Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 178

#177. Must Win

The first thing I did as soon as I realized I had regressed was to make this Warriors team my own.

And I shouted to the world:

‘The Warriors’ goal is to win the championship.’

Those words I uttered a year ago have finally become a reality and are now right before my eyes.

One step, just one step away from winning the championship.

Saying it’s okay to fail is not appropriate at this moment.

We will win. We must win.

For me, who has lived only for this moment, and for the many people who have been running together with the same dream.

“Hyung [older brother or respected male figure], please take care of us.”

“What do you mean, ‘take care’? That’s what I should be saying. Everyone, please focus on the defense. I’ll just do my best.”

The only regret is that I can’t be on the mound myself at this moment.

But it’s okay.

Jang Deok-soo, Walter, Lee Chang-mo, Ahn Chi-wook, Choi Min-seok, Seo Hyung-joo, Kim Soo-hak, Kang Jin-seok, Cheon Sang-jin.

Because my teammates, who have grown enough that I can trust and rely on them, are all gathered here.

The final stage of the Korean Series Game 7,

I can feel a pleasant excitement in the pitcher’s expression on the mound.

The pitcher I trust and like the most on our team,

A certain left-handed pitcher, who once wished to stand on the first-team stage, threw the first pitch with all his might.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Strike!”

* * *

‘Sang-jin, shouldn’t you look for a job now? Your father said he could get you a position at his friend’s company.’

‘I’ll decide after trying just this year, Mom.’

‘Yes, it’s not that your mother doesn’t know how much you like baseball… Sigh, anyway, I understand. Eat well, and don’t bother sending money home. Use it to buy something delicious for your teammates. Then, I’m going in.’

He thought it was the end.

He endured for years among coaches and managers who wouldn’t even properly tell him what he was lacking, and eventually enlisted in the army as if running away.

He hoped that things might be different after being discharged, but it was just a delusion.

The first-team stage still seemed far away, and no one told him how to move on to the next level.

He threw the ball in a second-team stadium with no spectators and thought.

‘I should try just this year, and if it doesn’t work out, I should get a job as Mom said.’

But then it happened.

The owner of the club changed, and the front office staff and coaches who had been dominating the team were all fired.

And soon after, Cheon Sang-jin made his debut on the first-team stage.

He, who was contemplating quitting baseball and learning a skill, is now pitching as the starting pitcher in the Korean Series Game 7.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Swing! Out!”

12 wins, 5 losses, an ERA of 3.62 [Earned Run Average – the average of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched].

This is the information that comes up when you search his name on internet portals.

Honestly, it feels like a dream.

Did I really become a 10-win pitcher?

Me?

His parents, who used to tell him to quit baseball and get a job, now go out to the town every day to buy newspapers with his face on them.

His immature youngest sister, who was a little ashamed that her brother was a second-team baseball player, now asks for autographs to give to her friends.

All of that still doesn’t feel real, but at least one thing is certain.

His family, his teammates, are now leaning on his shoulders.

That fact doesn’t feel burdensome at all; rather, it feels good.

He throws, with all the strength he can muster.

Isn’t he lacking rest?

No,

Pitcher Cheon Sang-jin is not that weak.

He has been training his body without rest for this moment.

He hasn’t even held a spoon with his left hand that throws the ball.

My left hand exists solely to throw baseballs.

With this hand, I will surely repay people’s expectations.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Strike! Out!”

* * *

– Wow, that’s amazing. Cheon Sang-jin strikes out the Incheon Rangers’ 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hitters in a row in the top of the first inning! A player who usually enjoys pitching to contact has suddenly turned into a strikeout machine.

– Incredible. If there are any amateur baseball players watching this game on TV today, I hope they keep their eyes wide open and watch Cheon Sang-jin’s pitching. It will be a game that truly shows what the essence of pitching is.

– Is it that good?

– Yes, as I’ve said before, the battle between pitcher and batter ultimately comes down to timing. Adjusting the speed and trajectory of the ball to avoid the batter’s bat, that’s actually what pitching is.

– Continue.

