Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 112

#111. An Out-of-規格 [Out-of-Standard/Exceptional] Monster

“Hey, Han Su-hyeok, what are you doing?”

“I’m sunbathing, Hyung [older brother or close male friend].”

“What’s so great about the setting sun? You act like an old man sometimes, you know?”

I was lost in thought, basking in the fading sunlight during a brief moment of free time before the game.

Back when I was battling the Mets for the World Series trophy here, I was a thirty-three-year-old veteran at the peak of my hitting prowess.

Having given up pitching due to a shoulder injury, I was gradually becoming more accustomed to my identity as a hitter.

From shortstop to third base, then to right field.

As I gradually reduced the burden of defense, my batting performance continued to improve.

In the year we won the World Series, I recorded 42 home runs, 45 stolen bases, and 150 RBIs, earning the league MVP award.

I had a premonition that that moment would be the pinnacle of my baseball career.

And that premonition came true.

From that year until my regression, my physical abilities gradually declined.

My hitting skills and know-how continued to develop, but my dynamic visual acuity, reaction speed, and bat speed gradually slowed down, and my performance began to decline as well.

Along with that, my personality became increasingly terrible.

If I hadn’t regressed, I might have become a grumpy old-timer who had lost his skills but retained his pride, and I might have been abandoned by the team at some point.

Who on earth gave me this second chance? Does God really exist?

A guy like me, who only knows baseball, won’t be able to find the answer.

But one thing is certain: I am not wasting a single moment of this second chance I’ve been given.

“Okay, everyone, gather around. Su-hyeok, come over here too.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Before the game started, Captain Kim Seong-soo gathered the players together.

“We lost to those guys in the last tournament after giving up two three-run homers, you know? I was so embarrassed I wanted to die.”

“…….”

“It’s obvious, but this will be my last international tournament. It’s a bit much to ask, but I hope you all play hard today so I don’t have to be embarrassed. Okay? I’ll treat you all big when we get to Seoul.”

“Hehe, Captain. Can you take responsibility for that? How many mouths are there to feed here?”

“It’s okay. I’ve been to the big leagues, you know. I’ve saved up a lot of money, so please win today’s game and max out my credit card when we get to Seoul.”

“Sounds good.”

“Alright, then. Everyone’s a pro, so there’s no need for long speeches. On the count of three, let’s shout ‘Fighting!’ One! Two! Three! Fighting!”

“Fighting!”

* * *

Unlike the last game, which was mostly attended by Korean and Chinese fans living in New York, today’s game between Korea and Australia at Citi Field had quite a few general American spectators and big league scouts.

Some were checking out Australian national team players Jamie Watt (pitcher), and Jack Wilson, Max Anderson, and Oscar Walker (hitters), who were already playing in the big leagues, while others came to the stadium to see Korean players aiming to advance to the big leagues.

The Korean team’s starting trio, Ryu Han-gyeol, Im Jun-yeong, and Choi Gyeong-jae, are all set to go overseas or become free agents after this season.

Today is the day Im Jun-yeong, ranked number two among them, is pitching.

The one with the most interest in him was none other than the owner of this stadium, the New York Mets, who are now preparing for a new leap forward after a long period of tanking [deliberately losing games to secure better draft picks].

“Daniel, I hear you practically live in Korea?”

“Hmm, something like that. Why do you ask?”

“Don’t get defensive. It’s not like I’m trying to steal that shortstop you’re interested in.”

It was a transparent lie.

His performance against Ryu Han-gyeol and Im Jun-yeong, plus the unbelievable two home runs he showed in the first WBC [World Baseball Classic] game against China.

Daniel couldn’t possibly not know that a significant number of the scouts gathered here today were here to see Han Su-hyeok.

“Anyway, that’s beside the point. Why are you asking?”

“Im Jun-yeong, that guy. Have you heard any rumors about him?”

“Rumors?”

“I don’t know if I should be telling you this… well, whatever. A guy who was quite positive about our offer until the beginning of the season seems to have changed his mind lately.”

To be precise, it was from the moment he heard from Han Su-hyeok about coming to the Warriors, but it was impossible for big league scouts to know that much.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t know much about Im Jun-yeong. Sorry.”

“Hmm, I see. I was worried that he might be considering Japan instead of the United States.”

“Japan? Come on, Jackson. Why would Korean players go back to Japan now? In terms of money, fame, or opportunity, why bother with the NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball]? It’s much better to stay in Korea.”

“I guess so? I was wondering if the Yomiuri Giants had done something. Hmm, something’s definitely strange… No team can offer better conditions than us.”

“I heard the Yankees are looking for a fifth starter these days. Maybe it’s them.”

“A fifth starter? Im Jun-yeong’s posting fee alone will be at least ten million dollars, right? They’re going to spend that much on a fifth starter?”

“It’s the Yankees, after all.”

“Hmm.”

There wasn’t much difference in domestic evaluations, but there was a clear gap between the three pitchers, Ryu Han-gyeol, Im Jun-yeong, and Choi Gyeong-jae, in the eyes of the big leagues.

First of all, Ryu Han-gyeol, who has consistently performed well since his debut and is considered the best of the three in terms of mentality, is expected by experts to command a posting fee of at least $20 million.

Not quite an ace, but a bit too much money to spend on a third or fourth starter. That’s why teams like Oakland, who are in urgent need of an ace, are eyeing Ryu Han-gyeol.

Im Jun-yeong’s evaluation is slightly lower.

His pitching itself is on par with or better than Ryu Han-gyeol, but his expected posting fee is around $10 million at most due to his perceived lack of stability.

It’s not a small amount.

But the evil empire of the Yankees was willing to spend that amount just to fill a fifth starter spot.

“We’ll know for sure in a little more time. You must have a headache.”

