Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 225

#224. What is Baseball?

“Hey, Ryan. How’s your condition? All warmed up?”

“I’m fine. How about you? I heard Ashley had a cold?”

“Just talked to her, she said she woke up this morning feeling better. She’s already at school.”

“That’s good. Let’s have dinner together when Ashley comes to the stadium later.”

“Ah, sure. Great, my daughter will be happy.”

The day after Han Su-hyeok’s shocking debut as a Big League starter, Seattle was preparing for a 4-game home series against the Texas Rangers, who were in the same division.

Ryan Thibeau, proudly serving as the first starter in Seattle’s pitching rotation, which was being operated as a 6-man starting system in the early season, chatted with his fellow players.

Although the best hitter in the United States at the moment, Ty Johnson, had joined the team, the manager and coaches wanted Ryan to continue to serve as the team’s leader.

Having debuted in Seattle and grown into one of the best pitchers in the Big League, and now in the 3rd year of his 10-year long-term contract, he was the player who represented this team, no matter what anyone said.

As a player, he couldn’t keep up with Ty Johnson, but the player that came to mind when thinking of Seattle was none other than Ryan Thibeau.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Ty Johnson had no desire for the team’s leadership position at all, and in the end, that position remained Ryan’s.

Ryan checked each of his teammates who would be playing in today’s game, and as he returned to his locker, he heard Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson talking.

“Hmm, hey. I’m bored, want to talk about baseball?”

“We talk about baseball all year long, do we have to talk about it again? Aren’t you interested in anything else? Hobbies, or, well, family, or something?”

“Hehe, well, that’s what I want to say. Anyway, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you.”

Usually, the most secluded and spacious place in the locker room is reserved for the team’s veterans and leaders.

When Han Su-hyeok’s locker, who had just debuted in the Big League, was assigned right next to Ty Johnson and Ryan Thibeau’s, it was natural that many voices of dissatisfaction came out from within the team.

Starting with the idea that they were overestimating a minor leaguer from a lower league, and that it was a preferential policy for Asians, all sorts of stories came out.

However, during spring training, Han Su-hyeok smashed three cocky minor leaguers, and from the opening game, he showed an absurd performance, and the complaints disappeared.

Anyway, Ryan pretended to change his underwear and focused on the conversation between Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson.

“What do you want to ask?”

“Okay, let’s start simple. What do you think baseball is?”

“Baseball, baseball… Hmm, a long time ago, I used to think like everyone else. That baseball is a sport where you learn from failure.”

“A long time ago? How long ago? You weren’t playing baseball in your mother’s womb, were you? Well, seeing how you play now, I’d believe it if you said you did.”

Ryan unknowingly began to lose himself in their story.

In fact, there hadn’t been a player in Seattle for the past few years who could talk to Ryan comfortably.

Most of the players were young, less than 5 years into the Big League, so they were busy just trying to survive, and Ryan couldn’t easily open up because he had to maintain his authority as the team’s leader.

Frankly speaking, Ryan was very happy that Ty Johnson and Han Su-hyeok had joined the team.

He wanted to lean on a veteran who had dominated this league a generation before him, and he wanted to talk about pitching with Han Su-hyeok, who had crushed him in the last WBC [World Baseball Classic].

However, due to his naturally introverted personality and his image that had hardened over the past few years as the team’s leader, he couldn’t easily approach them.

“Anyway, a long time ago, I tried to follow that saying. That baseball is a game where you’re considered a good hitter if you only hit three times out of ten, so there’s no need to try too hard. Just relax. That’s what you need to do to have a long career.”

“Hmm, and?”

“I realized it after a long time. That it’s all damn bullshit.”

“Hmm.”

“I realized that you can never get good results if you go into a game thinking about failure from the start. That you have to go to the plate thinking you’re going to hit no matter what, and that you have to get the opponent out on the mound no matter what, to get even somewhat satisfactory results… Well, it’s a little late, but I realized it anyway.”

“Late? What? Hey, you’re just a kid in your early twenties. If you’re late, what am I?”

Ty Johnson asked back with a dumbfounded expression, but Han Su-hyeok didn’t bother to answer.

Instead, he looked around the locker room with a thoughtful expression.

For a brief moment, Han Su-hyeok and Ryan’s eyes met.

In that moment, Ryan recalled the image of a veteran who was spending his last prime and preparing to retire when he first debuted here.

For some reason, the face of a player who was only in his 4th year as a pro exuded an atmosphere as if he had transcended everything about baseball.

Han Su-hyeok’s gaze returned to its original position.

And the conversation with Ty Johnson continued.

“Okay, then what kind of hitter do you think is a good hitter?”

“My thoughts are a little different now than they used to be.”

“Hehe, it’s getting more interesting. Okay, let’s hear it.”

“Ty.”

“Why?”

“I feel like I’m losing out on something? Aren’t you trying to get away with too much?”

“Losing out? Oh, hmm… How about I get you a drink? How about a protein shake?”

“No thanks. I’ve already had my fill for today.”

Han Su-hyeok, who was unusually playful, continued.

“Before… When I first learned baseball, I was taught that a good hitter is one who can continue the flow of the game. I agreed with that opinion to some extent.”

“Well, that’s a common theory. But you think differently now?”

“Yes, because I realized it’s all nonsense.”