– As always, the maximum speed of the ball thrown by Cheon Sang-jin today does not exceed 142 km/h [approximately 88 mph]. Considering that the average speed in the KBO League [Korean Baseball Organization] this season is 143 km/h [approximately 89 mph], it can only be said to be ordinary.

– That’s right.

– The only reason Cheon Sang-jin can strike out batters with such an ordinary ball is this: he perfectly understands what the batter is aiming for when they come to the plate, and what they are thinking depending on the situation.

– It sounds amazing just hearing it.

– Yes, so I’m telling you to watch closely. No matter how much you watch a player like Han Su-hyeok, you can’t imitate him. If you are an amateur player aiming to become a professional, pay attention to Cheon Sang-jin’s pitching right now. It’s like a living textbook.

* * *

In the top of the first inning, Cheon Sang-jin struck out Incheon’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hitters in a row.

And then came the Warriors’ attack.

Stepping up to the plate was Seo Hyung-joo, who was in high spirits thanks to Han Su-hyeok’s compliment, or rather, not-so-compliment.

The Warriors’ assault captain, who recorded a batting average of 0.290, an on-base percentage of 0.362, 8 home runs, 51 RBIs [Runs Batted In], and 44 stolen bases this season.

Although he failed to achieve his goals of a .300 batting average, a .400 on-base percentage, and 50 stolen bases, it’s still an unbelievably good record for a rookie in his first year.

But Seo Hyung-joo couldn’t be satisfied at all.

Because of his too-good-to-be-true peer, who is living in the same age as him.

A batting average of over .400, 61 home runs, and 162 RBIs, even 4 more stolen bases than him.

He’s not human.

No human could ever do that.

‘Damn it.’

Whenever he thinks of Han Su-hyeok’s ridiculous stats, he keeps losing energy, but Seo Hyung-joo hasn’t given up yet.

He runs on the ground every day, determined to catch up with that monster someday if he keeps running and running.

For Seo Hyung-joo, what Han Su-hyeok said today was quite a shock.

‘If you take away the showboating, am I the best center fielder in the country?’

The monster who had been nagging him every time they made eye contact all year suddenly said that out of the blue.

But strangely, he doesn’t dislike those words.

No, to be honest, it feels so good that it melts in his ears.

‘Good.’

Even if it’s impossible to catch up with that monster right now, or at least for the next few years, he will never give up.

Because I am the genius Seo Hyung-joo, no matter what anyone says.

He grips the bat shorter than usual.

Lim Joon-young, who has been feeling the strain on his shoulder lately, hardly throws reverse-spinning balls. It’s okay if the reach is a little shorter.

Gripping the bat short, bowing his head more, and trying only to get on base may not look very good,

And he also wants to hit a big home run like that monster peer and run around the ground with a conceited attitude,

‘But first, what I can do.’

What he can do best right now is none other than getting on base.

For the Warriors who believed in him and brought him here, and who helped him grow like this,

And for himself,

Thwack!

Seo Hyung-joo, who lightly pushed the outside fastball on the first pitch, sprinted towards first base.

Min Joo-hyun, the Incheon third baseman, who is called the best in the league for his defensive ability alone, dove and snatched the batted ball.

At that moment, Seo Hyung-joo heard someone whispering in his ear.

‘If you take away the showboating, you’re the best.’

What Han Su-hyeok said was actually ‘You’re the best center fielder,’ but what’s important now is not that.

Seo Hyung-joo, who gained faith and confidence in himself from his peer’s words, threw his body forcefully towards first base.

Whump

“Safe!”

Unpleasant dust flies into his mouth.

But it doesn’t matter.

He’s alive.

It’s a success.

“Wow!”

“Seo Hyung-joo! Seo Hyung-joo! Seo Hyung-joo!”

The cheers of the crowd can be heard.

His name, interspersed between them, feels as sweet as music.

His face is covered in sweat and dirt, making him look a mess, but Seo Hyung-joo’s expression is brighter than ever.

Seo Hyung-joo, like that, shouted towards Han Su-hyeok, who was in the waiting batter’s box far away.

“If you can’t bring me in after all this, it’s all your fault!”

