The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 63

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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 63
#63.
The schedule progressed steadily.
After a week of relentless downpour, rain became a rare visitor.
As if fleeing the sun, it fell sporadically only at night, and even on days when it rained throughout, it oddly came only on Mondays.
Thanks to this, fans enjoyed watching baseball, but the scorching heat of late summer without rain gnawed away at the players’ stamina.
Evidence of this was that our team, which I thought would ride a winning streak, split games instead and failed to surge into the upper standings immediately.
Still, what was encouraging was that our team maintained a stable rotation of starting pitchers unlike other teams.
Kevin, our ace starter, and Al, our second starter, were both pitching over six innings on average, and I, the third starter, was averaging seven innings.
Even Se-jin and Choi Jin-ha, who appeared physically exhausted, were pitching five innings.
With our starters pitching at least five innings and me throwing at a near-rest level in between, the bullpen’s workload decreased significantly.
“I’m worried about Se-jin…”
As we gathered with the other pitchers to review the scouting report as usual, everyone’s eyes lifted from the papers at Sung-hyuk’s murmur.
The pitcher struggling most right now was none other than Se-jin.
At this point, deep into the season’s final stretch, he had reached his physical limits, and as someone who had thrown pitches bordering on overuse since childhood, he appeared particularly strained.
If Se-jin hadn’t accumulated years of experience pitching on the mound, he wouldn’t have even had a spot on the 1st Team, let alone be able to pitch five innings.
He threw on Friday, and even now on Monday after the weekend, he hadn’t recovered his stamina—unable to do anything beyond rest, much less practice or study with us.
‘He’s pushing himself too hard.’
The role of a pitcher leading the team’s performance was significant.
A veteran was an existence that contributed considerably to the team.
The Manager noticed this and adjusted the rotation to skip a day.
For the three-game series during the week, Al would pitch on Tuesday, I would pitch on Wednesday, and Thursday’s slot hadn’t been decided yet.
At least it was fortunate that these were home games; if they were away games, everyone, not just the Manager, would have had a headache.
“He’ll be fine, right?”
“Of course! What kind of person is Se-jin? He’s the ace of our Busan Dolphins and our spiritual pillar. Every time I take the mound after him, I feel so proud!”
At Jo Sang-hyuk’s outburst, Jung Ji-hoon looked on.
Being from Busan and having trained long in the 2nd Team with the ambitious dream of following Se-jin, who once held the team’s ace position, his voice carried unwavering conviction.
‘Ah… so that’s why?’
Now that I thought about it, I had noticed that Jo Sang-hyuk’s focus was higher when he took the mound after Se-jin compared to other starters, but I hadn’t known the reason behind it.
The other pitchers must have known, as they quickly pulled out earbuds to block their ears. When everyone except me did the same, I found it odd.
“So, when we talk about Se-jin, from his debut season, he appeared like a comet to fill the gaps in our Dolphins’ bullpen. In a bases-loaded, no-out situation, he boldly threw a strike…”
I quickly pulled out my earbuds and turned on music.
One! Two! A! S! D! F!
Escape was only in the powerful song.
* * *
At that moment.
Se-jin made a call with resolve.
Not long after, he entered the Manager’s Office and faced Bong Jun-sik.
“So, Se-jin. How’s your body?”
“It hurts…”
Se-jin spoke honestly.
For the past twelve years, he had thrown countless pitches, and in return, he had become the ace of the Dolphins and their spiritual symbol.
The problem was that twelve years of pitching had left his body barely responsive to his commands.
His once-fractured elbow, his broken shoulder, and the natural deterioration that came with age made it increasingly difficult to complete an entire season.
Moreover, even after injuries, recovery, and rehabilitation, his early return due to the team’s circumstances made things even harder.
For Se-jin, only one year of his contract remained.
He had signed a four-year contract after receiving his first free agency at twenty-nine, and now at thirty-two, his contract would end next year.
“Um, Manager.”
So Se-jin steeled his resolve.
It wasn’t simply about immediate results, but rather looking ahead to next year and preparing to create a stage where he could display his full potential in his final year of free agency eligibility.
“I want to go down to the 2nd Team. And I want to prepare for next year.”
Voluntarily stepping down to the 2nd Team—not merely being removed from the roster, but a decision born from wanting his final showdown next year rather than this year, a declaration of his desire to burn his last flame.
“Just a moment….”
Manager Bong Jun-sik picked up his phone without hesitation and made a call.
Shortly after, the person he called arrived at the Manager’s Office, and Se-jin conveyed his intention to the General Manager who had just arrived.
“Hmm….”
General Manager Park Ju-ho stroked his chin with a troubled expression.
His heart, the first to hear this, had already answered.
‘This is right.’
A final showdown next year rather than this year. Preparation for the veteran’s last flame and a grand performance was the right choice.
But his cold, calculating mind offered a different opinion.
