The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 51

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

Chapter 51
#51.
The final day of the All-Star break.
Manager Bong Jun-sik surveyed the remaining personnel one last time.
A total of forty people.
They were carefully selected from the 1st Team, 2nd Team, and even Front Office staff.
As Manager Bong Jun-sik gazed upon their faces, his own expression could not help but shift subtly.
‘The roster has certainly changed dramatically.’
The personnel had changed so significantly that even Manager Bong Jun-sik felt compelled to acknowledge it.
More than half of the players previously registered on the 1st Team roster had failed to survive the cuts and been sent down to the 2nd Team.
Considering that high-salaried players were included among those demoted, it revealed just how thoroughly dysfunctional the Dolphins had been.
“Still… we’re finally building this properly now, aren’t we?”
At the Senior Coach’s words from beside him, Manager Bong Jun-sik nodded in agreement.
Senior Coach Ki Un-chan and Manager Bong Jun-sik had worked together for many years. They had studied together precisely because they recognized each other possessed coaching ability rather than mere playing talent.
In truth, they had been inseparable for so long—longer than spouses or children—that they could communicate through mere glances and expressions.
As Manager Bong Jun-sik felt the hollowness of realizing the Dolphins had been operating under nepotism, regionalism, and blood relations all this time, Senior Coach Ki Un-chan, reading that expression, offered words of consolation.
Now, at last, these two men could truly build a proper Dolphins organization, and they gazed upon the ground with quiet emotion.
Of course, this did not mean the roots of the old guard who had been corroding the Dolphins had been completely eradicated. Considering that even those who had secured their positions through nepotistic connections needed some level of competence to survive, some remained.
But they were like tigers with their teeth pulled.
Or more precisely, they belonged to that faction yet functioned only passively, merely being swayed by others.
There was nothing such people could accomplish, and yet they too were someone’s child, someone’s husband, someone’s father.
Seeing them accept everything and quietly join the effort to survive, Manager Bong Jun-sik chose to let the matter pass without further action.
Of course, there were exceptions.
“Manager Bong Jun-sik, we’ve reassigned one base-running coach and two training staff coaches to the development squad. In their place, the people you requested will be joining us this afternoon.”
“Thank you for your hard work, General Manager.”
“It’s all business.”
Three individuals who had shown signs of attempting to build their own factions were immediately demoted, and replacements were brought in.
When they recommended players who followed their orders and the General Manager noticed the obvious favoritism, he resolved it immediately.
Witnessing his decisive capability, Manager Bong Jun-sik realized this was not something hastily arranged over a day or two, but rather something the General Manager had been preparing since assuming his position.
‘A formidable man.’
Manager Bong Jun-sik glanced at the General Manager with a hint of apprehension. The General Manager maintained his usual expressionless demeanor, yet his sharp gaze conveyed an unmistakable aura—as if he would unhesitatingly eliminate anyone who obstructed his business.
Yet the glances exchanged between the two men held trust.
It was a look that believed without doubt they would lead the team and organization forward decisively, without allowing personal feelings to cloud their judgment.
“By the way, regarding what you mentioned in yesterday’s meeting…”
At the General Manager’s words, Manager Bong Jun-sik considered what among the numerous meeting topics would capture the General Manager’s interest.
“The Chairman is more curious about it than I am.”
“Ah… you mean Ho-jin.”
At the mention that the Chairman was curious, he understood what this was about.
Currently, of the five starting pitcher positions, only two had names written in.
4th starter: Kim Se-jin.
5th Starter Choi Jin-ha.
The position of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd starters had an incumbent, but nothing was confirmed yet.
“I have much to consider.”
At those words, the General Manager nodded in agreement.
However, unlike the opinions from the field, he voiced the Front Office’s perspective without hesitation.
“If we consider marketability, future potential, and star power, he’s suited for the 1st starter position. From a business standpoint, that is.”
Kang Ho-jin’s popularity had skyrocketed to an astonishing degree among Dolphins players from the past decade.
It was no exaggeration to say he’d become an overnight sensation and instantly a franchise star—merchandise bearing his name sold out the moment it hit the internet, and goods shops couldn’t keep inventory on shelves despite their eagerness to sell.
For that reason, Kang Ho-jin was the most fitting choice for the ace position.
“Above all, the Chairman holds great expectations.”
The most crucial factor.
The player was receiving concentrated attention from the Chairman. Recently, the Chairman had shown little interest in baseball, let alone enthusiasm for it.
Yet he occasionally visited the Baseball Stadium and provided funds for team dinners, though it had been a long time since he’d made any significant investment.
But with Kang Ho-jin’s arrival, the Chairman had begun watching games again after all this time and visited Jamsil Baseball Stadium. At this rate, he’d surely visit Sajik Baseball Stadium as well, and if performance remained strong, major investment support was inevitable.
“If it were up to me, I’d place him in the 3rd starter position.”
Manager Bong Jun-sik voiced his honest thoughts.
