Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 108

#107. Han Su-hyeok’s Place

‘Hmm, just let him do as he pleases…?’

To overcome the disastrous defeat of the 2023 WBC [World Baseball Classic], the KBO [Korea Baseball Organization] revived the full-time manager system.

Jeong Yun-seok, the renowned manager who led the Warriors and discovered many players like Lee Dae-jun, took on the significant responsibility after retiring from the front lines and enjoying a leisurely retirement.

Tasked with the great mission of restoring the baseball team’s honor, Manager Jeong Yun-seok, who took the helm for this WBC, stared out the window with a heavy heart.

Unlike the team, which arrived in the United States today, Manager Jeong Yun-seok, who had been staying locally for 10 days, was reviewing the team’s operational plan, gathering data prepared by the KBO and insights from his junior managers.

Among these, the one that troubled Jeong Yun-seok the most was Han Su-hyeok.

Currently, the best shortstop and hitter in the KBO.

Lee Dae-jun, his protégé and the manager of the Warriors, had said this:

‘I’m sorry to say this… but I think it’s best. If Su-hyeok’s judgment differs from the signals from the bench, um… I think we’ll get the best results by just letting him do what he wants.’

For the veteran who had been involved in baseball for over 50 years and skillfully guided the genius Lee Dae-jun during his playing career, this was a difficult concept to accept.

When the bench and the player have different opinions, just follow the player’s opinion?

Then, does that mean the individual player’s judgment is more accurate than the experience and extensive data available to the coaching staff on the bench?

It was an incomprehensible idea. So, he listened to the opinions of other team managers who had faced Han Su-hyeok.

As a result, he realized that Lee Dae-jun’s words were accurate.

‘Han Su-hyeok, that guy is, in my opinion, a genius among geniuses. Regardless of the bench’s signals, he can calculate the play most likely to lead to victory at any given moment. I know, Manager, it sounds like ridiculous praise for a rookie who’s only in his first year. But what can I do? That’s how we were defeated.’

‘That guy is… a born gambler. His ability to seize opportunities when they arise… it’s insane. To be honest, I think he’s lying about his age.’

‘Han Su-hyeok? Han Su-hyeok? Haa…….’

This national team, composed of 30 players—15 pitchers, 2 catchers, 7 infielders, and 6 outfielders—has three shortstops. Well, Lee Tae-woong of the Buffaloes has decided to play second base, so the main shortstop candidates are Han Su-hyeok and Ahn Tae-gyu of Suwon, two players.

Even as late as early May, when the preliminary roster was being finalized, Manager Jeong Yun-seok was secretly considering Ahn Tae-gyu as the starting shortstop and Han Su-hyeok as a designated hitter.

Regardless, the primary virtue of a shortstop in international competitions was experience.

He wasn’t trying to imply any favoritism towards veterans. It was a conclusion reached because there had been numerous instances where shortstop errors had cost teams important games in past international competitions.

It was a form of consideration, not wanting to place too heavy a burden on a promising rookie.

But that wasn’t the case.

Han Su-hyeok, whom Jeong Yun-seok had observed firsthand, was a player who far exceeded such conventional wisdom.

In games against national-level ace players, Han Su-hyeok led the Warriors without a single error in crucial games where the team’s ranking was on the line.

His performance was so dazzling that Lee Chang-mo, who formed the keystone combo [shortstop and second baseman] with him, seemed ordinary by comparison.

Lee Chang-mo is among the best in the country when it comes to infield defense. Jeong Yun-seok’s resolve was shaken by Han Su-hyeok’s performance, which surpassed Lee Chang-mo’s, and in the end, Han Su-hyeok became the starting shortstop in his mind.

He had barely confirmed the starting shortstop for the national team when another problem arose.

Again, Han Su-hyeok was at the center of the issue.

The guy who had been chosen as the starting shortstop debuted as a pitcher in the All-Star Game.

Well, to be precise, he had pitched 2/3 of an inning in a previous game against the Magicians, but this was the first time he had pitched properly.

Because he had arrived in the United States earlier, he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, but he had fully grasped Han Su-hyeok’s pitching abilities through videos and data analyzed from various equipment installed in the baseball stadium.

