The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 80

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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 80
#80.
The first call I made upon returning to the Dormitory was to my Parents.
– Son, that was absolutely magnificent….
Through the phone, I could hear my Mother’s voice brimming with pride.
Detecting a slight tremor in her voice, it seemed she had shed tears. At least I could be grateful that I hadn’t made my Mother cry over something unfortunate.
– I wish Ye-jin could have watched it with us….
I could sense her tears flowing as she spoke of my Daughter.
I harbored the same sentiment.
Upon returning to the Dormitory after achieving the record, the first person who came to mind was my Daughter. I wanted to share that glory with her, and I longed to hold the ball I’d collected while setting the record, cradle her in my arms, and ramble endlessly about how today’s game had unfolded.
She wouldn’t comprehend everything I said, but she would surely nod her head repeatedly and flash that radiant smile at me.
And then she would say something like this.
“Dad is the best!”
I could faintly hear my Daughter’s voice.
That clear, gentle voice I kept treasured deep within my mind and heart, the one I could no longer hear directly.
And so my Mother and I stood in silence for a moment, simply holding our phones.
– Oh, and your Father was absolutely thrilled.
“Father was?”
– Yes, he’s still over there devouring everything they give him. I should make him some honey water later.
It seemed he had watched today’s game at that Meat Restaurant again.
Upon achieving the record, the Restaurant Owner had begun distributing all the premium meat he’d been secretly stockpiling for free, while the other patrons watching the game had instead ordered drinks and filled their mouths with them.
I had considered calling Father, but I worried it might cause a commotion, so I only spoke with my Mother before falling asleep yesterday.
And now that I’d woken up, I found quite a few messages waiting.
Starting with a message from the Manager thanking me for my hard work and telling me to rest well today, the General Manager had also sent a message saying he’d repay this achievement with good business opportunities.
Messages had also come from the 2nd Team Manager and the Pitching Coach.
Their message about not thinking of coming back down to the 2nd Team and not expecting to see the ball for the rest of the season made me chuckle.
Former seniors and juniors from high school that I could barely remember had also reached out, along with my High School Manager.
Though I labored to reply to each and every one of them, it was a morning more rewarding than any other.
I had received word from the Manager that I didn’t necessarily need to come to the Baseball Stadium today, but honestly, staying cooped up in the Dormitory made my body restless.
Since I needed to check my physical condition anyway, and I might as well get a massage, I washed up hastily and stepped outside the Dormitory, only to realize the weather was remarkably warm.
The weather that had been slightly chilly until yesterday was strangely warm now.
Looking around, it didn’t seem to be the weather’s doing.
Everyone else was wearing an outer layer, which suggested it was slightly cool, yet I alone appeared to be the only one wearing thin athletic wear.
And I quickly understood the reason for the warmth I was feeling.
“Huh?! Kang Ho-jin?!”
“It’s real! It’s Kang Ho-jin?!”
“What?! Kang Ho-jin showed up?!”
With still considerable time remaining before the game started, families spending time around the Sajik Baseball Stadium spotted me and began shouting.
“Ha, hello everyone.”
As I greeted them, the people who had only been shouting finally began to move.
“Oh! I’m a fan! Could I get your autograph?”
“You were so amazing yesterday! It was truly the best moment of my life!”
“I support you as a father of a child.”
“Eek! Big brother!”
In an instant, fans surrounded me from all sides.
With no training scheduled today and having just achieved a record yesterday, I approached this brief fan service with a grateful heart.
Perhaps because of that, when the sudden crowd and noise erupted, a Front Office staff member rushed over with a startled expression and quickly began managing them.
They moved as though accustomed to such situations, and thanks to their efficiency, I was able to conduct the fan service swiftly.
I signed uniforms and took photos with them.
Most were parents who had brought their children. Since they were all wearing uniforms with my name and number emblazoned on the back, I signed each one with sincere gratitude.
Then a young girl about the same age as my Daughter stepped forward, holding her father’s hand.
“Su-jin, this gentleman here. Su-jin, many of your kindergarten friends are sick.”
“Please stay strong, mister. I hope all my friends get better soon.”
Before I knew it, my eyes welled up.
But this wasn’t a place where I was alone—I was surrounded by many people, surrounded by fans who supported me.
So I held back my emotions, bent my knees to meet her eye level, and spoke.
“Your name is Su-jin?”
“Yes, mister.”
“I’ll tell Ye-jin exactly what you said. Thank you.”
“Promise?”
Su-jin extended her pinky finger to me.
I hooked my finger around that small, delicate one and shook it, then placed the cap I had been wearing on her head.
“This is a gift.”
“Thank you so much.”
Her bow was absolutely adorable.
My Daughter is incredibly cute when she bows too. Sometimes she bends so deeply that she wobbles, and every time that happens, my heart aches with worry.
