Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 118

#117. Quarterfinals

“Did you expect this kind of game today? If you promise to go off the record, I’ll tell you. Yes, I did. Thank you. Frankly, I didn’t expect it to be this extreme. I knew he threw incredibly fast, but… anyone in baseball knows, right? Throwing fast and pitching well in a game are two completely different things.”

The middle-aged reporter, after turning off the recorder at Director Jung Yoon-seok’s request, asked again,

“Then, why did you decide to put Han Su-hyeok in such a critical situation, Director?”

“I remembered what my student said.”

“Your student…?”

“Dae-jun, I mean.”

“Ah, what did Director Lee Dae-jun say?”

“He told me that if Han Su-hyeok held the key when the team was in crisis, I should just relax, drink some juice, and watch. He said the kid would take care of everything. Haha.”

“Pardon?”

“Actually, it was a tough situation no matter who I put in. Even if Do-yul or Ha-young could have pitched, I judged that we would at least tie, and most likely be reversed.”

“Hmm…”

“So, I just put Su-hyeok in. Since it was impossible to recover with a normal game progression, I hoped for a miracle. And that miracle really happened.”

“…Amazing.”

“Don’t put it in the article. Even if it’s me, it’s a bit much for the national team director to say he used a player hoping for a miracle, haha…”

“I understand. Then, just one last question for the article. Is there a possibility that Han Su-hyeok will pitch again in the remaining games?”

At the reporter’s question, Jung Yoon-seok smiled kindly and replied,

“Of course. But I will never overwork him. He’s a kid who has a lot to do for Korean baseball in the future. Maybe the reason I took the helm of this national team was to protect him. Yes, maybe it was fate.”

* * *

[Korean National Team Defeats Japan 2:1, Virtually Securing a Spot in the Quarterfinals with 3 Consecutive Wins]

[Japan, Stunned by Korea’s Unexpected Blow, Must Win Both Remaining Games Against Australia and China to Advance to the Second Round]

[Han Su-hyeok, Who Appeared in the Bottom of the 7th Inning with Runners on First and Third and No Outs, Saves the Team from Crisis]

[3 Innings, 8 Strikeouts, Overwhelming Pitching, Crushing Japan with Power]

[Japanese Star Hitter Eto Iori, Who Struck Out in a Crucial Chance: “A Nightmare I Never Want to Remember”]

[Maximum Speed 168km/h Fastball, Two-Seam, Changeup, and a 95km/h Super Slow Curve, An Absurd Combination]

[Japanese National Team Manager Hoshino: “I Apologize for What I Said Before the Game. He Is a Player I Cannot Evaluate”]

[New York-Based Team Scout: “How Much Did Seattle Offer That Player? 35 Million? What? 3.5 Million? Are They Crazy?”]

[Korea-Japan Game Broadcast Live Across the US via ESPN, American Fans Shocked by Han Su-hyeok’s Pitching for the First Time]

└Hey, does anyone have a shotgun I can borrow?

└Whoa, calm down, whatever it is. What do you need a shotgun for?

└I need to get rid of the useless thing attached to the Seattle GM’s torso

└Hmm, that’s tempting. Okay, I have a shotgun. Let’s set a date

└Damn it, they offered that guy only $3.5 million and got rejected? After giving a washed-up player who only pitched in 2 games in the first half a $20 million annual contract?

└Get rid of all the freeloaders on the team and give that money to that kid! Bring him here now!

└You guys are misunderstanding something. That kid is only in his first year. He has to play in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] for at least 7 seasons to go overseas

└I heard the KBO is considering introducing a posting system similar to Japan’s? Then there might be hope?

└Maybe. But everyone seems to be forgetting something important

└What?

└The Yankees and Dodgers have caught the scent. Can we win against them in a bidding war?

└Damn it… Stupid Seattle guys!

Han Su-hyeok striking out Japanese hitters one after another was broadcast live across the United States via ESPN.

The league was suspended, and the US national team had a day off.

Hundreds of millions of Americans, thirsty for baseball, watched the Korea-Japan game on TV.

And they saw it.

A pitcher who came on with runners on first and third and no outs and quickly resolved the crisis.

A monster who perfectly erased the 3 innings given to him.

The most chaotic was the Seattle Mariners, who missed out on such a Han Su-hyeok.

“Yes, this is Jason from the Seattle Mariners PR team…”

– You stupid bastards, die!

“What did you say? Who is this?”

– A moron who spends half his salary on baseball tickets! You son of a bitch! Die! You missed the chance to bring in a player like that to save a few bucks? Just die!

