Arriving at Incheon Airport, Jung-woo met with PD Yang.
"Welcome."
"It's been a while."
After exchanging simple greetings, Jung-woo followed PD Yang to meet the other members of "The God of Baseball."
"This is Han Jung-woo, who is joining us for Season 2. He retired from professional baseball with the Trion Fires last year and is now working as a coach at an academy."
"I'm Han Jung-woo! It's an honor to join such a great program. I will do my best!"
"Oh, this is the player?"
"I heard from PD Yang that he throws great pitches. Nice to meet you."
Jung-woo greeted the existing cast members of "The God of Baseball," all of whom had retired but were renowned figures in Korean baseball.
It was a fascinating experience to be on the same team as such distinguished players.
"Has the coach arrived?"
"Hello!"
At that moment, the staff and players bowed towards one person.
A man in his 60s was pulling a suitcase.
"It's nice to see you all so full of spirit. Let's make this shoot a success!"
He was Seong Sang-pil, the official coach of "The God of Baseball" and a living legend in Korean baseball.
With seven Korean Series titles to his name, he was the most successful coach in Korea.
Three years ago, after retiring, PD Yang brought him on board as the coach for "The God of Baseball."
'So this is Coach Seong in person.'
Jung-woo, amazed, was caught by Seong's gaze when their eyes met.
"This is the player joining us for Season 2?
The one PD Yang mentioned?"
"Yes, that's right. This is Han Jung-woo."
"Han Jung-woo! Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too. I look forward to working with you."
"Alright, please take good care of him. PD Yang, let's have a quick chat."
"Yes, of course."
Seong Sang-pil gave a casual greeting before stepping away with PD Yang, leaving Jung-woo standing awkwardly and scratching his head.
'Did I do something wrong?'
The unusual atmosphere made him want to ask someone, but he didn't know anyone here well.
Though he had some acquaintance with the main writer Lim Ri-yu, they were not close.
Eventually, Jung-woo, feeling awkward, decided to head to the restroom.
While wandering through Incheon Airport, which was new to him, he saw Seong Sang-pil and PD Yang having a conversation.
'It seems like it's not a good time to interrupt...'
"Let me reiterate, if Han Jung-woo doesn't meet my expectations, I'll send him back immediately."
Jung-woo, trying to avoid them, froze when he heard his name mentioned.
"Please don't say it like that. Let's give him a fair chance."
"I still don't understand. If his pitching is as good as you say, he should have joined through the official tryouts. Why did you insist on recommending him?"
"Among the recent players, he has the most engaging story. He has the type of narrative that viewers will love."
"But isn't he a baseball player? Skill should come first."
"We've verified that aspect too. After seeing his performance in the US, you'll understand what I mean."
"Alright. If he doesn't measure up, I'll consider it a different kind of entry and send him back. Otherwise, I'll step down myself."
Faced with Coach Seong's ultimatum, PD Yang had no choice but to surrender.
"Understood. If a player doesn't meet the mark, we will send him back."
Seeing his fate being decided while he was not present didn't feel great. However, Jung-woo could somewhat understand Seong's position.
'It seems like they think I have connections to get in here.'
In the past, he would have been upset and tried to explain himself immediately. But not anymore.
'Well, it can't be helped.'
Working as a coach and meeting people from various fields had taught him how diverse people could be.
Even if he insisted that he was right, he couldn't convince someone not ready to accept it.
'The best way to deal with this is to show them the results.'
It was the same when teaching his trainees.
No matter how much he explained, there were limits to verbal communication.
In the end, he had to demonstrate the effectiveness of his training.
Once he showed them, they understood.
'If I show my skills, they will eventually be convinced.'
With his own conclusion, Jung-woo moved on.
_______________________________________
After a long flight, Jung-woo arrived in the US and rested comfortably at the accommodation arranged by the production team.
The shooting location was Palm Beach, Florida, known for its warm climate where many Major League teams hold their spring training.
