The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 83

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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 83
#83.
Once the 26th season concluded, one thing began above all else.
The FA market.
In truth, this year’s FA market in season 26 was far duller than usual.
The reason was simple.
Among the players available as FA commodities during this period, there wasn’t a single player who could be called a marquee acquisition.
Even by grade, they were merely B-tier or C-tier players.
It was a market where most players preferred to remain with their teams rather than declare for free agency, making it an exceptionally quiet one.
Within less than a week of the market opening, all transactions were concluded, leaving fans lamenting how the long hot stove season had ended far too early.
It would have been nice if trade rumors occasionally surfaced, but the few articles that appeared were tabloid drivel, dismissed with a casual laugh.
And so time passed until the KBO Awards Ceremony was held.
The 26th season awards were dominated by the top-tier teams.
The Seoul Dragons, Suwon Wolves, and Incheon Serpents divided the honors among themselves, with Baek Hak-do of the Seoul Dragons receiving the MVP award.
No one questioned a batter who went 15-for-30 with 3 home runs in the Korean Series, including a walk-off homer, receiving the award.
– We will now announce the Rookie of the Year.
– Kang Ho-jin of the Dolphins! Congratulations.
And uniquely, the Dolphins produced the sole award recipient.
It was the first Rookie of the Year in a staggering 34 years since 1992, an enormous celebration for Dolphins fans.
– Wow! We finally got a Rookie of the Year!
– How long has it been! We really waited for this!
– A truly legitimate rookie has arrived!
The Dolphins Community flooded with posts celebrating the Rookie of the Year, clearly showing just how long they had waited.
But that joy was short-lived as fans from other teams gradually arrived and left comments.
└ Isn’t your team’s specialty grinding up rookies of the year to win championships?
└ Definitely getting traded next year.
└ If he didn’t even wear glasses, we would’ve won this year.
└ Pathetic. 34 years is ridiculous.
└ Being a Dolphins fan isn’t for just anyone. After that many years, you should just quit baseball.
└ Just a Rookie of the Year from robbing an empty house anyway.
└ The Dolphins are so thrilled about a fluke Rookie of the Year since nobody else broke out this year.
Those comments pierced the hearts of Dolphins fans.
Since they were assailed only with irrefutable facts, no one could easily mount a counterargument.
All they could do was fill their empty glasses with alcohol and pour it down their throats to soothe their wounded pride.
Of course, alcohol didn’t actually soothe anything.
And not long after, the Golden Glove Awards Ceremony concluded as well.
It was the moment I truly realized the long, grueling 26th season had ended.
And at that very moment, a system window began cascading before Ho-jin’s eyes.
* * *
With the Golden Glove Awards Ceremony finished, the reality that the season had truly ended finally sank in.
And naturally, my performance this year came to mind.
20 games, 10 wins, no losses, 7 saves.
I had started as a closer, but after the quick hook incident, I returned to the rotation, and by the second half of the season, I had firmly established myself as a starting pitcher.
ERA 1.32. 106 strikeouts. 14 walks.
Though the time was brief, it was more than enough to etch my name into the record books.
That moment.
A system window quietly appeared before my eyes.
– You have achieved Rookie of the Year.
– You acquire 10 points as a reward.
– You acquire the title ‘Rookie of the Year’ as a reward.
Approximately 7 months since obtaining the system window.
This was the first moment I had ever acquired a title.
‘Status window.’
[Kang Ho-jin]
– Title: [Rookie of the Year]
– Maximum Stamina: 101(+1)
– Peak Velocity: 152(+1)km
– Pitches Available: Four-Seam Fastball(B), Changeup(C), Curveball(A), Splitter(C)
– Skills Available: Healing(S)
– Special Notes:
– Remaining Points: 25
A title had appeared in my status window.
Curious about what the title did, I checked and discovered an astounding function hidden within it.
Title: Rookie of the Year.
– Permanently increases stamina and velocity by 1 each.
Thanks to this, I could throw one additional pitch, and my velocity had increased by 1km as well.
Combined with the points I had additionally acquired, I now had a total of 25 points.
I had been deliberating on how to efficiently use the 15 points I already had, so the influx of additional points lifted my spirits even higher.
But the points I had acquired this time were already designated for a purpose.
– Will you consume the points?
There was no reason to hesitate.
[Kang Ye-jin]
– Stamina: 15
– Special Notes: Afflicted with a rare disease and in a state of unconsciousness. Complexion has improved slightly.
– Probability of Consciousness Recovery: 15%.
Upon becoming Rookie of the Year, I poured all the points I had acquired into my Daughter.
The recovery probability had risen from single digits to double digits.
If I were to use all the remaining points, it could reach 25%, but I needed to save the remaining 15 points for next season’s preparations.
‘Where am I….’
My Daughter would have already been lost by now.
When I recall the days when despair and frustration consumed me, when I languished in endless suffering, I can only feel grateful that I now have the chance to play baseball with such dedication to save my Daughter.
No amount of gratitude would suffice, and I never once took this for granted as some inherent right.
I simply refuse to squander this opportunity.