‘168㎞/h… Wow.’

The 168㎞/h [~104 mph] fastball that gave Jeong Yun-seok goosebumps, the 155㎞/h [~96 mph] slider, and the 160㎞/h [~99 mph] two-seamer.

What really surprised the veteran manager was that most of those pitches were controlled.

It wasn’t a pitch thrown with the intention to just hit or miss, but a pitch that could be controlled in at least four zones: up, down, left, and right.

At that rate, he could definitely throw over 160㎞/h even if he focused on control.

The memory of being toyed with by Japanese pitchers during the 2023 WBC came to mind.

While our pitchers were barely throwing 140, 145, or at best 150㎞/h, Japanese pitchers were throwing 155, 160㎞/h like crazy.

And in the batter’s box, huge batters appeared and hit unbelievable home runs.

It was a truly shocking sight for the general public who weren’t very interested in baseball and only watched national team games.

It was a day when the pride of Korean baseball, which had always believed it should at least be able to win against Japan, was shattered.

Jeong Yun-seok, who had retired from active duty, was heartbroken when he saw that scene.

But now it’s okay. Finally, a monster who throws 160, no, 168, has appeared in our country.

‘But… what should I do with the position…….’

The problem is that the monster is the team’s starting shortstop.

In other words, in order to properly utilize Han Su-hyeok, he had to be a dual-position player, but the problem was that neither Jeong Yun-seok nor anyone on this national team had ever managed a dual-position player.

Therefore, Jeong Yun-seok listened to the opinions of his disciple Lee Dae-jun and the managers of each team, and as a result, he realized that it was best to let Han Su-hyeok decide for himself.

‘Wow… this is really something.’

It’s a bit difficult, but there’s no choice.

Han Su-hyeok has already become an indispensable player in the Korean baseball world, beyond just the Warriors team.

A pioneer who is taking the path of a dual-position player for the first time, something no one has ever attempted.

If a situation arises where he cannot make a confident decision in employing such a player, it would be best to leave it to the person in question.

Having organized his thoughts, Manager Jeong Yun-seok said to the KBO employee sitting next to him.

“Team Leader Go, you said that Han Su-hyeok has a personal trainer who manages his body? An American?”

“Yes, that’s what I know.”

“If he’s American, there won’t be any other problems. Can we call him here right now?”

“Right now?”

“Yes, please find out right away. Tell him I hope he can get on a plane tonight.”

“Okay. I’ll check and let you know. Manager, I just got a call that the players will be arriving in 10 minutes.”

“Has it already been that long? Okay. Let’s go out.”

* * *

Unlike the 2023 tournament, where the first round of the main tournament was held in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States, this time all games will be held in the host country, the United States.

I don’t know how the Major League Secretariat compensated for aspects like the number of spectators, but it doesn’t matter to our country anyway.

In any case, it’s clear that the Major League Baseball (MLB) Secretariat has properly prepared for this tournament with all its heart.

They scheduled it in the middle of August, when the players’ game sense is at its peak, and even prepared the venue properly. It was a decision that could simultaneously capture box office success and improve performance.

The group stage for this tournament was structured as follows.

Traditionally, countries with intense rivalries were placed in the same group, so it was almost the same as the 2023 tournament.

Group 1: Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Czech Republic, Italy

Group 2: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, China

Group 3: United States, Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, Israel

Group 4: Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Nicaragua

There was some discussion about Taiwan, which occupied the first pot as the host country of the previous tournament, being placed in the third pot of Group 2, but overall, it was a group stage that seemed reasonable.

Each group formed in this way will be scattered throughout the United States to play preliminary matches.

In the case of Group 1, at Citizens Bank Park, the home stadium of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Oriole Park, the home stadium of the Baltimore Orioles.

Group 2, to which our country belongs, at Yankee Stadium, the home stadium of the New York Yankees, and Citi Field, the home stadium of the Mets, two locations.

Group 3 at the home stadiums of the LA Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, and Group 4 at the home stadiums of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.

