and the ball fell slowly to the ground.
White’s running speed is not that fast, but given the circumstances, there may be variables that arise if he rushes.
But, contrary to my thoughts, Ryan calmly caught the ball and connected with a stable throw.
“out!”
“Ryan! Good defense!”
When I gave him a thumbs up with praise, Ryan slightly raised and lowered his gloves.
White, who never gave up until the end, looked up at the distant sky and soon returned to the dugout.
With White unable to get on base, it was now Ronald Alvarez who came to the plate.
He was selected as a starter to add variables to the game, but his actual performance was 2 at-bats, 0 hits, 1 strikeout, and a fatal double play.
The heart understands fully.
Because he missed the opportunity to get ahead with one swing of his own.
But if you try to cover it up and put all your strength into it,
“Strike out!”
What crazy battery would put a ball in John’s pocket?
He struck out cleanly, swinging at pitches that were out of the zone three times.
The bottom of the 7th inning ended cleanly with the 6th batter coming up to bat soon being caught.
I’m the leadoff hitter next inning.
I quickly unpacked and headed to the plate, but there was no need to rush.
“Ball! Base on balls!”
In the end, the Yankees avoided a match with me.
If it’s going to be like this, why don’t you just let me go with the intentional death penalty? I was worrying about it for nothing.
Naturally, there was no pinch runner.
It was a good opportunity to score an extra point, but the manager thought until the very end.
After that, he advanced to second base on Willis’ ground ball, but failed to score due to the failure of the follow-up hit.
With the score still 3-1, the Yankees went into the bottom of the 8th, with Barkley out and Green on.
Greene stands on the mound after practice pitching and waits for the batter with a wicked smile.
As always, leisurely.
The Yankees, on the other hand, used a pinch hitter from the start of the inning.
It seems like the intention is to somehow connect to the upper batting line, but unfortunately it was only half successful.
The pinch hitter who came in to replace the 7th batter struck out, and the pinch hitter who came in to replace the 8th batter hit a fly ball and was out.
Ironically, the 9th batter, who was unable to use a pinch hitter, got a lucky hit and allowed a runner to reach base for the first time in a long time.
Now the typist is Don Riley.
He went 0-for-3 today, but if he gets on base, who knows how the game will turn out.
Don Riley, who looked impatient throughout the game.
It was the same in this at-bat.
-Ta-aak!
“Foul!”
Even though he sent a runner out, Green’s pitch was still good.
So, there was absolutely no reason to run away and pitch against a batter who was not in good condition.
Don Riley’s bat was pulled out in the second inning due to Green’s tough pitching.
A ball that flies high after being hit by rain.
But I have a bad feeling about this.
The center fielder, shortstop, and left fielder gather together.
Jackson, who had raised his hand, suddenly hesitated as if he had lost sight of the ball’s location, and in the meantime, the runner on first base had already rounded second base and was running toward third base.
If you keep missing the ball like this, you might even score a home run.
Fortunately, my predictions remained just that: predictions.
“out!”
The one who caught the ball was none other than McCoy.
“The ball went into the sun. That’s what Yankee Stadium is like at this time.”
McCoy is from the same planet as the Yankees, the Orioles.
Yankee Stadium was the one we were most familiar with.
That’s how the bottom of the 8th inning ended with McCoy’s lake fee.
Now there’s only one inning left.
In the top of the ninth, closer Charles Sanders came up to the mound for the Yankees.
The result was a shutout as we sent out the best players we could.
It was a little disappointing, but it didn’t matter.
Because it was time for our best players to step up.
“Rookie, are you ready to win from your first season?”
Our closer, Henney, came up to the mound to erase the Yankees’ last chance.
#
A game that could possibly be the last of the season.
The match so far has been literally perfect.
We are now only one inning away from completing the winning plan we showed in the regular season – the batters score enough runs to win and the pitchers block them.
And the ending was, of course, Henny.
Even in an ordinary game, it feels different when you get to the 9th inning.
I can’t even imagine how much pressure Henney would feel in a game like this.
Even the Yankees’ batting order starts with Pablo Sanchez.
But Henny had already finished preparing.
The score is still two points behind.
It’s not an easy score, but it’s a score that won’t turn the game around even if a home run is hit.
That fact alone made Henney bolder than any other pitcher.
-Taaaaak!
“Foul!”