The next day.
After resting, the production team gathered in the hotel's seminar room.
Once everyone was present, PD Yang took the microphone.
"I will guide you through the upcoming schedule. The US shoot will last for 11 days as previously announced. We will start with two days of filming individual training. There will also be interviews, so please review the questionnaire we provided today."
Jung-woo glanced through the questionnaire given by the staff.
'They check everything in detail. I thought it would just be about answering questions on the spot.'
Jung-woo found it fascinating as he read the script for the first time.
Meanwhile, PD Yang continued discussing the schedule.
"After the individual training, we will move to Stewart for our first game against Stewart University's baseball team."
"Stewart University, the team that won the CWS last year? Isn't that a tough opponent for the first game?"
The College World Series, known as CWS, is the NCAA's championship. Winning it is a significant honor, and being named MVP usually means an almost certain spot in the Major Leagues.
Stewart University's victory in such a prestigious tournament meant they could not be underestimated.
"We can't complain about this early. While we're still negotiating, the highlight of this tour will be the finale against a Triple-A team."
"Triple-A? Have we secured it?"
"The process is ongoing."
The response came from a man with a thick beard who had just entered.
"Seung-jin hyung! Aren't you a bit late?"
"Sorry, sorry. My flight was delayed."
The seminar room buzzed with excitement as Baek Seung-jin, who joined late due to personal reasons, made his appearance.
"But if it's still in progress, does that mean nothing is confirmed yet?"
"It seems that, due to the ongoing season, we haven't received a definite answer.
However, discussions are positive, so the confirmation should come soon."
"And who is the opponent?"
Baek Seung-jin smiled and replied to Coach Seong's question.
"It's the Florida Knights."
"Under the LA Angles, I see."
The Los Angeles Angels were a Major League Baseball team based in LA, and they were the first team Baek Seung-jin had joined.
"According to Mr. Baek, the Knights have responded positively, so we expect a confirmation soon."
"Wow… if we don't prepare properly, we might end up embarrassing ourselves."
"That's true."
The players' faces grew somber. While they had come to the U.S. tour with relaxed attitudes, hearing about the opponents made them realize the seriousness of the situation. Although they were Korean baseball legends, time had passed since their peak performance, making it challenging to match up against current active players.
The important thing was to lose gracefully if they had to, by putting on a proper show.
"As you all know, the success of Season 1 has raised viewer expectations. The network arranged the overseas tour and the match with a Triple-A team to meet these heightened expectations."
"Well, the news about our departure has already hit the media and stirred up the communities."
"My kid told me to make sure we win and come back."
"My daughter's school is also talking about 'The Baseball God'."
The players felt the increased expectations physically.
"Given the situation, viewers will be judging you with an even sharper eye than last season."
The players nodded at PD Yang's words.
"Please prepare to the best of your abilities."
The first meeting ended on that note.
____________________________________
As Jung-woo exited the seminar room, Baek Seung-jin approached him.
"So, you're Jung-woo Han, who joined this season on Yang PD's recommendation?"
"Yes, Senior. It's an honor to meet you."
"Honor, my foot. I'm just a neighborhood uncle. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing how good your pitches are that Yang PD, who's quite the FM, recommended you."
"I'll do my best."
"Great. Then let's have a catch tomorrow during practice."
"Yes!"
Baek Seung-jin wanted to assess Jung-woo through the catch. Jung-woo was eager to show his skills, so he accepted the offer.
"I like your spirit. See you tomorrow then."
As Baek Seung-jin walked away, Jung-woo felt a moment of disbelief, questioning if this was real or just a dream.
"Am I really going to have a catch with the legendary Baek Seung-jin?"
Jung-woo pinched his thigh lightly and realized it was real, then headed to his room.
"I need to brag to So-yeon!"
______________________________________
The next day, Team Yashin's full-scale training began.
