The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 19
#19.
What kind of game do fans enjoy watching?
There are games that unfold as tense pitcher’s duels, progressing at incredible speed and making your palms sweat, and then there are games where batters unleash a devastating offensive onslaught, swinging with such ferocity that it seems they’re trying not just to strike down the opposing pitcher but to obliterate them, racking up points in rapid succession.
So which type of game do fans prefer?
It’s simply a matter of personal taste, so there’s no definitive answer.
But what about the players actually competing on the field?
Well, you don’t even need to ask—you can tell just by looking at their faces.
They’re continuing to play with faces so pale they look like they’re literally dying.
By the end of the ninth inning.
In this absolutely insane game where both teams combined had scored 36 runs at 18-18, not only the players on the ground but even the fans in the stands were exhausted from the emotional whiplash, swinging between despair and hope.
And those watching the internet broadcast were writing comments with similarly drained expressions.
– Is there really a game where both teams score 36 points combined and it’s still tied?
└ Is this for real?
└ I was going crazy watching the whole thing. There’s literally a graveyard of empty beer cans next to me.
└ Wow, this is absolutely brutal. So when does it end?
└ We’re already six hours into the game.
└ It’s past eleven. How am I supposed to get home later?
└ I’ve never seen a hitting battle this intense.
Even those watching comfortably from home were exhausted by the grueling contest, posting comments and replies expressing their fatigue.
Of course, at first both teams’ fans were excited about this historic offensive showcase, actively chatting and commenting. But that kind of energy can only sustain itself for so long. After six hours of this relentless battle, even keeping up with the chat had its limits.
As commercials played during the inning break, a post finally appeared on the quiet message board.
– So how many pitchers have been used up?
└ Dragons have 13 pitchers on their roster vs. Dolphins with 14
└ Dragons used 5 pitchers besides the starter, leaving 2 unused.
└ Dolphins used 5 pitchers besides the starter, leaving 4 unused.
└ Wait, are you saying both teams have brought in 10 pitchers besides the starter? Is this real?
└ The problem is there are still innings left.
└ Even the Clutch Team guys got hammered, and the long relief pitchers took a beating too.
└ Please, just make it stop….
Both teams had already exhausted an enormous amount of their pitching staff.
Frankly, they’d used up every card they had available. Since they couldn’t pull their starting pitchers back out, both managers’ faces grew increasingly troubled.
The problem was that this game wasn’t the only one on the schedule.
After today’s game, which is the third of a weekday three-game series, they have to play a weekend three-game series starting tomorrow.
Unlike the Seoul Dragons, who continue playing at home, the Busan Dolphins have to travel again for away games, which has thrown their pitcher rotation into chaos.
– Whether we win or lose today, this week is ruined anyway!
Everyone clicked ‘like’ on someone’s post, unable to disagree.
And the game had now entered extra innings.
* * *
Let me be honest.
‘Is this really happening….’
Even though I watched the game with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe what was unfolding before me.
No, I never could have imagined something like this happening while I was sidelined. Or rather, I should say I simply never imagined it at all.
Not only did both teams combined use over ten pitchers in a single game, but the total score reached a staggering 36 points. Every starting batter got a hit, scored a run, and drove in an RBI, and even the substitute batters brought in as pinch-hitters managed hits, RBIs, and runs.
I doubt you’d find a game like this anywhere in the entire world.
‘Definitely a décolletage situation.’
Since I never saw anything like this during my time in the KBO, the pressure here is no joke.
The fans in the stands looked ready to kill someone. Cheers mixed with harsh curses and shouts to end the game quickly echoed through the stadium.
Ah, no.
I’ve experienced even worse than this.
There’s Philadelphia’s Phillies with their Phillie Phanatic, and the New York Yankees, called the Empire of Evil, and I’ve witnessed far more intense scenes at Boston Red Sox games—whether you’d call it passionate or excessive.
If KBO crowds are regular coffee, Major League crowds are TOP-tier.
It’s true. You’ll understand once you go play there.
“Kang Ho-jin, warm up your arm.”
“Yes, sir.”
With that, I headed toward the Bullpen.
Thwack—! Crack—!
There were already other pitchers in the Bullpen besides me.
Three senior teammates who’d come up to the 1st Team with me, and since they’d been warming up from the previous inning, they all had their bodies sufficiently loosened up.
“Hey! You made it?”
“It’s been a while since you’ve been here, huh?”
Bachelor, take it easy.”
At the last joke from Choi Sung-hyuk, I chuckled softly and stepped into the Bullpen, when the Pitching Coach immediately apologized.
“Sorry about this. I was planning to have you pitch starting from the next away game, but….”
Without needing to hear more, both I and the senior players understood the current situation wasn’t ideal.
Actually, I thought of it as a good opportunity.
Throwing pitches in the Bullpen like this, preparing for my appearance, was far more enjoyable than warming the bench with my backside, and I felt anticipation building.
Above all, my pitching meant a chance to accumulate points.
‘Ye-jin, Dad’s going to do his best.’
I gazed briefly in the direction of the Hospital where my Daughter was, far away.
Since this was an away game in Seoul, the Hospital was nearby, but the team atmosphere made it difficult to justify leaving. And with no younger players on the team than me, I had no choice but to be cautious.
Maybe that’s why I missed Ye-jin so desperately.
But the fact that I couldn’t go see her made me furious.
“Alright! Ready!”
I saw someone slapping a Catcher’s mitt repeatedly.
Not the person who usually helps pitchers warm up in the Bullpen, but Kang Do-bin, a very familiar senior, grinned and held out his mitt toward me.
Remembering that I’d rushed up late last night and been dragged around all morning without properly greeting him, I nodded in acknowledgment, and he responded by slapping his Catcher’s mitt again.
