The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 81

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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 81
#81.
The autumn baseball season had come to an end.
Or more precisely, the season itself had concluded.
The team entered the final training phase.
What was remarkable was the order that Manager Bong Jun-sik issued just before entering this season’s final training.
“You old-timers planning to play next year—don’t bother showing up for training. Just focus on recovery and conditioning until Spring Camp. You don’t need to participate in these sessions.”
Our team’s veteran roster had shrunk considerably compared to before.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say most of them had been sent down to the 2nd Team. Whether by choice or circumstance, there were virtually no veterans remaining on the 1st Team.
Of course, that didn’t mean we only had young players.
I myself was a rookie at twenty-four, and while my senior teammates were also in their mid-to-late twenties, few of them had maintained solid positions on the 1st Team with any noteworthy records or achievements.
Toward the end of the season, we’d constantly shuffled the roster between the 2nd and 1st Teams in preparation for next year, and we’d discovered some promising talent in the process.
Because of this, the final training camp wasn’t just for the 1st Team—the 2nd Team participated as well.
It was essentially a final training camp filled mostly with rookies and second-year players.
So what happened to me?
“Ho-jin, get plenty of rest. Build your body up well, and I’ll see you next year.”
“Yes, Manager.”
I’d been excused as well.
The reason was simple.
I’d been away from my daughter for a while, and now that the season was over, he wanted me to spend considerable time with her.
Once next year’s Spring Camp begins, I’ll be overseas for nearly two months. Considering that, he thought it best that I spend time with her while I could.
“But listen, if you come back out of shape next year, we’re both done for!”
The Manager added a word in an awkward dialect, apparently feeling a bit embarrassed.
Thanks to his consideration, instead of participating in the final training camp, I made the rounds saying goodbye to my seniors and juniors before leaving Sangdong.
“Let’s go together.”
“Yes, hyung.”
And when I left, I wasn’t alone—there were two of us.
It was Kim Se-jin, and since the season had ended and we wouldn’t see each other for a while, he suggested we head up to Daejeon together to grab a meal from Myung-hwan hyung and Hyun-im hyung.
We boarded the KTX and headed quickly to Daejeon, then took a taxi to the restaurant where the two hyungs were waiting.
“Oh! You made it?”
“It’s been a while.”
The two hyungs, who were leisurely grilling meat and already eating, greeted us warmly.
We took our seats beside them.
“Alright! Let’s have a drink.”
The hyungs raised glasses of soju, while I lifted a glass of beer.
With the season over, I was planning to drink lightly for the next few days. Not only would I be drinking with the hyungs right now, but I was also planning to have a drink with Father.
We each emptied our glasses and picked up a piece of beef.
By the way, the Restaurant Owner was grilling the meat right beside us.
Se-jin hyung had been there a few times, so he greeted the owner familiarly, but when he saw me, he was startled and came over with crisp paper and a pen to ask for my autograph, so I took a photo with him as well.
Looking around, there were quite a few baseball player autographs on display.
Looking at the autographs from current league players all the way to those from long-retired seniors, it seemed like quite a famous and prestigious place.
After a brief look around, I chatted with the older guys about this and that.
“So, did you decide?”
Myung-hwan nodded at Se-jin’s question.
“Yeah. Let’s go together after all this time.”
“Oh! It’s been forever since we all got together like this!”
“The other guys all said yes too.”
Not understanding what they were talking about, I just watched them, and then their gazes turned toward me.
“Ho-jin.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Would you be interested in training together during the off-season?”
“Uh…”
It was a proposal I hadn’t even considered.
From the tone, it seemed they meant to escape the cold Korean winter and build up our bodies overseas in advance, so I just nodded along.
But now they were asking me to come with them.
“Don’t worry about money. These old guys have plenty of it.”
“Byun Hee-su from the Dragons is going, and Ga Jin-heo from the Elephants is going too.”
“Yeah, Ho-jin. Just bring yourself.”
Listening to the older guys speak in turn, I was honestly incredibly tempted.
First of all, Myung-hwan, who is my mentor for the curveball, would be there, so training together would be great.
Not only that, but Byun Hee-su from the Dragons is exceptional with his changeup, Ga Jin-heo from the Elephants is a master of the slider, and Se-jin is a fork ball specialist.
‘If I make good use of the pitches I already have, I can learn new ones, and training together would help me develop much better pitches.’
Any South Korean pitcher receiving this opportunity would jump at it without hesitation.
Though these seniors are now older and approaching retirement, they’re at least seniors who made their names in the KBO over the past decade with various pitches, and they’re all former National Team members.
Just going with them would be an honor, and if I could follow along and learn even one thing, I’d gain skills I could use for the rest of my life.
“Oh, and by the way, we’ll each bring a catcher on our own.”
“Once they arrive, I can check their batting form.”
Hyun-im shrugged as he spoke.
Come to think of it, Hyun-im is also a consistent batter. Though he never won a Gold Glove or season MVP, his stats have consistently placed him in the top five percent, and his knowledge is substantial—apparently no Phoenix batter has escaped his coaching.
