Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 300

299. The Ace’s Face

There’s a saying that you should aim for the first pitch from a new pitcher.

This is because pitchers who have just been substituted in tend to want to throw a strike with their first pitch to settle their nerves.

Of course, there are other times when a pitcher absolutely has to throw a strike.

For example, when they’re in a three-ball, no-strike situation, or when they don’t want to walk a runner in front of a dangerous hitter, or even when they want to shut up some annoying bastard.

“Play!”

And one more,

When they’ve walked the previous batter,

No outs, runner on first.

What I need to aim for right now is the first pitch that Jay Ward throws.

In this situation, the pitch that guy will throw to get a strike is just one thing: his 105 mph fastball, which he believes is the best.

His overall ability as a pitcher can’t compare to John Smoltz [Hall of Fame pitcher known for his longevity and versatility], but that fastball of his is the real deal.

Not just the speed, but the power and control, all deserve high marks.

Of course, it’s still a long way off compared to me.

Anyway, after my regression, he’s the best fastball pitcher I’ve faced other than myself.

Drdrdrk

I increased my weight and changed my batting mechanics for this very moment.

To hit that bullet-like fastball that darts toward the batter’s body in the blink of an eye.

“Damn it, Jay! You’re the best! You can do it!”

“Knock it out of the park! Crush that bastard!”

The cheers from the crowd grew louder, and Derek started moving busily on first base to help me.

Adrenaline surged through my body as I sensed the moment of truth.

It’s electrifying.

I’ve honed my body and skills for this very moment.

Swish

Jay Ward, who had been staring at first base for a long time, finally began his pitching motion.

A white ball was launched from the fingertips of Jay Ward, who, at nearly 2 meters tall, resembled the Big Unit [Randy Johnson, a tall and imposing pitcher] rather than John Smoltz in appearance alone.

“Hup!”

A bullet-like fastball flying towards my body.

I put all my strength into keeping my elbow close to my body, using my ribs as a support, and swung.

Thwaaaaaack!

A huge hit that I could feel was a home run the moment it connected.

The ball, launched at a low angle, shot out like a bullet and slammed into the middle of the left field stands.

Thump

“Fuck!”

“No! Please! That’s invalid! It’s invalid!”

“Damn it, what are you looking at! Run! You son of a bitch!”

With the screams pouring from the stands as background music, I slowly started towards first base.

It’s enjoyable.

What can I compare the joy of this moment to?

* * *

A team that has never made it to the World Series in the 53 years since its founding,

The only one of the 30 Major League teams that has never set foot on the World Series stage,

Seattle fans, who had been supporting their local team with such resentment for their entire lives, had been celebrating every day recently as if it were a festival.

The team is in first place in the American League West,

A young and powerful lineup with a team batting average close to .300 and a whopping seven of their starting hitters having hit double-digit home runs.

On top of that, the starting lineup has become even stronger with the acquisition of Mike Warren and Hayashi Rentaro.

And the one and only presence that puts the finishing touches on that team’s strength.

Han Su-hyeok.

An unorthodox precision that still maintains a batting average of over .400 at the point of digesting nearly 100 games.

An incredible power that challenges Barry Bonds’ 73 home run record by hitting a home run almost every two games.

On top of that, he is the owner of unbelievable stats, having started 16 games as a pitcher, winning 14, and maintaining an ERA in the 0.00 range.

That Han Su-hyeok is wearing a Seattle uniform is an unparalleled source of pride and joy for the fans.

└ Okay, I completed my name change application yesterday.

└ What are you talking about?

└ Last winter, when I heard that this team was putting a lot of effort into signing an Asian rookie I had never heard of, I said that if that guy had good stats in the big leagues, I would change my surname. But it seems difficult to change my surname right away. As a sign of atonement, I’m going to change my name first.

└ That’s a commendable attitude.

└ Damn, every day is like a dream. Is that guy really our player? A player with an ERA in the 0.00 range and batting .400 is wearing a Seattle uniform… Holy shit!

└ Now, let’s think about what’s going to happen in the future. Han Su-hyeok will be recorded as the first pitcher in Big League history to record an ERA in the 0.00 range this season, and as the greatest slugger of all time to break the single-season home run record.

└ Wait a minute, it’s good to have hope, but should we calculate it arithmetically? Han Su-hyeok has hit 48 home runs in the last 100 games. Oh, let’s leave out the one he just hit for now. Anyway, that’s a little less than 1 per 2 games. There are 62 games left… 26 more to go to the new record of 74… 26 in 62 games, is that possible?

└ Of course it’s possible. That guy is the best baseball player in the league, no, the world.

└ No matter how you look at it, once home runs stop coming out…

└ Look, what we need right now is not cold reason. If you look at it that way, a new record can never come out. It’s our role to cheer him on and give him strength until the end so that he doesn’t give up.

└ That’s right. In that sense, Seattle needs to expand the stadium seating even more. I want to cheer, but I can’t get into the stadium, you bastards!

└ It’s hidden by the home runs, but I’m actually more interested in whether he’ll record an ERA in the 0.00 range. That’s literally the first time in Big League history, isn’t it?

