Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 337

#336. Homerun Cannon Re-Ignites

Up until the early 2020s, rookie hazing was prevalent in Major League Baseball, and indeed, in almost all professional sports.

Rookie hazing, as the name implies, involved bullying rookies.

This stale and outdated practice included shaving the eyebrows or heads of newly joined rookies, tearing their clothes, or even using physical force.

This led to the creation of Rookie Hazing Day.

This event typically involved dressing rookies in ridiculous outfits and sending them on errands in that state to embarrass them, much to the amusement of the veterans but to the mortification of the rookies.

However, as time passed and standards regarding race, gender, and discrimination became stricter, this rookie hazing culture gradually disappeared.

Instead, it evolved into a kind of costume day in which not only rookies but all players on the team participate, offering fans a glimpse of the players’ personalities beyond the field.

That is why Han Su-hyeok is currently heading to T-Mobile Park in a rather peculiar outfit.

“Oppa, aren’t you cold… Pfft!”

“Yerin-ah……”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh, it’s just that the outfit itself isn’t funny at all. It’s just funny to see you like this, Oppa.”

“What’s the difference between saying it’s funny and saying it’s funny to see me like this?”

“Heh……”

The two people in the back seat of the self-driving car exchanged awkward glances.

No matter how much of an unparalleled superstar he may be, it is impossible to avoid participating in the costume day officially hosted by the club. Even Tai Johnson, who is out of the lineup due to a finger injury, is participating.

Squeak.

After a brief drive, Han Su-hyeok’s self-driving car arrived at its destination, T-Mobile Park.

Min Ye-rin got out of the car first in the players-only parking lot, followed by Han Su-hyeok.

Instantly, camera flashes erupted from all directions.

Seattle fans, having arrived early, were eagerly awaiting the players.

Flash flash flash!

“Hey, Han! Look over here!”

“No, over here. Turn this way!”

“Why don’t you take off that gown?”

“Oppa! I’m dying [of laughter]!”

Han Su-hyeok, wearing a black gown that covered his entire body from head to toe, with only his eyes slightly exposed, sighed deeply and said.

“Then I’ll go in first. Enjoy the game.”

* * *

Originally scheduled after the last game against Oakland, the Seattle Mariners’ costume day was rescheduled to today, before the game against the Houston Astros, due to various reasons.

Inside the Seattle clubhouse, players in various costumes were busy teasing each other.

Ryan Tibo, dressed as a captain befitting his role as the Mariners’ captain, Tai Johnson in a yeti costume that amplified his already large frame, Derek Fleming wearing a monkey mask, Bruce Matthews wearing a maid outfit with an apron and sighing deeply, and so on.

However, Han Su-hyeok was undoubtedly the center of attention.

“Hehe, I won. Everyone, hand over a thousand dollars each.”

“Damn it, hey, Han. Why are you wearing that?”

“My precious money… tsk.”

“Hey, were you guys betting on me?”

“Of course. Damn it, I thought you’d choose a different outfit.”

At that, Han Su-hyeok snorted in disbelief and replied.

“Whatever I wear, it’s going to be ridiculous anyway. Let’s just get it over with quickly.”

“Alright, good. The fans are waiting. Let’s go out.”

* * *

– Well, Commissioner Go Dong-sik, it’s finally the day of Han Su-hyeok’s return game.

– Yes, Desmond King, or whatever his name is, his four-game suspension ended yesterday, right? Today, Han Su-hyeok will once again challenge for his 21st win of the season and the Major League Baseball single-season home run record.

– Well, the field is still buzzing. Viewers who have just tuned in might be a little confused, but the Seattle Mariners’ costume day was held as a pre-game event just now. Commissioner, the biggest star of this costume day was definitely Han Su-hyeok. The Seattle fans who purchased premium tickets and participated in the pre-event absolutely loved it.

– That’s right. Today, Han Su-hyeok participated in the event wearing a boxer costume. At first, I wondered why he was wearing that, but, well, it turns out that he received it as a gift.

– That person, yes, that’s right. I believe everyone knows. The legendary boxer Mike Tyson directly delivered the boxing trunks, gloves, and gown that he wore during his active career through the club, right? Along with the message that it was a really great punch.

– Yes, in Korea, whenever there is a bench-clearing involving Han Su-hyeok, some anti-fans complain about excessive violence, but here, the prevailing opinion is that Han Su-hyeok’s punch is highly regarded. Actually, now that we’re on the subject, the last game against Oakland with that Devin, Desmond, two-dog… well, anyway, it was quite an interesting event. Seeing Han Su-hyeok wearing a boxer’s costume, well, I really think he would have excelled even if he had pursued boxing.

– In a word, he’s a sports genius.

– That’s right, he’s a genius. He’s the kind of player who would have become the best in the world no matter what he did instead of baseball. Anyway, let’s all watch Han Su-hyeok’s twenty-fifth start of the season and his continued pursuit of the single-season home run record today.

– Alright. Then we’ll be back after the commercial break. This is T-Mobile Park, the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners.

* * *

The Seattle Mariners, who are on a 10-game winning streak despite the absence of Han Su-hyeok and Tai Johnson, two players who form the core of the lineup, proved to be too much for Houston.

Houston, having opted to tank [intentionally lose games to secure a higher draft pick] early in the season, was struggling to get through each day with a roster composed mainly of players who had been sold off from the team’s core and those who were still in the minor leagues and difficult to trade. They now faced Han Su-hyeok, arguably the league’s best pitcher.

