Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 227

#226. A Player Greater Than the Team

“That’s the guy.”

“Right, the one who turned down the Pinstripes [the New York Yankees, known for their pinstripe uniforms].”

“And the one who stole our precious rest time.”

The second game between the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees was suddenly changed from an afternoon to an evening game.

This was due to a request from ESPN for national broadcasting.

Unlike the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], where game times are fixed in the afternoon or evening depending on the season, Major League game times are flexibly changed according to the situation.

On days with overlapping travel, games are sometimes held early in the morning so players can finish quickly and catch their flights, and on days when nationwide broadcasts are scheduled, the time slot is pushed back to the evening, as is the case now.

The Yankees players grumbled about the game, which had been scheduled for 2 p.m., being suddenly pushed back to the evening.

“That guy, his last game was also nationally broadcasted, right?”

“Damn it, the Asian market must be huge.”

“Well, China has a population of 1.5 billion, they say.”

“It’s not 3 billion, it’s 1.5 billion. And you guys, that last statement was a bit insensitive.”

“I’m not trying to be racist, I’m just talking about the size of the market. It’s a fact that our rest time has been reduced because of Asian marketing. This is definitely aimed at the Chinese market.”

“You fools, what did you learn in world history class? That guy is Korean, not Chinese.”

“What’s the difference? Aren’t they right next to each other?”

“Tsk, tsk, Korea, Japan, and China, those three countries can never be close historically… Ugh, never mind. What am I even saying to these muscle-brained idiots? Stop talking nonsense and go warm up.”

“Hmm, Captain. Having some trouble with your girlfriend? Why so gloomy…….”

“Shut up and hurry up!”

Although baseball’s popularity in the United States is declining, it remains strong in New York.

This is because the city is home to a team considered one of the most valuable professional sports clubs in the world, alongside Real Madrid, the Dallas Cowboys, and FC Barcelona.

It goes without saying that I’m not talking about the Mets.

I’m referring to the New York Yankees, also known as the Evil Empire, the best baseball club in the United States, no, the world.

Last winter, when Han Su-hyeok announced his intention to play in the United States, the New York Yankees also jumped into the fray.

Due to their strong financial power and the best farm system [a team’s minor league affiliates, used for developing young players] in the league, they are considered a candidate for winning every year, but it has already been more than a decade since the Yankees last lifted the World Series trophy.

That means 2009, when Derek Jeter, the eternal captain of New York, along with Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera, were wearing the Pinstripe uniform, was their last championship season.

In fact, unlike the externally known image of buying players with money, the Yankees were a team that had a knack for creating stars through their own farm system.

Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte, who were key members of the 2009 World Series victory, were products of that system, and Aaron Judge, who retired young due to frequent injuries, was also a superstar raised by the Yankees farm.

‘Damn it, he should have just come to our team,’ Lucas Anderson thought.

Yankees captain Lucas Anderson, who sent the players onto the field and was guarding the dugout alone, couldn’t understand Han Su-hyeok’s choice.

It goes without saying that the Yankees promised Han Su-hyeok the most money, including a partnership deal, in the last posting competition [the process by which MLB teams bid for the rights to negotiate with a foreign player].

The president went to Korea himself to give a presentation to recruit Han Su-hyeok, so it’s hard to say that he lacked sincerity. Above all, the Yankees were not lacking in the existence of the top-class American hitter that he had set as a condition.

Isn’t he himself, who recorded a slash line [batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage] of .3/.4/.5 with 45 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 125 RBIs last season, right there?

Although he is behind Ty Johnson in terms of career, doesn’t he have the honor of being the captain of the best team in the United States, no, the world?

‘Anyway, he’s not going to be subject to the grooming regulations, so why…….’

Because of this, the Yankees president was confident in signing Han Su-hyeok. He had confidently assured the owner that he would bring him back to the United States no matter what.

He expected that by bringing in Han Su-hyeok, he could solve the Yankees’ weaknesses in pitching and infield defense at once this season.

But,

‘Do you still manage the players’ beards and hairstyles there?’

‘Yes? Ah, well… that’s true, but Han Su-hyeok is not like that anyway…….’

‘Okay. Go back for now. I’ll contact you through my agent.’

That was the last conversation between the Yankees and Han Su-hyeok.

While introducing the club’s history and traditions, Han Su-hyeok asked about the grooming regulations with a nonchalant expression, and the moment he answered, everything was over.

It was incomprehensible.

Wasn’t Han Su-hyeok someone who had nothing to do with long hair or beards even in Korea?

Did he suddenly want to grow his hair, or was he trying to grow a beard to look stronger?

The embarrassed president tried to say that he would not apply such regulations to Han Su-hyeok, but in the end, he was not given a chance to make such an excuse.

This is because the news of Han Su-hyeok’s Seattle contract was announced the very next day.

‘Don’t tell me he thought I was worse than Ty?’

Lucas Anderson clenched his fist without realizing it.

The Yankees captain lineage from Derek Jeter to Aaron Judge and now Lucas Anderson.

However, Lucas was always suffering from an inferiority complex regarding his skills.

Externally, it was because of the comparison with Ty Johnson, who was one step ahead of him in terms of career, and internally, the evaluation that he was a little lacking in terms of skills and recognition compared to the previous Yankees captains made him suffer.