Knowing he was ready, I threw the first pitch without hesitation.
“Hah!”
Crack—!
The sharp crack of the ball striking the glove reverberated through the Bullpen.
“Hey! Ease up! Why are you throwing with full force?!”
The Pitching Coach stopped me in alarm.
Given the momentum I’d just displayed—as if I were about to throw every pitch in the Bullpen and burn myself out completely—his reaction was entirely justified.
Thinking of Ye-jin without realizing it, I’d thrown with genuine, all-out effort.
“I’ll control it.”
I responded immediately to the Coach’s scolding and prepared the next pitch, releasing it once more.
Crack!
It passed cleanly through the Strike Zone and settled into the glove.
“Excellent!”
Matching the energy of Kang Do-bin’s shout, I threw a curveball and changeup, one each, and my senior caught them perfectly, giving me a thumbs up.
“That’s perfect.”
“Nice work.”
I wanted to throw more, but I couldn’t.
Our batting lineup, which had scored in every inning until now, had failed to score for the first time.
With three outs, we had to head to the Ground for defense, and Kang Do-bin took his position behind the plate while Jo Sang-hyuk was the first of our four to sprint toward the Mound.
“Senior, fighting!”
“You got it!”
Watching Jo Sang-hyuk confidently leave the Bullpen, my heart began to race without my realizing it.
Just as my senior headed to the Mound, I too wanted to rush there as quickly as possible.
Beyond accumulating points for my Daughter, I felt the trembling heartbeat of a man who simply loved baseball.
The game continued on in this manner.
* * *
Bottom of the 10th inning.
The caster announcing the 18-18 tie cleared his throat several times before finally managing to speak, beginning the broadcast.
“Bottom of the 10th inning, now it’s the Seoul Dragons’ turn to bat. The Busan Dolphins, who had scored in every inning until now, have failed to score for the first time and have withdrawn.”
At the caster’s words, Jang Sung-ho, the commentator whose face was drenched in sweat, opened his mouth.
“The new pitcher Yeom Sang-ho did a good job holding them back. Despite allowing hits, he was able to contain them with help from the defense.”
“Now Jo Sang-hyuk has taken the mound to stop the Seoul Dragons’ offense. He was called up just two days ago, correct?”
“That’s right. According to Manager Bong, he was supposed to get a feel for the Ground during the three-game series mid-week and be used in the three-game series over the weekend, but given the circumstances, it seems he had no choice but to bring him in.”
“It’s exciting to see what kind of pitching Jo Sang-hyuk will show in his first appearance of the season.”
At the caster and commentator’s words, the chat erupted with heat once more.
– A washed-up player from the 2nd Team is just now coming up?!
– I can see the game-ender coming.
– And a big one at that.
– I can really see the end of this game now.
True to the chat’s sentiment, Jo Sang-hyuk, having been away for so long, gave up a walk to the first batter as if he wasn’t expected to perform.
But proving he’d found his rhythm, he cleanly struck out the next two right-handed batters with strikeouts.
“Swing and a miss! That makes it no outs, runner on first, changing to two outs, runner on first.”
“That knucklecurve is looking good. Unlike before, with proper lower body support, it’s showing a powerful knucklecurve.”
As if to prove that I had trained my core muscles alongside Kang Ho-jin, the opposing batters found themselves helpless against the knucklecurve delivered with the solid power of my lower body.
After facing two batters, the moment a left-handed batter stepped into the Batter’s Box, the Busan Dolphins made an immediate pitching change without hesitation.
“Next, we have Jung Ji-hoon taking the Mound.”
“A right-handed sidearm pitcher against a left-handed batter… You could say this is Manager Bong Jun-sik’s bold decision.”
Bringing in a right-handed sidearm pitcher against a left-handed batter was quite a gamble.
Especially since most right-handed sidearm pitchers struggle against left-handed batters—there’s even a saying they become helpless—many players have poor records against them, so this was a decision few could understand.
But Jung Ji-hoon was a pitcher who knew how to face left-handed batters.
“Swing! Batter’s out!”
Against the left-handed batter, I threw three backdoor sliders on the outside corner, then dropped a sweeping slider as the finishing pitch to induce a wild swing. I clenched my fist and threw an uppercut into the empty air.
“Jung Ji-hoon! Jung Ji-hoon! Jung Ji-hoon!”
The fans cheered my name for the bold performance, and I removed my cap and waved it toward them before heading into the Dugout.
The Busan Dolphins had safely completed the 10th inning and now faced the 11th inning offense.
But once again, no one reached base and the inning ended with three outs, and once more Jung Ji-hoon took the Mound against the left-handed batter.
“Strike!”
The first pitch fastball was called a strike to start the count, but when the following pitches came, the batter didn’t swing at any of the tempting offerings and walked to First Base.
However, the next batter hit into a double play on the first pitch, quickly making it two outs, and the Seoul Dragons pulled out their pinch-hitter card.
“Time!”
As the left-handed batter approached, the Busan Dolphins also pulled out their substitution card, and Choi Sung-hyuk took the Mound.
Boom—!
“Swing, batter’s out!”
The Seoul Dragons found themselves helpless against the fastball thrown at 150 kilometers per hour by the left-handed fireballer.
And then came the top of the 12th inning.
Crack—!
Kang Do-bin’s swing on the first pitch sent the ball soaring over the Jamsil Baseball Stadium wall, and the first run of the long extra innings was scored.
And in the following at-bat, the batter was out, and now facing what could be called the Seoul Dragons’ final chance to score, Choi Sung-hyuk threw the ball.
Tap—!
“Ball! Ball!”
“Ball! Ball!”
In an instant, the bases were loaded with no outs.
“Time!”
And with the substitution signal, Kang Ho-jin, the final pitcher, slowly walked toward the Mound.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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