Now, my only thought is preparing for next year.
By rough calculation, three years.
A long time if you measure it one way, a short time if you measure it another.
But I can endure that much.
Though the Dolphins are a weaker team, if we make it to the autumn playoffs, I’ll earn additional points, and the same applies if we compete in international tournaments.
There are many opportunities.
So all I need to do is perform well.
I tore my gaze from the status window and looked at my Daughter.
Just as noted in the special remarks, my Daughter’s face seemed to have regained a hint of color.
Her complexion, which had been not merely pale but deathly white, now showed a faint flush—a small comfort.
I gently pinched her soft cheek, then brushed her bangs away from her forehead.
Buzz—!
My phone vibrated at that moment.
– How about it? Want to come along? We’ll depart by next week at the latest.
It was a message from Myung-hwan.
He was referring to the overseas training camp we’d discussed before—a chance to build our bodies ahead of time.
Considering that the first Spring Camp begins at the end of January, this would give us a month’s head start. Given the age of the older players, they wanted to squeeze in extra conditioning to build stamina.
Under normal circumstances, I would have naturally declined such a training camp, but things are different now.
Buzz—!
Another vibration. I checked the message.
XX Bank: Deposit of 3,000,000,000 won.
A notification appeared on my phone confirming that the commercial filming fee had been deposited.
The Chairman’s gift had arrived, and I rose from my seat immediately.
I made my way to the Administrative Office and met with the attending Nurse.
“I’d like to prepay next year’s hospital bills. And I want to upgrade some of my Daughter’s supplies to better quality items where possible.”
“Understood. One moment, please.”
The Nurse then arranged for me to meet with the Attending Physician.
The Attending Physician pointed out which items would benefit from upgrading, and I nodded obediently as I submitted the replacement requests.
The hospital bills increased somewhat as a result, but it was fine.
The Baseball Team provides some support, and this commercial fee is more than enough to cover it. I then met with the Nurse again and applied for the integrated nursing and care service.
It’s a service that costs about 75% less than hiring a private caregiver, and whereas we’d previously used it only at night, I wanted to extend it to daytime hours as well.
This should ease my Mother’s burden considerably, so going forward, she can visit whenever she wishes or whenever she’s worried—not necessarily every day.
“Don’t worry. We have quite a few fans of yours among our Nurses and Nursing Assistants here at the hospital. After hearing your story, they’ve all naturally been taking extra care of your Daughter.”
I expressed my gratitude.
I asked how many of them there were, and when they said four including themselves, I personally signed four baseballs the next day and distributed them.
“Please take good care of my Daughter.”
Though it may be part of their regular duties, to me they are people I can trust and entrust my precious Daughter to, so I wanted to express my appreciation.
Though this depleted my account considerably, my heart felt considerably lighter.
I immediately called Myung-hwan.
“I’m coming too.”
And so I began preparing for Spring Camp alongside my teammates.
* * *
When Mother heard about the 24-hour integrated nursing care service, she grew worried.
Thanks to the Team Owner’s thoughtfulness, my account now had breathing room, and only after I showed my Parents directly that we could manage comfortably for years to come did they finally find peace of mind.
“Well. You should rest a bit too.”
“That’s right, Mother. And Father, please get a health checkup soon. I’ve already made the appointment.”
My Daughter was one concern, but my Parents were aging gradually as well.
They were approaching fifty now, so regular health checkups were essential. Especially after the two of them had endured those two years while my Daughter was hospitalized, checkups were absolutely necessary.
And four days before my departure, I received a call from the General Manager.
– Kang Ho-jin. About the contract—should we meet in Busan or Seoul?
“I’ll come to Busan.”
I had business in Busan anyway, so I said I’d head down.
We agreed to meet the next day, and I packed my things and headed down the following morning.
When I arrived at the Manager’s Office, the General Manager greeted me warmly, unlike usual.
“You worked hard this season, Kang Ho-jin.”
“Not at all.”
“Come now. Thanks to you, we gained quite a lot.”
The General Manager’s face was bright.
Thanks to my name and story, the organization’s image had improved, and by becoming a pillar of the rebuild, we managed to finish this season in ninth place rather than last, making everyone eager for next year.
Beyond that, he also thanked me for excellent fan service and for finishing the season quietly and safely without any incidents.
“Here’s the contract.”
I was slightly shocked when he handed it over.
Until I walked into this office, my salary was definitely the league minimum of 30 million won.
The moment I saw the figure 300 million, my breath seemed to catch.
“The Team Owner said to pay generously.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t hesitate and signed the contract right there.
“I look forward to working with you next season.”
“I’ll do my best.”
After shaking hands with the General Manager, I left.
Not long after, I saw it on the internet.
– Kang Ho-jin Contract Complete! 900% Increase from Previous Year!
– From League Minimum to 300 Million?! Clear Recognition for the Rookie of the Year!
– A Player More Anticipated for Next Season Than This One—Definite Investment from Team Owner and General Manager!
– Dolphins Fans Applaud the Bold Investment in the Rookie Who Performed This Season!
– Baseball Fans Lamenting the Long Winter Ahead.

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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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