The sound of the ball resonating through the stadium, and the ball cleared the outside wall of the foul line.
I can hear the sighs of regret from Yankees fans.
And then, just seeing that hit, a hopeful voice follows.
But it only took one ball for that voice to break.
-Ta-aak!
It was a well-hit ball, but it had to overcome a lot of difficulties to get through the infield and into the outfield.
First ordeal, he avoided Ryan’s glove, but couldn’t avoid Allen’s glove behind him.
The ball, thrown in a smooth reverse motion, bounced as it finally hit the ground.
But Willis snatched the ball with a soft handle.
“out!”
Pablo Sanchez ran as fast as he could, his neatly organized Finn Sprite uniform getting wrinkled, but unfortunately, he was not a fast player.
Now there are two outs left.
Richard Rogers at the plate.
Over 30 home runs, a batting average of .300, and 100 RBIs.
It was clear that he was the representative hitter of the Yankees’ lineup, but he did not show his true form in this World Series.
The Yankees manager probably sent him out hoping he’d show his best at the end.
-Ta-aak!
Henny was overwhelmed.
The ball that didn’t go far was handled by McCoy, so now it’s one.
The batter who came to bat was White.
“There’s still a lot to talk about. It’s a shame to end it so soon.”
“Let’s do it at our house. I’ll invite you formally.”
The conversation wasn’t long.
The final piece of the puzzle for the Yankees to win the championship is White.
The Yankees got this far because of him.
I have no intention of denying that.
But that was it.
The corner of White’s mouth, which was usually drawn with a straight line, was stiff, and soon a drop of sweat passed by it.
At the same time, Henny moved.
Henny’s pitching suddenly gets worse after one inning.
That means one inning is perfect.
Perhaps a pitcher born to finish.
“strike!”
White’s heavy swing cut through the air, but the ball had already long since fallen.
First count caught with a splitter.
The second pitch is a slider.
-Ttaaak!
“Foul!”
The timing is off for the consecutive changeups.
“Foul!”
“Foul!”
“Foul!”
The three changeups he threw next were also foul balls.
But the timing still doesn’t feel right.
Just extending this time a little bit.
Now it is time to end this long fight.
I gave the autograph to Hennie as is and she nodded.
The fastball White wanted, touching the ball until it became a ball.
The ball left Henney’s hands and White swung his bat as well.
It was a novel experience.
The ball came so slowly that you could see the threads, like a knuckleball thrown by Long, and then it was regenerated in an instant.
-Pfft!
The intense sensation of hitting the meat.
What that means is.
“strike-”
It means the Yankees’ last chance is gone.
“out!”
It meant we won the last game of a long, long season.
Epilogue
#
A mask worn 7 years ago to get a chance when the team didn’t have a catcher.
Until then, I never imagined that I would be wearing that mask for so long.
And I never thought I’d be wearing that mask and receiving the final pitch of the World Series.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
I see moments that I would never have known about if I hadn’t worn that mask at that time.
Henney on the mound roars and expresses his emotions without holding back, and all the infielders are running towards Henney.
The situation was similar in the outfield.
Jackson, McCoy, and Flacco are all running towards us.
And then Henny shouted at me.
“Hey! Rookie! What are you doing!”
In baseball, there is a moment that is only permitted to the pitcher who threw the last pitch of the season and the catcher who received the pitch.
I took off the mask that had given me a different life and ran straight to Hennie.
“Henny!”
I always worry about what to say when I go up to the mound.
But today there was no need to worry.
Whatever I say will soon be drowned out by the noise of my colleagues who have gathered around us.
Henny couldn’t support my weight as I ran towards him and fell onto the mound.
But the players were in no mood to give in to such circumstances.
Everyone climbed on top of us, screaming.
“Eww! Who just pressed that!? It’s a bone! It’s a bone!”
“You stole my chance, so this is cheap! You idiot!”
There were times when someone would resolve a grudge or something, but it wasn’t particularly important.
Anyway, the uproar passed.
“If someone saw me, they would think I was winning for the first time.”
“Don’t act young when it doesn’t suit you. You can’t even see with your eyes because you’ve been crying so much.”
“what?”
“Lynch! Stroud! Get on him!”
I left Snickers with Lynch and Stroud, who were standing there looking at us with Long, and approached Long.
