Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 159

#158. Eve of the Storm

“Hyung-nim, are you okay?”

“Su-hyeok.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been meaning to say this, but when you call me ‘Hyung-nim,’ it makes me feel ancient, don’t you think? Can’t you just call me ‘Hyung’ like normal?”

“I will, Hyung. More importantly, what did the hospital say? Are you alright?”

“That sounds much better. The hospital said, well…”

Lee Man-shik, who pitched 5 and 2/3 innings in the previous game, visited a partner hospital in Busan this morning for another detailed examination.

When Lee Man-shik returned to the dugout, everyone’s attention was glued to him.

“I’m fine. I just need to manage it carefully so it doesn’t get worse, and then get a new ligament after the season. Don’t worry about it too much.”

Tommy John surgery [ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction] has become almost a rite of passage for pitchers these days, but I never experienced it in my previous life.

My shoulder gave out before my elbow could, so I had to stop pitching.

So, I don’t really know how he feels.

I don’t know if Lee Man-shik is truly okay with what he’s doing.

“By the way, I got a call from Seong-oh hyung-nim.”

“You just said calling you ‘hyung-nim’ makes you look old.”

“Well, that old man *is* really old. He’ll be a decrepit 40 in a few months. Hehe.”

Lee Man-shik joked and continued.

“Anyway, that hyung is coming back before the Suwon game starts. It seems like it wasn’t a major injury after all.”

Jo Seong-oh, who suffered minor back and shoulder injuries, is focusing on rehabilitation and treatment in the minor leagues without being removed from the first-team roster.

His absence has noticeably weakened the cleanup hitter lineup. The Warriors players’ faces brightened at the news of Jo Seong-oh’s return.

“By the way, Dong-ha.”

“Yes, Man-shik hyung-nim.”

“Didn’t you hear me a minute ago? I told you to just call me ‘hyung.’ Besides, there’s not that much age difference between you and me, is there?”

“Ah… yes, I understand.”

“Yeah, that’s not important. When you’re up against those Changwon guys…”

Lee Man-shik approached Kang Dong-ha, who would be starting today, and gave him various tips.

This wasn’t just to win today’s game, but also to welcome transfer student Kang Dong-ha as a full member of the team.

While the starting pitcher from yesterday’s game and the starting pitcher for today’s game were talking with serious expressions, manager Lee Dae-jun entered the dugout.

“Okay, everyone, pay attention. Man-shik, if your hospital checkup is over, just head back to Seoul. What’s a guy who started yesterday doing here, hanging around?”

“Going home would just annoy my wife. I’m more comfortable being with the kids [teammates].”

“Hoo, you rascal. If you don’t break that habit, your family might *really* get tired of you after you retire. You need to get used to being at home with your family from now on. Listen to me.”

Of course, Lee Dae-jun knew that the real reason Lee Man-shik stayed in Changwon was because he wanted to be with his juniors during the final 10-game road trip.

With a much softer expression than his words suggested, Lee Dae-jun posted the lineup sheet on the dugout.

Looking back, it was a really tough season.

We played 134 games, struggling with a depleted roster.

But we’re almost there now.

Just 10 games left. Once those 10 games are over, we can take a short break before the postseason.

“Okay, check today’s lineup, and Man-shik, if you’re going to stay here, you might as well go get a massage.”

“Yes, manager. I’ll take care of it.”

The lineup posted in the dugout listed the names of the players who would be playing in today’s game.

1. Center Fielder Seo Hyeong-ju
2. Third Baseman Ahn Chi-wook
3. Shortstop Han Su-hyeok
4. Right Fielder Walter Smith
5. Catcher Jang Deok-su
6. Designated Hitter Kang Jin-seok
7. Second Baseman Lee Chang-mo
8. Left Fielder Kim Su-hak
9. First Baseman Yong Ji-hoon

Pitcher Kang Dong-ha

Although some of the usual starters were missing, today was still an all-out effort.

And so, the game began.

* * *

If the first game, with veterans Lee Man-shik and foreign player Lucas Bennett, was a game where both teams sized each other up, the second game, between Warriors’ temporary starter Kang Dong-ha and Changwon Raptors’ first-year prospect, was a seesaw battle where you couldn’t predict the outcome.

