Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 119

#118. Who Woke Him Up

What kind of game do ordinary baseball fans enjoy the most?

While preferences may vary, many would choose an exciting game filled with thrilling hitting battles and repeated comebacks, or a nail-biting match where a precarious lead is maintained amidst outstanding pitching from both teams.

However, from the perspective of the players on the field and the coaching staff, including the manager, the ideal game is often one that feels dull and even boring.

A game where they completely dominate the opposing team, with nothing happening on defense, making it utterly uneventful. A game so boring that the spectators can’t help but yawn.

Unfortunately, today’s quarterfinal match between Korea and Cuba at Yankee Stadium was the kind of game that severely tested the heart health of both teams’ managers and players.

Bang!

“Argh!”

“Shit! That was a beanball!”

“Hey! Back off, or you’re ejected!”

“You son of a bitch!”

In the bottom of the 7th inning, with the score tied at 5-5, Korea was on the attack.
A 155 km/h (96 mph) fastball struck the elbow protector of Jeong Dae-han, who was batting eighth.
The Korean team’s starting catcher couldn’t get up, complaining of pain.
Both teams’ players rushed out and confronted each other, but thanks to the quick intervention of the managers, coaches, and umpires, the situation was barely contained.

“Dae-han, are you okay?”

“Ugh…….”

Fortunately, it wasn’t a major injury, but he couldn’t continue playing.
The Cuban pitcher who threw the obvious beanball was ejected, and a pinch runner took first base in place of the injured Jeong Dae-han.

“Today is a mess, really.”

“I knew the atmosphere was ominous.”

Today’s game, which had been developing into a tight pitching duel between Korean starter Lim Jun-young and Cuban ace Emilio Castro, shifted into a hitting battle from the 6th inning when both pitchers were taken off the mound.
While the Korean hitters pounded out eight hits, including a home run by Han Su-hyeok, to score five runs in the 6th and 7th innings, the Cuban hitters responded with two home runs against the Korean bullpen, quickly tying the game at 5-5.

The problem occurred during Cuba’s attack in the top of the 7th inning.
Park Do-yul, panicked after giving up a home run, hit the next batter in the butt with a curveball.
It was a clear mistake. Park Do-yul wasn’t stupid enough to intentionally throw a beanball in a WBC [World Baseball Classic] quarterfinal game.
Park Do-yul took off his hat and apologized politely, but the enraged batter continued to hurl insults as he walked to first base.
Fortunately, there were no further clashes.
However, in the next inning, another spark ignited.
Lee Ha-young’s high-speed slider, taking over the mound from Park Do-yul, came in close to the Cuban batter.
The surprised batter stepped back, but the ball sharply broke into the strike zone, and a strike was called.
The Cuban batter protested to the umpire, which escalated into an argument with catcher Jeong Dae-han.
The result was what just happened.
As soon as the innings changed, the Cuban team’s pitcher threw a beanball at Jeong Dae-han, and the Korean team ended up losing their starting catcher.

“Out!”

The Korean team’s scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning, created by losing the starting catcher, ended without any runs due to Kim Se-jun’s double play.
In the dugout, Jang Deok-soo began to put on his catcher’s gear with a slightly nervous expression.

“Deok-soo, the signs will come from the bench, so don’t be too nervous.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t fall for it even if those guys provoke you again. The catcher has to keep his composure.”

“Alright, don’t worry.”

“Good.”

The battery [pitcher and catcher] was replaced all at once.
Lee Ha-young, who was clearly agitated by the repeated beanball incidents, stepped down, and veteran Koo Cheol-joong took over the mound. And Jang Deok-soo put on the catcher’s mask in place of the injured Jeong Dae-han.

“Out!”

If Kim Seong-soo had the most international experience on the batter’s side, Koo Cheol-joong was by far the most veteran among the pitchers.
Koo Cheol-joong, who had guarded the Korean national team’s mound for a long time, handled the Cuban batters’ rough behavior, provocative gestures, and the shortcomings of the backup catcher, who was wearing the national team uniform for the first time, and safely finished the top of the 8th inning.
And then, the Korean team’s attack began in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The score remained unchanged at 5-5. A new face, Matias Lopez, came up to the Cuban mound.