From a purely business perspective, if Se-jin remained in the 1st Team and moved with the organization, the ticket power to draw fans with every appearance, along with other sales points, made sending him down to the 2nd Team absolutely impossible.
“This is quite the dilemma.”
Normally, he would have been coldly rational, thoroughly focused on business alone.
That was natural given his position as General Manager and his responsibility for team operations.
But lately, contrary to his cold logic, his heart occasionally raced, and it bothered him.
‘Did it start after meeting Kang Ho-jin?’
Kang Ho-jin—the player who occasionally set fire to the heart of the man known for his thoroughness and cold precision.
Watching his pitching, seeing his circumstances, he found himself moved in ways he couldn’t explain. He even began to understand why the Chairman seemed to take notice of Kang Ho-jin.
And he decided.
“Very well. I accept your request. Regarding the remaining salary, we’ll provide it as if you’re registered with the 1st Team. That’s the treatment our ace deserves.”
He would show respect for an ace burning his final flame, and he would spare no support in doing so.
It was treatment for a player who had dedicated himself to the organization for twelve years, transcending mere symbolic value.
He had calculated it thoroughly from a business standpoint, not personal sentiment, and judged that the resulting publicity and issues were not unfavorable.
“Thank you.”
With that, Se-jin left the Manager’s Office.
Only Manager Bong Jun-sik and General Manager Park Ju-ho remained.
“Thank you for accepting Se-jin’s decision.”
“Not at all. I fully understood and accepted it—it was the right move for the organization.”
At the General Manager’s cold words, Manager Bong Jun-sik’s expression stiffened slightly.
It’s a disappointment and regret that stems from judging his sacrifice to burn the remaining flames through a business lens.
But soon, a faint smile graced his face.
“It wasn’t my head that decided—it was my heart. Witnessing the will of a man who would burn everything, my heart couldn’t help but beat in sync with his.”
The General Manager wore an uncharacteristic smile.
And so Kim Se-jin was removed from the 1st Team roster.
That day also happened to be when the expanded roster was implemented.
* * *
September arrived before we knew it.
By this point, the teams heading into the postseason were essentially decided.
1. Suwon Wolves
2. Seoul Dragons
3. Incheon Serpents
4. Daegu Salamanders
5. Changwon Griffins
6. Seoul Buffaloes
7. Gwangju Elephants
8. Daejeon Phoenix
9. Gocheok Unicorns
10. Busan Dolphins
The standings, which had been volatile, finally stabilized.
The Suwon Wolves, who had come out strong from the beginning, claimed first place, the defending champion Seoul Dragons held second, and the Incheon Serpents maintained their consistency in third.
A fierce battle was unfolding between fourth, fifth, and sixth place, while the lower standings were gradually tightening, narrowing to within five games.
With only about twenty-five games remaining, the front office was delighted that thanks to the dry spell, we could enter the postseason earlier.
Unlike the front office’s optimism, this was the moment when the expanded roster—which provided relief to each team’s players struggling with accumulated fatigue and exhaustion—had just begun.
And this morning, everyone was shocked by Senior Se-jin’s demotion to the 2nd Team.
“What?!”
That was the first word from the players gathered for training on Tuesday morning.
I felt the same way, but while everyone was in shock, the man himself appeared.
“You all heard, right?”
At the appearance of Senior Se-jin with his composed expression, several pitchers rushed over and grabbed his arms.
“Senior, where are you going?”
“Hyung! Are you hurt?”
“We need to go all the way together!”
Beyond panic, some looked as though they’d lost their nation—and among them, Senior Jo Sang-hyuk’s expression had crumbled the most.
“I’m physically exhausted, but I’m not injured. So listen up.”
“Listen up.”
Considering this senior’s usual nature of not addressing the team like this, it was unexpected, so we simply focused and watched.
“Going to the 2nd Team right now is something I requested. As you all know, we’re in a rebuilding year. That’s why I’m stepping aside.”
Rather than focusing solely on this year’s performance, the senior intended to make room for more juniors in the context of the team’s growth and development during this rebuilding phase.
“Next year… I believe we’ll have the strength to win a championship. That’s why I’m going to the 2nd Team. To build my stamina starting now for one more season next year.”
Understanding Senior Pitcher’s intention, everyone’s faces finally showed acceptance.
Some were surprised by his decision to voluntarily drop to the 2nd Team and begin preparing for next year, but his next words ignited their determination like wildfire.
“This is my final free agency. I want to retire with a championship ring on my finger. So everyone, work hard and grow well—I’ll see you all at Spring Camp next year.”
“Yes, Senior!”
At Senior Pitcher Kim Se-jin’s words, Jo Sang-hyuk called out loudly from where he stood.
From that moment on, everyone voiced their understanding, and we bowed our heads in salute as we watched our senior’s departing figure.
His choice was not an ending, but a preparation.
Then mine is the same.
I must grow stronger.
Next year, upon that Mound,
to be called by the same name.

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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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