With four Warriors pitchers and five Raptors pitchers, a total of nine pitchers from both teams were used, and in the top of the 9th inning, with the score at 6 to 7, Changwon was leading by one point.

Changwon’s closer, Woo Seong-jin, who came on with one out and a runner on first, gave up one strikeout and two walks, putting himself in a bases-loaded crisis with two outs, and looked towards the dugout, sweating profusely.

‘Shibal [a Korean curse word].’

The Changwon Raptors, whose 6th place was virtually guaranteed regardless of the remaining games due to yesterday’s loss, were in a tough spot.

The Changwon manager, who was called into the team president’s office after the game, was informed that his contract would not be renewed after this season, and was instructed to smoothly hand over the team to the head coach, who was likely to be the next manager.

Perhaps that’s why, even in the face of a critical situation with a one-point lead, the manager’s eyes were blank and unfocused.

The head coach, unable to watch any longer, asked the manager for permission and went to the mound.

“Seong-jin, are you okay?”

“No, I’m dying, coach.”

The head coach was the one who had mentored Woo Seong-jin since he was a rookie, often buying him food and offering guidance.

If he were to become the manager, it would significantly impact Woo Seong-jin’s future career and life after retirement.

In short, he was the person he needed to impress the most right now.

The head coach patted Woo Seong-jin’s shoulder, who was clearly panicking, and reassured him.

“What can we do? We just have to give it our all.”

“Huh…”

Woo Seong-jin’s heart sank.

“We don’t have any other pitchers ready to come up, and we can’t just walk him and give up the tying run, so what choice do we have? You’re the closer of this team, after all.”

“Coach.”

“Why.”

“If I take off my uniform later [retire]…”

“I know, I know. Seong-jin, I’ll take care of you. So don’t worry about the future and just focus on today’s game.”

At the coach’s words, Woo Seong-jin’s face finally began to regain some color.

Not every player can reach the top. In fact, 90% of the players just finish their careers as ordinary members of the team.

Woo Seong-jin, who had been active as Changwon’s closer with league-average stuff and corresponding ordinary stats, was no different.

An ordinary head of household, worried about his family’s livelihood after retirement, tried to steady his wavering heart and looked at the catcher’s mitt.

[Seoul Warriors 3rd batter Han Su-hyeok]

The moment the monster’s name boomed from the public announcer’s mouth, Woo Seong-jin’s heart, which he had been trying to calm, began to pound again.

At the same time, the entire Changwon baseball stadium shook as if it were collapsing.

“Waaaaaah!”

“Han Su-hyeok!”

“Hit one out! Please!”

“Over here! Over here!”

“I quit my job and came all the way to Changwon to see you! Su-hyeok!”

“Oppaah [term used by young girls to address older male]!”

I don’t know what’s going on.

Are there more Warriors fans who came to Changwon than home fans?

Or are even the home fans expecting him to hit a home run?

Red, blue, yellow, pink, purple, colorful dragonfly nets [used to catch foul balls] sway left and right as if they are performing a synchronized dance.

Seeing the sight covering the entire outfield, I suddenly felt dizzy.

‘Wait… if I give up a home run here…’

A new Korean record had already been set in yesterday’s game.

The name of Yoon Ho-gyun, a poor second-year rookie who had just been called up to the first team, was now known as [Pitcher who gave up Han Su-hyeok’s 57th home run].

But what if he allows another home run here?

His name would be etched in infamy instead of Yoon Ho-gyun’s.

‘Ah… Yong-jun… Dad is sorry…’

Perhaps his son, who had just entered kindergarten this year, would be teased because of it.

He would be called the son of the idiot who allowed the Korean home run record.

‘No, I can’t let that happen.’

Woo Seong-jin, barely holding on to his fading consciousness, gripped the ball tightly in his glove.

Irritation was rising on the umpire’s face. It was time to throw the ball.

‘Damn it, even if it’s that guy, it doesn’t mean every hit is a home run.’

Woo Seong-jin began to prepare to pitch, constantly recalling the head coach’s promise to make him a pitching coach after retirement.

Somehow it will work out, that was the only thing he was believing in right now.

