Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 115

#114. I’ll Finish This Quickly

What is the difference in skill level between Major League Baseball (MLB), Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB), and Korean Professional Baseball (KBO)?

Generally, the average KBO player is considered to be at the level of a high-A player [a minor league level in baseball], and the best players are seen as having the potential to challenge the major leagues, surpassing Triple-A [the highest level of minor league baseball].

On the other hand, the average NPB player is roughly at the upper Triple-A level, with the best players considered to be above the lower levels of MLB.

Simply put, the top-level players in the NPB can immediately transition to MLB and perform adequately.

Of course, this is a combined assessment of both fielders and pitchers.

Looking at the metrics in more detail, pitchers tend to receive slightly higher evaluations than hitters.

In particular, Japanese pitchers receive high marks for their control, ability to hold runners, and fielding skills. However, they receive slightly lower evaluations in areas such as velocity, power, and stamina.

“Second base!”

Considering Tanaka Yamato’s exceptional ability to hold runners—perhaps even top-tier in MLB—and the arm strength of the Japanese catcher, who could immediately play in the major leagues, Han Su-hyeok’s stolen base attempt might have been a bit reckless.

But.

“Safe!”

“That’s safe?”

“It’s safe.”

“Damn it!”

The Japanese second baseman, failing to tag the runner by a hair, threw his glove to the ground and cursed.

In modern baseball, the value of stolen bases is decreasing.

Sabermetricians [baseball statisticians] argue that the expected run increase from a successful steal is only +0.156, while the decrease from a failed attempt is -0.501, leading them to advocate against the usefulness of stolen bases.

Mathematically, that’s correct. Considering the risk of injury while attempting to steal, it might be a play to avoid when looking at the cost-benefit ratio.

Nevertheless, the only reason I attempted to steal was to rattle Tanaka’s mentality, who was handling the Korean hitters like he was swatting flies.

Tanaka’s face, who had boasted that he wouldn’t give up a single run in today’s game, hardened rapidly.

The Korean team, which he thought he could easily beat, had now conceded a home run to a rookie in his first year, and now he had allowed a stolen base.

For him, who was aiming for a long-term contract with the Cubs after this season, or hoping to transfer to a team aiming for the championship, this was a development he didn’t even want to contemplate.

“Stay calm, Tanaka. Can you hear me? You’ve only given up one point.”

“Damn it… I know. Sorry.”

Although it has faded a bit now, the expression ‘precision machinery’ was often used to describe Japanese technicians and athletes.

The strength—and weakness—of those guys who move like machines is their precision.

A precision machine that struggles to diagnose the cause once an error occurs.

From Tanaka’s fingertips, where a program error had occurred due to my home run and stolen base, a fastball with slightly less power than usual was released.

Lee Su-young, who has a weakness against breaking balls but is relatively strong against fastballs, didn’t miss that pitch and connected.

Thwack!

It wasn’t hit perfectly on the sweet spot, but thanks to Lee Su-young’s strong wrists, the batted ball managed to escape the infield.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Waaaaa!”

I started running as soon as I heard the sound of the bat hitting the ball.

The ball that passed over the second baseman’s head bounced once right in front of the right fielder.

The right fielder, known for having the strongest arm in Japan, immediately prepared to throw the ball home.

“Stop!”

The third base coach signaled me to stop.

But my intuition was screaming that I shouldn’t stop here.

Would I get another chance like this? Well, maybe, maybe not.

But considering the state of the Korean national team’s bullpen today, I needed to score at least one more point before the 6th inning.

“Han Su-hyeok!”

“Ughhh! No!”

As I ignored the stop sign and rounded third base towards home, screams erupted from our dugout.

The eyes of the Korean and Japanese spectators gathered at Citi Field, as well as the scouts, were focused on me.

Thud.

The third base coach’s judgment was not wrong. The catcher, who had already received the throw before I arrived at home plate, was waiting for me, crouched down.

Just as I expected. As I tried to slide headfirst, lowering my body deeply, the catcher’s posture lowered even further.

That’s exactly what I wanted.

Thwack.

“Gasp!”

“What! What is that?”

Having baited the catcher into a low posture, I immediately jumped up from that spot and did a somersault in the air, landing on home plate.

For a moment, Citi Field was enveloped in silence.

“Safe!”

That silence was broken only after the umpire’s safe call.

“Wooooah!”

“Crazy! Really crazy!”

“Su-hyeok! You crazy bastard!”

“Come here! Come here!”

A play I haven’t done in a long time. A play that was only possible when my physical abilities and confidence were at their peak.

I boldly attempted that play, which had a higher probability of failure than success, and fortunately, luck was on my side.

It’s fun. A feeling I haven’t felt in a long time.