It wasn’t a huge mess, with cold water splashing on the side, but it was time to talk.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“Speak.”
“That bandage, it doesn’t matter if it gets wet, right?”
Before Long could answer, Cub and Jackson, who had been sneaking up on Long, poured water on him.
His beard, which had always been fluffy, became droopy as it got wet, and the water fell down along its path.
“Kim, are you okay?”
I looked at Long’s expression to see if the cup was uneasy, but in fact, I didn’t know.
There has never been anything like this when winning the Korean Series.
Soon Long raised his eyes.
“Sneakers.”
He called out to Snickers, who was counterattacking Lynch and Stroud.
“Cover.”
“Wait a minute. I just called Snickers. Why are you guys coming?”
Lynch and Stroud, Cupp and Jackson, and the players who were each doing their own ceremonies.
I had only one thing to say.
“Save me.”
“Kee …
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Of the 50,000 people who filled this place, less than 10,000 were truly congratulating us, but that didn’t really matter.
2039 World Series Champion.
Because that’s us.
#
The end of one season is like the beginning of a new one.
The Stove League, which can possibly determine the performance of a season.
This Stove League in particular was more important than ever.
Some of the league’s best pitchers, including Huh Ha-jun, Nakamura Jun, and Todd Lynch, are on the market.
There, batters like Warren McCoy and Mike White did not lag behind either.
But almost every club and agent waited for the movement of one player.
Kim Su-ho, who signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the last Stove League.
But that contract was one that included an opt-out.
In other words, the possibility that Kim Soo-ho would enter the market was more than 99%.
It was clear that this market would begin after Kim Soo-ho’s fate was decided.
However, there was no news about Kim Soo-ho for a while, and few people even knew his whereabouts.
And that Kim Soo-ho was found in an unexpected place.
Game 7 of the Korean Series between Busan Marines and Changwon Dolphins.
One of the table seats, arguably the most expensive there, remained unfilled until late in the game.
The ticket price alone is a whopping 2 million won.
But when I looked at the people sitting next to me, I understood.
Lee Ho-min and Heo Ha-jun, who were the successors to the Marines’ ace lineage before Park Woo-joo, the current Marines’ ace.
Since those two were there, the remaining seat didn’t really bother me.
And in the top of the 8th, with the Marines down by one point.
The Dolphins went all-out to protect that score.
Choi Chi-ho came to the Marines as a free agent, but is now the Marines’ eternal captain.
The fighting spirit shown by the veteran was amazing.
[Choi Chi-ho’s hit goes out! The Marines’ leadoff hitter gets on base!]
Although it wasn’t a long hit, he managed to get on base and was replaced as a pinch runner.
As he was about to return to the dugout amidst the cheers and applause of the fans.
“uh?”
Choi Chi-ho unconsciously looked at the seats of Heo Ha-jun and Lee Ho-min, and there was a familiar person sitting there wearing a mask.
Even though there was some distance between them, I knew who it was at a glance.
“Guardian?”
The person who took the empty seat throughout the game was Kim Su-ho, who came straight to Korea to keep his promise.
And Lee Ju-hak, who was waiting to bat, also recognized Kim Su-ho.
‘Are you here?’
Lee Ju-hak made his decision when Kim Su-ho and Lee Ho-min left for the major leagues.
I will definitely win in front of both of you.
‘Look over there.’
The cheers of the Marines fans grow louder.
The leadoff hitter, Park Eun-seong, got on base again with a hit, and now Lee Ju-hak has runners on first and second base with no outs.
There were many players who symbolized the Marlins dynasty, but with everyone gone, Lee Ju-hak became the center of the Marlins.
In front of his friends watching, Lee Ju-hak swung the bat without hesitation.
-Taaaaah!
#
“Wow, it’s an honor. I got to meet all the Korean Series MVPs.”
“I barely managed to eat it because you guys went to America. But where’s Suho? I saw him earlier, right?”
“He went straight to the US. He really only came to watch the game, right?”
“…What? Are you crazy?”
“Because you’re so busy after winning. You have to do the parade, and if you opt out, you’ll be a free agent. But you didn’t get a call?”
Only then did Lee Ju-hak check his phone and discover the message from Kim Su-ho underneath.
Although I was a little annoyed that Kim Soo-ho left like this, I didn’t really care.
“It’s okay, I’ll see you in America now.”