But,

Thwaaaaaack!

“Keheok!”

After hearing an enormous cracking sound as if the ball was splitting, Woo Seong-jin realized.

That the monster called Han Su-hyeok was not a monster that could be subdued with such wishful thinking.

The colorful dragonfly nets were still waving left and right like waves in the direction of the right fence where the batted ball was flying.

* * *

[Korean single-season home run record broken in just one day, Han Su-hyeok hits a 역轉 [reversal] grand slam in the top of the 9th with two outs, now only two away from the Asian record with his 58th home run]

[Han Su-hyeok reaches 150 RBIs this season with today’s grand slam, also achieves the all-time number 1 spot in RBIs]

[Han Su-hyeok, who has broken various records in the hitter category, including batting average, home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, how far will his performance continue?]

[The lucky person who picked up the 58th home run ball is Mr. A, a 27-year-old job seeker from Seoul who came on a road trip, “It’s an honor. I will cherish it as a family heirloom for life.”]

[Warriors win 4th straight game with Han Su-hyeok’s 역轉 [reversal] grand slam, but remain in 2nd place as Incheon also wins]

[The competition for 1st and 2nd place continues until the end of the season, who will be the ultimate winner?]

“Damn it.”

In a hotel in Suwon, Incheon manager Hwang Byung-ho, who was staying there for the game against the Suwon Commanders, unknowingly cursed.

They had won 4 wins and 1 loss in the last 5 games.

Even for the strongest team in Incheon, it wasn’t always easy.

He sent Min Ju-hyun, Kang Woo-chan, Kwon Gil-yong, and a few others who expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership style to the minor leagues. It may be a loss in the short term, but it was unavoidable to maintain control of the team.

Hwang Byung-ho, who quickly took control of the Incheon team, took special measures to defend first place in the second half.

Position changes, rotation adjustments, and aggressive, even reckless, play.

Ace Lim Jun-yeong’s starting cycle was shortened from 5 days to 4 days.

Although he was facing his second free agency this year, Lim Jun-yeong was a player who sacrificed his body for the team’s victory rather than his own interests, just like he did when he was with the Warriors.

Hwang Byung-ho took Lim Jun-yeong’s sacrifice for granted.

Even if he wouldn’t go so far as to say that a pitcher’s shoulder gets stronger the more he uses it, if the team is fighting for first place at the end of the season, the ace should naturally put his shoulder on the line for the team.

At least that’s how Hwang Byung-ho learned baseball.

And he switched foreign player Mike Clark to the closer position.

This was because the existing closer, Kwon Gil-yong, disobeyed Hwang Byung-ho’s orders and was sent to the minor leagues.

Mike, who had only played as a starter throughout the season, was burdened by the closer position, but that was also unavoidable.

After all, a foreign player’s job is to risk his body for money. He is a disposable asset.

Hwang Byung-ho, who reorganized the pitching side in that way, ordered the hitters as follows.

“Provoke the pitcher’s nerves in the batter’s box. And always lift your legs high when sliding into second base. Aim for the opponent’s ankles! Anyone who acts awkwardly because they know each other will be sent to the minor leagues immediately. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Rough play, and play that provokes and intimidates the opponent.

The Incheon players, who were completely controlled by Hwang Byung-ho, had no choice but to follow the order, and as a result, they were able to achieve a record of 4 wins and 1 loss.

Of course, in the process, they injured two opposing team infielders.

Even though he had mobilized all the means he could, the gap with the Warriors was not easily widening.

‘Where did that bastard come from…’

The baseball that Hwang Byung-ho believes in is baseball where the manager completely controls everything.

He has been in the field for over 40 years and has sufficiently proven the effectiveness of manager-controlled baseball.

But only one, just one player.

A monster who defied common sense was ruining all of Hwang Byung-ho’s plans.

Han Su-hyeok.

An anomaly who renewed the Korean record in batting average, home runs, and RBIs in his debut year, and as a pitcher, is challenging consecutive innings without runs allowed.

All plans were going awry because of that one guy.

‘First, I need to break that guy’s spirit.’

A chillingly cold smile appeared on Hwang Byung-ho’s face.