└ That’s right. But we need to take some of the greed out of that part. He said it in the last interview. If there’s a problem with being both a hitter and a pitcher, he might give up being a starting pitcher. So let’s not put too much pressure on his pitching stats, okay?

└ Damn, a new home run record and an ERA in the 0.00 range… I still feel like I’m dreaming. Is this really reality?

└ One thing is for sure, if we can’t go to the World Series even with a player like that, it’s all because of the incompetence of the club’s front office.

└ Don’t worry, everyone. If that happens, I’m going to blow up the club office with dynamite. We’re all going to die together.

* * *

“Hey, Bruce. Is your rookie too terrible? You know that, right?”

In the bottom of the first inning, Atlanta’s leadoff hitter, center fielder C.J. Jansen, turned his head and spoke to Bruce.

Bruce chuckled at the unexpected words and replied.

“That’s right. This is a secret, but Han Su-hyeok didn’t even use half of his strength during the bench clearing yesterday. We don’t know what will happen if he gets really angry. So don’t provoke him for no reason.”

“Haa, Yamamoto, we also… Damn it, I was talking nonsense. Let’s play baseball.”

Yamamoto Genichi, who will miss the entire second half of the season due to the aftermath of being beaten by Han Su-hyeok in yesterday’s bench clearing.

Everything was the guy’s own fault, but anyway, the core hitter, who was evaluated to be able to hit 30 home runs if he played a full season, was out of the lineup.

This was a significant setback for Atlanta, which is challenging for the World Series this season.

Nevertheless, the Atlanta players also knew what Yamamoto had done, so they were in a position where they couldn’t get angry.

Not to mention the provocative remarks and swearing, Yamamoto was the one who kicked first.

Not using objects that could be used as weapons, such as spikes or bats, in a bench clearing is an unwritten rule of Major League Baseball, and if you break it, you have no excuse even if you get beaten to a pulp.

‘Body changeup’

Anyway, Bruce Matthews, having confirmed that the reaction of the Atlanta players, who he thought would be excited, was a little different than expected, sent a changeup sign for the first pitch.

With each team having won one game in this three-game series, and considering that today’s starting pitcher is Seattle’s number one starter, Ryan Thibodeau, they must win today’s game.

It is necessary to approach with caution.

Nod

Ryan, who received the sign through the pitch-com [pitcher-catcher communication system], began to wind up in a cautious posture.

Ryan, who had been struggling between inferiority to Han Su-hyeok and the pressure of being an ace, was now at peace.

By acknowledging his existence, he no longer made unnecessary comparisons, and furthermore, by learning the basics of pitching from him, he gained confidence in himself.

Ryan was already called one of the best pitchers in the American League last season.

Now, having upgraded one step further from that state, perhaps the best pitcher other than Han Su-hyeok was him.

Shooong

Whooong

“Swing!”

A changeup perfectly controlled to the low inside corner.

Bruce, who has been catching both Han Su-hyeok and Ryan’s pitches this season, thought.

At least in this changeup, Ryan would not be inferior to Han Su-hyeok.

The pitch just now was a perfect pitch that deserved a perfect score.

‘Okay. Next is…….’

Atlanta’s leadoff hitter C.J. Jansen, who is currently at bat, is a pretty good hitter.

But there is a clear weakness.

A leadoff hitter who puts everything on getting on base, with a career high of only 4 home runs in a season.

In modern baseball, where the importance of long hits is increasingly emphasized, the fact that all you can get is a single or a walk is an element that makes the opponent comfortable.

Therefore, Bruce decided to take a slightly bolder ball distribution against C.J. Jansen.

‘High outside fastball’

A course and pitch that should never be thrown to a powerful hitter.

Ryan, who recognized the catcher’s intention, immediately nodded his head.

Shooong

Paaang

“Strike!”

The hitter, who knew that hitting that course of the ball would not produce good results, watched the ball go by without swinging.

It was a powerful ball that was very well controlled according to Bruce’s lead.

Bruce thought that Ryan’s biggest change this season was that boldness.

Ryan, who always seemed somehow anxious and uneasy despite having a heavy fastball around 100 mph and stable breaking balls, had become a pitcher who could take bold risks since some point.

Bruce knows. What the cause is.

It was thanks to watching Han Su-hyeok’s play, which could be called a living pitching textbook, from the side, and furthermore, seeking advice from him whenever necessary.

‘In that sense, an inside splitter’

Since the pitcher is so excited, I decided to be a little more daring.

Nod

Ryan, who nodded his head at once, started winding up vigorously.

“Tahat!”

The 95 mph ball was launched with a powerful shout.

Whooong

The ball, which had been flying in a fastball trajectory until just before home plate, suddenly sank, and the batter’s bat cut through the air.

“Swing! Out!”

“Good job! Ryan!”

“Nice play!”

A bright smile appeared on the face of the pitcher on the mound at the praise of his teammates.

Bruce thought.

That his longtime friend and colleague Ryan now seemed to have the face befitting an ace.

The Genius Pitcher Hides 170km