Kang Ho-jin still lacked experience.
For that reason, rather than the ace position, the 3rd starter role would allow him to accumulate experience and gradually advance—he was still a rookie who needed protection.
“Then let’s go with 3rd starter.”
The General Manager nodded in understanding.
While the Front Office’s position and the Chairman’s thoughts mattered, respecting the field’s judgment was paramount.
“I’ll handle matters with the Chairman and the incoming Restaurant Owner.”
“I appreciate it… A new Restaurant Owner is coming?”
“Yes, that’s how it’s been decided.”
Though surprised by the unexpected news, what mattered more was tomorrow’s second-half game, so I set it aside.
“Then we’ll proceed accordingly.”
“Thank you for your efforts in the remaining season.”
Thus, Manager Bong Jun-sik and General Manager Park Ju-ho’s decision was made, and shortly after, the final 28-man roster was determined.
Kang Ho-jin entered as the 3rd starter.
* * *
After the All-Star break ended, the second-half schedule arrived.
The first game was scheduled for Friday, and fans, eager for baseball’s return, visited communities one by one with excited hearts.
And upon seeing the newly formed Dolphins’ lineup, fans were taken aback.
– What? Is this real?!
Countless comments began flooding the first post.
They too couldn’t help but feel confused by the content.
– Half the players from the first half are gone?
– And half of these new guys are players we don’t even know?
– What? Are they seriously doing a full rebuild?!
– Wow! They’ve really sharpened their teeth and blades!
– This isn’t just talk about change—it’s real transformation!
The Dolphins had genuinely made changes, and the joy that came from witnessing it with my own eyes was unmistakable.
Some celebrated, eager for next season; others felt their hearts race at the thought of watching promising rookies develop; and still others sent their gratitude toward the team’s owner.
But there was one piece of news that mattered most to all of them.
– Kang Ho-jin’s the third starter!
They’d found the player who had captured fans’ attention in the first half’s final stretch, the one who stirred hearts and brought tears to eyes.
– It’s kind of like Kim Se-jin was the third starter, and now that Kang Ho-jin’s taking that spot, it feels like he’s inheriting the position.
└ I was thinking the same thing. It’s like preparing for a succession to the throne, you know?
└ To be precise, it’s more like passing the crown prince’s seat.
└ This year as third starter, then ace next year!
└ So now he becomes the Dolphins’ ace and king!
└ lol fr.
Posts were already appearing that elevated Kang Ho-jin beyond ace status to that of royalty, and others joined in with laughter and agreement.
Though negative comments appeared—likely born from the excitement and anticipation of finally watching baseball again after a week away—they vanished quickly. It simply meant more fans were hopeful than critical.
– Anyway, he’s pitching on Sunday?!
At the news that Kang Ho-jin would take the mound on Sunday, fans paused mid-comment and opened a new browser window.
It was the Dolphins’ ticket reservation page.
* * *
Friday.
Perhaps because the second half was finally beginning?
Players began arriving one by one from early morning.
Of course, I was the first to show up.
“Huff! Huff!”
I’d started with a run from early morning and was circling the ground at Sajik Baseball Stadium.
At this hour, no one else was here. It was Deok-hwan who’d driven me this far.
“Just a little longer, please.”
Our resident nerd, who mentioned additional data had emerged from the existing dataset, continued working alone—laptop open, mouse clicking away.
What was amusing was that he had three laptops, three mice, three keyboards, and nine monitors hanging from his desk setup. His hands moved with such incredible speed, fingers flying across the workspace, that I couldn’t help but think—and this might sound funny—if he’d been born a bit earlier and played some space war game, he might have claimed the seat of our nation’s representative or even emperor.
‘Well, setting that aside, his abilities are genuinely incredible.’
During my brief visit, I’d witnessed his remarkable dexterity as he organized and prepared materials.
Since my game was on Sunday, there would be additional data from Friday and Saturday’s games, but having the prior data more solidly established beforehand was something to welcome.
By the way, this three-game series was against the Daejeon Phoenix.
The current standings were as follows.
1. Seoul Dragons
2. Seoul Buffaloes
3. Daegu Salamanders
4. Incheon Serpents
5. Suwon Wolves
6. Changwon Griffins
Changwon Griffins
7. Gwangju Elephants
8. Daejeon Phoenix
9. Gocheok Unicorns
10. Busan Dolphins
We’d pushed hard in the final stretch of the first half, but the Unicorns had matched our intensity, leaving the Dolphins still two games back and languishing in double-digit rankings.
However, this three-game series could change everything.
‘The Phoenix face us, while the Unicorns take on the Dragons.’
We’re playing the eighth-place team, while the ninth-place team faces the first-place team.
If one side dominates this three-game series, the standings could shift dramatically in an instant.
That’s what happens when the gap between teams is so narrow.
And above all, there was one thing I was most anticipating.
‘I’ll finally see Senior Pitcher Myung-hwan in person….’
My heart raced at the thought of witnessing Park Myung-hwan, the originator of my curveball and South Korea’s national team pitcher, take the mound.
And the games arrived in a flash.
Friday’s game: Dolphins victory.
Saturday’s game: Phoenix victory.
And then came the momentous Sunday game.
Park Myung-hwan of the Phoenix versus Kang Ho-jin of the Dolphins.
Reading that headline, I moved with determination toward Sajik Baseball Stadium.

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