Episode 3. Rookie Draft (2)
He had been so envious of how Gi Dongchan, before the regression, married a woman who was good at English, pretty, and virtuous, and successfully made a life for himself in America.
He knew all too well that behind the success of Gi Dongchan—who couldn’t speak a word of English—the support of his clever wife on the home front had been a major source of strength.
He could go straight to the Majors right now. At this point, he could confidently become a starting catcher even in the Majors.
But if he went now, he would have to spend some time in the minors no matter what, and even now, just thinking about the peanut butter he’d eaten during his minor league days was enough to make his tongue ache with phantom sores.
In this life, Jihun wanted to marry and go to America, just like Gi Dongchan had before the regression.
After building his reputation as the best catcher in the country, he wanted to go to America proudly through the posting system.
He wanted his Major League team’s games broadcast every day, receiving the applause and cheers of fans back home.
‘Manager Hyeon. I’m truly happy to see you again, but this isn’t right. Things only fall into place when you go to a championship-caliber team.’
Let’s think positively. Don’t be so pessimistic. There was still plenty of time to convince Dongchan.
Jihun steadied his heart, repeating this to himself countless times.
***
The Smiles franchise’s meeting room.
Scouting team head Jeon Seungsoo was giving an impassioned briefing.
“This draft’s first-round, first pick is pitcher Gi Dongchan. A prospect out of Dongil High with the makings of a hometown franchise star. As you can see from the numbers, he’s a once-in-a-decade talent. His physicals are 190 cm and 105 kg—an imposing physique with a flexible body and outstanding durability. In the recent President’s Cup, he started three games, went undefeated with three wins, all three complete game victories, posted a 1.30 ERA, and recorded 18 strikeouts. A left-hander, his four-seamer tops out at 154 km/h and averages 148 km/h, mixed with a 135 km/h curveball and a slider around 145 km/h. If he adds a changeup or sinker after turning pro, I believe he can easily notch ten-plus wins and eventually become a pitcher who represents Korea.”
General manager Min Dusang took over and asked a question.
“Gi Dongchan is a player our franchise has had its eye on from the beginning, and his talent is beyond question. However, there are rumors he’s going straight to the Majors. I think we should prepare alternatives in case he doesn’t apply for the draft.”
As soon as Min Dusang finished, team head Jeon Seungsoo brought up video and introduced three additional pitchers.
After listening to the briefing, manager Hyeon Myeonghan spoke.
“I think that’s enough on the pitchers. This time, I want to hear about the position players. Specifically, I want to know if there’s any worthwhile talent at catcher.”
“Yes, I’ll address that. The catcher is, without question, Gang Jihun of Dongil High. At 188 cm and 95 kg, he’s known for herculean strength. His father is Gang Yeongcheol, a legend in the world of ssireum. In fact, Gang Jihun also did ssireum until elementary school and started baseball in middle school. Blessed with innate strength, his body is remarkably flexible. He’s a power hitter who launches long-distance drives by combining weight transfer and torso rotation. The remarkable thing is that while he was already a good player, the performance he put on in this President’s Cup final was nothing short of shocking. I’ll explain while showing the video.”
While Jeon Seungsoo was explaining, Hyeon Myeonghan’s eyes widened in shock. He nearly jumped to his feet and cried out.
“This is the scene where he pulls an inside pitch for a home run. The highlight is how his elbows stay tucked to his body and he lifts slightly at the moment of impact. Moreover, he went with the pitch and sent it over the right-field fence. Without his center of gravity wavering, he pushes it with strong wrists. With this level of power and technique, I think 20–30 home runs per year in the pros is very possible.”
“How is Gang Jihun’s defensive ability? I’d like to see video, if possible.”
At Hyeon Myeonghan’s request, Jeon Seungsoo played video showing Gang Jihun’s receiving, blocking, foul fly catching, and throws to second.
As he watched the video, Hyeon Myeonghan’s heart began to pound. It was as if he were watching himself in his prime.
“Coach Bang Yeongcheol, how do you see Gang Jihun’s defense?”
“…….”
Battery coach Bang Yeongcheol, lost in the video, hadn’t heard the question.
Hyeon Myeonghan asked again.
“Coach Bang, what do you think of Gang Jihun’s defense?”
“Whew. To be honest, I was really shocked. To think there’s a catcher like this in our high school baseball. First of all, his receiving is perfect. He caught Gi Dongchan’s outside 153 km/h four-seamer without a hint of wobble. And that blocking motion is something our catchers could learn from. His knees shift as he turns his shoulder to form a wall, doesn’t he?”
“I agree. How do you see his throwing and framing?”
“What truly surprised me was that framing motion. It looks exactly like your framing from when you played, Manager. He catches breaking balls before they exit the strike zone, and he catches low pitches out in front. On pitches slightly off the plate, he presents his mitt in the zone and catches with the very tip of it. Even pro players struggle to frame like that. I can’t understand how a high school player does it. Moreover, you can clearly see that the pitcher completely trusts his catcher. Gi Dongchan’s expression says it all. We’d have to see him in real games to be sure, but from this video, I get the feeling Gang Jihun could surpass the Goblins’ Shin Jungwan and become the national team catcher. His throws to second are incredibly fast and accurate too. He gunned down fast Shinseong High runners before they could even react.”
When Bang Yeongcheol finished, Hyeon Myeonghan stated his position.