Amid the chaos caused by Han Su-hyeok’s shocking pitching debut, the WBC [World Baseball Classic] first round continued.

Looking at the standings of the five countries in Group B up to the third day of the tournament, South Korea had 3 wins, Australia had 2 wins and 1 loss, Japan had 1 win and 1 loss, and China and Taiwan each had 2 losses.

The elimination of China and Taiwan was certain, and Australia and Japan were competing for second place.

Assuming Japan beats China, the two teams will clash on the final day with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss.

On the other hand, Korea, which has already won 3 games, is guaranteed to advance to the second round even if they lose to Taiwan in the remaining game and finish with 3 wins and 1 loss. This is because they have already defeated Japan and Australia under the head-to-head rule.

Thus, the fourth day of the competition began.

Korea, having secured a spot in the first round, started Choi Kyung-jae as scheduled against Taiwan and gave some players a rest.

1. Yang Seon-woo (Seoul Magicians), Center Fielder

2. Ahn Tae-gyu (Suwon Commanders), Shortstop

3. Kang Tae-yong (Suwon Commanders), First Baseman

4. Go Cheol-hwan (Seoul Magicians), Designated Hitter

5. Min Joo-hyun (Incheon Rangers), Third Baseman

6. Choi Yeon-woo (Suwon Commanders), Left Fielder

7. Jang Deok-soo (Seoul Warriors), Catcher

8. Kim Se-jun (Daejeon Falcons), Second Baseman

9. Kang Woo-chan (Incheon Rangers), Right Fielder

Six starting players were missing, including Lee Chan-ho, Han Su-hyeok, Lee Soo-young, Kim Seong-soo, Lee Tae-woong, and Jung Dae-han.

Taiwan, which had been confident of advancing to the quarterfinals before the tournament, was completely demoralized after losing to Australia and Japan.

On the other hand, the morale of the Korean national team, which defeated Japan with Han Su-hyeok’s miraculous pitching, was soaring.

The atmosphere of the two teams was directly reflected in the game results.

[Korean National Team Crushes Taiwan 13-1, Advances to Quarterfinals with 4 Straight Wins]

[Choi Kyung-jae, Who Pitched 5 Innings Without Giving Up a Run: “I Want to Get a Little Closer to Su-hyeok.” What Does He Mean?]

[Han Su-hyeok, Who Was Left Out of the Starting Lineup, Came in as a Pinch Hitter in the 5th Inning with a 3:1 Lead and Hit a Grand Slam!]

[4 Games, 6 Home Runs, Plus 3 Innings Without Giving Up a Run, Korean Baseball Fans Also Cheering for Han Su-hyeok’s Great Performance]

└It’s so refreshing;;;

└It’s so comforting to have Han Su-hyeok on our side

└It was really frustrating when we met him as an opponent, lol

└The guy who got a grand slam from Han Su-hyeok, isn’t that the guy who was talking trash before the game?

└Yeah, he said he was confident against Korea even if he lost to other teams

└Did he intentionally go out as a pinch hitter to blow that guy up?

└Nah, really? On purpose?

└Han Su-hyeok, he’s the type who can’t stand anyone talking trash against him

└ㅋㅋㅋ That’s true

└Sigh… Anyway, it’s not time for you guys to be happy yet. The Warriors are already frustrating, and in the second half, Han Su-hyeok will be pitching there too

└Let’s not think about that until the WBC is over. It’s annoying just thinking about it

* * *

“How is it, Jacob? Is it okay?”

“Hmm… If you think about resting until tomorrow, well, it seems okay for now.”

“See? You worry too much. Anyway, it seems like I don’t need Jacob anymore, so go back to Korea. Annie will be waiting.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m checking with Mrs. Kim by phone every hour. Above all, there’s no better opportunity to check the physical changes after a real game.”

Due to the save against Japan, some media outlets are saying that I should be used as the team’s main closer. The logic was that I could continue to pitch every other day as long as I didn’t throw more than 50 pitches.

Perhaps having come across such public opinion.

Jacob’s face clearly showed anxiety about how I would be used.

“Damn it, I’m worried that the Korean coach is overworking you.”

It’s natural to think that way.

But I’m not worried.

Because after the game against Japan, Director Jung Yoon-seok said this to me.

‘Unless there’s a really unavoidable situation, you won’t be pitching like that again.’

I don’t know. I guess I’m lucky with directors, like Lee Dae-jun.

Having finished the first round schedule with a win against Taiwan on the 4th day, the Korean national team rested at the accommodation on the 5th day without even training.

In the final game of the first round, Taiwan defeated their arch-rival China 5-3, finishing with a final record of 1 win and 3 losses.

