Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 265

#264. Revenge

Although it relies on memories from before the regression, I am a successful investor who made huge profits from a 50 billion won investment.

Or so I think.

However, Mr. Min Tae-hyun, who manages my assets, foams at the mouth and blocks me whenever I show any signs of making another investment after the battery lab incident.

He says that the last success was a fluke, and such miracles will never happen again, so I shouldn’t do anything reckless.

Hmm,

I couldn’t agree with him, but the dividends I receive far exceed the amount of money I need, so I lost interest in investing.

What I want to do is baseball, not playing with money.

But.

“So, the Seattle shares are up for sale?”

– Yes, that’s my understanding. You’re going to keep playing baseball anyway, so I thought it would be better to invest in a baseball-related business. I think Seattle Mariners itself has considerable commercial value, especially if Han Su-hyeok keeps playing. However, there are a few things to consider…….”

It was a rather complicated explanation, but I understood it like this.

As of 2030, with dozens of regulation changes, a Major League player cannot own shares in any team other than the one they are playing for.

Therefore, there is no obstacle to owning shares in the Seattle Mariners while I am playing for this team, but what if I leave the team?

If I transfer to another team within Major League Baseball, I have to sell the shares, and if I return to Korea, I can just keep them.

In conclusion, there are some problems here and there, but they are problems that I can control.

– I am positive about this investment because the current value of Seattle is…….”

Moving on, Min Tae-hyun had a pretty positive outlook on the success of this investment.

In his opinion, Seattle’s value is currently at its lowest in the market.

This means that depending on their future performance, they could generate a decent return.

That’s why Mr. Min Tae-hyun, who used to jump up and down to stop me from investing, is recommending this investment.

As long as I play in Seattle, the team’s performance will continue to improve, and if I ever leave the team, I can sell the shares before that happens, so there’s no problem.

“Then let’s do it.”

– Excellent decision. Then we’ll proceed slowly. How much do you want to invest?

“All in, except for the Warriors’ operating expenses and the money I need to live on.”

– If we take our time, we might be able to buy the entire team. Haha, I understand. I’ll keep you updated as things progress. Oh, and.”

“Yes?”

– How’s Yerin doing?

“Why are you asking me that…….”

– Hmm, never mind. This kid, raising him is useless… Haha, I’ll hang up now.

* * *

The 4-game home series against the Angels ended with 2 wins and 2 losses.

We lost the second game with Mike Warren pitching, and we won the third game with our fifth starter, but in the fourth game, with our ace Ryan Tibo pitching, our lineup was silent and we lost.

As a result, we lost first place to the Oakland Athletics and prepared for the next series.

The team we were going to face was the St. Louis Cardinals, Ty Johnson’s former team and the strongest team in the National League with the best winning percentage.

“The Cardinals fans wanted me to be Albert Pujols’ successor. Actually, what I wanted to be was…….”

“Ken Griffey Jr.”

“How did you know? I’ve never told anyone! Anyway, that’s right. Of course, Pujols is a great player and deserves respect, but I’m more like…….”

“Impact in short-term games, and public recognition.”

“That’s right, damn it, I still can’t believe you’re a rookie. It’s like you’ve been inside my head. Anyway, that’s right. I like players who consistently perform like Pujols, but I’d rather be a player who leaves a strong impact on the fans, even if their prime is short. Like Ken Griffey Jr., who dominated the late 90s against the drug users.”

“So, you came to Seattle not just because of me.”

“No, it’s because of you. So take responsibility. Hehe, just kidding. That’s right. If I had stayed in St. Louis, I probably could have had a stable career until I was forty and become a player as good as Pujols. I could have added a few World Series rings to that. But…….”

Ty Johnson’s eyes flashed as he continued.

“I thought, isn’t that too boring of a life? Damn it, I might get beaten to death if I say a World Series ring is boring, but I thought it wasn’t something that necessarily needed me.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“Damn it, anyway, that’s right. I’m going to put Seattle in the World Series for the first time. And I’m going to lift the championship trophy and shout, I brought this for you! With this young monster!”

Ty Johnson seemed to have mixed feelings ahead of the game against his former team.

He was saying things he didn’t need to say to cheer himself up.

“Anyway, you’re saying we have to win today’s game, right? I understand. I never intended to lose anyway.”

“Good, monster. Let’s do our best today.”

The St. Louis Cardinals are a strange team in many ways.

Their population and economic size aren’t that great, and the city’s safety is one of the worst in the United States.

It goes without saying that the team owner’s willingness to invest is mediocre.

Nevertheless, this team has won the second most World Series trophies among the 30 Major League teams, following the Yankees.

Ty Johnson is from the Yankees’ farm system, not the Cardinals, but considering that he played for that team from the beginning of his debut, received absolute support from the fans, and was even called Albert Pujols’ successor…….

“Boo-o-o-o-o!”

“Die! Ty Johnson! You bastard! Traitor!”

“You’re going to hell! You son of a bitch!”

I can understand the feelings of the Cardinals fans who flew four hours from the east coast to the west coast to boo Ty like crazy.

A considerable number of Cardinals fans filled one side of the third base stands, booing Ty.

Unless they make it to the World Series, this 3-game series will be the first and last time the Mariners and Cardinals can meet, so they want to protest to Ty like this.

Is that love, hate, or twisted love-hate?

* * *

1. Center Fielder Derek Fleming

2. Pitcher Han Su-hyeok

3. First Baseman Ty Johnson

4. Right Fielder Chuck Clark

5. Left Fielder Antonio Garcia

6. Catcher Leonard Jones

7. Shortstop Josh Oliver

8. Second Baseman Jonathan Owens

9. Third Baseman Lonnie Montalic

Jim Brown, who is still complaining of discomfort in his back, is out, and Tony is in left field instead.