After completing light warm-up runs and stretching, the players split into pitchers and fielders for their respective drills.
"There are quite a few new players joining from Season 2."
Baseball requires nine players on the field, but with the need for backups and relief pitchers, a minimum of 15 players is necessary. Season 1 had Team Yashin playing with this minimum number.
However, with increased popularity, Season 2 expanded to a roster of 20 players.
Among the new additions, Jung-woo noticed Lee Seung-hyun.
Lee Seung-hyun was a former closer for Suwon Wonderland who had retired after last season. Apart from him, the other new faces were unfamiliar to Jung-woo.
"Hey, Jung-woo! Let's have a catch!"
Baek Seung-jin's call made Jung-woo nod in agreement.
"Yes!"
As Jung-woo prepared for the catch, everyone's attention focused on him.
"Wow, the rookie is having a catch with Seung-jin!"
"It seems like Seung-jin is curious about him."
Jung-woo was recommended by the PD, so naturally, he attracted more attention.
Despite the pressure of the many eyes on him, Jung-woo was more focused on showing his skills.
"Shall we start?"
"Yes."
With a nod from Jung-woo, Baek Seung-jin lightly threw the ball.
Thud!
The ball landed heavily in the glove with a solid sound.
When it was Jung-woo's turn, everyone's gaze was fixed on him.
Jung-woo wound up and threw the ball lightly..
Whoosh—!
Thud!!
"Wow…"
"Impressive…"
"Nice pitch!"
Despite the gentle throw, the ball's trajectory and the sound of it landing in the glove were impressive.
"Nice ball! Really good!"
"Thank you!"
The catch between Jung-woo and Baek Seung-jin continued.
Among the onlookers was Coach Seong, who observed closely.
"The ball is quite good. Even with a light throw, the spin is impressive."
Though it was just a simple catch, Coach Seong thought Jung-woo would be a good pitcher.
"Yes, Coach."
"Make sure to let him pitch first in today's practice."
"You're referring to Jung-woo Han?"
"Yes. I want to see what kind of pitches he throws."
"Understood."
Coach Seong was keen to see Jung-woo's pitching in more detail.
_____________________________________
After the catch session, the pitching drills began in earnest.
With batters set up for the pitching practice, it was a good opportunity to assess the pitchers' abilities.
"Jung-woo Han, you're up on the mound."
Jung-woo took the mound as the first pitcher.
On the mound, Jung-woo stretched lightly to ease his nerves.
"Being the first means they want to see what kind of pitches I throw," he thought.
Jung-woo stepped onto the pitching plate, determined to pass this first test with flying colors.
As he took his pitching stance, PD Yang instructed the cameraman.
"Make sure to capture this pitch well."
"Understood."
Jumg-woo began his pitch.
Entering a slow wind-up, he smoothly transitioned into the kicking phase.
Whoosh—!
With his leg raised, Jung-woo paused momentarily to gather power before making his stride.
He kept his shoulders and hips closed until his foot touched the ground to prevent power leakage.
Thud!
As his spike dug into the mound, he started his body rotation.
As his upper body rotated and his arm entered the late cocking phase, he accelerated his arm even more.
This part was where he had worked hard with Kim jung-ho to increase his speed.
And the results were excellent.
"Whoo!!"
Whoosh—!!
The ball crossed 18.44 meters in an instant, landing squarely in the catcher's mitt.
Thud—!!
The incredible sound made everyone's eyes widen.
It wasn't just the noise; the ball's velocity and quality were outstanding.
Unable to hide his surprise, Coach Seong asked Coach Choi.
"How fast was that?"
"Pardon?"
"The velocity. How fast was it?"
"Oh, yes."
Coach Choi checked the speed gun and replied with a trembling voice.
"It registered at 150…"
A smile spread across Coach Seong's face upon hearing the speed.
"Seems like Yang PD brought in a monster."
Jung-woo began to make his presence felt.
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