“Hey. I haven’t seen him in a while. America is really fucking big.”
“It’s okay. I’ll go to the same team and take the Kim Soo-ho bus.”
“…I am?”
“Are you my part-timer? But I’ve won more Korean Series titles than you and I’ll get a World Series ring first. What should I do?”
“…Fuck.”
Lee Ho-min, who had been drinking soju for no reason at the words that he could not deny, spoke slyly.
“Come to the Red Sox. I’ll do you a favor.”
“Yeah, get out.”
“Oh, why! Boston is good too! The right fence there is so low!”
“But you can’t win.”
“What? Do you want to die for tens of millions of Red Sox fans right now?”
“Yeah, next division cut.”
“Division did well too!”
“Yeah. You do a lot. I’m going to the World Series with Suho.”
The friendship between friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time was still the same.
#
The day after Kim Soo-ho returned to the United States, a parade began in Phoenix.
Although the Diamondbacks’ Stove League prospects didn’t look all that great, fans enjoyed the time.
“Kim! Please stay in the D-Backs!”
The festival ended with Kim Soo-ho smiling as he responded to the cries of passionate Diamondbacks fans.
[Kim Soo-ho, Opt-out Declaration!]
The article’s message was simple.
If any team wants to win, open your wallet now.
And of course, every team in the major leagues wanted to win the championship.
However, there was no club that could meet Kim Su-ho in person.
“Let’s talk.”
Before that, I had to meet Jason, who was clearly smiling, but had an expression more creepy than any other.
As the clubs tried to meet Jason by cutting off the number tags, various award ceremonies were held.
With more strong players than ever before, there were many positions where the results could be determined by just one or two votes, but there was one category that was particularly not mentioned.
National League catcher Silver Slugger and Gold Glove, Rookie of the Year and MVP.
The owners of these four divisions had already been decided.
[The National League MVP is… Su-ho Kim!]
Won the National League MVP award by unanimous vote.
Kim Soo-ho, who finished his schedule in the United States, returned to Korea with Heo Ha-yul.
And there I heard shocking news.
“You’re going back?”
“Oh. I already stamped it.”
Only 33 years old.
Although he was still in his prime as a pitcher, Heo Ha-jun spoke calmly.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I’ll go back to the Marines while I can still pitch properly.”
“Don’t you feel sorry?”
“Yeah. Not really? Someone would swing their sword at me like crazy whenever they met me. That’s why I don’t have any regrets. By the way, are the wedding preparations going well?”
“I don’t have the power to decide.”
“That’s how marriage is. Cheer up.”
Kim Soo-ho smiled awkwardly, and that’s how the night went for Heo Ha-jun and Kim Soo-ho, who had now truly become a family.
#
Kim Soo-ho and Heo Ha-yool’s wedding was held with only close acquaintances in attendance.
Most of the guests were large men and many were foreigners, so there was a bit of misunderstanding, but it ended without any major problems.
While Kim Soo-ho was enjoying his honeymoon, news of his first contract finally arrived in the United States.
[The Orioles Bring Back Their Franchise Star!]
They succeeded in recruiting Warren McCoy, who left the team through a trade, by giving him a mega contract worth 240 million dollars over 7 years.
There were clubs that offered a larger amount, but Warren McCoy’s determination played a big role.
However, there was no news of a contract for a while after Warren McCoy’s contract.
There were still many outstanding players left in the market, such as Jun Nakamura, Todd Lynch, and Mike White, but the teams that could bring in these players were only looking at one player.
“Kim. Then I will pass it on to the club.”
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
Finally, Kim Soo-ho’s contract, which everyone was waiting for, has been announced.
The contract period is 8 years and the amount alone is 620 million dollars.
In Korean currency, it is about 800 billion won, which means that Kim Soo-ho’s annual salary is 100 billion won by simple calculation.
Some said that it was too cheap, but others said that it was too much money to spend on a player who had only played one season.
Those articles soon disappeared, however, as they were pushed out by fans of the teams that signed Kim Soo-ho.
[This time, in a red uniform, Kim Soo-ho’s new destination is BOS with Lee Ho-min!]
#
D-Backs fans sent Kim Soo-ho off with applause.
The Diamondbacks were not a team that did not invest, but that amount was not something the club could afford.
However, it was absolutely unacceptable that Todd Lynch and Warren McCoy had to leave.
