Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 185

#184. Opportunity

“Alright, let’s proceed with the voting. It might seem like there are several items on the agenda, but they can essentially be grouped into one. Strengthening cooperation between the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] and Major League Baseball, reforming the Korea-U.S. posting system, and the conditional introduction of several amendments are the agenda items for today’s Winter Meeting.”

In Major League Baseball, the Winter Meeting refers to a gathering where team presidents and general managers come together to discuss various issues related to league operations, as well as player trades.

Korean baseball is not much different, but unlike in the United States, discussions related to trades are rare.

Especially on days like today when meetings are held at the president level rather than the general manager level.

The board of directors of the 10 clubs gathered at the request of the KBO.

Park Seong-hoon, who serves as both club representative and president, looked around at the other club presidents with a strange expression.

‘I can hear these guys’ brains working all the way over here.’

Although they are operated independently, the professional baseball organizations of Korea, the United States, and Japan inevitably maintain close cooperative relationships.

From players advancing to overseas leagues to technical exchanges between players and coaches, joint projects for the globalization of baseball such as the WBC [World Baseball Classic], and joint marketing to revitalize the league, there are many things to cooperate on.

The problem is that Korea has always been the weaker party in the world of baseball.

It meant that they always had to be at a disadvantage in a market led by the United States and Japan.

But something was starting to change.

Various issues that the Korean side had wanted, such as revising some regulations related to international promising players under the age of 25, holding the Major League Baseball opening ceremony in Korea, and preparing training programs for advanced baseball technology exchange, etc.

The Major League Baseball Secretariat has expressed its willingness to actively accept these Korean requests.

Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Naturally, several additional matters were attached.

First, the U.S. side proposed that the overseas advancement posting regulations for Korean players, which currently stand at seven seasons or more, be aligned with those of Japan.

Although there have been several changes so far, as of 2027, Japanese players can immediately advance to Major League Baseball through posting after playing for more than one season.

Of course, there are various restrictions attached, but overseas advancement is much freer than in Korea, where more than seven seasons are mandatory.

The Major League Baseball Secretariat’s position was to revise the posting-related regulations, which are currently signed differently in Japan and Korea, to be the same in all three countries on this occasion.

The reason was obvious.

Han Su-hyeok.

An ultra-high-class prospect who made his skills known to the world through the WBC.

There were still some pessimistic views on Han Su-hyeok.

For example, the record set in the KBO shows the limitations of the lower league, and success in the big league cannot be guaranteed only by short-term performances such as the WBC.

The murderous schedule of playing 162 games a season, the travel distance that cannot be compared to Korea, the fatigue caused by the league level that cannot even be compared to the KBO, and, decisively, the chronic problem of Asian players, durability, etc.

That was the reason why some Major League Baseball experts were downplaying Han Su-hyeok.

But nevertheless, Han Su-hyeok was a lottery ticket that Major League Baseball clubs had to scratch.

Foreign players under the age of 25 must be tied to the minimum salary for up to three years.

Even if you pay all of the $20 million posting fee, being able to use a player like Han Su-hyeok for the minimum salary for three years is a huge merit.

Some teams opposed it due to internal circumstances, but most Big League clubs voted in favor of this amendment to the Korea-U.S. posting regulations.

That’s how the Major League Baseball Secretariat’s position was decided, and it was packaged with sweet proposals to entice Korean clubs and delivered to the KBO.

But what’s interesting is that most of the Korean clubs that received this offer showed a willingness to accept it.

‘That crazy bastard needs to be sent to the United States as soon as possible.’

Even if the posting regulations are passed, Han Su-hyeok will not immediately advance to the United States, but at least a loophole must be opened.

In this state, we will have to face that devilish Han Su-hyeok for at least the next six seasons.

Let’s open it. After all, only one or two players will go to the United States through posting every 10 years.

Besides, even if the player wants posting, the club can simply not approve it.

This is only to chase that monster out of the KBO.

Korean clubs had no choice but to accept the amendment proposed by Big League clubs to bring in Han Su-hyeok because of Han Su-hyeok.

“But… do we really have to apply the Ohtani Rule [allowing a player to be both a pitcher and a hitter]? If we do, players will get excited and try to become two-way players…”

‘Oh my?’

Park Seong-hoon snorted without realizing it at the Incheon Rangers president’s remarks.

He’s giving all sorts of other reasons, but he just doesn’t like it.

He doesn’t want to give Han Su-hyeok, who is already difficult to deal with, the wings of the Ohtani Rule.

But what can he do? The Major League Baseball Secretariat sent all the issues discussed today as a single set.

If Korea rejects even one of them, everything will be nullified.

“Alright, I will now announce the results of the vote. Regarding the joint Korea-U.S. business cooperation and some regulatory amendments… I would like to inform you that it has been passed with 8 votes in favor and 2 votes against. Thank you for your hard work.”

* * *

“Su-hyeok, did you hear the news?”

“What news?”

“The posting system is changing. And the Ohtani Rule will be applied starting next year. That’s great.”

“Is that so? Well, I guess it will definitely help.”

“Yeah, anyway, was that guy we saved yesterday Gya?”

“Hmm, I think so. Let’s go, I’ll talk to him, Hyung Deok-soo.”

“Okay, I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t scold him, just talk to him.”

The guy we saved last night, who had a fight with some delinquents for some reason, was none other than a baseball player from Seongjin High School.

I was wondering why the guy who skipped the first day of training and disappeared somewhere was wandering around on the street, but after listening to the teachers’ stories, I understood a little.

A child who has been running with all his might, dreaming of becoming a professional baseball player for a long time.

Well, if you only consider his physical age, he’s only one year younger than me, so I don’t know if it’s right to call him a child, but anyway.

