Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 139

#138. The Last Out

Even in the United States, the birthplace of baseball and a country where it’s considered a national pastime, there are growing concerns that professional baseball’s popularity is being overshadowed by other sports.

The reasons are varied.

Firstly, unlike other sports, a single superstar’s impact on a baseball game is extremely limited. It’s difficult for one player to completely dominate. That’s the first reason.

Even an ace pitcher who consistently wins only starts about thirty times out of the 162 games in a season.

A batter can play every game, but they are still just one of nine players. After their at-bat, they have to wait for their next turn.

This makes it difficult to have the kind of exhilarating, continuous plays seen in basketball or soccer, where one player can break through the opponent’s defense and score repeatedly.

There are many other reasons as well.

The long game time, close to three hours, is a turn-off for younger audiences, and broadcasting is primarily local, making it difficult to create national stars.

The problem is that this phenomenon isn’t just happening in the United States.

Japan, which has the second-largest professional baseball market after the U.S., and Korea are facing similar situations.

However, there are always exceptions.

Sometimes, a single outstanding player can completely dominate a game, and their mere presence draws fans to the stadium.

Like Han Su-hyeok, who not only hit the only home run of the game, scoring the sole point for either team, but is also dominating the opposing batters on the mound.

“Time! We’re making a substitution.”

The game, which had everyone—players, the bench, and fans—on the edge of their seats, was now entering the top of the 9th inning.

The score remained 1-0, with Han Su-hyeok’s home run in the bottom of the 6th being the only run scored by either team.

What made today’s game even more nerve-wracking was that no Magicians batter had reached first base through the 8th inning.

A perfect game – no hits, no walks, not even an error – was within reach.

With that unprecedented record, something that has never happened in KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] history, within reach, rookie Yu In-cheol, who had been playing solid shortstop all day, was carried off the field on a stretcher due to a calf cramp.

“…I’m sorry, Manager. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay, kid. You did great. You did your part today. Jin-cheol will take care of things from now on, so don’t worry and go get a massage.”

Manager Lee Dae-jun comforted Yu In-cheol, who looked like he was about to burst into tears, and sent him to the trainer’s room.

90 pitches through 8 innings, facing a total of 24 batters, with 15 strikeouts, 3 groundouts to second base, 1 groundout to first base, 1 groundout to shortstop, and 3 flyouts to center field, and 1 flyout to left field.

These are the unbelievable pitching stats Han Su-hyeok recorded today.

Even setting aside the 15 strikeouts, 4 out of the 5 ground balls went towards the second baseman and first baseman—the most reliable veterans in the team’s infield.

The balls that went to the outfield were even more remarkable.

Seo Hyeong-ju, with his top-tier defensive skills, handled 3, and Choi Min-seok, the left fielder, handled 1. Walter, the right fielder, didn’t catch a single ball today.

Is it real? Can a pitcher really control the direction of the batted balls?

I don’t know. Unless Han Su-hyeok says something himself, there’s no way to know.

“Jin-cheol, don’t be nervous. I believe in you. Just take it easy.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Choi Jin-cheol, the utility backup player brought in from Changwon, ran onto the field with a flushed face.

He was a good acquisition. A good player. At least when it comes to defense, he’s a reliable player who has been added to the lineup.

Han Su-hyeok says something to Choi Jin-cheol as he takes his position.

Judging by his smiling face, it doesn’t seem like a serious conversation.

It’s truly amazing.

Even if he’s my own player, isn’t this too much?

Is that really the same guy who was a high school student until last year?

A pitcher who has only three outs left until a perfect game is exchanging jokes with the infielder who just came in as a substitute?

The shortstop, who joined the team at the same time, was so nervous that he got a cramp in his leg and had to be carried off the field, but what is that guy?

‘Good heavens.’

Lee Dae-jun began to think that he still didn’t know enough about Han Su-hyeok.

* * *

‘Grandma, I’m so nervous. What am I going to do?’

It wasn’t just Yu In-cheol and Lee Dae-jun who were nervous in this situation.

All the players on the field were in a state of emergency.

Jo Seong-oh, the first baseman who had handled the most balls among the fielders today, was taking off his glove and rubbing his hands whenever he had a chance, fearing he might make a catching error.

Lee Chang-mo, the second baseman, was simulating the trajectory of the ball in his head, and Ahn Chi-wook, the third baseman who hadn’t touched a single ball today, was half out of it and couldn’t hear anything.

The outfield was just as serious.

Walter Smith, the most experienced player, was deeply contemplating why the balls weren’t coming his way, and Choi Min-seok, the left fielder, was trembling, thinking about the ball he almost missed in the 7th inning.

Seo Hyeong-ju, the center fielder, had a slightly more complicated mix of emotions.

The shocking performance of Han Su-hyeok, whom he considered a rival, envy, admiration, or perhaps a bit of jealousy.

But the biggest emotion was the strong determination not to make any mistakes, to make Han Su-hyeok’s perfect game happen with his own hands.

As all the players entered a state of high tension, the one feeling the greatest pressure was none other than catcher Jang Deok-su.

He had witnessed Han Su-hyeok and Jeong Dae-han form a battery [pitcher and catcher duo] in the national team and achieve a no-hitter right before his eyes.