“Sigh, yeah. Anyway, we’re the ones in a hurry. Thanks for the information. Let’s watch the game.”

The two men finished their conversation and turned their attention back to the field.

In their opinion, the Korean team had less than a 40% chance of winning today’s game, even if they played their best.

They weren’t the only ones.

Most of the other scouts gathered at the stadium, as well as the American media, were naming Japan and Australia as the teams to advance to the round of eight in Group B.

Shortly after, the game began.

* * *

“Good heavens… What did I just see?”

“Hehe, should we congratulate him or not, Jackson? Anyway, Im Jun-yeong is amazing.”

“No, of course, but…….”

“Maybe ten million dollars won’t be enough.”

The WBC first-round game between Korea and Australia was over.

The score was 4-0, a complete victory for the Korean team. The experts’ predictions of Australia’s victory were completely wrong.

The overall game went as the experts had predicted.

Jamie Watt, the Australian team’s starter who had five wins in the big leagues in the first half of this season, kept most of the Korean hitters in check, and Im Jun-yeong, the Korean team’s starter who is also expected to advance to the big leagues, pitched perfectly for six innings, throwing only 63 pitches and allowing no runs.

The game between the two teams was decided by one thing, no, one player.

Han Su-hyeok.

The shortstop for the Korean national team, who recorded two home runs and four RBIs today.

He ended this game all by himself.

Han Su-hyeok’s performance started in the first inning.

Lee Chan-ho, the leadoff hitter, walked to first base. If Ryu Han-gyeol is the biggest free agent in pitching, Lee Chan-ho has the highest name value among hitters.

The stadium buzzed as he earned a walk after a ten-pitch battle, expected to land a contract worth at least 10 billion won [approximately $7.5 million USD].

With no outs and a runner on first, Han Su-hyeok stepped up to the plate.

At that moment, the big league experts and local media, who knew the characteristics of Korean baseball well, expected a sacrifice bunt.

Thwack!

With a tremendous sound, the first pitch thrown by the Australian pitcher went over the fence.

A two-run home run to take the lead.

Jamie Watt, the Australian starter who had vowed to win today’s game, turned red in the face, and Han Su-hyeok, who hit the home run, stepped on home plate with a relaxed expression and entered the dugout.

In the process, a Korean female spectator who was climbing the safety net of Citi Field was dragged out of the stadium in a farce, but in any case, the Korean team’s momentum was heating up.

But Jamie Watt was still a good pitcher.

After allowing a home run to Han Su-hyeok, he quickly regained his composure and struck out the Korean team’s cleanup trio in succession, and then perfectly blocked the 6th, 7th, and 8th hitters in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Just as the expectation that the game would turn into a pitching duel was hovering around the field.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Han Su-hyeok brilliantly hit Jamie Watt’s deadly pitch again.

Thwack!

It was an outside-the-park home run that went over the outer wall of Citi Field, which is not known for producing many home runs, completely shattering the pitcher’s mentality.

The big league scouts sitting in the stands had their attention split between Im Jun-yeong and Han Su-hyeok.

“Good heavens, we shouldn’t have ignored the records from the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]. How many outside-the-park home runs has that guy hit this season?”

“His shortstop defense is much better than what I saw in the videos. Damn, is he really twenty years old? He’s not lying about his age, is he?”

“Hey, when is the KBO’s overseas advancement qualification restriction regulation going to be revised? What? It’s still on hold? Damn it!”

“Jamie Watt, is there something wrong with that guy?”

“Not at all, he suppressed the hitters almost perfectly today except for Han Su-hyeok. He looks even better than he did during the season, doesn’t he?”

“How much would we have to offer to get that guy?”

“Get a grip. It’s still a long way off before that guy can go overseas, right?”

“Damn it, when I think about our team’s shortstop, I want to offer ten million dollars right now.”

Most of the scouts, who had only seen information about Han Su-hyeok in videos and data, focused all their attention on him, their eyes shining brightly.

Two home runs against China, followed by two more home runs against Australia. One of them was even an outside-the-park home run that went over the outer wall of Citi Field.

The game continued.

Jamie Watt, who had been shaken for a while after being hit by two home runs by Han Su-hyeok, blocked the bottom of the 3rd and 4th innings again without allowing any runs.

The Australian bench, which had no better pitcher than him in the current pitching staff, did not replace Jamie until he reached his limit.

And then, in the bottom of the 5th inning, Han Su-hyeok’s turn at bat came again.

With one out and a runner on first, Han Su-hyeok hit a slider that was thrown to the outside as if to escape, and the hit directly hit the right fence, becoming an RBI double.

“Fuck! Fuck!”

Jamie Watt, his face flushed red, was taken off the mound, and Australia sent in the remaining pitchers in turn to counter Korea. Of course, an automatic intentional walk was issued in Han Su-hyeok’s at-bat.

While the Korean team scored 4 points with Han Su-hyeok’s two home runs and a double, Im Jun-yeong went down the mound after blocking 6 innings without allowing any runs.

The big league scouts realized that they were thinking something very wrong.

Im Jun-yeong, who they initially thought had a limit of 5 million to a maximum of 10 million dollars, was a much better pitcher than that.

And the most important thing was that Han Su-hyeok, a rookie in his first year who they had arbitrarily judged to be far off, was an out-of-規格 [out-of-standard/exceptional] monster.

“Boss, we need to deploy dedicated personnel to Korea right away. Right now!”

– Hey, aren’t you being too hasty after seeing just one game? Even if the KBO League’s overseas advancement qualification restriction is revised, there are still several years left. Calm down. Do you think scout personnel spring up for free?

“Damn it! Damn it! We’ll be late then!”

Urgent voices of scouts echoed from all over the stands.