“Nonsense?”

“If I were a veteran about to retire, that theory would be correct. If I were facing a time when my body couldn’t keep up with my mind, when I had no choice but to become a supporting actor rather than the lead?”

“So it’s different when you’re young?”

“Of course. Here’s the conclusion I’ve come to. As long as the system of baseball, where 9 players take turns at bat, doesn’t change, a hitter must go into the game with the determination to decide everything in his at-bat. Passing the opportunity to continue the flow is just passing the burden on to your teammates.”

“Hmm.”

Ty Johnson fell into thought at Han Su-hyeok’s words.

A moment of silence passed.

It was Han Su-hyeok who broke the silence.

“Ty.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re a good hitter. There’s no need to worry too much.”

“Hmm……”

“Maybe… The only way to solve the problems in your head right now is to go back to being twenty years old.”

“The problems in my head? I didn’t say anything, how did you know……”

“Aren’t you worried because your hitting skills keep improving, but your body can’t keep up?”

“Haha……”

“Don’t worry about such useless problems. Because that’s a problem that no great player in the world can solve.”

With those words, Han Su-hyeok closed his mouth. He looked as if he had said everything he had to say.

Ty Johnson, who was about to say something more to Han Su-hyeok, finally swallowed the words and got up from his seat.

The players, who hadn’t dared to join in the conversation between the team’s top star and the rising star, began to watch Ty’s every move.

Because Han Su-hyeok’s story, though told in a roundabout way, was ultimately a cruel thing to say to an athlete: that you’re old now, so there’s no more progress to be made.

However, there was no displeasure in Ty Johnson’s expression.

Ty Johnson, who shook off a slight bitterness with a nod, suddenly called Ryan.

“Hey.”

“Yes? Yes, Ty.”

“I think you’ve been eavesdropping since earlier, do you have anything to say to me?”

“Ah, that’s……”

“Hmm, it’s not me, it’s that guy. What are you doing? Why don’t you go quickly.”

“That’s not it, I’m……”

“I’ve opened the mouth of a guy who hardly ever speaks as much as that? So if you were looking for the right timing to talk to that guy, now is the time. Be brave, friend.”

With those words, Ty Johnson headed somewhere with a relieved expression.

Ryan, who was thinking about something for a moment, finally went to the chair where Han Su-hyeok was sitting and sat down in front of him.

“Hmm?”

“Hey, Han. There’s one thing I really want to ask you……”

“Strangely, why are so many people asking me things today? Okay, tell me.”

In that moment, the emotions and thoughts that had been building up in Ryan’s mind towards Han Su-hyeok burst out all at once.

After erasing the unnecessary ones and organizing the scattered ones into one place, only one thing remained.

“How can I pitch like you?”

Yes, that was it. That’s what Ryan was really curious about.

He was a pitcher who could put the ball over 100 miles per hour into the zone, though a little slower than Han Su-hyeok.

In addition, he had a variety of breaking balls and control to support his fastball, and he had proven that he could withstand the Big League’s brutal schedule and serve as the team’s first starter, a truly proven ace.

But in the last WBC [World Baseball Classic], and in yesterday’s game against the Angels,

The image that Han Su-hyeok showed was on a different level.

It wasn’t just a simple matter of not giving up a single run, or achieving a perfect game through the 6th inning.

On the mound, Han Su-hyeok exuded a sense of dominance like a ruler of the ground, capable of dominating the game in any situation.

The reason why Ryan had been considered one of the best pitchers in the Major League for many years, but could never become a unique existence, was a lack of intimidation.

Ironically, a pro 4th year, a kid in his early twenties, had that intimidation that he could never have no matter how hard he tried.

Ryan was so angry and, on the other hand, desperate.

That’s why at this moment, the first moment when a conversation between Han Su-hyeok and himself began, he had no choice but to ask that question.

“What is a pitcher? How can I pitch like you?”

Han Su-hyeok showed an interesting expression at Ryan’s question, which was asked again.

And he began to think about something.

Although it didn’t fit the situation, it was reminiscent of the face of a teacher who had received an interesting question from his student.

A very short time passed.

And Han Su-hyeok’s mouth slowly opened.

“Okay, in my opinion……”

* * *

[Seattle, Rangers 1st game complete victory thanks to ace Ryan Thibeau’s 9-inning 3-run 12K complete game]

[Despite 9 innings complete, only 105 pitches, Mariners ace’s drastically changed pitching pattern]

[Ryan Thibeau on today’s pitching, “I was inspired by a conversation with Han Su-hyeok before the game. He told me: a pitcher must stand on the mound with the intention of dominating the hitter, never assume failure, trust yourself rather than trusting your teammates. After hearing that, I realized what I was lacking.”]

[Seattle fans who were dissatisfied with the docile ace despite his overwhelming skills and performance: “He gave up three points, but it was a great pitching performance that dominated the game. Our ace seems to have become a man now.” Cheers]

[Han Su-hyeok, who was absent from the game that day: “I didn’t necessarily need a rest, but I decided to follow the manager’s recommendation for the long race. Ryan? He’s a good pitcher. He will also be an even better pitcher in the future.”]

[Seattle Mariners general manager Daniel, who recorded 6 wins and 1 loss in the first week of the season: “We will do everything we can to advance to the World Series this season.”]