Even in the first year of high school, he was mentioned in the media here and there, raising expectations that he would become the first deaf professional baseball player, but in the end, his name was not called in the rookie draft.

And he failed the tryout for development players held in Daejeon and Busan a few days before we came to volunteer, and he was wandering around the street in that state when he got into a fight with delinquents.

I asked such a child.

“Your name is Choi Jae-min?”

The teacher who is helping with sign language during this volunteer work hurriedly followed and conveyed my words to him.

“He says that’s right.”

“Okay, I’ve heard the story roughly. You want to become a professional baseball player?”

When the name professional baseball player came out of my mouth, the teacher, who was delighted, conveyed the words to Choi Jae-min again.

The guy thought about something for a long time and nodded.

The teacher moved busily between me and the guy, continuing the sign language.

“Yes, Han Su-hyeok.”

“Let’s make one thing clear first, I’m a teacher who came to teach you, even though I’m temporary.”

“…Then, Teacher Han Su-hyeok?”

“Hmm, that’s a little weird too. Never mind. Just call me hyung [older brother or respected older male]. Anyway, if you’re wearing a uniform, there’s no need to say it. Show me. Your skills. What’s your position?”

“Yes?”

I sent the guy, who tilted his head with a puzzled expression, to the ground.

And I observed the guy’s skills.

He is said to be the team’s starting shortstop and fourth hitter.

Of course, his skills were exactly as I expected.

He may be a little lacking to become a formal professional player, but he is worth developing as a development player, especially his concentration at the plate, bat speed, and eye for the ball.

As expected, there was only one problem.

“Choi Jae-min, come here.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Not teacher, hyung.”

“Yes! Su-hyeok hyung!”

Sign language is strange.

I’m clearly having a conversation with another person in between, but I strangely feel the emotions emanating in each of those gestures.

Anyway, what’s important now is not that.

“Okay, I’ll tell you my opinion to summarize, even though you already know it. It’s almost impossible to play as a professional baseball player with a hearing impairment. Fielders have to constantly exchange opinions with other teammates. You have to predict the direction and location of the batted ball just by listening to the sound of the hit. The same goes for base running. There are various restrictions to playing only by looking at the signs.”

“Yes… Hyung, I know.”

“But from what I see, you’ve been trying not to miss anything in order to become a professional baseball player, hitting, running, and fielding… right?”

“That’s right. I’ve been working twice as hard as others to the best of my ability……”

“No.”

I cut him off, and he looked at me with a flustered face.

He tried to have all the offense, defense, and base running to become a professional baseball player… Of course, it’s not the wrong way.

But realistically, if it’s impossible to overcome the disability with such efforts?

He needed another option.

“Let me ask you one thing. Do you want to reach the top as a professional baseball player and have money and fame?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I just… I want to show that I can do my part like other people, like people without disabilities. I want to go out on the ground and prove it, even if it’s just for one at-bat or one inning of defense.”

“Okay.”

His answer just now decided the future of the baseball player Choi Jae-min.

He was no different from me.

He had something he wanted to do, and he was ready to do anything for it.

The only difference is that I didn’t have anyone to help me in the past, but now he has me.

I was finally able to do what I wanted to do after starting my second life.

But all the baseball player Choi Jae-min needs is just a little consideration and attention from someone.

“Choi Jae-min.”

“Yes, Hyung.”

“Forget about trying to do everything well. From what I see, you seem to have quite a talent for hitting. If you refine it well, you can be used enough as a left-handed pinch hitter in the first team.”

“Really?”

“At least that’s what I see. And let me tell you one important fact. Hitting is the least affected by hearing among offense, defense, and base running. The base coach can tell you the ball judgment with hand signals, and the hitter in the batter’s box doesn’t have to talk to anyone.”

“Ah……”

“How much time do you spend on hitting during one practice?”

“About… half?”

“Invest all of your personal training time in hitting, not team training.”

“Yes? Can I really do that?”

“Yes. If it’s not going to work even if you do it the standard way, you need to take a risk. But……”

“But……?”

“Even if you become a professional baseball player, you won’t be in charge of base running or defense, even if you stand in the batter’s box. Do you know what that means?”

He gulped.

The sound of him swallowing was strangely loud.

“You have to hit the ball so well that you can only be used for hitting. When someone asks why a half-player who can’t run or defend is on the roster, you have to say, ‘Oh, there’s no better pinch hitter than him on our team.’ That’s the kind of sound that should come out.”

“I understand!”

“Of course, what I’ve said now is just a possibility. It’s just a saying, but if a half-player who can’t run or defend wants to enter the first team roster, there will be a lot of pain. Still, are you going to try it?”

“Yes, Hyung! I really want to try it.”

“Okay, then I’ll throw the ball directly while I’m here for a few days. If you hit even one of my balls, I’ll let you take the Warriors development player test right away.”

“Really? Really?”

“Yes, I promise in my name. So, try to do what you want to do.”

Someone says.

It is too difficult to look back on the shortcomings of others and live with them.

Throw away what you don’t need and take only what you need. That’s the shortcut to living well.

Well, maybe that’s right.

But I have the power not to follow such rules.

I have the freedom to live as I want.

I don’t know what will happen to that guy’s future.

I don’t know if he will really become a Warriors development player, or even if he does, he will break through the second team stage and come up to the first team and taste the professional stage he wanted so much.

To be honest, I think the probability is very low.

Nevertheless, I’m going to give him a chance.

I hope that small opportunity will help him in his life, and that one day that little boy will grow up and become a meaningful person in someone else’s life.

Hoping that he will become the kind of person I couldn’t become in the past.