He is the epitome of a good hitter and a fast runner who can hit .300 with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, or even 40-40 every year, but Lucas does not have the charisma and recognition of his predecessors.

Because of this, Lucas Anderson’s name was always mentioned when talking about the absence of a superstar representing Major League Baseball.

The logic was that the captain of the best baseball team in the United States was in that shape, so baseball’s popularity was in this state.

‘Damn it, not every baseball player can be like Derek Jeter.’

Derek Jeter was able to dominate the 1990s and 2000s and be called the Emperor of New York or the Lover of New York because of his baseball skills, as well as his handsome appearance, fluent speech, club support, and historical background.

Above all, he had the best teammates like Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Bernie Williams to make him an emperor.

But unfortunately, the teammates next to Lucas now are not up to that level.

The Yankees are still candidates to win the American League East Division this season, but in terms of team strength alone, there is a considerable difference from those splendid members back then.

That’s why Lucas wanted Han Su-hyeok to join. He was convinced that Han Su-hyeok’s skills, which he had personally confirmed at the WBC [World Baseball Classic], could put the Yankees at the top with him.

‘Just you wait. I’ll make you regret that choice.’

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

He stopped his teammates from talking badly about Han Su-hyeok, but in fact, Lucas himself was the one with the biggest antipathy towards him.

He couldn’t understand Han Su-hyeok, who rejected the Yankees and chose Seattle.

The captain of the Yankees thought.

He would crush Han Su-hyeok at Yankee Stadium, the heart of American baseball, and make him realize how foolish it was to choose Seattle.

* * *

“Okay, gentlemen. Check today’s starting lineup, and even if you’re out of the starting lineup, don’t let your guard down and stay focused because you never know when you’ll be put into the game. That’s all.”

The starting lineup sheet written by manager Benjamin was posted on one wall of the dugout.

Games at Yankee Stadium are always a burden.

Regardless of their strength, facing a prestigious club like the Yankees in the best city in the world that everyone recognizes is mentally exhausting in many ways.

But,

Han Su-hyeok, the starting pitcher today, was sitting in the dugout with a nonchalant expression, as if he had no interest in such things.

1. Center Fielder Derek Fleming
2. Pitcher Han Su-hyeok
3. First Baseman Ty Johnson
4. Right Fielder Chuck Clark
5. Left Fielder Jim Brown
6. Catcher Bruce Matthews
7. Shortstop Josh Oliver
8. Third Baseman Lonnie Montarik
9. Second Baseman Jonathan Owens

This is the Seattle Mariners’ starting lineup for today.

Unlike in Korea, where he was placed in the relatively less burdensome lower batting order on days when he started as a pitcher, he was sticking to the number 2 hitter position in the Big League [Major League Baseball].

It goes without saying that it was to play with Ty Johnson behind him.

After moving to the Big League, Han Su-hyeok is most satisfied with his liberation from intentional walks.

This is partly because it is the beginning of the season and teams are not yet wary of Han Su-hyeok, but more than that, it is the effect of having Ty Johnson, the best hitter in the United States, behind him.

That was the greatest gift to Han Su-hyeok, who came to the Big League to see how far he could go as a baseball player.

Anyway, for that reason, Han Su-hyeok will be playing as the number 2 starting pitcher today. And Lonnie Montarik, a versatile backup player, was put in the third baseman position where he was missing.

It was the very backup player who made an error in Han Su-hyeok’s first starting game, thus ruining the perfect game.

Is he still bothered by what happened then?

Lonnie approached and sat next to Han Su-hyeok with an awkward expression.

“Hey, Han.”

“Um, Lonnie.”

“Thanks to you, I sometimes get to start like this. Great, thank you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“No, really. When I was playing for that team last year, I could count the number of games I started in a year.”

Lonnie Montarik said, pointing to the Yankees dugout in the distance.

Once considered a promising prospect in the Yankees farm, he eventually failed to secure a starting position in the Big League and was traded to Seattle before this season.

Perhaps that’s why Lonnie’s expression was filled with regret and lingering feelings about his past.

After thinking about something for a long time, Lonnie asked Han Su-hyeok.

“But Han, can I ask you something?”

“If it’s something I can answer.”

“Okay. I heard you got an offer from the Yankees too. I even heard that the amount of money was huge. But can I ask why you rejected it? If it’s a difficult question to answer, just listen and forget about it.”

At Lonnie’s words, Han Su-hyeok smiled and replied.

“It’s nothing. I just didn’t like their arrogant attitude.”

“Arrogant attitude?”

“They kept talking about the club’s history and tradition and said that I had to follow the grooming regulations… but that’s not really history and tradition, it’s just something that the old geezer of the former owner arbitrarily decided. I didn’t like the way they were packaging it like that…….”

“Ah, I see. And?”

“It’s also ridiculous that they omit the players’ names on the uniforms, saying that no player is greater than the team.”

“Why is that?”

It was a story that Lonnie, who learned and debuted in baseball with the Yankees, couldn’t easily understand.

The saying that no player is greater than the team, isn’t that a wonderful sentence that contains the romance of baseball?

But Han Su-hyeok’s thoughts seemed to be a little different from that.

Lonnie stared at him with a blank look, but there was no further answer.

A moment of time passed.

Han Su-hyeok, who had finished preparing for the game, took his butt off the bench and said in a calm voice.

“My goal is to become a player greater than the team.”