“I’m torn between bringing Do-bin or Myung-su.”
Se-jin said he’d bring one of the two.
I was a bit surprised by what came next.
So apparently, the older guys from the ’93 cohort who did well have consistently taken one or two people with them for overseas training every year.
That went on for about five years, but last year they didn’t go because of injuries, and this year everyone decided to go—the plan was finalized even before the season ended.
Just hearing this much, there was only one answer in my head.
‘I want to go.’
But the problem was my daughter.
I’d already have to be away for about two months once Spring Camp starts, and if I went for pre-training, I’d be separated for nearly three months.
Though my daughter no longer carries the word “terminal” and has some time, I’ve never been apart for that long, and it worries me.
‘If there’s enough leeway…’
If I had cash to spare right now, I could have followed along.
It’s a sad reality, but my bank account is steadily dwindling.
Even with the team’s support, the monthly hospital bills alone are substantial, and when I factor in maintenance costs for baseball and money I give to my parents, it’s simply not enough.
My salary should increase next year if this season’s performance holds, but we’re in the off-season now, so no income is coming in.
Considering I need to survive on what’s left, hiring a caregiver while I’m overseas is beyond my means.
“You still have time, so think about it slowly.”
“Yes, hyung. Thank you.”
“Right. Let’s drink for now. Who knows when we’ll get another chance like this.”
Myung-hwan laughed cheerfully as he said it.
After that, the seniors didn’t talk about training or next season.
Instead, they brought up old stories—things that happened at the dormitory during the National Team camp, how fiercely they threw in high school, how they didn’t even acknowledge each other at first because they hated losing even in the pros—and we spent a pleasant time together.
I slept at the hotel Myung-hwan arranged for me.
The next day, I was waiting for the train back to Seoul.
Bzzzzz—!
My phone suddenly vibrated, and I answered the call from the name that appeared.
“Yes, General Manager.”
– Player Kang Ho-jin, have you arrived in Seoul?
“No, not yet.”
I’d seen the General Manager in Sangdong just yesterday, so it seemed odd that he’d need to contact me just a day later.
In situations like this, it’s usually either that something has blown up and chaos has erupted, or something is about to blow up and he’s giving me a heads-up. I waited for his next words with an uneasy feeling.
– It’s nothing serious. We want to move forward with our business venture.
At the same time, the General Manager mentioned that the parent company had sent a CF offer, and that the Chairman had specially approved it and wanted us to film one quickly.
At this unexpected news, a smile spread across my face without my realizing it.
It wasn’t the smile that comes from going overseas and training with the seniors.
It was a smile of satisfaction that better medical support for my daughter had become possible, and a smile of relief that I could ease the burden on my mother, who works so hard every day.
“Thank you so much.”
I thanked him sincerely.
* * *
After arriving in Seoul, I headed straight home.
The house was empty.
At this hour, my mother would be at the hospital, so I set down my luggage and grabbed a ball.
Then I headed to the hospital where my daughter was.
“Mother, I’m here.”
At my words, everyone in the hospital room turned their eyes toward me.
“Gasp!”
“Oh!”
My daughter’s hospital room had children of similar ages gathered together, so most of the caregivers were middle-aged parents.
A few who watched baseball were startled when they saw me and started to cry out, but then realized it was a hospital room and quickly covered their mouths.
I bowed respectfully to them and went to my mother’s side.
“Oh my, my boy. Your face is completely worn out.”
As I embrace Mother, she pats my back gently.
I’m not particularly gaunt. After the regular season ended and during the autumn baseball tournaments, I focused on training and recovery, so I’ve probably lost about half my usual weight—nothing too drastic.
A few days of proper rest will have me back to normal.
“I’ll wait for you at home, so take your time coming back.”
“Yes, Mother.”
I walked Mother to the Hospital Room entrance, and once she left, I turned toward my Daughter’s bedside.
“Ye-jin, Dad’s here.”
Then I quietly pulled out the baseball I’d been carrying in my pocket.
“Look at this. Dad made an incredible record with this ball in South Korea. I brought it to show you, Ye-jin.”
Though she couldn’t grip it with her hands, I gently placed the ball on her palm as I continued.
“That day was amazing? When the record was about to be set, the usually deafening Sajik Baseball Stadium fell quieter than this Hospital Room. And when I achieved it, the roar that erupted was louder than any cheer I’d ever heard at Sajik Baseball Stadium.”
That’s how I told my Daughter everything that had happened.
I told her about Hyun Myung-su, the new Catcher, and how the married Senior Pitchers kept showering Myung-su with baby gifts and doting on him, and about Su-jin, a friend I’d met at Sajik Baseball Stadium, who cheered for me.
Since I could visit frequently now, I promised to stay by her side and watch over her, and before I knew it, night had fallen completely.
“I’ll come again tomorrow, Ye-jin. Sleep well, Princess.”
I leaned down and kissed her forehead lightly before standing up.
Now that the season is over.
For a while, I’ll live not as a baseball player, but as Ye-jin’s father.

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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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