Bang!

“Strike!”

Fred Avery, the catcher who had batted 7th until last season but was now batting 3rd because all the useful players had been traded away, thought.

‘That guy is really crazy.’

The guy who was just a rookie from Asia who was good at baseball when I first met him has blown up Major League Baseball in just one season.

Not to mention his baseball skills, which are producing all-time stats in both pitching and hitting, but also his aggressive personality, throwing punches without hesitation once he gets angry.

In short, he was the kind of guy you should never make an enemy of.

I saw that guy wearing Mike Tyson’s costume before the game today.

I don’t know whose idea it was, but I thought it really suited him.

‘He should have gone into martial arts, why baseball instead……’

Thinking about this and that makes me sigh even more.

The season hasn’t even ended yet, but Fred Avery’s mind was already drifting to the Spanish resort he had promised to visit with his lover.

‘Tsk.’

Fred clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to his teammates in the dugout.

Everyone’s eyes were glazed over, as if they had all resigned themselves to defeat.

Fred thought.

‘It’s over.’

Towards Fred, who was sighing deeply, Han Su-hyeok’s 107-mile fastball flew with overwhelming power, and

Whoosh.

“Swing! Out!”

Fred Avery, with a feeble swing, lowered his head and returned to the dugout.

* * *

Until recently, if you asked Seattle Mariners fans when this team’s best period was, 100 out of 100 would give the same answer.

The year 2001, when they won 116 games, tying the record for the most wins in a Major League Baseball season, thanks to the performance of Suzuki Ichiro, who swept almost all the awards a hitter could receive, such as MVP [Most Valuable Player], Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger, and the lineup of Edgar Martinez, Mike Cameron, Bret Boone, John Olerud, and others, as well as the starting rotation centered on Freddy Garcia, and the performance of Japanese closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, was Seattle’s best era.

But not anymore.

Now, any Seattle fan you ask at T-Mobile Park will give you the same answer.

It may be difficult to reach 116 wins mathematically, but the year 2030, when they are leading the league with a record of 98 wins and 49 losses, a winning percentage of 0.666, and also the debut season of Han Su-hyeok, who is on track to become the greatest player in Major League Baseball history, is undoubtedly Seattle’s new golden age.

[2nd Batter Pitcher Han Su-hyeok]

Seattle’s attack in the bottom of the 8th inning, leading 7 to 0, two outs, bases loaded,

With a confident stride, he stepped into the batter’s box.

Han Su-hyeok, who started today and shut out the opponent for 6 innings.

Having already recorded one hit and one RBI [Run Batted In] in the previous at-bat, he looked at the opposing pitcher with a calm expression.

As the score widened significantly, manager Benjamin took him off the mound without any regrets and brought in the relief pitchers.

Therefore, he, now transitioning from starting pitcher to designated hitter [a player who bats in place of the pitcher], was able to focus on hitting with a light heart and without any pressure.

Houston catcher Fred Avery, whose mind had already wandered off to the resort since the game started, frowned deeply and signaled to the pitcher.

‘A slider that breaks away to the outside.’

‘No, that guy’s specialty is pushing that and hitting it over the right field fence.’

‘Hoo, then a low changeup on the inside.’

‘Are you crazy? Have you seen how that guy can hit a ball that bounces in the dirt?’

‘Then what the hell are we supposed to do, you crazy bastard!’

‘Okay, I’ll just throw it where I want.’

As the signal exchange between the catcher and pitcher dragged on, Han Su-hyeok interjected in an indifferent voice.

“Why, isn’t the pitcher listening? I’ll wait for you, so go and punch him. Pitchers who don’t listen to the catcher should be punished.”

“Shut… Hoo, never mind. I have nothing to say to you.”

Fred, wanting to avoid any further interaction with Han Su-hyeok, nodded to the pitcher.

‘Then throw it your way, you son of a bitch.’

The game hadn’t even truly begun, but internal conflict had already erupted.

The pitcher, his face flushed red, threw the ball far outside.

It was such a wild pitch that it nearly went straight back.

“Ball.”

“Oooooooo!”

“Are you scared! Why? Are you going to give an intentional walk with the bases loaded?”

“That’s why you guys are tanking for the rest of your lives, you sons of bitches!”

“Compete fairly! Get your ass kicked and get out of here quickly!”

The pitcher who almost gave up a run with a wild pitch, the catcher who barely managed to catch that ball, and the Houston players who were reeling from the relentless jeers of the Seattle fans,

Their only wish,

To end the game as soon as possible and escape this tiresome stadium.

A 97-mile fastball, carrying the collective desire of the Houston players, flew powerfully towards the outside low corner.

And,

Bang!

– Aaaaaaaah! He did it! He did it! It’s going! It’s going! The batted ball by Han Su-hyeok! Over the right fielder’s head! Into the stands! It falls! It’s over! Home run number 71 of the season! Han Su-hyeok surpasses Mark McGwire in 1998 and moves into second place alone in the Major League Baseball single-season home run record!

– Heoong… Heoong… I’m sorry, viewers. Tears, tears are flowing. Look at this scene. More than 40,000 baseball fans are shouting Han Su-hyeok’s name until their throats are hoarse. They are calling out the name of their hero. It’s a truly touching day. Now, all that’s left for Han Su-hyeok is Barry Bonds in 2001. If he hits just three more, Han Su-hyeok’s name will be etched in history.