Still, as an athlete’s daughter, Ye-jin maintains her balance well, and Su-jin, who had seemed to stumble just now, quickly steadied herself and broke into a bright smile.
I smiled at the sight.
“Kang Ho-jin, it’s time to head inside now.”
The Front Office staff member indicated it was truly time to go, so I was able to conclude the fan service by taking a photo with Su-jin.
“Thank you.”
“It’s our pleasure.”
I had achieved a record, earned a substantial amount of points, and conducted fan service.
Yesterday and today had truly been wonderful.
* * *
Sunday’s game ended far too easily.
The Daegu Salamanders batters appeared completely demoralized after conceding the record yesterday.
Despite there being significant changes between yesterday’s starting lineup and today’s, the Salamanders batters either failed to swing properly or hit everything directly to the fielders.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins players displayed completely elevated focus.
As if they had been waiting for this moment, they swung their bats to create hits, displayed active movement on base to rattle the pitcher, and scored quickly through aggressive baserunning.
Here, Choi Jin-ha finally delivered his share after a long time away.
Until the batting order cycled through once, he dominated the batters using an incredibly brisk pace, and during the second rotation, he adjusted his approach while continuing the timing battle. Though his control still appeared rough, the Sports Commentator noted that as batters’ responses grew noticeably slower compared to when he relied purely on speed, he would improve with more familiarity.
The starting pitcher threw through the sixth inning, and the Dolphins’ Bullpen took over for the remaining innings, shutting the back door firmly.
Thanks to this, the Dolphins managed to climb out of last place, while the Salamanders, who had been pushing for the upper rankings, suffered an unexpected blow and dropped one position.
‘The season really is coming to an end.’
The world had become entirely different from how it was at this time before I returned to the past.
My daughter had passed away.
Unable to regain my senses from that grief, I threw the ball recklessly, armed with regret, anger, and sorrow, until my elbow and shoulder shattered, landing me on an operating table.
At least around this time, I wouldn’t have been wandering outside like this—I would have been lying in a Hospital Room, blankly watching fallen leaves drift down.
But now it’s different.
Though she still hasn’t awakened, my daughter is alive. The elbow and shoulder that should have been on an operating table have returned to their youthful, pristine condition, and because of that, I can stand here on the Ground with both feet.
Above all, I’ve obtained a record I never even imagined.
When I think about how I, who once threw in the MLB beyond the KBO, have returned to the past and am performing here, there’s no greater miracle than this.
No, actually, I wonder if I should be doing even better.
After all, I’ve experienced far more than others and fought in far more intense places.
Naturally, I have that advantage.
Just yesterday, I achieved a record against a batting lineup that was familiar to me but awkward for others. That was only possible because I had the experience.
But the problem is I haven’t pushed that record to an even higher level.
The optimal body I had back then and my body now are completely different.
Back then, I maintained my form through sheer muscle mass while my body was falling apart, creating the optimal pitching form—not like now with my shoulder and elbow in pristine condition.
Therefore, once the season ends, I have quite a lot to do.
First, I need to build the right muscle mass for my body, adjust my pitching form accordingly, improve my stamina beyond what it is now, and refine my pitch repertoire further.
‘So I need to use the points I have now wisely.’
I gained 10 points from achieving the record on top of my existing 1 point, and earned 1 more point by becoming an honorable player.
A total of 12 points.
With this, I can make tremendous changes.
There’s no need to rush.
This season is already in its final stretch, and even if I upgrade now, it won’t significantly change the standings anyway. Rather, to create confusion for other teams next year, what I have now is sufficient.
‘There are 3 games left.’
So that’s a total of 15 points.
Time flowed quietly and steadily onward.
* * *
Time passed, and the 26th season came to an end.
[The Seoul Dragons claim the Regular League championship!]
[A fierce battle for 2nd and 3rd place right to the end! The Suwon Wolves take 2nd by one game! The Incheon Serpents in 3rd!]
[Rising momentum! The Changwon Griffins secure 4th place!]
[The Daegu Salamanders, dealt a blow by the Dolphins, barely survive and enter the Wild Card!]
The 26th season, which had been more chaotic than expected, came to an end.
Autumn baseball officially began, and in the Wild Card, the Changwon Griffins comfortably defeated the Daegu Salamanders and advanced to the semi-playoff.
In the semi-playoff, the Incheon Serpents clipped the Changwon Griffins’ wings, and in the playoff, the Suwon Wolves sank the Incheon Serpents into the sea.
And then came the highly anticipated Korean Series.
After a grueling series that went to 3:3, the Seoul Dragons fell, and the Suwon Wolves achieved their second championship in franchise history and their first title in thirteen years.
The long, arduous 26-season campaign finally concluded, and baseball fans entered a period without the game.
With the cold winter came a quiet stillness, as fans huddled inward.
Waiting for spring to return, anticipating the next season that would begin anew.
I spent a quiet, uneventful winter.

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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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