Tap!

Lee Chan-ho, the leadoff hitter who hadn’t had a hit today, got on first base with a clean right-field hit.
The pitcher’s face turned red at that one hit, and the catcher, who was positioned behind home plate, called a timeout and went up to the mound.

“Hey, Matias.”

“Damn it, why did you come up here? It’s just one hit.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Why do you look so worked up when it’s just one hit?”

Jorge, who has been wearing a catcher’s mitt as the starting catcher for the New York Mets for over 10 years, could see right through the young pitcher’s mind.
Unlike other players who have defected to the United States and are making big money, this kid, Matias Lopez, is still playing in the Cuban league.
His only goal today is to show off his skills and catch the eye of big league scouts, to enter the big leagues as spectacularly as other players.
But he gave up a hit to the first batter as soon as he came on the mound, so he must be burning inside.
He needs to calm down first. Jorge tried to stay calm and said to the pitcher.

“Take it easy, take it easy. There’s no need to rush. It’s just one runner on base. That’s baseball…….”

“Damn it, I know. Save your nagging for your own house.”

Jorge, frustrated by Matias’s hasty attitude, stopped talking and returned to his position.
Muttering curses that no matter how good he throws, he won’t make it to the big leagues with that kind of mentality.

“Play!”

With that, the game resumed.
With a runner on first base and no outs, Kang Woo-chan, the second batter, took a sacrifice bunt stance.

‘Just bunt it. Let him bunt.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘If you ignore me again, I’ll ask for a pitching change. Do as I say.’

‘Damn it, son of a bitch.’

The pitcher, who didn’t want to advance the runner into scoring position, kept shaking his head, but in the end, the catcher won. As he said, the manager sitting in the dugout had a serious expression on his face.
Matias, who had decided to let him bunt, threw the ball to the outside of the batter.
At that moment, the Korean team’s bench signaled a play.

Thud

At the same time as the pitcher threw the ball, the runner on first base took off. Matias’s control faltered, and the ball he was trying to throw outside went right down the middle.

Tap!

Kang Woo-chan, who had been in a bunt stance, quickly switched back to a hitting stance and swung at the ball.
A run-and-hit play that caught Cuba off guard.
But luck wasn’t on their side.
The ball was hit too well and went straight to the shortstop. And guarding that spot was Javier Castillo, the starting shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies.
The word ‘double play’ flashed through everyone’s minds at that moment.

Thud

“Uh oh!”

The A-class [top tier] shortstop, who had only one error in the first half of the regular season this year, dropped the ball.
A situation where both runners should have been out with two outs turned into runners on first and second with no outs.
Matias’s face turned from red to dark red.
And then Han Su-hyeok appeared at the plate.
The opposing team’s third batter who had hit a three-run home run in the previous at-bat.
The guy at the plate glares at him with an arrogant expression.
Matias’s head spun at that overly confident, almost contemptuous expression.

‘These crazy yellow monkey bastards…….’
The emotions of anger at his teammates’ stupidity and at the Korean team’s batters surpassed his dream of entering the big leagues.
The burning anger filled his head.
Matias, who could no longer think straight, began his windup despite having runners on base.
The fastest and most powerful ball he could throw, a 160 km/h (99 mph) fastball, flew towards Han Su-hyeok.

“Uh!”

“No!”

“Hey, you son of a bitch!”

Screams erupted from the Korean dugout and throughout the stands as they watched the scene.

Thwack

It was fortunate.
Han Su-hyeok miraculously avoided the 160 km/h beanball.
Han Su-hyeok, who had ducked to avoid the ball, jumped up and threw his helmet.
Matias smirked and raised his fist at the sight.

‘Shit, I’m going to kill them all.’

Matias’s body, 197 cm (6’5″) tall and weighing over 100 kg (220 lbs), and full of athleticism due to his racial background, prepared for the upcoming fight.
Born in a slum, he had been fighting since he was a child. Even if a truckload of Asians came, he was confident he could win.

