The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 52

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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 52
#52.
Park Ju-ho, the General Manager of the Dolphins, looked down from above.
The crowd surged.
Bodies pressed together.
For the first time in a long while, an enormous crowd had flooded into Sajik Baseball Stadium.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had the stands this full.”
Two months had passed since he took office. The Dolphins still lingered in the lower standings, yet they were slowly creating change and earning the support of the fans, gaining the trust of both the Restaurant Owner and the Chairman.
And within that transformation, at this very moment when the Front Office staff and everyone on the field were moving forward together, his capabilities became increasingly visible.
‘In the end, it’s all business….’
His expression shifted ever so slightly.
Normally, his documents were built on cold precision and thorough data analysis, yet an unexpected figure had slipped into his papers.
Back number 12, Kang Ho-jin.
What had begun as a business calculation had gradually transformed into something that made his heart race—the existence of Kang Ho-jin had altered the General Manager’s expression.
‘Park Myung-hwan versus Kang Ho-jin….’
Honestly, even he couldn’t easily predict the outcome of today’s game. Or rather, there were far too many variables at play.
The matchup was between the greatest ace pitcher and veteran who had represented the National Team versus a rookie who was only now making his mark and demonstrating his abilities on the 1st Team stage.
Within the Dolphins organization, he was positioned as the successor to their former ace Kim Se-jin, but considering the National Team, he still lacked much to claim that position.
Especially when considering Park Myung-hwan, who had been active before Kim Se-jin ever was, his name recognition was still insufficient.
‘If he could capture today’s game….’
Not immediately, but someday, when wearing the national flag on his chest in competition, his value would transform entirely.
Thus, Park Ju-ho made his calculation with cold precision.
If he could wear the national flag on his chest, given his current circumstances, his options were limited—either active reserve duty or, if he excelled with the National Team, just one month of hardship.
‘Well, that’s a future concern….’
Park Ju-ho’s mind contained only cold calculations on how to best exploit the current situation.
He considered only what the most rational business move would be—one that accounted for the Chairman, the incoming Restaurant Owner, and the field staff.
And then he saw it.
‘Everyone’s prepared well.’
Watching the Dolphins fans and Phoenix fans clutching their cheering tools to their chests and backs, he smiled softly.
He was genuinely curious about how much merchandise those cheering tools would generate.
‘This shouldn’t be happening….’
For someone who needed to think coldly and thoroughly about business alone, these situations that made his heart race had become far too enjoyable.
Before long, the doors to Sajik Baseball Stadium opened, filling seventy percent of the seats, and the year’s greatest crowd erupted in a powerful cheer.
* * *
Before the game started.
My routine of looking at my Daughter’s photo on my phone one last time remained unchanged. But one new addition had been made to it.
“They look wonderful.”
A photograph of my Parents, who had visited Jamsil Baseball Stadium and smiled brightly at me.
A journalist kindly gave me the best photo of my Parents from among those taken, and in return, I granted a brief interview.
The topic was what I had done during the All-Star break, and I answered that I had trained hard to maximize my physical condition. Beyond that, they asked about my goals and various other things, so I was able to conclude the interview by answering sincerely.
When the reporter approached the topic of my Daughter with extreme caution, I responded with equal care.
“It wasn’t an accident or congenital condition. She suddenly developed a problem in her brain and fell into a deep sleep. We investigated the cause, but nothing was found. For now, I’m simply hoping my Daughter wakes up safely.”
The reporter nodded and apologized repeatedly, assuring me that the questions weren’t for any malicious article but because fans were curious. He said he would handle it carefully, get confirmation from the Front Office, and then publish the piece.
When the article came out shortly after, it contained no malicious content, just the essential facts as the reporter had promised. I heard that fans who read it said their questions were somewhat answered.
Either way, receiving a good article and photos wasn’t a bad trade for me.
Now what I needed to show was nothing but the game itself.
I left the Locker Room and headed to the Dugout.
Roooaaarrr—!
Sajik Baseball Stadium was already buzzing with energy.
Today’s game had everyone’s attention focused on it.
My taking the Mound would certainly draw some spectators, but the real draw was that Park Myung-hwan, my Senior Pitcher, was pitching for the opposing team, which brought even more fans to the Stadium.
Evidence of this was the Phoenix fans filling the Third Base Cheering Section.
Park Myung-hwan—! Park Myung-hwan—! Park Myung-hwan—!
The crowd wasn’t just calling out the name of today’s starting Pitcher; their welcoming voices filled Sajik Baseball Stadium.
Even from First Base, the Outfield, and the center Stands, Park Myung-hwan’s name echoed.
South Korea’s National Team’s ace and first-string starter.
A senior who had worn the Taegeuk flag on his chest through countless games, never disappointing fans and always doing his part—yet had also tasted bitter defeats with the National Team due to weak offensive support and Bullpen inconsistency.
It was a moment when Phoenix and Dolphins fans became one in their support for Park Myung-hwan.