At that time, he didn’t think much of it.

He had a premonition that one day he too would decorate a page of history with Han Su-hyeok, but he thought there would be some time before that happened.

But what was this?

As soon as he returned to Korea, or more precisely, from Han Su-hyeok’s first appearance, this situation came about.

Thanks to Han Su-hyeok pitching with a little less force today, there weren’t many difficult balls to catch, but he couldn’t come to his senses because he was being led around unilaterally rather than leading the pitcher.

Why is he throwing this ball here? He couldn’t understand, but the batter’s bat swung through the air.

He thought this was a bit dangerous, but the batter touched the ball and was out on a ground ball to second base.

As that pattern continued to repeat, it became difficult to even keep up with Han Su-hyeok’s tempo.

The bench didn’t give any separate signals either. All the signals today were given by the pitcher, Han Su-hyeok.

How can that amazing junior and admirable younger brother come up with such a ball combination?

Jang Deok-su, who spends all day studying defense as a catcher except for watching girl group videos for a short time, felt like he had learned a tremendous amount today.

And finally, the 9th inning arrived.

Only three outs left now.

If they get those three batters out, Han Su-hyeok and he will be recorded as the first battery to achieve a perfect game in KBO history.

Thinking about that makes his hands and feet tremble again.

Jang Deok-su is the same guy who charged at a wild boar that came down to his yard with only a stick in middle school.

Jang Deok-su is the same guy who didn’t back down even a single step against dozens of high school bullies.

That Jang Deok-su is trembling, afraid of catching a mere 145g ball.

‘Grandma… please… help me not make any mistakes.’

All he can do now is beg and plead with his deceased grandmother, to pray that his proud younger brother’s great record will not be broken because of him.

That was all.

* * *

The fielders standing at regular intervals from each other to catch the opposing batter’s batted balls.

The catcher, who is one with the pitcher, the second baseman and shortstop standing closest to me, and the third baseman and first baseman, even the outfielders waiting far away near the fence.

The tension and fear of all those players are being transmitted to me.

The cool breeze blowing from the outfield towards the infield, the spectators watching me in silence, and even the gazes of the neighbors who are cheering me on from somewhere among those spectators, though they are not visible to the naked eye.

I don’t know.

If you ask me how I can feel such things, I have nothing to say.

I can only answer that I sometimes feel these things.

“Play!”

With the umpire’s signal to start the game, the Magicians sent in a pinch hitter.

The stats and characteristics of that player, as well as his recent condition, naturally come to mind the moment I see his number.

But what does that matter?

Right now, I am confident that I will not lose to any batter on this planet.

My teammates are trembling with tension and fear, yet they are ready to throw their bodies for me.

Even the fans who have invested their time to come to the stadium to see the pitcher Han Su-hyeok.

For all of them, I will do what I can.

Smoothly.

I step on the pitching rubber and begin my windup.

I can feel the body still overflowing with energy even after throwing over 90 pitches.

A smile comes out without me realizing it.

The young, injury-free body that I dreamed of in my previous life is starting to operate according to the owner’s will.

Smoothly, but powerfully.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Strike!”

The Magicians batter’s face turns pale at the 163 km/h fastball that is buried low and inside.

The most important thing in the battle between pitcher and batter is, of course, the individual skills of the players.

But in such an important moment, something else is added to it.

That thing we commonly call mentality, the tenacity and will to do what you have to do even in such a tense moment where you feel like you’ll fall off a cliff if you make even a slight mistake.

I have lived in such a tense atmosphere every day for over 15 years.

Perfect game? Shutout? Team victory?

I’m not so weak that I would be nervous about such things.

Nothing can shake me at this moment.

Whoosh

Boom

“Swing!”

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Strike! Out!”

Now there are two outs left until the record is achieved.

The untouched territory that no one in the history of Korean professional baseball has ever set foot on is beginning to reveal itself before me.

* * *

Whoosh

Boom

Thwack!

“Swing! Out!”

– Strikeout! Another strikeout! Han Su-hyeok strikes out pinch hitter Oh Dong-gyu and gets two outs! Now Han Su-hyeok is waiting… Ah, I’m sorry. Viewers, I think I got too excited. I almost broke a taboo in this situation. I apologize again.

– It’s okay.

– Yes? What do you mean by that, Commissioner?

– Look at what Han Su-hyeok is doing right now.

– Um? Ah, yes… He’s holding up one finger to his teammates?

– That’s right. It means there’s only one left, right? Look at Han Su-hyeok’s expression. He looks so happy, doesn’t he?

– He really does. Wow… Commissioner Go Dong-sik, even I, who am just watching, have stomach acid refluxing and my esophagus is tingling, but how can Han Su-hyeok, the person involved, be so comfortable?

– Well. One thing is for sure, Han Su-hyeok is enjoying this moment.

– As we speak, Han Su-hyeok is holding up one finger to the audience. Ah, what an amazing mentality.

– What did I tell you? Han Su-hyeok is not the kind of player whose mentality would be shaken by this much? Now, I will say it without hesitation. There is only one batter left until the perfect game that no one in KBO history has ever achieved. Coincidentally, the last opponent is Jung Gi-ho, who was traded from the Warriors. Please stay tuned to see how this great game will end today.