Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 106

#105. 168km

Koo Yong-shik, the manager of the Dream All-Stars for this All-Star Game, reflected on the first half of the season.

‘The Warriors are in second place? How the hell?’ he thought.

Originally an operations team leader—a front office employee rather than a coach—Koo Yong-shik was a devout believer in sabermetrics [the empirical analysis of baseball, especially baseball statistics, that measures in-game activity]. He was the kind of guy who had to break down everything in baseball with numbers.

In Koo Yong-shik’s view, the Warriors were absolutely not a team that deserved to be in second place. Or, more precisely, they were a team that shouldn’t be.

The offensive power of their starting hitters was quite impressive. In fact, various detailed metrics showed they were at a considerable level.

But that was it. The fact that they had many first-year rookies made them unstable, and their depth was so shallow that they faltered as soon as one of their starters was missing. Considering their backups, they were about in the middle of the 10 teams.

Pitching?

That was even worse. Except for four starters and a closer, the rest were frankly close to nuclear waste.

No matter how much he added and subtracted the indicators calculated based on this, it didn’t explain how the Warriors were in second place, ahead of the Suwon Commanders.

But today he realized.

What the secret was.

No, he even had this thought.

‘Damn, if they hadn’t taken the lead early, we would have been in danger too.’

It was Han Su-hyeok.

The Warriors overcame all the unstable elements and rose to second place.

It was all because of that monster, Han Su-hyeok.

Of course, he knew that guy was good at baseball—no, incredibly good.

His .432 batting average, an absurd 1.452 OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a baseball statistic], 40 home runs, and 91 RBIs in the first half.

But even so, the limit of how much one player can contribute to the team’s wins was about 10 games at most. Even considering that the monster rookie was recording a WAR [Wins Above Replacement, a comprehensive baseball statistic] of over 10, the Warriors’ second place was arithmetically impossible.

But that impossible thing actually happened, and Koo Yong-shik finally realized why.

It was something that could never be known unless Han Su-hyeok was under his command.

Even though it was only for a day, having Han Su-hyeok under his command made everything clear.

Four consecutive home runs against the league’s leading pitchers, the aces of the Nanum All-Star team, starting with Ryu Han-gyeol.

Unbelievable defense, snatching up the incredibly fast balls hit by the league’s best hitters like a frog catching flies.

More important than these amazing performances was the unique atmosphere that Han Su-hyeok had.

The atmosphere in the Dream All-Star team’s dugout said it all. Players gathering around a rookie who was only in his first year, veterans naturally accepting Han Su-hyeok as the center.

Han Su-hyeok was a special being.

A being who raised the morale of his allies just by his presence, perhaps a ‘player who cannot be evaluated with numbers,’ something Koo Yong-shik could never admit.

He had that thought.

What if Han Su-hyeok became his player?

If he could only put him in an Incheon uniform?

Maybe Incheon could win every season while Han Su-hyeok was playing?

But Koo Yong-shik had not yet grasped everything about Han Su-hyeok.

“Manager Koo, we’ll get ready for the bottom of the 9th.”

“Ah, right, Manager Lee. Are you sure it’s okay? The WBC [World Baseball Classic] is just around the corner, what if he gets injured… He’s only pitched one inning this season, right?”

“Yes, it’s okay. We’ve checked thoroughly in advance. Su-hyeok volunteered to do it, both as a service to the fans and as a practical check.”

“I understand. Then… let’s leave the bottom of the 9th entirely to Su-hyeok.”

“Thank you.”

Han Su-hyeok was not just a good-hitting, good-fielding shortstop.

He still had another side to show.

* * *

– No more words are needed, Commissioner. Han Su-hyeok has hit four consecutive home runs.

– Really, ha, it’s really amazing! This is what a festival is, a festival for baseball fans!

– Four consecutive home runs in the All-Star Game… um, this is the first time.

– It can’t be helped. Most players only get to bat twice before being replaced. Besides, the pitchers who appear in the All-Star Game are not ordinary players. They are the best players in the league. Four consecutive home runs against such pitchers… wow.

– Well, anyway, even though it’s the All-Star Game, we have to determine the winner. With the Dream All-Star team succeeding in reversing the score again thanks to Han Su-hyeok’s fourth home run, the final defense of the bottom of the 9th inning begins. Commissioner, who will be the closer today?

