Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 16

#15. Better Than I Thought?

Earning a living in a foreign country is never easy, regardless of your profession.

From language barriers to unfamiliar food, living environments, and cultural differences, one inevitably faces difficulties. Unlike locals who often have a degree of job security, foreigners must live with the constant anxiety of potential dismissal.

The same holds true for baseball.

Unlike domestic players who are protected by various systems once they join the professional ranks, foreign players are shown very little mercy.

Injuries or poor performance during the season can quickly lead to them being cast aside.

They are professional baseball mercenaries who must prove their worth every single day to maintain their livelihood.

Here’s Max Walker, who has taken over the new foreign player slot for the Warriors.

“Hey, Brooks. Is that the super rookie? The one who got an offer from Seattle?”

“Yeah, he’s a monster. Let’s see him hit.”

After recording a batting average in the .100s in his first season in the Big Leagues last year, Max Walker cleanly gave up his ambition of being a Major Leaguer and became the Warriors’ right fielder.

At twenty-eight years old (Korean age counts age differently, often adding a year), it was still a bit early to give up on his dream of playing in the Majors, but he had a relatively good understanding of his own abilities.

In terms of power, speed, and durability, he was slightly lacking in all aspects to truly succeed as a Major Leaguer.

He knew it.

To become a true Major Leaguer, one must possess God-given talent.

Crack!

Just like that guy.

“Wow! That crazy bastard! Another home run!”

“Whoa, that, that, it’s out of the park! It went out of the park!”

“He’s not throwing his bat this time?”

“Hey, he was probably just excited earlier. Don’t discourage the rookie for no reason.”

“Did I say anything? I’m just saying.”

Max, who was replaced after his second at-bat and was chatting with fellow foreign player Brooks, followed the trajectory of a massive hit launched by someone.

The hit from Han Su-hyeok flew in a huge parabola and eventually cleared the fence.

His teammates next to him were chattering, but he couldn’t understand a word because it was in Korean.

But you don’t necessarily need words to understand everything.

This tremendous cheer must be praise for that monster.

Max Walker jumped up from his seat and started clapping like crazy, like an audience member who had just watched a great performance.

“Bravo!”

“?”

Other teammates looked at him with strange eyes, but he didn’t care.

Just then, Max Walker realized the path he had to take.

* * *

“Good work, everyone!”

The first intra-squad scrimmage of this spring training was over.

7 to 5, White Team’s victory. But what’s important now isn’t who won.

Max Walker, who finished the game, walked towards Han Su-hyeok with a bat in his hand.

“Hey, buddy. Nice hit. Good batting.”

“You can just speak in English.”

“Oh! Really? You can speak English?”

“Of course.”

“That’s a relief! I’m Max Walker.”

“I know.”

“Hehe, good. Friend. Let’s get along well in the future.”

At the age of twenty-eight, Max Walker, who had left his home country and started a new challenge in a strange land, intuitively understood something.

He had heard that Korean baseball had a strict hierarchy, but that was only applicable among ordinary players.

He had seen countless prospects and superstars firsthand while moving around several teams in the United States.

But he could confidently say that he had never seen a talent like this crazy rookie in front of him.

He was certain.

The center of this team in the future would be this friend.

What if that player felt comfortable when he played alongside him?

What if he put in a good word about him when talking to the manager?

Max Walker, who got married at an early age and already had two children to feed, decided to align himself with Han Su-hyeok.

* * *

Another strange guy has been added.

After the scrimmage that day, a foreign mercenary named Max Walker started following me around, just like Ahn Chi-wook.

If I lose focus for a moment and turn around, there’s a Korean guy and an American guy staring intently at my practice.

Also, when I finish practicing and am resting, there are often drinks brought by the two guys placed next to me.

And sometimes, manager Lee Dae-jun lends a hand.

I don’t know what they’re thinking.

“Hey, buddy. What do you think?”

“About what?”

“My swing. Is there anything you can advise me on?”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be better to ask the coach than me?”

“Oh… I want to hear your opinion, but I apologize if I was too forward.”

Unlike Korean baseball, where it is common for senior players to pass on their knowledge to juniors, veterans in the Major League don’t readily share their knowledge with rookies.

Of course, there are veterans who are willing to do such favors. We call those people dugout leaders.

Come to think of it, there were seniors who tried to pass on their know-how to me during my Major League days. But I called those veterans washed-up and ridiculed them.

What kind of person am I…

Max Walker flinched and stepped back at my blunt answer.

Combining the scouting reports of Max Walker that I glanced at a while ago, it went something like this:

Decent contact ability and usable power based on Triple-A standards [the level below Major League Baseball], with a strong arm.

