Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 120

119. Total Annihilation

After realizing that focusing too much on baseball could quickly lead to burnout, I’ve been trying to force myself to do other things whenever I have free time.

Things that normal people call hobbies—like watching movies with someone, enjoying leisure sports, playing games, reading, watching TV, or being a fan of an idol group.

I’ve tried various things within my capabilities, but I’ve come to realize that most hobbies just don’t suit me.

However, there’s one thing I’m slowly developing an interest in: watching documentaries about animals and nature.

It’s like, when I watch them, my mind feels purified.

I remembered the content of a documentary I saw recently.

It was about how wolves living in the wild were domesticated by humans and how they evolved into hundreds of breeds of companion dogs through various breeding processes.

What intrigued me the most was that even though they are grouped into the same ‘canine’ family, the difference in abilities between these individuals is enormous.

It was fascinating that two dog breeds with similar height and weight, and even almost identical ancestry, could show several times the difference in fighting power, such as biting force, tenacity, and speed.

What would happen if a pit bull terrier and a golden retriever of similar weight fought?

I am now watching that reality unfold before my eyes.

“Die! You son of a bitch!”

“Kkeoeok…….”

Thwack!

The huge Cuban pitcher who is about the same size as Senior Jang Deok-su—the guy who threw the beanball at me, Matthias—soared into the air and then crashed onto the mound.

Swoosh.

Senior Jang Deok-su pulled the guy, who was half-buried in the mound, back out. Then, with his hammer-like fist, he smashed the guy’s jaw.

Pow!

There was a sound of something seriously breaking.

I guarantee that guy won’t be able to eat anything but soup for at least a few months. No, since he’s Cuban, it’ll be broth. Yeah, he won’t be able to eat anything but broth.

“No! Deok-su, stop! Stop!”

“Hey, grab his arm! There, yeah, everyone hang on!”

“Die!”

“Keureureureuk…….”

It took almost a dozen of our team’s players and the Cuban players clinging to him to barely stop Senior Jang Deok-su from going berserk.

I guarantee it. That senior is a different species from ordinary humans.

How did he get to the mound before me?

Moreover, how can he turn a guy who is almost the same size as him into a bloody mess like he’s playing with a toy?

In some ways, Senior Jang’s physique might be more mysterious than my regression.

“Stop! Ejection! Ejection! No, that’s not important, get a stretcher! Call an ambulance!”

“Hey! You can’t throw that! Get down! Let’s talk it out! Yeah, turn that off first!”

While the players were pulling the Cuban pitcher away from Senior Jang Deok-su, the umpires rushed over and struggled to control the situation.

Ejection orders were issued to both the pitcher and Senior Jang Deok-su, and an ambulance entered the field from afar.

Min Ye-rin, who was sitting on the first base side, pulled out a flare used for distress signals and was screaming on top of the safety net as if she was about to jump down, and the other excited spectators were also chanting in unison with her.

Perhaps it was because Senior Jang Deok-su had completely crushed the pitcher.

The anger that had surged up from the beanball slowly subsided, and a sense of reality returned, making me worry about what would happen next.

Can this… be salvaged?

* * *

The chaotic field was barely cleaned up.

With Senior Jang Deok-su, the jerk named Matthias who threw the beanball, and Min Ye-rin ejected, the game resumed.

No outs, runners on first and second.

Another pitcher came up to the mound to replace the ejected guy, and I stepped back into the batter’s box.

I said to Manager Jeong Yun-seok, who asked if I was really okay and offered to replace me if I felt even a little uncomfortable.

“They’re scared. I’ll finish it, Manager.”

It wasn’t just empty words. The atmosphere on the field had clearly changed after the bench clearing—no, can we even call that a bench clearing?

Anyway, after that one-sided massacre, fear flickered in the eyes of the Cuban guys. It might be a sequela [a condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury] of watching their teammate get bloodied in real-time.

They might mistake Senior Jang Deok-su’s strength for Eastern martial arts or mystery, or something like that.

It’s just that Jang Deok-su is naturally strong.

Well, there’s no need to explain it to them.

Whoosh.