The tension of playing against major league-level players makes the adrenaline in my body pump wildly.

Of course, it would be hell for the receiving end.

“Tanaka! Get a grip! Are you okay? Hey! This isn’t good!”

* * *

“Hey, Daniel. I heard your team offered that guy $3.5 million?”

“We did……”

“Hehe, you might have to add another zero to that later to bring him in.”

“……”

I expected to some extent that Han Su-hyeok would receive attention at this WBC [World Baseball Classic].

But this was far beyond my expectations.

The opposing pitcher is the Cubs’ number two starter. A top-class major league pitcher who could be at least a number three starter on a team aiming for the championship.

Against such a player, he had a home run and a stolen base in two at-bats, plus a miraculous somersault into home.

It’s not just the offense. Han Su-hyeok’s perfect shortstop defense in the previous games against China, Australia, and Japan moved the hearts of the major league scouts.

It’s an era where various cutting-edge technologies, previously applied to military satellites, are used for baseball play analysis.

All of Han Su-hyeok’s records from this season in the KBO were thoroughly quantified and delivered to each major league team.

But they dismissed it as just records from a lower league. This was especially true for shortstop defensive metrics.

It is said that the KBO’s level is the lowest compared to the major leagues, especially in terms of defense.

No matter how good the numbers are within that league, they thought it was influenced by the league level. They thought that even if he advanced to the major leagues later, it would be difficult for him to play shortstop.

At best, a third baseman, with a high probability of being an outfielder.

Assuming the offensive power is the same, the difference in value between a shortstop and an outfielder is as vast as the sky and the earth.

But today, the major league scouts had no choice but to abandon all their prejudices.

Han Su-hyeok, whom they saw with their own eyes, was a creature born to play baseball, with a physique that was hard to believe he was Asian, a sense of judgment that couldn’t be seen in a rookie, and even a force that dominated the field.

Daniel bit his lower lip without realizing it.

The face of the general manager, who glared at him with an absurd look when he said he needed to prepare at least $5 million for the signing bonus, came to mind.

“Damn it… That’s why I told him to spend it when we need to, that damn bastard.”

* * *

The Korean national team took a 2-1 lead thanks to Han Su-hyeok’s home run, followed by a stolen base in the next at-bat and Lee Su-young’s timely hit.

Ryu Han-gyeol, who persevered with the will not to lose to Japan and the determination to make today’s game a stepping stone for advancing to the major leagues, left the mound after giving up only one point through the bottom of the 4th inning.

He still had enough energy to throw, but the pitch limit of a maximum of 65 pitches in the first round held him back.

Yang Ji-ho from Gwangju came up to the mound after Ryu Han-gyeol left the Korean mound.

Once considered one of the BIG4 of the Korean national team’s pitching staff along with Ryu Han-gyeol, Lim Jun-young, and Choi Kyung-jae.

But unable to overcome the flow of time, he is now a veteran pitcher who is deployed as a middle relief pitcher instead of a starter.

Fortunately, today was one of those days when Yang Ji-ho was on his game. While allowing hits and walks in every inning, Yang Ji-ho persevered until the end.

Yang Ji-ho, who blocked 1 and 2/3 innings without giving up a run—three batters in the 5th inning and two batters in the 6th inning—came down from the mound. The blood vessels in Yang Ji-ho’s eyes, who had thrown 55 pitches with all his might in a short time, were burst.

The score was still 2 to 1, with Korea leading by one point. Kim Yong-jae, a young middle relief pitcher from Incheon Rangers, came to the mound in the top of the 6th inning with two outs.

Kim Yong-jae, who went to the mound with encouragement from Lim Jun-young, the senior he respects the most, threw the ball with all his might.

Kim Yong-jae had the best stuff among the remaining pitchers. But the strength of the Japanese hitters, who started to counterattack in the final stages, was even greater.

Although he barely managed to get the last hitter out in the top of the 6th inning, he faced a problem as soon as the top of the 7th inning began.

Thwack!

Thwaaack!

The 152 km/h fastball [approximately 94 mph], which was considered a difficult fastball to hit in the KBO, was just a good meal for the Japanese hitters.

The 1st and 2nd hitters that Japan boasts reached base with consecutive hits.

In an instant, it became no outs, runners on 1st and 3rd. It was clear to anyone that it was no longer possible to keep Kim Yong-jae in the game.

“What should we do……”

“Ah… we don’t have any pitchers left to throw……”

The pitcher rotation of this national team—Ryu Han-gyeol, Lim Jun-young, Gu Cheol-jung, and Choi Kyung-jae—are out as starters, and Park Do-yul and Lee Ha-young, the strongest setup and closer, cannot pitch due to the pitch count limit.

