Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 214

#213. Induction Ceremony

“Oppa!”

“What is it, Yerin? Why are you so excited this morning? What’s wrong?”

It had been three years since Han Su-hyeok and Min Ye-rin met, and Min Ye-rin was angry at him for practically the first time.

No, she was about to be.

America, suddenly America! How could he decide so unilaterally without even a word to her, even though she had guessed he might go to the major leagues someday?

Min Ye-rin said in a tearful voice.

“Hic… What am I to you, Oppa?”

“Huh?”

“I’m… I’m…….”

Han Su-hyeok, sensing that Min Ye-rin’s mood was unusual, opened his eyes wide and replied.

“What do you mean, what are you? You’re my girlfriend. Um, was I a little too presumptuous? We eat together several times a week, watch TV, go on overseas trips… and most of all, we hugged two years ago, and we still hold hands sometimes these days. Isn’t that what girlfriends do?”

“Heh…….”

Min Ye-rin’s expression turned blank at the word ‘girlfriend.’

Two years had passed since their first hug, but the two of them still hadn’t made any progress beyond that, and in the meantime, she suddenly heard the news of Han Su-hyeok’s move to the United States.

Min Ye-rin had thought that she would have to confront him properly today, but she was completely disarmed by the word ‘girlfriend.’

“Yerin, did I just assume things on my own? If that’s the case, I apologize. I thought we were dating.”

“No! No! It’s not like that! More than that, you’re going to America? That’s great, baseball is the best in America! Okay. Anyway, it’s about time for me to take another break, so I’ll take another year off and watch baseball in America. My dad would love that. Hehe.”

Min Ye-rin’s break, which would once again make fans’ hearts ache, was decided on the spot.

* * *

Numerous major league clubs and companies were racking their brains to create enticing offers for Han Su-hyeok in order to compensate for the contract money and annual salary that would be meager due to regulations.

But there was one thing they didn’t know.

There was another variable that would have the biggest impact on Han Su-hyeok’s choice.

“So Daniel, are you saying that Han Su-hyeok wants me?”

“Yes, to be exact, he wants the best hitter in the league to protect his back. He’s tired of walking to first base.”

“Hmm… Okay. I understand. But why should I go to the Mariners? Wouldn’t it be faster to bring him to the Cardinals?”

“The reason is what I just said. The best hitter in the league that Han Su-hyeok wants includes you, as well as Lucas Anderson of the Yankees, Aaron Decker of the Dodgers, and Jerry Wagner of Boston.”

“Those guys are on par with me… Well, I can’t admit it, but let’s just say that’s the case, but what about it?”

“Ty, if you stay with the Cardinals and wait for Han Su-hyeok’s choice, the probability of success is one in four. I don’t think the Yankees, Red Sox, or Dodgers, who have those players, will be behind the Cardinals in terms of conditions.”

“Hmm.”

“But what if you come to our team? The probability of success rises to 100%. The only piece we don’t have among the conditions Han Su-hyeok wants is you.”

“Are you sure? What if I move to the Mariners… and fail to bring Han Su-hyeok?”

“I’m sure without a doubt. The Mariners have been working hard for the past year to win Han Su-hyeok’s heart, and now only the final stage remains. If you’re still worried… yes, we’ll put an opt-out clause in the contract after one season. Would that be okay?”

As if he had expected this reaction, Daniel held out a five-year contract with an opt-out clause that allowed the player to unilaterally terminate the contract.

He was sure.

That Ty Johnson would sign this contract, and that he would never exercise the opt-out once he was on the same team as Han Su-hyeok.

A long time passed.

Ty Johnson, who had carefully reviewed the contract with his agent, opened his mouth.

“Okay, let’s take a positive look. My remaining career is about to get interesting.”

“Welcome, Ty.”

* * *

The way people speak, act, and express themselves is always relative.

Daniel, who was so confident in front of Ty Johnson, who is still the best player in the league, handed over a document with a very humble expression.

“Haha, Han Su-hyeok, I’m sorry. Am I a little late? The damn president was late in approving it… Don’t worry. Once you join our team, I promise you’ll never have to wait for anything. I’ll do my best to serve you.”

While Seattle general manager Daniel Mitchell was persuading Ty Johnson, the other 28 teams were preparing the maximum amount of money and support they could offer and giving presentations to Han Su-hyeok.

The general managers of each team, and even the presidents of the Red Sox and Dodgers, personally went to Han Su-hyeok to persuade him.

It was an extraordinary, perhaps unprecedented, effort in Major League history.

Despite receiving offers from so many teams, Han Su-hyeok remained indifferent.

There were no offers that he liked.

If you look at the offer itself, the Yankees’ offer was the most attractive, but that team tried to impose various restrictions on Han Su-hyeok in order to play for a prestigious team.