“I fully agree with Coach Bang. Regardless of whether Gi Dongchan goes to the Majors, I want to nominate Gang Jihun as our first-round, first pick.”
The meeting room grew rowdy at Hyeon Myeonghan’s declaration.
“Manager, I understand Gang Jihun is a good catcher. But this season, the Smiles’ biggest weakness is pitching. Strengthening our pitching staff is urgent. If Gi Dongchan goes straight to the Majors, we need to grab Sinjin High’s Gim Hongseok. He also has the talent to contribute immediately. At catcher, we have Jang Mancheol. His defense falls well short of Shin Jungwan’s, but he’s usable enough, isn’t he? His offense is the best on the team, and above all, he’s the team’s leader.”
Strategic analysis team head Yu Gwangseok openly challenged Hyeon Myeonghan’s view.
General manager Min Dusang, as promised to Hyeon Myeonghan, kept quiet and simply listened without stating his own opinion.
“Team head Yu’s opinion has merit. For the past three years, we allocated every first-round pick to pitchers. What has that gotten us? We drafted pitchers every year under the logic that we had no one who could throw, but we failed to develop them every time.”
The meeting room atmosphere froze instantly at Hyeon Myeonghan’s barrage of hard truths.
“The position we need most urgently is catcher. A pitcher’s performance changes depending on his catcher. A good catcher can bring out the best in a pitcher. Don’t we need to save the pitchers we’ve drafted all this time? Mancheol isn’t a bad catcher. But he has clear limits when it comes to developing pitchers. And Mancheol is thirty-three. Next year is his final year before free agency. We need to secure a starting catcher to succeed him. Pitchers pour out every year, but usable catchers don’t. If it’s a talent like Gang Jihun, we have to take him no matter what. And he’s a right-handed power hitter, the kind that’s gradually dying out. We need Gang Jihun to play the brand of baseball I’m planning for next season. I’d be grateful if you followed my wishes this time.”
With no one able to object to Hyeon Myeonghan’s firm stance, general manager Min Dusang stepped in to wrap things up.
***
Jihun spent the entire day focusing on how to convince Gi Dongchan.
‘Should I say American chicken is dry and tough? That you get kicked out of your apartment for grilling samgyeopsal? Or maybe leak some future stock tips?’
After considering many angles, Jihun called Gi Dongchan.
For some reason, Dongchan was beaming, his worries completely gone.
“Jihun, you eat all the dumplings. I’m full even without eating.”
Gi Dongchan uncharacteristically yielded the dumplings to Jihun. Under normal circumstances, he would have raised both hands in joy, but Jihun felt rather bitter instead.
‘Hmm. He must have signed with the Majors. There’s no other way to explain this behavior. But what’s this ominous feeling?’
“Which team are you going to?”
Gi Dongchan looked at Jihun quietly with pitying eyes.
“Who knows? The only thing certain is that it’s not the Smiles.”
‘Huh?!’
“What do you mean? Didn’t you say you were going to the Majors?”
“Ah, well… the situation changed.”
“Changed? Hey, spit it out.”
“Well, the Smiles changed. Before, they came every day telling me not to go to the Majors. But lately, they’ve vanished without a trace.”
“Isn’t that because your decision seemed final?”
Gi Dongchan let out a sly grin.
“Ah, so… it’s hard to explain in words. But you know, you get a feeling. They came every day and then suddenly stopped, so I felt a bit slighted. So I called them up.”
“And?”
“They didn’t say it outright, but I got the feeling they had someone else already decided on besides me. Well, I could put two and two together from that much.”
“Who is it?”
Jihun suppressed his unease and asked carefully.
“Well, if it’s not me, it means they’re picking a position player. Among position players, who would the Smiles be interested in?”
Having finished speaking, Gi Dongchan stared intently at Jihun.
‘Damn it. I had a feeling this would happen. Manager, that’s not how you treat a person. You shouldn’t block your pupil’s path like this.’
***
On rookie draft announcement day, as expected, the Smiles franchise nominated Gang Jihun in the first round, pitcher Song Guhan in the second round, and pitcher Gung Byeongil in the third round.
When the Smiles broke expectations and nominated Gang Jihun, the venue buzzed instantly.
The Gwangju Dragons, who held the second pick, had also been targeting Gang Jihun.
The Gwangju Dragons, after an emergency meeting, nominated Song Gihyeon, evaluated as a transcendent high school-level infielder.
The third-ranked Busan Dolphins, for reasons beyond understanding, nominated sidearm pitcher Gim Hongseok instead of Gi Dongchan.
The fourth-ranked Seoul Royals, having stayed quiet, unexpectedly acquired Gi Dongchan, producing a spectacular scene where all the staff in attendance erupted in cheers.
Gi Dongchan was bound to land on his feet no matter how hard he fell.
***
“President, this year’s rookie first-rounders have been signing at around the 500 million won mark. Gang Jihun is the first overall pick and a player who turned down overtures from the Majors. I think we’ll need to offer him at least 600 million won.”
“…General Manager Min, have a sense of ownership.”
“Yes!? …Understood. I’ll do my best.”
‘Damn it. Sense of ownership my ass. Sly bastard. What am I going to do about this? Gang Jihun’s father, Gang Yeongcheol, isn’t a man to be trifled with.’
General manager Min Dusang was in a bind. But what could he do? In an organization, when they told you to tighten the purse strings, you tightened them.
Min Dusang buried himself in devising a strategy for the contract negotiation with Gang Jihun scheduled for that afternoon.