The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 27

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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 27
#27.
“Yes!”
I clenched my fist and pulled it toward my chest, crying out in exultation.
The sound of pure satisfaction—my first pitch had gone exactly where I wanted it.
And knowing that pitch was my first splitter in actual competition made the joy all the more overwhelming.
[Kang Ho-jin]
– Maximum Stamina: 65
– Top Velocity: 150km
– Pitch Arsenal: Four-Seam Fastball (B), Changeup (D), Curveball (B), Splitter (C)
– Skills: Healing (S)
– Special Notes:
– Remaining Points: 1
The splitter Kevin had taught me had settled at a respectable C-rank.
To be more precise, here’s what happened.
Yesterday—the day Al Todoro started instead of Kim Se-jin—Kevin had taught me the splitter.
– You have consumed points to acquire Kevin Owen’s Splitter (A).
– This is your first time learning a pitch from another pitcher.
– As a bonus, your pitch acquisition rate has increased to 200%.
That notification had appeared the moment Kevin gripped the ball and began teaching me in earnest.
The instant I saw those words, I didn’t hesitate—I cast aside all other concerns and focused entirely on absorbing every detail of the splitter Kevin was showing me.
Of course, I should mention that I already knew how to throw a splitter. During my time in the Major League, I’d earned the nickname “Korean Polymath” for throwing such a diverse arsenal that I could throw a splitter to some degree.
But it was never a particularly good pitch—I’d only throw it once or twice per game, and I used it when the batter let their guard down, leveraging it to gain favorable counts.
Perhaps that’s why I was able to pick up Kevin’s splitter so quickly.
“Yo! That’s looking good, bro!”
After throwing it several times, the drop became noticeably pronounced, and I could see the spin rate decreasing.
The problem was that I couldn’t achieve the grotesque drop Kevin displayed, which left me wanting more. Since this was clearly a matter of proficiency, I instead focused intently on my throwing form and the mechanics of releasing the ball, throwing repeatedly.
“What the hell! It’s perfectly identical to the four-seam!”
When I demonstrated a throwing motion that showed no difference between the fastball and splitter, Kevin was so astonished that curses tumbled from his lips.
Well, whether it was “hell” or the other expletive, they were both exclamations of praise.
In any case, thanks to my elevated acquisition rate, learning the splitter didn’t take nearly as long as I’d expected.
But the real concern was whether my current splitter would be effective at the 1st Team level—and frankly, it wasn’t.
“The drop is too inconsistent,” I said.
“What are you talking about? For a first attempt, this is incredible. Throw it occasionally and the batter will definitely fall for it.”
“I suppose you’re right, but…”
I wasn’t satisfied with merely that.
If I was going to learn something, I wanted to master it properly—to reach a level where I could use it effectively in games right away. Wouldn’t it be better to push the drop even further, to make it fall completely?
But then someone offered unexpected advice—none other than Al Todoro.
“What about a high-velocity splitter? You see them pretty often in the Big League.”
It was something he’d casually mentioned while warming up before his start.
And with the thought that I was fine, I naturally recalled how even before returning to the past, I’d thrown splitters with speed rather than drop.
Whoosh—!
“Fucking… genius….”
“Oh… god….”
As Kevin lavished praise and Al invoked the divine, I had perfectly mastered the splitter.
– You have acquired a splitter created from an unknown memory.
– The splitter’s rank is C.
In any case, I now possessed a high-velocity splitter in my arsenal, and I threw it against Jo Dong-ho to cleanly induce a double play, escaping the crisis and winning the game.
The player of the game interview naturally went to Kim Se-jin.
It was only natural since he’d shown excellent form in a long time and held down the mound well, and I was satisfied enough just having cleanly closed the back door myself.
And above all, today was Sunday.
Since tomorrow was Monday with no game scheduled, despite the late hour, I boarded the KTX.
‘Ye-jin, Dad’s coming.’
I was heading to see my beloved daughter.
* * *
That night.
The Dolphins Community was properly buzzing with energy.
– Wow! Phoenix sweep victory!
└ Four-game winning streak, so sweet!
└ Great atmosphere!
└ Feeling good!
└ Let’s have a drink!
└ Cheers!
A four-game winning streak, no less.
And having swept the Daejeon Phoenix in a three-game series to achieve it, fans raised their glasses for the first time in a long while.
As proof, despite it being late Sunday night, bars around Sajik Baseball Stadium as well as throughout Sasang and Seomyeon were filled with people raising their glasses late into the night.
Fans’ mouths were full of praise for the players.
“It’s good to see Kevin getting his head straight.”
“Al’s no joke either!”
“And our Se-jin too, looking like his old self for the first time in a while, which is great.”
For the first time in a long while, all three starting pitchers had become winning pitchers.
With Kevin holding down eight innings and Al and Kim Se-jin each pitching seven, the bullpen had breathing room, and they closed things out decisively and led to stable victories.
The batting lineup too was good to watch, scoring when needed and showing passionate commitment without giving up until the end.
And above all, what made the fans happiest was none other than the closer, Kang Ho-jin.
“Wow! Kang Ho-jin. Really the best as a closer.”
“Thanks, yeah. How does he throw the ball so cleanly?”
“He’s definitely different from before.”
While many players received praise, the one who truly ignited the fans’ hearts was none other than Kang Ho-jin.
A left-handed pitcher throwing 150 km fastballs.
The reason fans couldn’t help but go wild wasn’t simply because he was a left-hander with high velocity.
A pitch aggressively planted right in the Strike Zone.
This aggressive pitching style that left no room to worry about walks was not merely unfamiliar but utterly alien to fans who had watched the Dolphins for years.