“No!”

“Stop Su-hyeok!”

The players from both teams, anticipating a bench-clearing brawl, rushed out of the dugout towards the batter and pitcher.
Han Su-hyeok, who had fully recovered, was running towards the pitcher.
The worst-case scenario of a brawl and Han Su-hyeok’s ejection began to form in everyone’s minds.

* * *

“Uh oh!”

“That crazy bastard!”

If you play baseball for a long time, you naturally develop a sense.
You can naturally feel the emotions that the players on the field are directing towards the opposing team, and the reactions of the managers and coaches in both dugouts.
In that sense, I predicted this situation from the moment the tension built up, and the big, hot-tempered kid throwing 100-mile fastballs took over the mound.
I just didn’t think that crazy bastard would aim for my head with two runners on base.

“No! Stop Su-hyeok!”

“Damn it, grab him!”

Logically speaking, it is impossible to see and avoid a 100-mile fastball.
The reason I was able to avoid that ball was because the pitcher wound up despite having two runners on base.
The only purpose of a pitcher winding up in this situation is to show his intention to throw the most powerful ball he can throw.
Was that guy making that choice to strike me out?
Maybe so. But at the moment the pitcher was about to throw the ball, a curse came out of the catcher’s mouth sitting behind me.
Then it’s very obvious.
That guy is trying to hit me right now.
I immediately ducked and avoided the ball the moment it left his fingertips.
And immediately ran to the mound.
Has there ever been a precedent for a player being ejected and suspended for punching in an international game?
Well, I don’t think so. Then today, I will be the first player in baseball history to be named to the international tournament suspension list.
If I get ejected because of this, our team may be in a disadvantageous situation in the remaining innings. Maybe I’ll get injured fighting with that guy.
The old-fashioned domestic media will attack me instead. They will say that I should have maintained my dignity in the international competition, and that swinging my fist there was a disgrace to the country.
But you can’t stand for it at times like this.
Even if I can endure not punching that guy in the jaw, and in return, get a ticket to the semifinals, I should never endure it.
The essence of this game of baseball is that once you are looked down upon, you will be looked down upon until the end.
Especially when you think about these rough guys from the United States and Latin America. Considering that I will continue to meet these guys on the international stage, enduring here is a stupid thing to do.
You have to show them that if they mess with you, they’re screwed. You have to let them know that if they throw a beanball at a Korean team player, their jaw might be shattered.

“No! Stop Su-hyeok!”

I ran towards the mound with all my might, hearing the shouts of my teammates, whoever they were.
The giant pitcher, who had already anticipated the fight, was waiting for me with his fist raised.

“Fucking Asian!”

The distance between that trashy guy and me was quickly narrowed to the point where I could clearly hear his voice.
The optimal punch route to the guy’s jaw was drawn in my head.
Ejection, injury, suspension, failure to advance to the semifinals.
All sorts of negative thoughts flashed through my head, but I tried to push them away and rushed at the guy.
It was at that moment.

Pow!

* * *

“Kuek!”

Uh……

So that’s… what happened in the stove league [off-season] right before I regressed.
I headed to Canada at the invitation of the club owner. He said he wanted to go reindeer hunting together, but in the end, it was to bring up the possibility of a contract extension.
Anyway, I ended up taking those reluctant steps, and I went hunting for the first time in my life.
Yeah, I remember it clearly.
On the way to the hunting grounds, the truck driven by the guide hit a reindeer that was passing by.
It seemed like an old guy who had fallen out of the herd, but he was so big that he looked at least over 200 kg (440 lbs).
But no matter how big a deer is, it’s still a deer.
The guy, who was hit by a large truck weighing 3 tons, died on the spot without making a sound.

Pow!

Just like that Cuban pitcher, Matias or whatever, who is being beaten by Jang Deok-soo in front of my eyes right now.

“No! Stop Deok-soo! He’s going to kill someone!”

“Ugh! Why is he so strong!”