[PHI, Todd Lynch Signs 12-Year, $310 Million Contract!]
The Diamondbacks front office was a little bummed, but it was impossible to keep three players worth a combined $1.2 billion.
In any case, the major league is a place that is run thoroughly by market logic.
The Red Sox had to earn as much as they could afford, and despite the huge spending and luxury tax, they never stopped recruiting to win.
“You’ll come eventually.”
“Did you come here because of me? I came to follow Suho.”
The Red Sox succeeded in bringing back all three Marines, including Lee Ju-hak, who was aiming to advance to the major leagues as a free agent this season.
This time, it was a huge sum of $190 million for 6 years, but as Korean players continued to play successfully in the major leagues, such a high salary was now felt as a given.
Since Kim Su-ho and Lee Ho-min were on the same team, there were no problems with adapting.
As the Boston Red Sox were being nicknamed the “Marlins First Team” by Marines fans, other players also signed contracts one after another.
Mike White stayed with the Yankees, while Kris Bryant, who signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks, stayed on slightly better terms.
However, there was no news of a player’s contract for a long time.
It wasn’t that I lacked skill.
There is no way a Cy Young Award-winning player could be lacking in skill.
The pitcher’s name is Jun Nakamura.
“Kim Soo-ho···.”
I’ve been staying at home for over a week now since news broke that Kim Soo-ho was going to the Red Sox.
Of course, there was no inconvenience in using exercise equipment or living at home, but perhaps spending the most important off-season like this was not a very good situation.
Fortunately, his agent, Jason, visited his house every day despite his busy schedule.
“Have you thought about it?”
“….”
The Yankees, who missed out on the championship by a hair’s breadth, naturally jumped into recruiting Kim Su-ho.
They offered a similar amount to the Red Sox, but ultimately failed.
Fortunately, we managed to catch Mike White.
Since then, the Yankees have been in heated negotiations with Jason to acquire ace Jun Nakamura.
But negotiations were stalled.
“If you want, I’d be happy to sign with the Red Sox.”
The Red Sox had also made an offer to Jun Nakamura, and although it was smaller than the Yankees, it was not a bad offer for Jun Nakamura, who wanted to be on the same team as Kim Su-ho.
In fact, when Jun Nakamura heard this offer from Jason, he immediately tried to sign the contract.
But for some reason, Jun Nakamura postponed the contract and it has continued until now.
Jason sighed at the sight of Nakamura Jun remaining silent and picked up the phone.
“Yes. I’m really sorry. Yes. Yes.”
After the call, Jason opened the door.
“Kim…Suho.”
“It’s been a while. It’s been even longer since we last spoke like this.”
#
Jason’s request was simple.
Please have a conversation with Jun Nakamura.
It wasn’t particularly difficult, and I was curious about something, so I came straight to Nakamura Jun’s house.
But nothing really changed when I came.
Jun Nakamura remained silent as he had heard from Jason, and Jason looked at me.
“Can I get something to drink?”
“Oh, I’ll go out and buy it.”
As Jason gave up his seat, Jun Nakamura looked at me.
“Can I ask you just one thing?”
“…okay.”
“How did you feel when you got hit with a home run?”
Jun Nakamura closed his eyes for a moment at my possibly rude question.
The first was the Brisbane Olympics.
“At first, I was excited. That was the best pitch I could throw at that time. I was sure then. You were good enough to be my rival.”
“What’s next?”
Next up is the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
“I was happy. As expected, you lived up to my expectations, if not more.”
Now, Jun Nakamura keeps talking even without me saying anything.
“When we met during the regular season, I was disappointed. I was so obsessed with perfection that I forgot who you were. But it was okay. There was still another chance.”
Jun Nakamura’s eyes begin to come to life little by little.
“But I realized in the World Series. I wasn’t your rival. Kim Soo-ho. I was…”
Jun Nakamura paused for a moment and lowered his head.
But when I raised my head again, it was only then that I returned to the Nakamura Jun I knew.
“I will defeat you. I will challenge you not as a rival, but as a challenger. Kim Soo-ho! I will challenge you even if I fall hundreds, thousands of times!”
I don’t know what kind of person he is or how he lived, but he is a player you can’t hate.
So Jun Nakamura immediately packed his bags and went out.
“Um. What about Jun?”