* * *

The reason why Ahn Chi-wook, who had been placed in the 6th and 7th batting order from the mid-to-late season, came up to 2nd today was for moments like this.

An opportunity for an unmanned first base, starting with Seo Hyung-joo’s infield hit.

Considering Son Young-jin’s shoulder, which has the best stolen base prevention ability in the country, and the defensive ability of the Incheon infield, it’s a situation where even Seo Hyung-joo can’t run easily.

Nevertheless, Seo Hyung-joo scratched Lim Joon-young’s nerves by repeating starts and returns to the fullest.

Thanks to that runner’s movement, the shift gap between 1st and 2nd base became looser than usual, and Ahn Chi-wook’s strong and fast hit went through that gap.

Thwack!

“Out!”

But the Incheon infield was strong as expected.

Son Jae-hoo, the Incheon second baseman, who made Lee Chang-mo, who returned to Korea after failing in the big leagues, a player with nowhere to go, managed to catch that batted ball, looking only at his defensive ability, which can be said to be the best in the country.

One out, runner on second base.

Lim Joon-young’s eyes are blazing in the batter’s box.

The reason why Lim Joon-young passed me in the last few games was because of the manager’s instructions.

But today, Lim Joon-young seems to have decided to pass me on his own.

“Boo!”

“Compete! Compete!”

Four balls flew in a row.

Seo Hyung-joo, who told him to bring him home no matter what, glared at the pitcher with a frustrated expression.

He’s the kind of person who makes the most unhappy face in the world when he gives up a walk on the manager’s orders.

Lim Joon-young throws the ball with a nonchalant face.

You’ve chosen.

Lim Joon-young chose to win today’s game instead of facing me and winning.

He’s serious.

It wasn’t just me who was serious about today’s game.

Lim Joon-young was also ready to do anything to win today’s game.

Good.

Yes, if it’s a championship trophy that can be easily obtained, it wouldn’t be worth it for me to put in so much effort.

Come at me with all your might.

We will win.

And we will bring the trophy.

Swish

As soon as he got to first base, he sent a stolen base sign to the bench.

Today’s game will be decided by momentary mistakes and split-second choices.

It’s not a fight of what’s right and wrong.

This game is already a war, not baseball.

You have to read the opponent’s breath, actions, and movements, and predict what’s on their mind.

Swish

After a long time of deliberation, the bench came out again and sent a sign to Seo Hyung-joo.

A double steal with a variation play.

What’s needed for success is the Incheon players’ fear of me and Seo Hyung-joo’s sense on second base.

He has the best base-running sense in the team, but he’s still a rookie.

How well can he move according to my intentions?

But there’s no time to hesitate or falter.

As Walter stepped into the batter’s box and Lim Joon-young, who had thrown a few pickoff throws towards first base, was finally about to go into his pitching motion,

Tap

He started towards second base.

The Incheon battery [pitcher and catcher] and infield, focusing all their attention on the second base runner’s feet to prevent a double steal.

But when I, the first base runner, started first, Lim Joon-young’s breathing faltered for a moment.

In an instant, the shortstop’s and third baseman’s gazes and center of gravity tilted towards second base.

That’s just a reflex.

An unavoidable, rather, an inevitable reflexive action for a human being, especially for a well-trained player.

Tap tap

Seo Hyung-joo, who caught that very brief moment, started sprinting towards third base with all his might.

Excessive check on me,

The confusion of the defense caused by the first base runner, not the second base runner, starting first,

A momentary delay caused by the discrepancy between the information in the head and the visual information,

Accordingly, the swaying positions of the infielders.

“Third base!”

Those small differences gathered together and made the catcher’s throw to third base even slightly later.

Whump

“Safe!”

“Wow!”

“Damn it! What are you doing now?”

“Seo Hyung-joo! Seo Hyung-joo! Seo Hyung-joo!”

Son Young-jin looked at the empty air with a blank expression, having allowed a double steal.

Lim Joon-young, who had tried to block the inning by giving me a walk, tried to hide his disappointed expression.

That’s it.

The first adventure to bring today’s game has returned with a wonderful success.