Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 129

#128. Nerve-Wracking Game

– Approved from above. 1 billion with Hayongdae, then we send Choi Jincheol. Deal?

“Hold on, Director Kim. Just a moment.”

– What now? You said you wanted to finish quickly and watch the finals properly? I feel the same. Hey! Director Park? Park Jaecheol!

Park Jaecheol, who was on the phone with Kim Gyuyoung, an old friend from his playing days and the director of the Changwon Raptors, paused the conversation and fixed his gaze on the TV.

The 2027 WBC [World Baseball Classic] final between Korea and the United States.

After an intense pitching duel that lasted until the top of the 5th inning, Han Suhyuk, the starting pitcher and 5th batter for the Korean team, stepped up to the plate.

Park Jaecheol knew very well that Ryan Tibodeau, currently one of the best pitchers in the United States, had large beads of sweat streaming down his forehead.

– Director Park! Park Jaecheol? What are you doing? You said it was urgent? Hey, this is what you requested, right?

“Ah, just a moment, will you?”

Kim Gyuyoung was trying to finalize the trade they were discussing, but Park Jaecheol ignored him, focusing all his attention on Han Suhyuk’s at-bat.

Han Suhyuk’s performance on the mound today was beyond words, simply overwhelming.

Park Jaecheol, who came from the Big Leagues [Major League Baseball], was more surprised than anyone else.

Han Suhyuk’s performance today was ace-level, even if he were thrown into the Major League right away.

Of course, there were variables. He had only shown it in one game, the question of whether he could endure a season of 162 games, his durability, his mentality, and so on.

But anyone who saw Han Suhyuk pitching now would not even think of such concerns.

Perfect pitching against the best hitters in the United States, not allowing a single runner in 5 innings.

Does this even make sense? Why is a guy like that…

Having dominated the American hitters, Han Suhyuk now stepped into the batter’s box.

The first pitch was launched from the fingertips of Ryan Tibodeau, who was sweating profusely.

The 101 mph fastball he threw darted towards Han Suhyuk’s deep inside.

In an instant, Han Suhyuk’s bat rotated sharply.

Crack!

– Ah! He hit it! Han Suhyuk’s hit falls between the left fielder and the center fielder, into an empty space! Han Suhyuk rounds first, second, second, safely slides into second base! With no outs and a runner on second, Han Suhyuk finally creates a golden opportunity to score!

– Amazing! It really makes you say he’s playing baseball all by himself! Ah, look at Ryan Tibodeau’s expression. He’s thrown 80 pitches so far, and with only 15 pitches left until his limit, he’s allowed a double to Han Suhyuk.

– Heo, Commissioner.

– Yes?

– Han Suhyuk’s pitch count through the top of the 5th inning is only… 61?

– Hehehe, I really want to see those guys’ faces.

– Who are you talking about?

– You know, those who were making strange noises about Han Suhyuk’s lack of experience until the day the WBC team departed…

– Ahem, in the meantime, the American team has requested a timeout. The pitching coach is going to the mound. Ah, is the pitcher going to be replaced? It seems so. Then we’ll be back after a short commercial break.

The American team’s pitching coach went to the mound to calm Ryan Tibodeau, who had lost half his soul to Han Suhyuk’s double.

Park Jaecheol, who was watching the scene on TV, said to the Changwon director on the phone.

“Director Kim.”

– Damn it, are you answering now? Yeah, you ignored me because you were watching Han Suhyuk’s hit, right? So let’s finish this call quickly and watch in peace. So, decide. I’m sending the contract right now?

“No, I want to change the conditions a bit.”

– What are you talking about? You said you’d give us 1 billion won with outfielder Hayongdae if we send Jincheol?

“How about Yooncheol in the second team instead of Yongdae?”

– Who? Who is Yooncheol? Jo Yooncheol? Your team’s 2025 3rd rounder? Hey, are you kidding me?

“Instead, I’ll give you 1 billion won plus 500 million won.”

– …Really?