I lightly swing the bat in the batter’s box.

And I warned the catcher.

“If you’re confident, try throwing it at my head one more time.”

“What……?”

“The moment the ball comes even a little inside, I’ll smash your head first.”

“…….”

There was no reply.

He already defected from Cuba to the United States and has wealth and fame in the big leagues. Right now, this catcher’s head is probably full of the desire to finish this game quickly.

That’s why I’m aiming for it.

I roughly know what kind of ball that pitcher on the mound throws.

A four-seam fastball and a two-seam fastball with dirty movement, and a curveball.

In a situation with no outs and runners on first and second, the ball that kind of guy will throw is obvious.

It’s been a while since I openly aimed for something big. In fact, most of the home runs I’ve hit since coming to this tournament were just results that came out of doing it, rather than aiming for them.

But it’s different now. I want to end everything in my at-bat. So that those guys can’t crawl up anymore.

I lower my grip, adjust my hitting point in preparation for a fastball.

Crack!

– He hit it! There’s no need to watch this! The moment he hit it, Han Su-hyeok, who sensed it was a home run, looks at the fly ball while leaning on his bat like a cane! The ball continues to fly to the left, to the left, over the fence, over, ahhh! It went over the outer wall of Yankee Stadium! Grand slam! The score is 8 to 5! Han Su-hyeok sinks Cuba!

– He’s really crazy! He’s freaking crazy! Jang Deok-su smashed Cuba with his fists, and Han Su-hyeok smashed them with baseball!

* * *

Worrying about additional penalties due to the bench clearing might have been unnecessary.

Inside an office located within the Major League Baseball headquarters, a middle-aged man with blonde hair is smiling as he replays the bench clearing video from today.

“Hmm, he really went for it.”

Korea won the quarterfinal match between Korea and Cuba.

Han Su-hyeok’s three-run home run immediately after the bench clearing, the bench clearing and the home run, the Cuban hitters, who were completely intimidated, were perfectly suppressed by Incheon Kwon Gil-yong, who came out as the closer, and couldn’t do anything.

8 to 5, Korea’s victory.

Korea has the largest professional baseball market after the United States and Japan.

It was very welcome news for the Major League Baseball headquarters, which had put all its efforts into making this tournament a success.

But a small problem arose that had to be dealt with.

A heated bench clearing occurred during the game.

The Korean monster catcher crushed a Cuban jerk.

I just received a call that the Cuban guy who threw the beanball at his head and got bloodied has regained consciousness.

He’s such a pathetic guy. He tried to hit the opponent clumsily, but he got beaten to a pulp instead.

Anyway, since a problem occurred at a tournament organized by the headquarters, we have to fix it.

Of course, all of that process must proceed thoroughly according to the interests of Major League Baseball.

“How should we handle this, Brad? Come on, tell me with that good head of yours.”

The WBC [World Baseball Classic] tournament is special in many ways.

It is an international tournament, but it is a game hosted by the Major League Baseball headquarters, not an amateur association. The decision-making power rests entirely with them.

There is no precedent for bench clearing penalties. There have been several bench clearings so far, but there hasn’t been a direct exchange of fists like this.

“Well… according to Major League Baseball regulations…….”

“According to?”

“The pitcher who threw the beanball should be suspended for 7 to 10 games, and the hitter who swung his fist should be suspended for 5 to 7 games.”

“So, you’re saying we should follow that as it is?”

“Yes?”

“Tsk, tsk, Brad. Listen carefully, my friend. If you want to get to my position in the future, you need to look at things from a more strategic perspective. What is the purpose of holding the WBC? Why did we take the risk of even interrupting the All-Star break? It’s to increase the popularity of professional baseball around the world and for our headquarters to take the lead in making profits from it, right?”

“That’s right, Team Leader.”

“We don’t have to be mindful of anyone there, and the guys who caused the accident this time aren’t going to play in Major League Baseball, and frankly, what does it matter if they fight among themselves? Why should we take the lead in punishing them?”

“So, that means…….”

“Yes, what’s important now is not the punishment for the bench clearing, but the success of the upcoming semi-finals and finals. So, what should we do for that?”

