Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 124

#123. Sortie

BEEP-

“Oh! Yerin! You’re awake? Teacher! Doctor! Hey! The patient here is awake. Quickly, quickly!”

“…Ugh, why is it so noisy? Oppa [older brother or male friend, a common Korean term of endearment]? Where… is this?”

“Don’t get up! Don’t you remember collapsing at the baseball stadium? You crazy… Haa, no matter how much you like baseball, what is this? Coming all the way to America.”

“I… collapsed?”

“Yeah, you suddenly fainted with foam in your mouth during Han Su-hyeok’s at-bat. Do you know how surprised I was? Just a moment, hey! Why isn’t the doctor coming? The patient is awake!”

Min Yerin blankly watched the manager’s retreating figure as he rushed to get the doctor.

I collapsed and was taken to the hospital?

Why? When?

She desperately tried to recall the last moment before losing consciousness.

‘Right… that’s right. Su-hyeok oppa was at bat there… Ah! The game?’

The reason she fainted came to mind.

The moment Han Su-hyeok’s hit struck the left foul pole, the moment the word ‘Home Run’ was displayed on the scoreboard, she remembered screaming and then falling backward.

But that wasn’t the important thing right now.

Was what she saw real? Or was it a dream?

Did they win the game?

Min Yerin frantically looked around.

Her smartphone was nowhere to be seen. But instead, the manager’s phone was on the bed.

She quickly picked it up and accessed the sports news section.

Something was wrong with the hospital’s Wi-Fi; the page loaded incredibly slowly.

She felt like she was going to burst with frustration.

Unconsciously, she chewed on her fingernails.

How much time had passed? Finally, the main page of the sports news baseball section appeared on the screen.

[Miraculous come-from-behind grand slam in the 9th inning, Korean national team advances to WBC [World Baseball Classic] finals for the first time in 18 years]

[Han Su-hyeok, who changed the team’s fate with his own hands, expresses unprecedented emotion: “I am incredibly happy.”]

[A bases-loaded opportunity created by a dropped third strike, an error, and a surprise bunt, finally sealed by Han Su-hyeok]

‘Hng!’

They won. They really won.

Min Yerin tightly covered her mouth with her hand. She almost screamed in the hospital room.

Barely suppressing the elation rising from within, she read the next article titles.

[Maeda, who allowed the walk-off grand slam: “It was my complete defeat. Next time, I want to face him in the big leagues.”]

[Japanese team catcher Takahashi: “I was completely drawn into a rookie’s mind games. I’m ashamed.”]

[Manager Hoshino: “We lost to Han Su-hyeok, not the Korean team. He may be the best hitter in the world. That’s why I’m not ashamed of this defeat.”]

[Seattle fans who watched the game once again raid the team’s website, creating a mess]

[Scout from a Big League team based in LA: “We could have gotten that player for $3.5 million? You’ve got to be kidding me.”]

[Han Su-hyeok, the overwhelming #1 prospect in the 2027 WBC, already seeing his value skyrocket]

[Manager Jeong Yun-seok, who led the Korean national team: “I saved it for this day. Han Su-hyeok will start in the final game.”]

“Oh!”

The moment she saw the last article title, Min Yerin involuntarily exclaimed.

Su-hyeok oppa is starting in the final? Really?

Ah, right. Then who are they playing against?

Min Yerin’s eyes quickly scanned the news section. And finally, she found the information she wanted.

[The United States, after completely defeating Venezuela 5-0, will compete with Korea for the title of the strongest in the 2027 WBC]

[Korea’s starter Han Su-hyeok versus America’s starter Ryan Thibeau, the showdown will take place in Cleveland]

Her heart is racing like crazy. She’s breathless and her breathing is rapid.

Fortunately, the doctor, forcibly dragged by the manager, approached her at that moment.

The doctor, who examined Min Yerin for a long time, said in a slightly annoyed voice.

“There’s nothing wrong. It seems like you fainted from momentary stress, so rest a little longer and then you can be discharged.”

“No, what do you mean there’s nothing wrong? A person suddenly fainted.”

“If you want, we can do a thorough examination. Would you like to register?”

Min Yerin interrupted the doctor’s indifferent voice.

“It’s okay. Oppa, find my smartphone so I can call my dad. And take care of the hospital discharge procedures.”

“Hey, you should get treatment first. What do you mean discharge now?”

“It’s okay. Even if I get treatment, I can get it in Korea, so I want to get out of here first. It’s stuffy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, first I need to talk to my dad, my smartphone.”

“I kept it here.”

Min Yerin, receiving the phone from her manager, immediately called her father, Min Tae-hyun.

“Yeah, Dad. It’s me. Oh, nothing’s wrong. More importantly, you said you got the tickets for the final game, right? Are you going with me? Wow! Okay! Got it, then I’ll…….”

* * *

The phone rang incessantly that night after the game.

My smartphone, which was usually only used for internet searches, was so hot that it felt like it was burning, as phone calls kept coming in.

– Su-hyeok, well done. Really well done. I cried while watching the game. Aish, what’s wrong with me these days? It can’t be menopause already, why do I keep crying?

“Thank you, Seong-oh hyung [older brother or male friend].”

The Warriors’ veteran hitter, who cried while watching my game.

He wasn’t the only one who called.

Senior Lee Man-shik, Senior Cheon Sang-jin, Senior Choi Min-seok, Senior Lee Chang-mo, even the foreign player Ryan Stark.