Han Su-hyeok has nothing to envy, whether it’s his skills or his wealth.

The reason he’s going to the big leagues is simply because he wants to enjoy baseball and see how far he can go as a baseball player.

He absolutely refused to be interfered with for a few bucks.

In that respect, Seattle, which has shown consistent sincerity over the past year and has maintained a close relationship without ever rushing him, was the team closest to acquiring Han Su-hyeok.

And now, Seattle has pulled out the last card that will move Han Su-hyeok’s heart.

“Okay, Han Su-hyeok. We brought Ty Johnson as promised. We just signed a contract with him and will be making an official announcement soon. The Cardinals are going to be shocked. Haha.”

“Um, you really did it.”

“Of course! Oh, and one more thing. I think I mentioned this once before…….”

“Is it the new manager issue?”

“That’s right. We’re going to offer the managerial position to Benjamin Reynolds, the current Warriors head coach, regardless of Han Su-hyeok’s acquisition.”

“Um.”

The team’s executives, who have been showing unwavering support for him for the past three years.

The best hitter, Ty Johnson, to protect his back.

In addition, Benjamin Reynolds, one of the people who knows the best about Han Su-hyeok’s management and utilization, was appointed as manager.

The pieces that had been moving around in Han Su-hyeok’s head finally came together.

He finally made a decision.

“Okay.”

“Yes?”

“Okay. Let’s sign the contract.”

“Cough! So easily… Then we’ll somehow manage the annual salary…….”

“It’s okay. There’s no reason to break the existing salary system just to get a few more bucks. Just treat me like other posting players [players from other leagues].”

“Ugh! Yes! Yes! Thank you!”

“Please discuss the rest with Min Tae-hyun. I don’t have an agent yet.”

* * *

[Breaking News! Seoul Warriors’ Han Su-hyeok signs with Seattle Mariners through posting]

[Transfer fee of $25 million, signing bonus of $3.95 million, Han Su-hyeok’s agent, “We rejected all partnership-like miscellaneous contracts. What the client wants is not money, but freedom.”]

[Seattle Mariners succeed in acquiring Han Su-hyeok following living legend Ty Johnson, green light for first World Series appearance?]

[Mariners ace Ryan Thibodeau, “Welcome the two players. We are now a team that challenges for the championship.”]

[Big league clubs who missed out on Han Su-hyeok in front of their eyes are frustrated… Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who even lost Ty Johnson, are in a funeral home atmosphere]

[Cardinals fans, who are known to be docile, are unusually dissatisfied, protesting and demanding the resignation of the incompetent president and general manager]

[Seoul Warriors, who sent Han Su-hyeok to the United States, “We thought the domestic stage was too small for him to play. Please look forward to seeing the best player in the world play on the best stage. He will return someday. Han Su-hyeok is an eternal Warriors player.”]

[Warriors fans gathered in front of Jamsil Baseball Stadium, chanting Han Su-hyeok’s name and cheering for his move to the United States, “We hope he becomes the best player there too”, fans from other teams joined in the cheering, “We hope he wins Rookie of the Year and MVP and retires happily there forever.”]

[What kind of team is the Seattle Mariners, where Han Su-hyeok will play? A perennial mid-to-lower team that has never reached the World Series since its founding in 1977]

[Experts, “A team whose prospects, who have been tanking [purposefully losing to get better draft picks] for the past seven years, are exploding at the same time, but a team that still lacks experience and will need a considerable amount of time to challenge for the championship”]

[KBC commentator Go Dong-sik, “I agree with some of the opinions of other experts, but the acquisition of Major League’s best hitter Ty Johnson and Han Su-hyeok will fill that gap. Seattle is the number one candidate to win the American League West next season.”]

[Top star Min Ye-rin, who has been active for the past two years, “I’m going on a break to recharge. I’ll be back with good music!”]

* * *

“Come this way. I’m sorry I couldn’t take you to a better place.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“If I had known in advance, I would have prepared a place where I could have served you properly…….”

At T-Mobile Park, the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners, one man was sweating profusely in the skybox used exclusively by the owner group, entertaining someone.

“It’s really okay. It was just a sudden decision because our child really wanted to see this, so you don’t have to worry too much. This is enough. Right, honey?”

“Um.”

At first glance, he looks like he’s in his 30s, but if you look closely, he’s a strong-looking Asian man with a little more experience. A blonde beauty with her arms crossed with the man.

And a black-haired boy who is already sticking to the skybox window and can’t take his eyes off the ground.

It may seem a little strange, but they were the power that dominates the United States, the head of the Lopels family and his family.

“I feel bad that we took the room. I won’t forget what happened today. Oh, and I heard that the broadcasting station that signed the broadcasting rights contract is affiliated with our family?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right, Angela. The renewal of the broadcasting rights contract is in full swing right now.”