“Well, I guess it worked too well.”
I couldn’t stay in an ownerless house any longer, so I left the house with Jason.
“Thank you so much, Kim.”
“No. It was a unique experience.”
It’s quite common to ask a player to join the same team, but this isn’t very common.
Anyway, the next day, news came that Jun Nakamura had re-signed with the Yankees.
Well, I guess it’s okay?
#
Jun Nakamura, Mike White, and Pedro Sanchez.
The three players representing the Yankees have had a rigorous and thorough off-season of preparation.
It was partly because they lost the World Series, but it was also the effect of Kim Su-ho transferring to the same division, and to the rival Red Sox.
Of course, the new Red Sox didn’t stay still during this time either.
“If you can’t even catch a ball like that, how can a pitcher throw a ball!”
“Damn it! That old man!”
Among the infielders, the one closest to the catcher was the shortstop.
They were on the same center line, and as the key player in defense, Tony Cope’s understanding of the shortstop position was excellent.
And by his standards, immigration was a close call.
But that was only his standard.
‘As for Suho and Homin being friends… hmm.’
He started to treat Lee Ju-hak harshly, completely forgetting that his two friends were players who were making a killing in the major leagues.
Lee Ju-hak was also a major leaguer who signed a large contract worth 109 million dollars over 6 years, but he was just a pupa in front of Tony Cope.
Of course, Lee Ju-hak also felt that his stagnant skills were improving little by little and continued training without complaint.
While his skin, which Lee Ju-hak had barely managed to restore, was turning black again, Kim Soo-ho and Lee Ho-min also did not stay still.
“Aesongi, you still have a long way to go.”
“You said you weren’t going to coach.”
“It’s noisy.”
“You refused what Snickers asked you to do, so why did you come here?”
“I decided to go to the Diamondbacks next year. And I’ll be your special coach for only one month. Again.”
Kirk Long started throwing the ball to Kim Su-ho again, wearing sunglasses.
Although his shoulder wasn’t fully healed yet, he accepted the Red Sox front office’s request to help Kim Soo-ho adjust.
“The relationship between the two is still the same.”
“You too. You’ve picked up another strange habit. Didn’t I tell you? Unnecessary movements on the mound are only read by the batter.”
Lee Ho-min has also been receiving constant nagging from Kirk Long for the past five years.
Of course, to others, Kim Soo-ho and Lee Ho-min were perfect.
There was no way the National League MVP and American League Cy Young Award runner-up, who hit 74 home runs last season, could have any shortcomings.
But the two willingly absorbed Kirk Long’s advice.
There was still a lot to learn from Kirk Long’s baseball career.
A month passed like that.
Kirk Long disappeared overnight as suddenly as he had arrived.
“This is long.”
It was a long time before Kirk Long showed himself to them again.
#
After a long winter without baseball, the baseball season has finally begun.
As there were many changes in the last Stove League, self-proclaimed baseball experts dismantled and analyzed several teams.
And the team they picked as their number one favorite to win is undoubtedly the Boston Red Sox.
There were many changes, but the biggest change was that Tony Cope’s successor had finally appeared.
As the season began, Red Sox fans always looked at the catcher’s position with anxious eyes.
It wasn’t a question of skill.
The problem is that I am now approaching 40.
Although he was at an age where injuries were always a concern for him to be a catcher, he had to play catcher for about two-thirds of the season due to team circumstances.
But now Red Sox fans can watch the game with peace of mind even without Tony Keough in the starting lineup.
“I always imagined it, but now that it’s become reality, I don’t feel good.”
“Will it get better soon?”
Tony Cope looked at Kim Su-ho, who was on standby at bat, after Lee Ho-min’s words that had cleanly blocked the first inning.
‘You son of a monster.’
It was a spring camp that made it immediately clear why Kirk Long went to Korea.
Kim Soo-ho was greedy.
He seemed to have come to the Red Sox for this, soaking up Tony Kope’s catching knowledge.
And in that short period of time, he made it all his own.
It didn’t end there.
The Green Monster at Funway Park was a wall of tears for power hitters, with home runs turning into doubles, but it was the ultimate wall for long-distance hitters.
And to Kim Soo-ho.
-Taaaaaaaah!
“flaw.”
‘Even the Green Monster is small for that monster.’