Yang Ji-ho, who has a lot of experience in international matches, managed to block 2 innings, but Kim Yong-jae, who came up next, eventually failed to do his part.

Of course, there were pitchers left. But there was no one available to handle the situation of a one-point lead with no outs and runners on 1st and 3rd in the top of the 7th inning.

“Coach Kim, I’ll have to go to the mound myself this time.”

“Ah, yes, Manager. Then what should I tell the bullpen……”

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of it. Just wait for now.”

“Yes?”

Manager Jeong Yun-seok, who was maintaining his composure with a calm expression while feeling all the pressure, finally got up and moved towards the mound.

“Time!”

As the manager went directly to the mound, the expression of pitcher Kim Yong-jae, who was flushed red, began to turn even darker, as if he would explode at any moment.

The infielders, who rushed to the mound to comfort the pitcher and buy some time, encouraged Kim Yong-jae.

“It’s okay, man. We’re still winning.”

“The hyungs [older brothers/seniors] will take care of the rest, so don’t think about anything and go in and cool your head.”

“Yeah, you have to pitch in the next game too, Kim Yong-jae! Aren’t you going to get your act together?”

“……”

No comfort, encouragement, or scolding entered his ears. The frustration that he had ruined everything was consuming Kim Yong-jae.

And finally, Manager Jeong Yun-seok arrived at the mound.

“Yong-jae, you’ve worked hard.”

“…I’m sorry, Manager.”

“It’s okay. Pitchers grow by getting hit. Forget about today and prepare for the next game.”

“I’m sorry. Really……”

Kim Yong-jae, who handed the ball he was holding to the manager, walked towards the dugout with a heavy heart. The shoulders of the young pitcher, who was being taken off the mound without even getting an out in his first international competition, especially in a Korea-Japan match, were drooping like those of a prisoner being dragged to the execution ground.

Jeong Yun-seok, who had been watching the scene for a long time, turned his gaze to Han Su-hyeok.

“Su-hyeok.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“I wish this moment hadn’t come, but I’m sorry. I wanted to put you up in a perfectly prepared state.”

“It’s okay. I finished attacking in the previous inning and I’ve warmed up enough.”

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

The players, who didn’t understand what this meant at first, opened their mouths one by one and asked.

“Su-hyeok, no, Manager. Then by any chance……”

“Yes, Su-hyeok. I’m asking you to take care of the remaining innings.”

“No problem. I’ll finish it quickly and go in.”

* * *

– Ah… Commissioner, it’s really unfortunate. Kim Yong-jae, who allowed consecutive hits as soon as he came up to the mound in the 7th inning, eventually bursts into tears and comes down from the mound.

– He is a young pitcher with particularly good stuff, and a player who is being raised as the next-generation ace to succeed Lim Jun-young in Incheon, but the wall of Japan was too high. It’s okay. There’s no need to cry!

– Commissioner, in this case, a relief pitcher has to come up in a situation with one point difference and no outs, runners on 1st and 3rd. Who will come up?

– The pitcher who can throw now… I think Kwon Gil-yong, the closer of the Incheon Rangers, will come up first. His stuff is a little lacking, but he has more experience…….

– Yes, Kwon Gil-yong’s performance this season… Oh, what is that? Commissioner, a coach who rushed over is handing Han Su-hyeok a new glove. Is the glove damaged, Commissioner?

– Oh my gosh!

– Why? Please let me know too! Don’t be surprised by yourself!

– It’s a pitcher’s glove!

– What?!

– Oh my god, no, oh my gosh, Han Su-hyeok is changing into a pitcher’s glove and going to the mound!

– What is that… Oh my god! It’s true. Han Su-hyeok, who was playing shortstop, is going to be a pitcher, and Ahn Tae-gyu is being put in the vacant shortstop position!

– Ah… I forgot. I really forgot! That we had Han Su-hyeok!

– That’s right! The appearance in the All-Star Game was ultimately for today, Commissioner!

– Yes, in fact, there was talk about Han Su-hyeok’s pitching appearance, but it was expected that even if it did come out, it would be a limited appearance in a situation with as little pressure as possible… Oh my gosh, I never imagined that he would make his first appearance in such an absolutely desperate crisis.

– Ah, my heart is pounding just watching. Commissioner, what will be the result?

– Well, how can I predict the result unless I’m a god? But even if other people don’t know, don’t we remember? Han Su-hyeok’s pitching performance in the last Magicians game and the All-Star game.

– Yes, that’s right. Citizens, your support is more desperate than ever! Han Su-hyeok, who came up to the mound in a situation with no outs and runners on 1st and 3rd, is finally starting to warm up!