But slow feet and defensive errors are the biggest drawbacks. A spray hitter who can create strong hits.

Since Max Walker will be playing as a right fielder anyway, I don’t expect much from him in terms of defense. The important thing is hitting…

“In my opinion, it might be better to hit more smoothly?”

“Smoothly? Can you be more specific, buddy?”

“I know you want to hit home runs, but our home stadium is one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in the world. It’s better to aim for doubles rather than home runs. That’s what the team wants and why they brought you here.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“Yeah, don’t try to follow my style for no reason. I don’t think it’ll suit you, Max.”

The batting form I’m using now is one that I developed alone without anyone’s help, containing the raw sensibility of my early Big League debut.

A batting form solely for home runs, to send the ball as far as possible rather than focusing on batting average or on-base percentage.

I remember when I was preparing to be a hitter for the first time in the Major League.

I wanted to do both pitching and hitting, and Seattle wanted to focus more on the pitching side due to the team’s circumstances.

Anyway, my stubbornness eventually won, and I started doing both pitching and hitting in my Big League debut season.

The batting coach of Seattle, who had white hair, said this every time he saw me.

‘Hey, Han. With your physique, you can send the ball out of the fence without having to lift it so forcefully.’

Of course, I lightly ignored the coach’s advice.

What I needed at the time was a home run.

Skepticism and disregard for a young player from the East, and racist remarks flying from the stands.

The best way to overcome those things was a big hit.

A big hit at a crucial moment was the most certain and clear solution to those minor problems.

That’s why I always aimed for a big hit at the plate.

The manager and coaches, who initially looked at me with worried expressions, didn’t say anything to me by the end of the season.

It was possible because the Big League prioritized skill above all else.

“Han, you’re up next.”

“Yes, coach.”

It was my turn to practice.

So, I, who insisted on only extreme uppercuts in my early debut, used various batting forms alternately as time went by.

Because I realized that I couldn’t become the best by sticking to only one batting form.

But now, as I prepare for a new career in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], I’m going to use this extreme uppercut.

The reason is simple.

This Warriors team has been too intimidated for the past few years.

All the team players and fans.

It stems from the devastated team situation where all the key players have been sold off.

The core players who would lead the team continued to be released as free agents.

Home run hitters are the most expensive. Naturally, they are the first to be sold off.

As a result, the Warriors are in a situation where there are no star players to be the center.

“Hey, Han, are you ready?”

“Yes, coach.”

“Good.”

Behind the coach’s pleasant voice, the balls thrown by the batting practice pitcher fly in order, easy to hit.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

I sent most of those balls over the fence.

While pushing and hitting the bad pitches that were going outside, I thought that my batting balance might be a little disrupted, but I ignored it.

All the players and coaches on the ground stop and watch my hits.

And then, as if they had all made a promise, they looked at me with blank expressions.

This is it. This is what’s needed to get rid of the defeatism prevalent in this team.

The flower of baseball is the home run.

Home run hitters are the most popular, both for the team that needs to win the game and for the fans who enjoy the game.

A big hit at a crucial moment raises the morale of our team and weighs down the shoulders of the opposing team.

The best superstars always come from among the home run kings.

“As expected.”

“Boss, I guarantee it with my coaching career. I haven’t experienced the KBO yet, but I’m sure that player will dominate the league this year.”

That’s why I’m going to be a thorough home run hitter this season.

A home run hitter who can sink the opponent with one big hit and raise the morale of our allies.

* * *

Three weeks have already passed since the start of spring training.

Park Jae-cheol, the general manager who had been with the camp until now, urgently returned to Korea.

There must be some issue related to a trade, but manager Lee Dae-jun, who had been suffering from being his conversation partner throughout the camp, seemed to be secretly welcoming his return.

As three weeks passed, the wheat began to be separated from the chaff among the players [meaning the good players were becoming apparent].

On the first base side, the team’s oldest veteran hitter, left-handed Cho Seong-oh, is the most likely candidate. The second baseman is Lee Chang-mo, who returned after failing in the Major League, and the third base is probably Song Ga-nom.

And the shortstop will naturally be me.

The outfield is Kim Su-hak, Jung Gi-ho, and Max Walker.

He’s really not even like a catcher, dropping the forkball thrown by the pitcher and glaring at the pitcher in an accusatory manner, but still, until the trade is finalized, Hwang Ga-nom will have to be the starting catcher…

Hmm.

Is it because I’m in there?

It’s not as bad as I thought at first?

If we can just find a player to fill the designated hitter slot.

* * *