“Another! A walk?!”
“Put the ball in the box!”
“Why do you keep going to full counts and wasting pitches?!”
“Damn it! Did he throw another ball?!”
Where frustration should have erupted at the sight of yet another closer taking the mound, the sensation when Ho-jin stepped up was like pouring refreshing soda down a throat that had been blocked by sweet potato—it felt that good.
At least during Ho-jin’s appearances, the fans forgot all about worry, anxiety, and the word defeat.
-Look at those guys who were writing that Ho-jin’s analysis was done and he’d get destroyed now.
└ Our godly Ho-jin brought out a new pitch to prevent that.
└ He’s already incredible, but our godly Ho-jin grows through his own effort!
└ This is what a true professional looks like.
└ How long has it been since I’ve seen such a reliable player? It’s amazing.
The internet couldn’t help but love Ho-jin.
Even after watching the same scene repeatedly countless times, they commented in the community with expressions of pure delight, as if seeing it for the first time.
Then an article was posted.
[Breaking: Ho-jin’s new pitch revealed? A high-velocity splitter—a variation of Kevin’s splitter that he learned just yesterday!]
[Kevin and Ho-jin call each other “bro” and flaunt their friendship! Kevin also promises to learn Ho-jin’s curveball!]
[Harmony between foreign and domestic players. It’s wonderful to see the team improving]
Famous baseball reporters from Busan shared the news by posting interviews conducted in Daejeon.
Naturally, the community rejoiced and savored the situation.
– Damn! No wonder it felt so good.
└ Even with the same pitch, it definitely varies depending on who throws it.
└ Kevin shows insane velocity with a drop that falls like crazy, but Ho-jin barely differs in velocity from his four-seam fastball yet drops with a hook at the end—you can’t keep your wits about you.
└ Kevin learning the curveball? He’s planning to drive batters right off a cliff.
└ But Ho-jin is really amazing. He mastered that incredible pitch in just two days?!
└ He’s a genius, a total genius.
The two pitchers had shown impressive performances during the four-game winning streak, and now seeing them strive to improve further without settling filled fans’ hearts with warmth and joy.
But one comment awakened their fighting spirit.
– So the front office and the 2nd Team Manager buried a talent like that in the 2nd Team for four years?
└ Now that I think about it, that’s right. If he’d come up earlier, they could’ve built his experience and he’d be a starter by now.
└ The former General Manager deserves to go bald for three generations.
└ Uh… but three generations of baldness is a bit….
└ No! That’s exactly right. I’ve been losing hair from stress, so he should lose as much as I did.
└ Agreed. I’m in.
└ Now that I think about it, I’m pissed. Lose as much hair as I’ve lost!
In an instant, fans lumped together the General Manager and front office staff who had mishandled things, cursing them all at once.
Though they knew how terrifying the curse of baldness was, they couldn’t help themselves.
Knowing the immense toll of stress-induced hair loss among Busan Dolphins fans, they simply wanted to share that suffering.
– I should visit Sajik Stadium after all this time.
└ All games this week are at Sajik Stadium, so I should visit on the weekend.
└ I’ll skip Wednesday and go sometime between Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
└ I’m going Friday to see Kevin.
└ I’m going Sunday to cheer for Kim Se-jin.
After so long, the fans left messages of support one by one, thinking about visiting Sajik Baseball Stadium.
And they all hoped that the winning streak would continue until the day they visited.
For the first time in ages, the night in Busan stretched on and on.
* * *
I arrived home late at night, greeted my Parents, and fell asleep immediately.
Waking early the next morning, I headed straight to the Hospital where Ye-jin was, and I could finally see my Daughter’s face after so long.
“Hello, Ye-jin. Dad’s here.”
My little princess, sleeping quietly as always, definitely had better color in her complexion than before.
Since the items she’d been using were upgraded to the highest quality, her appearance had changed, and I felt less worried.
Then I quietly gazed at the area around Ye-jin’s heart.
The remaining time: 154 days.
I spent the 1 point I had toward Ye-jin.
[Kang Ye-jin]
– Stamina: 2.
– Special Notes: Afflicted with a rare disease, limited lifespan. D-254 days.
– Consciousness Recovery Possibility: 2%
In an instant, I’d secured over 250 days of time.
With this, I could feel at ease even if I didn’t earn any points through the second half of the season.
Beyond that, having secured enough breathing room until early next year, my heart felt considerably lighter.
“Daughter, let me tell you what’s been happening.”
I rambled on and on to Ye-jin beside me.
Jo Sang-hyuk, Jung Ji-hoon, Choi Sung-hyuk—my seniors.
Taking the initials from their names, they were called Triple H, and I shared the news that we’d settled into the Clutch Team. In the process, I told her how one senior interested in American wrestling had handed me a water bottle and made me spray water, and how I laughed for a long time because of the Manager getting soaked in the process.
I also told her about how Kevin keeps calling me brother and acting friendly, how Al doesn’t talk much but listens to us chattering beside him, and how Rodrick, the foreign mercenary batter, has become a Korean soup fanatic and drinks soju.
“Hic….”
Suddenly, tears welled up.
If only she weren’t sick, I would’ve taken her to the baseball stadium to play, shown her how I throw the ball she loves so much.
Whenever I see children at the stadium holding their parents’ hands, tears threaten to spill, so I try not to look at the stands.
‘Dad will… work hard to earn points.’
So that we can soon go to the baseball stadium together.
Imagining how cute she’d look with a cute Pokémon headband on, I rambled on and on while gazing at my sleeping daughter.
I can’t wait for that day to come.

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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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