The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 65

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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 65
#65.
After the go-ahead home run, the game descended into a slugfest.
Our Clutch Team took the field, but the opposing batters swung as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
We reversed the score in an instant, and they countered by deploying their own Clutch Team, desperately trying to hold us back.
Crack!
But our batters caught fire as well, and we seized the lead once more.
Roooar!
A tremendous roar erupted through Sajik Baseball Stadium.
From the sixth through the ninth inning, the score seesawed back and forth, culminating in a Kennedy score of 7 to 8, finished with a walk-off hit.
Though I hadn’t earned the win, Al finally wore a look of relief, having avoided taking the loss. Near first base, a small water festival—the kind that only happens at a baseball stadium—erupted in celebration.
I itched to join in, but I had to restrain myself because of tomorrow’s start.
The ground was alive with my seniors spraying water and drinks, reveling in the moment, while the stands erupted with fans intoxicated by the thrilling comeback and walk-off victory, their chants shaking the stadium.
Without thinking, a smile crept across my face.
Tingle.
Suddenly, my fingertips tingled.
In that same instant, I turned and hurried into the Locker Room.
That tingling sensation felt like a message from God.
That it was too soon.
That I should keep my focus on pitching for my Daughter.
I quietly gazed at my Daughter’s photo, waiting for the tingling to subside.
Until the boisterous Locker Room fell silent once more.
* * *
For the Suwon Wolves, who had deployed all their strength to reduce the magic number, today’s loss stung deeply.
“Tsk, this is a problem with the weekend three-game series coming up…”
After the away series against the Dolphins, we had to return to Suwon and face the Seoul Dragons, the second-place team.
With the Bullpen taking such a beating since Tuesday, the strain was inevitable.
“At least Byung-ho’s pitching today. He’ll hold them down.”
Today was Jin Byung-ho’s scheduled start.
He wasn’t the type to blow fastballs past hitters with overwhelming velocity like others, nor was he a pitcher who carved up the corners with surgical precision.
But with the best stamina and mental fortitude on the team, this young pitcher who steadfastly held the Mound alone earned the Manager’s nod of approval.
“He’s a player I cherish… he’ll do well.”
The Wolves Manager was the one who had personally nurtured Jin Byung-ho since his arrival, recognizing him as the most promising prospect and elevating him to his current starting position.
Naturally, he doted on him, even personally teaching him new pitch types as he developed. It was so pronounced that other players joked about him being the Manager’s adopted son.
Normally, this could fracture team chemistry, but the Manager was so free-spirited and trusted by the players that instead, the atmosphere was one of joking that “you guys don’t even qualify as son candidates.”
Thanks to the Manager’s care and the team’s support, Jin Byung-ho had grown into the excellent pitcher he was today.
Having been developed since he was twenty-two, now at twenty-five, he possessed superior stamina compared to most domestic aces.
The next day.
The moment I stepped into the Dugout to check on Byung-ho’s preparations, I heard it.
“Senior… if you’re struggling physically but forcing yourself through, you’ll get injured.”
To his ears, it was an absurd claim.
The notion that three years of consistent physical conditioning—beyond mere maintenance, a relentless effort to nurture and develop his body—had all been for nothing was tantamount to denying his entire forty-year career.
He was about to march over and say something.
“You’ve been sneaking in extra workouts before dawn again, haven’t you? Your body is already overloaded. Keep this up and you won’t be able to return to the Mound ever again.”
“It’s fine. I’m still good.”
“I’m not joking. Your elbow… it’s tingling right now. Subtly. That’s the warning sign.”
“That… that’s true, but….”
To the Wolves Manager, it was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
“Byung-ho! Is that really true?!”
* * *
At the sudden shout, I glanced to the side.
I wasn’t sure when he’d started listening, but the Wolves Manager came charging out like a bull, bellowing.
At that sight, both Jin Byung-ho and I flinched instinctively.
Ah, Jin Byung-ho is from the same high school as me and was a year ahead.
Byung-ho started playing in games from his second year, and continued to appear regularly even in his third year—he’s a senior with unparalleled physical stamina.
So much so that he was called steel-bodied for never losing a single physical conditioning test throughout his three years of high school.
He had various nicknames—some called him Byung-gang-soe because of his great stamina, others called him a wild horse when he ran. Among them, his favorite nickname was the Energizer.
In any case, when facing the Suwon Wolves, he was the first player I should look for among those I had connections with.
I wished we’d met yesterday, the first weekday game, but since he was resting at the Hotel rather than the Baseball Field before his start, I met him today—and the first thing he said upon meeting was about an injury.
‘Because we met at the Hospital….’
When the weather began to cool, I visited the Hospital after noticing something wrong with my elbow.
Starting with various diagnoses and proceeding to detailed examinations, it was a day I was admitted to the Hospital for one day. I suddenly saw a Wolves Front Office employee and Byung-ho rushing in, clutching his elbow.