It’s simply the best stadium where a hit that’s supposed to be a home run becomes a home run, and a hit that’s supposed to be caught becomes a double.
Kim Su-ho’s stats that day, when he hit a home run in his first at-bat at Funway Park, were 4 hits in 5 at-bats, 1 home run, 3 doubles, and 5 RBIs.
Since that day, pitchers who have pitched at Funway Park have had nightmares.
I’m talking about a nightmare where a monster named Kim appears that surpasses the Green Monster.
#
The Red Sox continued their winning streak after winning the first game with ace Lee Ho-min’s perfect 7 innings with 11 strikeouts and Kim Su-ho’s outstanding performance.
Seven consecutive wins to open the season, and the team that appeared before them was the Yankees.
The Orioles came up strong, but like last year, the Red Sox and Yankees were likely to battle for the division title.
And that expectation was revealed from the first game.
The first game of the season between the two teams at Yankee Stadium.
The two teams fought fiercely, scoring a combined 23 runs and 32 hits.
The first game was one where there was a lot of bleeding.
The team that won that game.
[Kim gets the final out of this crazy game!]
It was the Red Sox.
Yankees fans who watched the game went wild, recalling last year’s World Series.
The Yankees won the next game and things calmed down, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy me.
There are two games left.
And in the third game, the Red Sox turned the game around when Lee Ju-hak’s sensational steal of home succeeded.
“You crazy bastard! It’s Suho’s turn to bat and you’re going to run?”
“Don’t you know how to change your perspective? He ran because it was Kim Su-ho. Didn’t you see that the pitcher didn’t respond?”
In any case, Lee Ho-min has left his mark on the fans of both teams in many ways.
The fourth game in a row.
The starting pitchers were Lee Ho-min and Nakamura Jun.
Jun Nakamura, who had decided to challenge Kim Su-ho as a challenger, came up to the mound with a lot of determination.
The word challenger was quite unfamiliar, but once he acknowledged it, Nakamura Jun’s skills actually improved.
But it wasn’t enough to beat Kim Soo-ho.
Jun Nakamura thought as he watched the ball go away.
‘Not yet, not yet.’
The fire in his eyes has not yet gone out.
#
The restraint on Kim Soo-ho became more intense with each passing day.
However, with the addition of Lee Ju-hak and the existing solid players, it was impossible for teams facing the Red Sox to think only about Kim Su-ho.
However, Kim Su-ho’s walks increased day by day.
By the end of the season, he had walked a whopping 217 batters, threatening Barry Bonds’ record of 232.
As pitchers avoided confronting Kim Su-ho, the number of his home runs naturally decreased.
However, despite the reduced number of home runs, he still hit 53 home runs, ranking first in the American League.
Ho-min Lee’s performance was strong enough to be a strong candidate for the Cy Young Award, and Joo-hak Lee, in his first season in the major leagues, also showed performance that was not inferior to that of his two friends.
With that, the Red Sox won 110 games, taking the division title they had lost to the Yankees the previous year, and the top spot in the major leagues.
The Red Sox’s 110 wins were a feat only achieved seven times in major league history.
The Red Sox’s opponent in the Division Series was the Yankees, who defeated the Twins in the wild card game.
It was the same matchup this year as last year, but the result was different.
In the first game, they lost despite Jun Nakamura’s great pitching.
In Game 2, they lost, unable to handle the Red Sox’s batting lineup.
And Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.
[Last year’s nightmare at Yankee Stadium is happening again!]
Kim Su-ho, who led the Yankees to ruin, once again showed his best performance and decorated the Yankees’ last day.
The Red Sox, who defeated their rivals by a crushing 3-0 score, faced the Orioles in the Championship Series.
The Orioles, who advanced to the wild card game with a successful rebuild, rallied around Warren McCoy and advanced to the championship series.
But it wasn’t enough to stand up to the Red Sox.
Warren McCoy fought hard but ultimately lost 4-1.
And so the American League champion was decided.
#
The National League’s West Division was a close race again this year.
Even though Heo Ha-jun returned to Korea, the LA Dodgers boasted a solid roster with the addition of Souta Sato, who dominated NPB.
Even though Kim Su-ho, Warren McCoy, Todd Lynch, and Kirk Long are gone, the Arizona Diamondbacks still have a good mix of new and old players, including Tom Snitker, Baker Willis, Dan Stroud, the winning trio, and Taylor Jackson and Davis Ryan.