– Um, all the pitchers selected for the Dream All-Stars have already pitched. Suwon’s closer, Park Do-yul, who pitched in the bottom of the 8th, only faced one batter, so he will probably take the bottom of the 9th as well.

– I see. Thank you. We’ll be back after the commercial break. This is Gocheok Sky Dome.

└Ta) Today was a happy day…

└War) Did the Kkolppa [likely refers to a specific team or player] get a reality check?

└Ta) I honestly admit it… Watching Han Su-hyeok after watching our team’s shortstop makes me feel purified

└Beo) I thought our Tae-woong was the best, but lol, damn, it’s really amazing

└Keo) Is that really a first-year rookie? No, is he even human?

└Re) Look at the Nanum pitchers getting a reality check. Their expressions are rotten

└War) lol

└Ta) By the way, it’s already the bottom of the 9th. Does the national team leave for the United States right after the game today?

└Keo) No, tomorrow at dawn

└War) They must be tired too

└Re) It’s just the All-Star Game anyway, so let’s finish the game quickly and go rest

└Beo) That’s true… oh, it doesn’t look like Park Do-yul? Who do we have left?

└Keo) We used them all? Park Do-yul is the last one?

└Re) Huh? What? Why is he coming out of the bullpen?

└War) Could it be?

* * *

“Really? He went to the bullpen? Is he really going to pitch?”

“Why? He said he wouldn’t pitch this season, right?”

“No, he said he’d pitch in Game 7 of the Korean Series.”

“Isn’t that the same as saying he won’t pitch?”

“This bastard…….”

“Oh, Seong-oh hyung [older brother/friend], you were here. I’m just kidding. Hehe.”

“Anyway, it’s really out of the blue. Suddenly here?”

As an unexpected pitcher walked out of the bullpen, the Dream All-Star players also began to stir. Of course, except for a few Warriors players who knew this in advance.

Im Jun-yeong, who had been watching the scene without a word, quietly approached Jo Seong-oh and asked.

“Is Su-hyeok really going to pitch?”

“Oh, Jun-yeong. Hehe, he said he wanted to try pitching in the All-Star Game, I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

“Ah, so just for today?”

“Well, maybe, maybe not. I guess we’ll decide after watching him pitch today?”

“Hmm.”

It wasn’t really meant to be a secret. Jo Seong-oh also knew everything.

That Han Su-hyeok might pitch in today’s All-Star Game.

While both teams’ dugouts were briefly buzzing, Han Su-hyeok, who had climbed onto the mound, slowly began his practice pitches.

Jang Deok-soo, who had been substituted for Jeong Dae-han in the 7th inning, shouted, pounding his mitt.

“Throw it however you want. I’ll catch it all.”

“Yes, senior.”

That’s what he said, but Jang Deok-soo’s forehead began to bead with cold sweat.

He had caught Han Su-hyeok’s ball a few times, but it was too difficult each time.

It was a little better during spring camp when he knew the pitch in advance, but when he caught his ball in the actual game against the Magicians, he almost missed it several times.

A 165 km/h fastball, plus breaking balls that were faster than most pitchers’ fastballs.

After that game, Jang Deok-soo practiced catching countless times with a pitching machine capable of 170 km/h.

He had a premonition.

The day would soon come when he would catch Han Su-hyeok’s ball.

He was an inadequate senior, so there was nothing he could do for him, but at least he shouldn’t hold him back.

He prepared for that day by catching fastballs and unbelievably curving breaking balls spewing out of the latest pitching machine.

The problem was that he didn’t know that day would come so soon.

It was yesterday evening. That’s when he found out.

Lee Dae-jun called Jang Deok-soo, who was resting at home watching a girl group music video on his day off.

– Deok-soo, I won’t talk long since you’re resting. Su-hyeok will be pitching briefly in the All-Star Game tomorrow. Can you catch it?

‘Su-hyeok is?’

– Yes, he’ll probably be pitching in the later innings, so there’s a high probability that you’ll be wearing the catcher’s mask. So I’m letting you know to prepare yourself.

‘I understand what you mean, Manager.’

– Good, and Deok-soo.

‘Yes.’

– If you get to work with Su-hyeok tomorrow, never forget that feeling. You may be catching that ball continuously in the future.