To be honest, Tony’s fielding ability is worse than Kang Jin-seok, who used to play for the Warriors and transferred to the Fighters.

But it doesn’t matter.

I’m on the mound today.

If the left fielder’s defense is shaky, I just won’t let the ball go that way.

“Okay, Han. I’m ready again today. Let’s smash those guys.”

Bruce Matthews, who has returned from his injury, is slowly preparing to return.

I think he’ll be a pinch hitter starting today to get his game sense back, but for that reason, I’m teaming up with Leonard Jones again today.

Personally, I thought John Glenn would come out, but Leonard’s momentum has been so good lately that he keeps getting his chances taken away.

To be honest, I think John Glenn should quit catching and switch to first base to make the most of his hitting.

Of course, to do that, we need to bring in another decent backup catcher.

To do that, we need to break through the team’s blocked cash flow,

And to do that, the share sale needs to go smoothly,

Hmm,

Let’s stop. Let’s focus on the game for now.

“Play!”

Until last season, St. Louis was a team that dominated the league with a strong and cohesive lineup centered around Ty Johnson, and a solid pitching staff led by Andrew Davis, who I’ll be facing today.

Ty Johnson is gone, but they are still vying for first place in the National League Central Division with the Cubs.

On the pitching side, Andrew Davis, the best pitcher in the National League who signed a huge long-term contract, was still there, and on the hitting side, Grant Dixon, who is currently at bat and has the best record among the Cardinals hitters despite being the leadoff hitter, is holding the team together.

Swish

Bang

“Strike!”

Grant Dixon, who recorded a slash line of .300/.400/.500 [batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage] with 30 home runs and 61 stolen bases last season, is one of the best all-around center fielders in Major League Baseball.

He didn’t participate in the WBC [World Baseball Classic] and Olympics, so I didn’t have a chance to meet him, but I had a little trouble dealing with him before the regression.

A hitter who instinctively picks out the ball and hits it hard without any special hitting mechanism, a fierce beast with both powerful power and speed.

The St. Louis fans call him the Black Panther and cherish him.

But,

Swish

Whoosh

Bang

“Swing!”

If he’s a black panther, then I’m…….

Hmm, let’s stop comparing decent people to beasts.

Anyway, the guy who was so difficult to deal with in my past life now seems like a cute little kid.

Time is so scary.

I’ve been playing baseball for too long to be intimidated by a kid who’s baring his fangs and rushing at me.

Swish

Thwack!

“First!”

“Out!”

The ball that was half a ball out of the course he likes, the inside course,

Grant Dixon, who retreated with a weak ground ball to first base, looked at me with a blank expression.

Why, what, so what?

* * *

“Play!”

Andrew Davis, the ace who inherited the title of the best star in the Cardinal Corps after Ty Johnson left, glared at Han Su-hyeok with his eyes flashing.

In his first year after being called up to the Big League, he recorded an overwhelming record of 15 wins and 4 losses, and in the following year, 19 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 1.85 [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance], and received a huge contract of $450 million for 10 years from the team.

After losing to the Korean national team led by Han Su-hyeok in the last Olympic final, he thought.

If we bring this guy in, we can build a Cardinals dynasty.

If we have him, Ty Johnson, and me, we’ll have no one to fear.

So, when he heard that Han Su-hyeok was applying for posting [a system allowing players under contract to move to a foreign league], he refreshed the news section every day with a fluttering heart.

But.

[St. Louis’ star Ty Johnson, transferred to the Seattle Mariners in a shocking move]

[Han Su-hyeok, who smashed KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], will wear the Mariners uniform with Ty Johnson]

He felt like the sky was falling.

Leaving aside the fact that Han Su-hyeok chose Seattle, even Ty Johnson, who he had trusted and relied on since his debut, went to that team.

At first, he resented Ty Johnson, but he listened to his last words before leaving the team, that he was going on an adventure to revive his fading feelings for baseball, and decided to let him go without regret.

Swish

Thwack

“Out!”

He has gotten rid of his resentment towards Ty Johnson and his disappointment towards Han Su-hyeok, but that’s that and this is this.

Today, Andrew Davis prepared for the game with the determination to collapse on the mound.

He will silence Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson today and bring victory to the Cardinals.

So, he will make those two people realize that their choice was wrong.

He will make them regret that they missed the opportunity to play with Andrew Davis, the best pitcher in the world.

“Play!”

Andrew, who caught leadoff hitter Derek Fleming with a ground ball to third base, glared at the next hitter, Han Su-hyeok.

The time has come.

The time has finally come.

The opportunity to repay the defeat in the last Olympics, and to take revenge for not choosing him,

Swoosh,

Andrew Davis, who is called the best talent in Major League history, the hope of the white people, and is loved by American female fans for his handsome appearance and flowing hair, threw the first ball with all his might.

“Hiyah!”

Swish

And,

Thwaaaaaaaaaack!

The moment the ball, which flew with the sound of tearing leather, flew straight and hit the scoreboard,

Kwaaaang

“Ugh……!”

The handsome pitcher representing Major League Baseball collapsed on the mound, and a few strands of sparkling blonde hair fell out from under his deeply pressed hat and scattered on the ground.

Andrew Davis, who will become the best pitcher in Major League Baseball before he turns thirty, but will lose his brilliant hair and beauty instead.

His hair loss had already begun.