After hurrying through treatment and arriving at the Hospital Room, it was awkward seeing each other after so long, and since we were both admitted due to injuries, the atmosphere was uncomfortable in many ways.
But Byung-ho explained how he’d gotten injured, and hearing that, I finally understood just how stubborn and hardworking this senior was.
The injury at the time resulted from excessive effort—his elbow ruptured in an instant and never recovered, leading to a lonely retirement.
That’s why I tried to stop him, and in that process, the Wolves Manager overheard.
“Hey! Manager Im, what’s going on?!”
Manager Bong Jun-sik came rushing over urgently from our Dugout toward us.
With the opposing manager charging in like a bull, he seemed worried something might happen, and several nearby players also appeared flustered, wondering if they should intervene.
The fortunate thing was that the manager’s attention was directed at Byung-ho, not me.
“You fool! If it hurts, you have to say something!”
The Wolves Manager pressed relentlessly, as if nagging.
“No, sir! I’m fine!”
But Byung-ho also played it cool, insisting he wasn’t hurt.
That’s just his nature.
He threw himself into pitching to repay the manager who raised him, researching during hours when others slept, doing shadow pitching for hours in front of a mirror, overworking himself to reach his current form.
He’s still young, so he’s managed to endure this far, but slowly his limits are approaching.
That’s why I tried to warn him beforehand.
‘I told him back at the Hospital that the subtle tingling was a warning sign and he should have stopped then.’
In truth, what remains now is something Byung-ho and the Wolves Manager must do themselves.
“Ho-jin, what’s going on?”
I gave the Manager a rough explanation of the situation.
“He’s a senior from high school, and he was trying to start despite being injured. When I quietly tried to stop him, word somehow reached the Manager’s ears….”
“Oh dear….”
Manager Bong Jun-sik, who understood all too well how devastating it was to lose a starting pitcher unexpectedly at this critical stage of the season when everyone was already exhausted, couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
We ourselves hadn’t even decided who would be our starting pitcher tomorrow.
“Let’s go.”
That was their matter to handle, so we withdrew.
I could only hope that Byung-ho wouldn’t be seriously injured.
Time passed, and soon it was time for the game to begin.
After the national ceremony and national anthem concluded, we took the field for the top of the first inning.
Walking toward the Mound, I gazed at the Scoreboard.
‘Thank goodness.’
Byung-ho, who was originally scheduled to start today, had been replaced, and another player’s name appeared on the board.
Byung-ho was probably at the Hospital by now.
With his injury no longer appearing serious and the possibility that he might have a longer career ahead of him, I found myself smiling without reason.
‘Byung-ho is Byung-ho, but first I need to do my job.’
I etched my footprints one by one onto the pristine Mound that no one had yet touched.
With each step, I announced my presence on this stage.
This 1st Team stage, which I would have only reached two years from now under normal circumstances, felt absolutely wonderful.
This stage was the only place that could give me the opportunity to save my Daughter.
“Play ball!”
The Umpire’s call rang out.
The player stepping into the On-deck Circle was none other than the Wolves’ young Captain, Cha Moon-jin.
This year, the Wolves had unusually selected a relatively young captain at twenty-seven.
They had deliberately chosen Cha Moon-jin, who was positioned right in the middle to facilitate coordination up and down the lineup, and true to their intention, he had become a captain who harmonized seniors and juniors alike, creating the tight bonds that allowed the team to leap to first place this year.
Before such a senior stepped into the Batter’s Box, he lifted his helmet toward me and gave a subtle bow.
“Ah….”
It wasn’t a simple greeting—it was an expression of gratitude for letting him know early about Byung-ho’s injury. I too lifted my cap slightly and bowed in return, while the Umpire and Senior Pitcher Kang Do-bin, who didn’t understand what was happening, looked bewildered.
We exchanged our respects, and now it was truly time for the real competition.
Four-seam fastball, middle-in.
I received the sign from the catcher, nodded, and silently declared within myself.
‘Invest one point into velocity.’
One point was deducted, and seeing the velocity increase, I threw the ball with full force without hesitation.
Crack—!
“Strike!”
At the razor-sharp control, left-handed batter Cha Moon-jin flinched. Not just him—Senior Pitcher Kang Do-bin, who caught the ball, also flinched slightly.
Both of them turned their gazes toward the Scoreboard, then quickly looked back at me.
I paid no attention to their reaction, simply received the ball and stepped back onto the pitcher’s mound.
There was no need to check the Scoreboard—the velocity had definitely increased by 1 km/h.
At this point in time, I had invested my points in velocity for one reason alone.
‘The faster the pitch, the better.’
And as velocity increased, so did spin rate.
Whoosh!
“Swing! Strike two!”
Thinking it would come in the same location, the batter swung, but the ball sailed past the bat untouched.
The batter’s mind was probably racing with a single thought.
‘It’s dropping less than what the scouting report showed.’
And it’s faster too.

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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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