Unlike his outward appearance, Jang Deok-soo was a player with a very quick mind. A player with a bad head cannot be the starting catcher of a professional baseball team.

He immediately realized after hearing Lee Dae-jun’s words.

That this All-Star Game was not the problem.

That Han Su-hyeok might pitch as a pitcher in the WBC, and even in the second half of the season.

Jang Deok-soo, who turned off the girl group music video he was watching and threw the bag of snacks he was holding far away, immediately came out of the house and grabbed a taxi.

‘Please go to Jamsil Baseball Stadium.’

It was very late, but it seemed like he needed a little more practice.

To catch Han Su-hyeok’s ball, which exceeds 160 and approaches 170 km/h.

* * *

“Wow!”

“What! Is this a surprise event?”

“Han Su-hyeok is pitching? Really?”

“Su-hyeok oppa [term used by younger women to address older male friends/brothers]! I’m going crazy!”

The dome stadium echoed with cheers that seemed to shake the entire stadium.

The dome stadium, which is isolated from the outside, has its own unique atmosphere.

The enthusiasm and cheers of the spectators, which should escape through the open space above, continue to circulate inside the stadium, stimulating the players’ competitive spirit.

T-Mobile Park and Progressive Field, which were my home stadiums when I played in the United States, were traditional baseball stadiums that were more than 20 years old.

So I remember wanting to play for a team that uses a dome stadium as its home stadium at least once.

To fulfill that dream now, I’ll have to build a dome stadium myself.

Damn Seoul City.

Whoosh

I lightly rotate my shoulder once.

I carefully checked the muscles and nerves that might have been strained a bit from hitting four home runs today.

There’s nothing wrong. My body feels very light.

I sent a signal to Jang Deok-soo senior, who was sitting on home plate, that I would throw the ball, and slowly began my practice pitches.

Thwack

The first pitch is lightly at 150 km/h.

Thwack

A splitter that falls vertically.

Thwack

A high-speed slider that changes horizontally.

Jang Deok-soo senior, who caught my ball well during the last Magicians game, moves his catcher’s mitt with a nervous expression.

He’s a good catcher. In terms of technical aspects, he’s not comparable to the previous players I’ve been a battery with, but he will become an even better player in the future.

I finished all the practice pitches like that. Those balls were actually for the catcher rather than for me, for Jang Deok-soo senior, who would catch the ball I would throw.

I’m ready. And the catcher who will catch my ball also seems to be ready.

“Play!”

The umpire announced the resumption of the game in a slightly excited voice.

And the cleanup hitter of the Nanum All-Stars stepped into the plate.

Go Cheol-hwan, the signboard hitter [star player] of the Magicians, one of the league’s leading first basemen, whom I’ve faced several times.

The fans, who had been shouting so loudly that the stadium was about to collapse, fixed their eyes on me and Go Cheol-hwan and began to be silent.

I closed my eyes quietly.

I can vaguely feel the movements of the fielders behind my back.

I’ve had this before, but it’s a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time.

At times like this, I feel confident that I can do anything on the mound.

Good.

On days like this, there’s no need for complicated signs.

I sent a sign to Jang Deok-soo senior first. He nods with a nervous expression.

Now is the time for me to show my true self to the fans and other players.

For someone, this may be hope, and for someone else, it may be despair.

I want to maximize the size of that emotion in either case.

Swoosh

I grabbed the grip of the fastball in my glove, took a small step forward with my left foot, and naturally started the movement of my upper body while pulling my left arm back. It’s my own pitching form that I’ve repeated countless times and can now do even in my sleep.

I condensed my strength once in my lower body, and again in my waist, and gathered all that condensed rotational energy into my shoulder, and all that power into my fingertips.

The best ball I can throw right now, perhaps the best ball I can throw in my entire life, flew furiously from my fingertips towards the catcher’s mitt.

Whoosh

Boom

Thwack!

The stadium was filled with silence for a moment.

The chatter, cheers, and miscellaneous noises of people that had been heard here and there were stopped at once, and the stadium became as quiet as a lecture room.

And the next moment.

“St, Strike!”

With the umpire’s slightly late call sign, cheers that seemed to tear the stadium apart rang out.

I turned my head and looked at the electronic display board.

The speed of the ball I just threw was clearly displayed there.

168 km/h.

It was the moment when my highest speed was renewed once again.