After playing four games each in different locations, the top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

It’s a much more reasonable schedule than the previous tournament, where each team had to play two games each, day and night, in one stadium.

After arriving at John F. Kennedy Airport, we loaded our luggage onto pre-arranged vehicles and sent it to the hotel, then headed to Citi Field, where the coaching staff was waiting.

The home stadium of the New York Mets, and the place that our team will use as a training ground for the next two days.

“Wow… this is New York! Amazing!”

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], don’t suddenly act like you’ve become a New Yorker. It’s so awkward.”

“Hey, you bastard. Isn’t this your first time in New York too?”

“Well, I might be wearing a New York uniform next year.”

“Oh… when you say it like that, I have nothing to say… just kidding, you bastard. Show some respect to your hyung.”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Ah! I said I’m kidding?”

Throughout the journey to the stadium, the players’ exclamations and jokes filled the bus.

Yeah, when I think about it, I think I was a little excited when I first came to America, especially here in New York.

It seems like it’s everyone’s first time in New York, so I have to understand.

“We’ve arrived. Please get off slowly.”

The bus finally arrived at Citi Field.

As the Major League regular schedule is suspended and the games are held in the meantime, there were quite a few people wearing Mets uniforms around the stadium.

The New York Mets, a team that has been going through a long dark period since their last World Series victory in 1986.

A team that ambitiously started the season but naturally chooses tanking [strategically losing games to secure a higher draft pick] based on a certain point, an unfortunate team that is compared in many ways because it shares a home city with the New York Yankees.

I shattered the dreams and hopes of that team, which was challenging for its first World Series title in the 21st century. I, wearing a Cleveland uniform.

Well… it’s something that won’t happen now, so I don’t need to feel sorry.

“Okay, as you all know, our team will be doing adaptation training here at Citi Field today and tomorrow. The day after that, we’ll move to the auxiliary stadium. Everyone must be tired from the flight, but let’s just warm up lightly and slowly adjust to the time difference. The trainers will help you. Understood?”

“Yes! Coach.”

“Good, the manager is coming out there. Everyone, pay attention.”

Stepping onto the Citi Field ground after a long time, old memories suddenly come to mind one by one.

The feeling when I first set foot on American soil, the frustration when I was injured, and various memories of the people I was with.

Suppressing those subtle emotions, I turned my gaze to where the coach’s finger was pointing.

Jeong Yun-seok, Lee Dae-jun’s mentor and one of the most renowned managers in the Korean baseball world, who still looked healthy despite being over seventy years old, was walking here with his hands behind his back.

“Did everyone have any problems during the flight? Wasn’t it uncomfortable to fly economy after a long time?”

“No! Manager.”

“No, let’s just get good results. Then I’ll give you business class seats when we return. Team Leader Yong, am I right?”

“Ah, well, Manager, our budget is…….”

“What budget? I’ll use any means, even if I have to empty my personal pension to prepare good seats, so you just have to play hard. Don’t cause trouble, does anyone not understand me?”

“No one!”

“Good, everyone is an adult, so anything more than this would be nagging. The coaches will take care of the opposing team’s analysis data and coaching data for each position separately, so let’s go back to the accommodation and review it again… Let’s just warm up lightly today, adapt to the stadium, and rest. How about it, does everyone understand?”

“Thank you!”

“Good, then everyone prepare to exercise. Han Su-hyeok, just follow me.”

“Me?”

I followed Manager Jeong Yun-seok to the dugout, and we sat facing each other.

“Su-hyeok.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“This is really something. I’ve heard so much about you from Dae-jun that even though it’s my first time seeing you, you don’t seem unfamiliar at all.”

Well, I’ve met him once in the national team in my previous life…….

Hmm, I almost said something strange without realizing it.

As I remained silent without answering, Manager Jeong Yun-seok smiled kindly and continued.

“Since you’re my disciple’s disciple, I’ll speak frankly. I’ve decided on everything else, but I haven’t set up your pitching plan yet.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. I’ll ask directly. How much can you throw in one game? What’s the limit on the number of pitches? What’s the interval between appearances? And, which is more comfortable, starting or closing?”

“I am…….”