Toward those fans, Park Myung-hwan stepped out of the Dugout, removed his cap, and raised his hand in greeting.
Roooaaarrr—!
Watching my Senior from the Dugout, I too stepped onto the Ground and gazed at him.
“….”
Our eyes met in that moment.
The fans who noticed this exchange suddenly fell silent.
Soon after, Sajik Baseball Stadium erupted with two voices.
Park Myung-hwan—! Park Myung-hwan—!
Kang Ho-jin—! Kang Ho-jin—!
Cheers for both starting Pitchers filled the Stadium.
Rather than bow to my Senior, I turned my back and began preparing to throw the ball.
‘My first greeting will be delivered through my pitches instead, Senior.’
In my heart, I wanted to rush over and bow respectfully to my Senior.
My curveball was a pitch that worked not just in the KBO but also in Major League Baseball.
Park Myung-hwan’s curveball was like a waterfall.
With tremendous drop from his overhand delivery, the ball plummeted below the Batter’s knees, leaving hitters helpless as they flailed at it.
In high school, I threw it exactly the same way, and thanks to that, my performance improved noticeably. It was a grateful pitch that played a major role in my rapid ascent to the ace position.
Even that seemingly invincible Senior gradually made adjustments over time.
While age played a role, based on experience gained from the Mound and countless games, he fine-tuned the angle of his arm little by little, further perfecting his curveball.
I too began following those changes.
The curveball I modified following my Senior’s adjustments was completed in Major League Baseball, and there it was called a good pitch.
‘But.’
Still two percent short.
It wasn’t a pitch I’d been properly taught—just one I’d mimicked by eye. If I learned it properly from Senior Pitcher, I had a feeling it could become a far superior curveball compared to what I had before returning to the past.
“Phew! Well then, let’s go!”
Only after the national flag salute, the national anthem, and the ceremonial first pitch were all complete did I head toward the Mound.
A Mound no one else had stepped on.
I climbed up, etching my footprints one by one into a place that felt like pure white snow had accumulated.
Waaaaaah!
I let myself hear the roar echoing from all around as I took one deep breath.
“Whoosh!”
Thanks to the oxygen reaching deep into my body, I felt myself becoming energized, and as I slowly exhaled, I looked around my surroundings.
Though not completely full, the Sajik Baseball Stadium—which had drawn this year’s highest attendance—was quite bustling despite the scattered empty seats.
Not exactly half, but excluding the Third Base Cheering Section, everyone was creating a lively atmosphere, and all I needed to do was pitch well.
And when my gaze turned toward the opposing team’s Dugout, there was someone looking back at me with a steady gaze.
Grin.
At the smile that revealed pearly white teeth on his handsome face, I too smiled slightly and bowed my head.
It was a greeting to the Senior Pitcher who had been like a mentor to me.
Then I slowly turned my gaze toward the Batter’s Box.
“Play ball!”
With the Umpire’s call, I nodded at the mechanical sound coming from the pitch com.
Four-seam fastball down the middle.
The first pitch had to be hot, romantic, and above all, brimming with confidence.
To prove that the sweat I’d shed during the All-Star break wasn’t wasted, I gripped and threw with all my might.
Whoooosh!
“Strike!”
The Umpire’s call rings out.
I calmly extend one finger and gesture to the side. On the surface, he looks like an ordinary Umpire, but this man was famous as an Umpire even before I returned to the past. He’s the kind of Umpire who calls strikeouts with flashy gestures, elevating the pitcher’s momentum and raising the fans’ cheers.
This Umpire’s true nature emerges when he gets a strikeout against the leadoff batter.
On the second pitch, I throw a four-seam fastball aimed at the lower body side for my second strike, then grip the curveball as my decisive pitch and throw it.
Whoooosh!
“Swing! Batter out!”
A clean punch is swung and the strikeout call rings out.
When the next batter also swings and misses on a curveball dropped at Home Plate as my decisive pitch after two fastballs, this time the Umpire swings both fists, drawing a one-two punch from boxing.
The third batter deliberately stepped into the Batter’s Box with his shoulders tensed, and seeing that, the Catcher requested four curveballs in a row.
Once he got a ball call on a bat he forcibly held back, but the rest of the time he was a batter who couldn’t help but swing powerfully.
Whoooosh!
“Swing! Batter out!”
Following the one-two punch came a clean straight punch.
At the Umpire’s call, Sajik Baseball Stadium erupted, and after finishing a clean inning with three outs, I came down from the Mound.
At the same time, I looked toward Park Myung-hwan.
Still a slight smile lingering on his face, but his eyes were blazing brightly.
He didn’t open his mouth to speak, but it seemed as though he was saying something like this.
‘Let’s have some fun today.’
Yes, Senior Pitcher.
I’m truly looking forward to it.
Today, as I watch your pitches with my own eyes, I’ll study hard so I can improve.
Now it was time for my mentor’s teachings to descend upon me.

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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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