On the other hand, China, which had put all its efforts into this tournament by naturalizing Big Leaguers, was defeated by Korea and Japan in a cold game and had to return home with 4 losses.

The game between Japan and Australia, which was held for the last spot in the quarterfinals, went as expected.

It was a total war in which a total of 10 pitchers from both teams were put in, and the final winner was Japan.

[Samurai Japan Defeats Australia 7-6 in a Comeback Victory, Advances to the Second Round as Second Place in the Group]

[Manager Hoshino: “We Will Definitely Win in the Quarterfinals and Protect the Pride of the Previous Tournament Winner”]

[Group 1: Netherlands, Cuba, Group 2: South Korea, Japan, Group 3: USA, Mexico, Group 4: Venezuela, Puerto Rico Advance to Quarterfinals]

The quarterfinal bracket has been confirmed.

1st place in Group 1: Netherlands vs. 2nd place in Group 2: Japan.

2nd place in Group 1: Cuba vs. 1st place in Group 2: South Korea.

1st place in Group 3: USA vs. 2nd place in Group 4: Puerto Rico.

2nd place in Group 3: Mexico vs. 1st place in Group 4: Venezuela.

We will face Cuba in an international competition for the first time in a while.

They are called the strongest in amateur baseball, but many of those players have chosen to defect to the United States, so Cuba has not been very strong in tournaments where professional players participate.

However, since 2023, they have allowed players who have defected to join the national team, and they are once again rising to the top 4.

Frankly, if I were a Cuban defector, I would have refused to join the national team.

I defected with great difficulty, but if I get arrested after entering the national team camp…

Well, I have to admit one thing about Cuban players.

They are not usually gutless.

“I think the Netherlands would have been easier…”

“When you face those guys, you strangely get pushed back in terms of power.”

Kim Seong-soo and other players with long careers on the national team were talking with stiff expressions.

The Korean national team’s all-time record against Cuba is 4 wins and 9 losses.

The victory in the 2008 Olympic final was so intense, but the reality is that Korea has not had many good encounters with Cuba.

To put it in a nutshell, Cuba is fast and strong.

They play a slightly rough style of baseball based on their natural physique. Perhaps they have a slightly similar style to us in Asia, so it may have been a bit too much for Korea to handle.

“Su-hyeok, you’re back to being the 3rd shortstop today. Are you okay?”

“Yes, Coach.”

“Good.”

After pitching as a closer in the game against Japan, I had one at-bat as a pinch hitter in the game against Taiwan, and then rested for two consecutive days. I will be playing as a shortstop and 3rd batter in the quarterfinal game against Cuba.

1. Lee Chan-ho (Seoul Fighters), Center Fielder

2. Kang Woo-chan (Incheon Rangers), Right Fielder

3. Han Su-hyeok (Seoul Warriors), Shortstop

4. Lee Soo-young (Daegu Buffaloes), First Baseman

5. Go Cheol-hwan (Seoul Magicians), Designated Hitter

6. Kim Seong-soo (Seoul Magicians), Left Fielder

7. Lee Tae-woong (Daegu Buffaloes), Second Baseman

8. Jung Dae-han (Suwon Commanders), Catcher

9. Kim Se-jun (Daejeon Falcons), Third Baseman

Starting Pitcher: Im Jun-young (Daejeon Falcons)

Director Jung Yoon-seok, who was considering between Koo Cheol-joong and Im Jun-young as the starting pitcher for the game against Cuba, eventually chose Im Jun-young. This decision was made because Koo Cheol-joong can also be used as a middle reliever or closer.

Meanwhile, Cuba’s starting pitcher is Emilio Castro, one of the best pitchers in the Big League, who is playing as an ace for the Chicago White Sox.

Most experts, including the American media, predicted Cuba would win by a score of 7 to 3.

Perhaps that atmosphere was contagious. Some of the Korean national team players and coaches also showed an emotion that seemed to have given up halfway.

But I had no intention of being satisfied with just this result.

I even released my pitching seal and stood on the mound, and you want me to be satisfied with just the quarterfinals?

The White Sox’s ace?

I’ve been playing baseball for too long to be intimidated by just that name.

“Senior, I’ll stop them all today.”

“It’s reassuring just to hear that. Okay, Su-hyeok. I’m counting on you. I’ll treat you to something nice when we go to Seoul.”

Fortunately, Senior Im Jun-young, who will be starting today, had a strong desire to win on his face.

Darkness fell on Yankee Stadium, where the quarterfinal game was being prepared, and the lights began to shine one by one.

And the challenge of Korea began once again.