Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 154

#153. The Hellish 14-Game Series

– They say the common man always laughs at those who challenge.

– What did you say, Commissioner?

At the Gocheok Dome broadcasting booth, before the first game against the Fighters, marking the start of the final 14-game series of the 2027 regular season for the Seoul Warriors, the announcer looked at Go Dong-sik with a strange expression.

After visiting the Warriors’ representative office for a special program shoot a while ago, Go Dong-sik’s condition seemed a bit off.

No, to be precise, he was always strange, but it would be more accurate to say he got a little worse.

But I decided not to pry. After all, it would be something related to Han Su-hyeok anyway.

– It’s a very famous saying in the Japanese baseball world. It means exactly what it says: the common man laughs at those who challenge. It means that ordinary people laugh at those who challenge seemingly impossible tasks.

– I understand what you mean, but why are you saying that now……?

– When I first sat in this seat, how many people laughed at me? They said a third-rate player turned tabloid reporter who barely made a living with small-time broadcasts was daring to grab a public broadcasting microphone.

– Commissioner…….

– Well, it’s not entirely wrong, but look at me now. I succeeded like this, *sniff*, and now I’m even in charge of Han Su-hyeok’s exclusive interview. Isn’t that amazing? I’m really proud of myself.

It’s a daily occurrence, but it’s hard to get used to. The announcer wiped the sweat from his forehead and barely steered his words in another direction.

– Ah, speaking of which, you said you did an exclusive interview with Han Su-hyeok? What was it about?

– It’s a secret.

– Pardon?

– I’m sorry. According to the contract between the club and the broadcasting station, I have no choice but to keep it off the record until the documentary airs. But there’s one thing I can tell you…….

– There is?

– Han Su-hyeok is originally very warm, outgoing, and likes to make friends?

– What?

* * *

“If you yap one more time, I’ll go up to the mound in the next inning and plant a 105-mile fastball in your head.”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me, and watch your mouth. Remember. There’s no second chance, you son of a bitch.”

The first game against the Fighters began with four key players missing due to injury and exhaustion: Seo Hyeong-ju, Ahn Chi-wook, Jo Seong-oh, and Lee Chang-mo.

William Walker, the Fighters’ first baseman, sneered at Han Su-hyeok, who got a walk in his first at-bat.

‘Hey, where did all the real players go, and why is the lineup full of fakes? Did you give up on winning?’

He might have been joking. Or it could have been a provocation to complicate Han Su-hyeok’s mind.

But Han Su-hyeok was not in the mood to take such jokes right now.

His mood was heading for an all-time low due to the sudden realization of the threat of injury and his guilt towards Lee Man-sik.

Harsher words came out of Han Su-hyeok’s mouth.

William tried to get angry after being cursed at for talking nonsense, but he reluctantly closed his mouth, thinking about the arrogant rookie in front of him and the monster catcher in the waiting area far away.

‘Damn, he doesn’t have an ounce of sociability.’

Han Su-hyeok, who was evaluated as a player who likes to make friends by some and a player who doesn’t have an ounce of sociability by others, turned his gaze to the scoreboard.

1 Center Fielder Choi Min-seok

2 Left Fielder Kim Su-hak

3 Shortstop Han Su-hyeok

4 Designated Hitter Walter Smith

5 Right Fielder Kang Jin-seok

6 Catcher Jang Deok-su

7 3rd Baseman Choi Jin-cheol

8 1st Baseman Yong Ji-hoon

9 2nd Baseman Yoo In-cheol

Pitcher Ryan Stark

With four starters missing, the offense and defense look unstable in many ways.

The infield is especially serious.

First baseman Yong Ji-hoon, second baseman Yoo In-cheol, and third baseman Choi Jin-cheol. Three of the four were filled with backup members.

It can’t be helped.

Manager Lee Dae-jun also wanted to give them a rest as much as possible, but he had no room to spare players due to the 3-game series against the Incheon Rangers last week and the 4-game series against the Magicians.

Fortunately, the pitcher on the mound was ace Ryan, a foreign player.

We have to score. We have to decide the game while he’s on the mound.

2 outs, runner on 1st, Walter Smith enters the plate.

In principle, the correct answer is to expect a long hit from the 4th batter here. I could get injured if I try to steal.

But now is not the time to consider those things one by one.

Walter, who is feeling discomfort in his left pinky finger, is unable to swing big. Kang Jin-seok, who is placed behind him as the 5th batter, is still not a reliable hitter.

Somehow, Walter has to get a hit, and I have to get to home. That’s the only way to score the first point.

That’s why I need to steal now.

Of course, I’m not the only one who knows that.

The battery [pitcher and catcher] of the Fighters we’re facing now knows it well enough.

Several check throws went back and forth, and a war of nerves continued between the battery and me.

A very small gap I found after a long war of nerves.

The moment I found it, I started running towards second base without hesitation.

Ta-dat!

* * *

– He hit it! Han Su-hyeok’s hit ball is flying far, far, and keeps flying! Ah! Home run! It’s a home run! Han Su-hyeok’s home run in the top of the 9th with 2 outs and no runners allows the Warriors to chase one point! Season 55! Now Han Su-hyeok is only one away from the single-season home run record!

– Not only that. He added two stolen bases today and achieved his 40th of the season. With this, Han Su-hyeok became the second player in history to achieve 40-40 after Changwon’s Eric Thames in 2015. This is a great record that has only been achieved 4 times in Major League history so far. Congratulations, Han Su-hyeok.