“Yeah, but you have to decide right now. If you refuse, I’ll have to call the Jaguars right away.”

– Wait a minute, what’s the rush? Jo Yooncheol for 1.5 billion, 1.5 billion…….

“5, 4, 3, 2…….”

– Stop! Okay, okay! Don’t change your mind anymore. I’ll send the contract right now.

“Okay, thanks, friend. It was a good deal.”

– Hey, don’t just call me a friend, let’s have a drink next time we meet…….

Click

Park Jaecheol, who ended the call, turned his gaze to the laptop screen.

There, the trade proposals currently in progress at Warriors were densely packed.

Just now, Park Jaecheol gave 1.5 billion won and a promising second-team outfielder to Changwon, and in return, he agreed to receive Choi Jincheol, a useful player who can back up all infield positions, from second baseman and shortstop to third baseman, although his hitting is a bit lacking.

He will be a reliable backup for Han Suhyuk, Ahn Chiwook, and Lee Changmo in the second half of the season.

‘Hmm.’

Originally, he offered 1 billion won and first-team outfielder backup Hayongdae, and Changwon accepted.

With Choi Minseok, Seo Hyungjoo, Walter Smith, Kim Soohak, Kang Jinseok, and Hayongdae, there was still some room in the outfield. That’s why he was thinking of giving up Hayongdae for an infield player who urgently needed reinforcement.

But at the last minute, Park Jaecheol changed his mind.

Instead of Hayongdae, he sent a promising player stuck in the second team and added 500 million won to the trade money.

In fact, Park Jaecheol had set the Warriors’ maximum goal for this season to advance to the Korean Series [championship series of the KBO League].

3rd place in the regular season, or 2nd place if they are very lucky.

He thought it would be a great achievement just to go to the Korean Series and gain experience.

That’s because it’s a team that has recorded 9-8-8-10-10 over the past five years.

It’s not like a secret code. It’s the ranking this team has recorded.

He thought it would be a good experience just to have such a team reach the Korean Series. He thought that if the players gained experience and gradually supplemented the team’s depth, they would be able to challenge for the top in a few years.

‘I was stupid…….’

But it wasn’t.

The moment he saw Han Suhyuk catching the hitters of the world’s strongest American team like rats, and the moment he saw him hitting the American ace’s ball and creating a double.

Park Jaecheol decided to change his existing plan.

He decided to raise the Warriors’ final goal for this season.

Considering the game difference with 1st place Incheon, it may be difficult to take 1st place in the regular season. No, it will be difficult.

But what about the Korean Series, which is a single game elimination?

It might be possible.

We have Han Suhyuk.

The best ace who catches monstrous Big Leaguers like rats has just been added to the roster.

Realizing this, Park Jaecheol took the ready-to-use Hayongdae off the negotiating table and decided to send a second-team prospect instead.

Of course, the trade money allocated by the club was reduced again, but

It’s okay.

Now is not the time to be stingy with a few hundred million won.

– Viewers, the game starts again. In the bottom of the 5th inning, Korea’s attack, with Han Suhyuk hitting a double, Kang Woochan, the 6th batter, enters the plate.

– Ah, a hit would be good, but considering Ryan Tibodeau’s pitching, what we need now is an advancement hit. A ground ball to second, or a deep outfield fly, Kang Woochan must concentrate, a strikeout is absolutely not allowed!

The broadcast resumed after the commercial break.

The pitcher was still Ryan Tibodeau, and Kang Woochan of the Incheon Rangers was in the batter’s box.

Park Jaecheol, who was watching the scene with a calm expression, picked up his smartphone and called someone again.

“Oh, Director Oh. It’s me. Wait! Don’t hang up and listen to me first…….”

With 3 days left until the trade deadline, he still had a lot of work to do.

* * *

Whoosh

“Swing! Out!”

“3rd base, 3rd base!”

Whoosh

“Safe!”

“Fuck!”

Kang Woochan of the first-place team Incheon Rangers was eventually struck out after a 7-pitch battle.

The moment the Korean spectators, who had expected an advancement hit from him, burst into sighs.