“Okay. I’ll tell them to pay more attention to that, so if you have anything you want to ask for, take this opportunity. It’s a reward for what happened today.”

“Ah, thank you! Thank you so much!”

The elderly man, who can be said to be the owner of the Seattle Mariners, the group of owners, repeatedly bowed his head and left the skybox.

A boy who became a fan of Han Su-hyeok at first sight at the WBC [World Baseball Classic] finals,

One day in the second week of December, Han Su-hyeok’s Seattle Mariners induction ceremony was held as the boy, who will soon become the head of the family that dominates the United States, watched.

* * *

“Now! Everyone, let me introduce you! We have acquired the world’s best hitter and pitcher at the same time to win the World Series. Two people? No. One person. A player who can do everything on his own, the Seattle Mariners’ new number 1, Han Su-hyeok!”

“Wow!”

“Yeah! Fucking! That’s it! That’s it!”

“You’ve done something I like for once! Good! Take all my money, you damn Mariners!”

“Uniform! When do you start selling that guy’s uniform!”

The moment general manager Daniel Mitchell said Han Su-hyeok’s name after all the pre-events prepared by the club were over, the Seattle fans sitting in T-Mobile Park shouted in unison.

And finally, he appeared.

A man who looks strangely good in a Mariners uniform, even though it’s the first time he’s wearing it.

A league destroyer who hit .400 for three consecutive years in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] and hit more than 70 home runs for two consecutive years.

A pitcher who recorded 20 wins for two consecutive years and an ERA [Earned Run Average] in the 0s.

And the best player who proved his skills by crushing all the countries that included big leaguers in the WBC and Olympics.

Han Su-hyeok, who all 29 Major League teams were attached to and fought for to acquire.

As he walked out, several people approached him, handed him bouquets of flowers, and shook his hand.

“That was the most beautiful swing I’ve ever seen, friend. Please take care of the Mariners.”

“I was a fan of yours when I was a kid.”

“Really? Really? I suddenly feel good even though I know it’s just lip service?”

Ken Griffey Jr., a permanent number and Hall of Famer for the Seattle Mariners, and the best hitter who stood shoulder to shoulder with drug users in the late 90s without ever touching drugs.

“Now it’s my turn. Okay, Han. I hope you play for our team for a long time and break my career hit record.”

“Um… It’ll take a little longer for hits, so should I break the home run record first?”

“What? Haha, I got hit with that one.”

Edgar Martinez, who, like Ken Griffey Jr., is a permanent number and Hall of Famer for the Mariners, and who has been loved by fans for playing for only one team for 18 years.

Han Su-hyeok, who shook hands with those two legends, turned his gaze somewhere.

There stood Mariners ace Ryan Thibodeau, holding a bouquet of flowers with an awkward face, and Ty Johnson, who had already had his induction ceremony before Han Su-hyeok.

“Hehe, we finally get to play together. Welcome, friend.”

“Ty, I didn’t think you’d really come to Seattle.”

“Damn it, I didn’t think I’d leave the Cardinals either. Anyway, forget about that, hey, Ryan. What are you doing? Come here.”

At Ty Johnson’s words, Ryan approached him, still maintaining a stiff posture.

In fact, his feelings for Han Su-hyeok were very complicated.

A player who led the Korean team, which he looked down on by one or two levels, and completely crushed the United States, which included him.

The first emotion that came to mind when he heard that Han Su-hyeok would be wearing the same team uniform was competitiveness.

A rivalry that he didn’t want to lose, and that he didn’t want to lose the ace position no matter what.

And what followed was a sense of relief.

What if he wore another team’s uniform and met him in the league?

‘Holy shit……!’

Just thinking about it was terrible.

Anyway, Han Su-hyeok eventually rejected all the offers from other teams and wore the Seattle uniform, and the two are now teammates, not enemies.

“Welcome to Seattle.”

“Does the speed at which you chew gum increase when you throw a curve these days?”

“What?”

“Fix it, that’s a bad habit.”

“What the hell is that…….”

Han Su-hyeok, who smiled slightly at Ryan, who had a blank expression, went up to the stage.

A microphone was placed in front of him.

Han Su-hyeok looked around the ground with a calm expression.

And in a voice as calm as his expression, he said to the Seattle fans.

“I failed to challenge for the championship in the past. I was really disappointed. But this time, I will definitely bring the championship trophy.”

The words that he failed in the past, no one understood the real meaning of those words.

They thought it was a happening caused by Han Su-hyeok’s poor English.

But it wasn’t.

Even now, the memories of the past, when he had to repeat injuries and rehabilitation due to a shoulder injury, and the memories of kneeling to St. Louis in the first World Series he ever reached, remained vivid in his mind.

He spoke again.

“World Series championship, yes. It won’t take that long. Please wait a little longer.”