“…Issue-making?”

“That’s right. That Jang on the Korean team…….”

“It’s Jang Deok-su.”

“That’s right, that guy. He’s really amazing. Great punch. He has star quality. Especially the macho guys in the South will go crazy for him. Good. Start packaging the bench clearing video from today and spread it around.”

The team leader of the headquarters in charge of this matter really liked the player named Jang Deok-su.

A warrior who jumped into enemy territory to save a teammate who was about to be hit by a beanball, and an absolute powerhouse who completely sank the enemy with a few punches.

Some may criticize it as being too excessive, but it was a very good promotional card for the Major League Baseball headquarters, which was only interested in the success of this tournament.

Above all, the vast majority of American fans who watched the game were cheering for Jang Deok-su. This will have a positive impact on ticket sales and viewership for the semi-final game in which the Korean team will participate.

“Okay, so you know what to do from now on, right? You can go now.”

“But Team Leader, could it be that… our headquarters will be criticized for this?”

“Criticized?”

A look of contempt appeared on the middle-aged man’s face.

“Brad, you stupid friend. Who’s going to criticize us? The IOC [International Olympic Committee], which has nothing to do with the WBC? The amateur baseball association? Or professional associations from other countries? Who the hell is going to criticize us?”

Come to think of it, that was true. The only one who was harmed by this was Cuba.

The remaining participating countries, except for Korea and Cuba, didn’t care who fought, and the media was busy making this an issue and trying to increase views.

Cuba’s protest?

Well, as always, when a problem arises between the United States and Cuba, it is Cuba that is at a disadvantage.

“I understand. Then I’ll wrap up the penalties for the two players with fines.”

“That’s up to you, and what I want is news that the semi-final and final tickets are sold out and the viewership has risen to an amazing level. I don’t need anything else. Make sure to bring that news when you come to see me next time.”

* * *

[Korean national baseball team defeats Cuba 8-5 and advances to the semi-finals]

[Han Su-hyeok, who was almost hit in the head by a beanball, perfectly avenges with a three-run home run]

[2 home runs and 6 RBIs by himself, a game by Han Su-hyeok, by Han Su-hyeok, for Han Su-hyeok]

[Cuban pitcher Matias Lopez, who threw a 100-mile beanball at Han Su-hyeok, suffers orbital and mandibular fractures]

[Jang Deok-su’s angry punch sinks Cuba]

[UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship] President Devon White: “I saw Jang Deok-su’s punch. It’s a serious waste of talent that he’s playing baseball.”]

[Unprecedented ultra-strong bench clearing occurs in an international tournament, Major League Baseball headquarters to announce follow-up measures shortly]

[Min Ju-hyeon, who wore a catcher’s mask for the first time in 11 years in place of Jeong Dae-han and Jang Deok-su: “I think I lost 5 kg,” shaking his head]

[Jeong Dae-han, who was hit by a beanball, has simple bruises as a result of the examination, and there will be no problem with participating in the semi-final game]

[Some Korean spectators, including famous celebrities, rush onto the field, excited by the bench clearing incident?]

[Major League Baseball headquarters announces follow-up measures for the bench clearing between Korea and Cuba: “We deliberated over an unprecedented event, but made the fairest judgment possible. Cuba’s Matias Lopez fined $10,000, Korea’s Jang Deok-su fined $2,000”]

└That’s a damn fair judgment

└Real crazy;;;

└I pay my respects to Hwang Seong-min once again. How did you torment such a monster for years?

└You will see more than you can imagine. If there are any black cows who haven’t seen the bench clearing video that day, watch it. https://www.espn.com/watch/collections/12…

└The Yankees are crazy. They put this on the main page of the broadcasting station

└Wow… he hits so coolly

└It’s really amazing to see Jang Deok-su. Is it possible to lift guys who are as big as him with one hand?

└He’s just naturally strong

└I think he found the wrong sport… If he goes to fighting now…

└Anyway, it’s now certain. You should never throw beanballs at the Warriors. Seeing the Cuban guys getting beaten up, there is no one to stop them in Korea.