Most of the players on the first-team roster called to congratulate me.

Ah, messages also came from Ahn Chi-wook and Seo Hyung-joo.

[You’re fucking good. Don’t get any better there. It’s hard enough to catch up.]

[Even if I stay where I am, you’ll never catch up to me in your life.]

[Damn it… I’ll make you regret those words.]

I sent a reply to Seo Hyung-joo’s message, which I didn’t know if it was a compliment or a challenge.

[I came down to my house for a bit, and my mom asked me for your address, so I gave it to her. She told me not to buy tangerines in the winter anymore. She said she’ll keep sending them. Is that okay?]

[Yeah, tell her thank you. Tell her I’ll definitely come to greet her later.]

I also said hello to Ahn Chi-wook’s parents, who strangely kept saying they would send me things.

After dealing with each person one by one, the last person was waiting for me.

It was Seong-hoon hyung. Knowing that many people would call me, he waited until the very end for his turn.

– Su-hyeok, I heard from Manager Lee Dae-joon in advance. You’re going to start in the final game. I hope you do well, but more than that, I hope you don’t get hurt. Absolutely, don’t overdo it. Absolutely.

“Don’t worry. I’ll only do what I can do.”

– Okay, I won’t talk for long, so get some rest. And I’ll see you in Korea.

After finishing talking to the people who were looking for me, it finally started to sink in.

The Korean team’s advancement to the finals, which everyone thought would be difficult.

The fact that I will be on the mound as a starter again.

* * *

– The day of the final battle has dawned. Ah, it really feels like I’m dreaming. The Korean national team, which has advanced to the WBC finals for the first time in 18 years since the 2009 tournament, will face the American team in the final battle shortly.

– Amazing. It’s really amazing. I’ll be honest with you. Until the last out in the bottom of the 9th inning yesterday, I thought this was the limit of this tournament. I’m sorry. The commentator gave up on the game first and was acting like a jerk…….

– Ahem, commentator.

– I was so surprised that my hands and feet were trembling… Ah, I’m really sorry. I will never do such a stupid thing again. No matter what crisis the Korean team faces in today’s game, I will not give up until the end. Go Dong-shik’s atonement commentary! Yes, that’s the theme for today…….

– It’s okay, commentator, if you go any further, it would be a real sin against the viewers… Um, let’s stop talking about that. Please give us a brief explanation of Progressive Field, where today’s game is being held.

– Yes, thank you for understanding. First, to explain about this stadium, it’s a fairly old stadium that opened in 1994, which the Cleveland Guardians have been using since they used the team name Indians. One feature is that the left fence is quite high, which is a bit disadvantageous for right-handed hitters.

– I see. The large scoreboard on the left is very noticeable.

– That’s right. It is also famous for having the largest scoreboard among Major League baseball stadiums. Anyway, today the wind is calm, the temperature is just right, and it’s really good weather for baseball. The Korean team has been lucky with the stadium throughout this WBC.

– Thank you for the detailed explanation. Now, it’s time to take a look at the lineups of both teams challenging for the top spot in this tournament. First of all, the most noticeable thing is this. Starting pitcher Han Su-hyeok.

– That’s right. I’m saying this with all my heart. Just being able to watch Han Su-hyeok’s first-ever start in person, I have no regrets. Even if I die while commentating on today’s game, I would be really satisfied.

– Die? What kind of terrible things are you saying?

– No. If I happen to die today, please bury me here at Progressive Field. And write this on my tombstone. ‘Commentator Go Dong-shik, who broadcast Han Su-hyeok’s first-ever start, rests here’.

– That doesn’t make any sense…….

* * *

“Guys.”

“Yes, Manager!”

“You’ve worked hard to get here. Now, let’s leave the results to fate and just show our best…….”

“…….”

“You don’t want to hear that kind of crap, do you?”

“No!”

“That’s right. How hard was it for us to get here? It’s the second final appearance in history. 18 years, a whopping 18 years. Seong-soo, Cheol-joong, you guys were there back then too. How do you feel? Can you be satisfied with the runner-up position?”

“No! I was so angry that I couldn’t even sleep!”

“That’s right. We are sports people. Once we enter the game, nothing else matters. Winning is our goal. That’s why I decided to bet everything on the final game.”

Manager Jeong Yun-seok paused and looked at Han Su-hyeok. Perhaps ‘everything’ he was thinking of meant Han Su-hyeok.

“As you all know, due to the mandatory rest regulations, Han-gyeol, Do-yul, Cheol-joong, and Jun-yeong cannot pitch in today’s game. And the team’s youngest member will be on the mound as the starter. Everyone, stay sharp.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good, the American team is undoubtedly the strongest team in this tournament. All 30 members are major leaguers [players in Major League Baseball, the highest level of professional baseball in North America]. Even half of them are All-Stars [players selected as the best at their position]. They are the best baseball players in the world.”

“We know!”

“Good, so are you scared?”

“No! Not at all!”

“That’s right. There’s no need to be afraid. The ball is round, you don’t know until you try, I’m not going to say such obvious things. What I want to say is…….”

Manager Jeong Yun-seok paused.

The eyes of the Korean players were focused on his mouth.

“You guys are strong too. You guys are strong enough to come up after crushing Cuba and Japan. So, give it your all. I will help you. Can you do it?”

“Yes! Manager!”

“Good, sortie. Let’s go.”