And the Colorado Rockies, which completed its team around Hwang In-jae, the only remaining Korean out of the three players in the National League West Division.
The LA Dodgers easily took first place in the regular season, but the postseason was different.
Last season for the Diamondbacks was a season where every player took a step up.
That momentum carried into the postseason, where they defeated the Rockies in the wild-card game and the Philadelphia Phillies, who had Todd Lynch traded to, in the division series to advance to the championship series.
And they reached the World Series by beating the LA Dodgers 4-3 in the Championship Series.
And what awaits them is none other than Kim Soo-ho’s Red Sox.
The players’ morale could have been dampened by seeing up close how great a player Kim Soo-ho is, but instead, it was fueled.
“Let’s make that traitor regret it!”
However, after playing a whopping 13 games, the Diamondbacks were forced into a defensive situation, losing two games in a row at Funway Park.
Still, the third game was worth a try.
It was held at Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks, and Tom Snitker was the starter.
But they forgot for a moment.
Who was the best hitter at Chase Field and who was the catcher who caught Tom Snitker’s pitches perfectly?
Tom Snickers ultimately failed to defeat Kim Soo-ho.
So three losses in a row.
Dan Stroud then pitched in Game 4, but it was the same.
#
A lot has changed since the 2040 season ended.
Tony Kope, who finally wore a World Series ring, had a smiling retirement ceremony.
Now the Red Sox’ home is entirely owned by Kim Su-ho.
Dan Stroud declared free agency and joined the New York Mets.
There were many other changes, but they were not very significant.
In 2041, the Red Sox again won the championship.
The Red Sox’s power was stronger than ever, and now it seemed like no one could stop them.
But the ball was round.
The Red Sox won six division titles and five World Series championships between 2040 and 2045.
One defeat was ultimately done by Jun Nakamura in his retirement season.
Although the Red Sox lost due to bad luck and injuries, Jun Nakamura’s challenge was able to succeed at the very end.
And so the stove league began.
Over the past seven years, everyone has realized what kind of person Kim Soo-ho is.
That’s why every team approached Kim Soo-ho.
The contract was extended to another year, and after much deliberation, the team Kim Su-ho chose was none other than the Diamondbacks, his first major league team.
Although it was a short-term contract of one year, Diamondbacks fans were confident that Kim Su-ho would lead the team to victory.
And that conviction became reality.
The Diamondbacks, led by coach Kirk Long, won the championship for the first time in seven years since 2039, and Su-ho Kim added another championship ring to his career.
And the night the World Series ended.
“Are you really going?”
“Yes. The last burden on my mind has been lifted, and now I must return to where I belong. My body is also tired.”
“Yeah. You’ve had a hard time.”
Kim Su-ho suddenly disappeared from the major leagues.
And a few days later.
[Exclusive] Kim Su-ho signs lowest salary contract with Marines!]
A nuclear bomb was dropped on Korea.
#
There’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.
What will my end be like?
It was still a little early to discuss the ending, as my body was still fine.
Still, I looked back at my surroundings and made up my mind.
Let’s go back while I still have strength left.
And the resignation that came back was still hot.
“Kim Soo-ho! Kim Soo-ho! Kim Soo-ho!”
“Suho! I really wanted to see this sight!”
I put on a mask and listened to the cheers of the fans.
And now, Heo Ha-jun, who is now in the front 4, has come up to the mound.
The fact that a 40-year-old pitcher was the opening day starter was partly due to Heo Ha-jun’s thorough management, but the team’s circumstances were not so good.
After winning for several years, the team fell down the draft rankings and players who were in their prime left for overseas.
In some ways, the situation feels worse than when I was a rookie.
But there were also some things that were the same as then.
“Starting pitcher! Heo Ha-jun!”
“Batter number 4! Kim Su-ho!”
Despite these achievements, the fans are still passionate.
Heo Ha-jun is smiling happily at this moment.
I can fill in what’s missing.
“Play ball!”
The umpire’s voice was heard, and Heo Ha-jun started pitching.
The first pitch is, of course, a four-seam ball.
The ball left Heo Ha-jun’s hand and flew slowly but sharply toward my mitt.
-Pfft!
“strike!”
I was sure of it the moment the ball hit the batter’s bat and landed in my mitt.
It was good that you came back.