Han Suhyuk ran towards the next base. And arrived at 3rd base with plenty of time.

Kang Woochan’s face, which had turned pale after being struck out, regained some color.

Whatever the process, a scoring chance of 1 out and a runner on 3rd base was created.

Although he was struck out, Kang Woochan made Ryan throw 7 balls.

The number of balls remaining until the limit of 95 pitches is only 8.

One batter, or at best two batters.

If we do well, we can score the first point and take the American team’s ace off the mound.

“Please, please…….”

“Ah, Taegyu…….”

“Ahn Taegyu, cheer up!”

“Ahn Taegyu! Ahn Taegyu! Ahn Taegyu!”

And shortstop Ahn Taegyu stepped into the batter’s box.

Although he is a shortstop, he is a hitter who is more accustomed to power hitting than bunting. He bunts so few times a year that he can count them on his fingers.

Should I bring in a pinch hitter and try a squeeze play?

But if I take out Ahn Taegyu here, the infield defense will be a mess. With Han Suhyuk also out, there may be holes in the second base and shortstop positions.

In the end, Director Jung Yoonseok, who erased the pinch hitter card from his mind, instructed the hitter to face the game head-on.

‘Oh my god…….’

Perhaps the first and last scoring chance, the moment Director Jung Yoonseok entrusted everything to the hitter and prayed in his heart.

Crack!

Ahn Taegyu hit a 100 mph fastball that came into the middle on a one-ball, two-strike count.

A bullet-like line drive heading between the shortstop and third baseman.

“Waaaa!”

The Korean spectators, who sensed a hit as soon as they saw the hit, burst into cheers.

Thud

“Out!”

“What the hell is that!”

“Does that make sense? Does that even make sense?”

“Really crazy… really…….”

Sighs of the audience swept away by the sense of futility erupted here and there.

American team shortstop Generd Evans jumped and caught the bullet-like hit that was trying to escape to the outfield.

└It’s nothing special. Han Suhyuk does it all the time

└That’s right. I’m so used to it in the KBO [Korea Baseball Organization] that it doesn’t seem strange at all

└Me too lol I thought it was a shortstop line drive as soon as I saw it

└The ones who are swearing now are probably the Warriors guys who haven’t suffered that kind of shit

└Warriors) ㅠㅠ

└Stop with the bullshit… I didn’t think he would catch that

└A monster is a monster. Every single one of them.

└Ah… then it’s 2 outs and a runner on 3rd base. Please just one hit…

* * *

“Taegyu, that was close. You did well.”

“Wow, what kind of human is that? I thought Suhyuk was the only crazy guy like that.”

“He’s the American League Gold Glove winner last year.”

“Okay, let’s forget about being out and cheer for Daehan. Jung Daehan fighting!”

Kim Seongsoo, the oldest member, greeted Ahn Taegyu, who returned with a look of frustration after being robbed of a hit.

The golden chance of 1 out and a runner on 3rd base was changed to 2 outs and a runner on 3rd base.

It’s a little disappointing, but the scoring chance is not over yet.

The Korean players in the dugout shouted Jung Daehan’s name loudly and cheered him on.

The number of pitches allowed to American starter Ryan Tibodeau is now 4.

Ryan, sensing that it was the last time, threw the ball with all his might.

At 3rd base, Han Suhyuk moved busily as if he was going to steal home. In fact, Han Suhyuk sent a signal to the dugout that he would steal.

But Director Jung Yoonseok stopped him.

Han Suhyuk is absolutely necessary on the Korean team’s mound right now. If he goes down here, everything could collapse in an instant.

Regardless of the success rate of the home steal, what if he suffers even a minor injury in the process?

Everything is over.

In the end, Han Suhyuk had to swallow his disappointment and give up the home steal, and Ryan Tibodeau struck out Jung Daehan, the 8th batter of the Korean team, and finished his last pitch.

5 innings without a run, 96 pitches, the record of Ryan Tibodeau, one of the best pitchers in the United States.