– Commissioner, why does Han Su-hyeok look so bad? It’s hard to believe that he is the player who hit his 55th home run of the season and achieved 40-40.

– I think it’s because the Warriors, who were determined to win today’s game, were unexpectedly hit by the Fighters. Considering Han Su-hyeok, who has emphasized that the Warriors’ victory is much more important than personal records, it is understandable.

– Ah, the game ends as the ball hit by 4th batter Walter Smith ends up as a fly ball to the center fielder. Final score 5 to 2, the Seoul Fighters catch the 2nd place team Warriors and move up one step from 9th to 8th place.

– Well, considering that Incheon eventually won 2 to 1 in the game between Incheon and Suwon that just ended, the difference between the Rangers and the Warriors has widened to one game again. The Warriors, who have a long way to go, will feel very sorry for today’s game.

* * *

“Okay, it’s okay. Don’t be discouraged, hold your heads up, you guys. You have to say hello to the fans. Especially you, Su-hyeok, you have to do an interview, but what’s with that expression? Cheer up, review today’s game well, and win tomorrow. Okay, don’t do anything else today, those who want to eat, eat, those who want to go home early, go straight home, dismiss!”

Manager Lee Dae-jun left the locker room with an effort to maintain a calm expression.

We lost the first game against the bottom team Fighters, which we thought would be the easiest of the last 14 games.

There was nothing special about it.

It’s just that the absence of the four starters was too great.

The Fighters thoroughly avoided competing with me at important moments, and the lineup without the starters failed to seize the opportunity.

The same was true on defense.

The infield, which included three backup members, was creaking here and there, and it was impossible for me to cover it alone.

Ryan’s control, whose back was unstable, faltered, and eventually the game tilted as he gave up four points in the 6th inning.

The Warriors, who became impatient, used the starting hitters as pinch hitters in succession from the 7th inning to try to reverse the situation, but eventually failed to reverse the situation.

“Hey, don’t frown too much. I feel like I’ve committed a crime worthy of death.”

Seo Hyeong-ju, who was completely excluded from today’s game due to physical problems, approached me, trying not to care.

It’s not his fault.

The fact that he, who is only a first-year rookie, has held the position of starting center fielder and leadoff for almost a full season is enough to be praised.

But I didn’t have the leeway to praise him now, nor did I have the leeway to accept jokes like usual.

I just nodded once to let him know that I understood, and then headed to the interview.

“Han Su-hyeok, although the team lost today, you hit your 55th home run of the season and became the second-highest in history. In addition, you became the second player in history to achieve 40-40. How do you feel?”

“I don’t think personal records mean anything in a situation where the team has lost.”

“…Um, still, isn’t it a moment of glory that is hard to come by personally? Please say a word to the many fans who have supported you so far.”

The reporter, who took a step out of the camera angle, gave me a constant wink with a pitiful expression.

Yes, I understand what you mean well enough.

I know, but…….

“I’m sorry. I will try a little harder and make sure to win the game tomorrow. Thank you.”

I left the stadium, leaving behind the reporter’s sigh.

Now I know for sure.

Winning the WBC [World Baseball Classic], followed by the second half of the schedule, and the injuries and departures of fellow players.

Through all those processes, my body and mind were getting tired at the same time.

* * *

Who in this world knows the most about Han Su-hyeok?

Representative Park Seong-hoon, who has been like a brother for over 10 years since elementary school?

Jacob, who checks Han Su-hyeok’s condition and physical condition every day?

Or the colleagues who are with him all year round?

They are all wrong. If I had to pick one person at this point, it would be Min Ye-rin.

After falling deeply in love with Han Su-hyeok, she watched countless videos of all his games from his school days to his professional debut, and on game days, she chased him all over the country, never taking her eyes off him.

And after returning home, she turns on that day’s game again and contemplates what she can do for Han Su-hyeok.

Min Ye-rin is the one who has been observing and researching Han Su-hyeok to the point where she could be mistaken for a stalker if she makes a slight mistake here.

To Min Ye-rin, Han Su-hyeok’s condition has been unusual recently.

He is a person who rarely has good days, but recently he has been exuding a heavy atmosphere as if something had happened.

All the jokes he used to play with his peers have disappeared, and he doesn’t talk to his colleagues except for games.

She was so worried that she called Park Seong-hoon to ask, but he also knew about it, but he didn’t know the reason.

Along with a request that she give him a warm consolation if she runs into him in the neighborhood.

The moment she heard that, Min Ye-rin realized something.

Why do I need to know why Han Su-hyeok is having such a hard time?

If Han Su-hyeok has a problem as a baseball player, it will be a problem that not only she but no one in the world can solve.

Therefore, what she needs to do now is not to find the reason but to embrace the wounded Han Su-hyeok.

‘Hmm…….’

The problem was that Min Ye-rin had no experience with men, or rather, dating.

It couldn’t be helped because she devoted her entire teenage years to learning songs and dances and polishing them.

While other idols were secretly dating male entertainers during breaks, Min Ye-rin went back and forth to the baseball field with her father.

Extremely limited human relationships with almost no one to call a friend, let alone a man.

Min Ye-rin, who had been racking her brains for a long time, suddenly picked up her smartphone and searched for something as if she had come up with something.

An internet cafe she had accidentally discovered sometime ago.

[A small gathering for people who have athlete boyfriends]

Min Ye-rin’s finger clicked the join button without hesitation.