Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 186

#185. Take Me With You

[2028 KBO League Exhibition Games Finally Begin!]

[Warriors, with the acquisition of Lim Jun-yeong, Min Ju-hyeon, and new foreign player Eric Thompson, aim for their second consecutive title]

[Rookies Choi Ma-ru and Park Dong-seok, who stood out during spring training, join the exhibition game roster]

[Manager Lee Dae-jun: “Han Su-hyeok’s position has been decided as a starter. I am confident that we have the strongest starting lineup in the 10-team league.”]

[Warriors successfully reinforce their pitching staff through FA and trades, but what weaknesses remain?]

The long and arduous stove league [off-season] has finally passed, and a new season has begun.

After completing a meaningful period of community service, I went to Hawaii with Jacob for personal training. By the time I joined the spring camp in Arizona, it was already 2028.

Two rookies who joined last year were saying strange things about me being their idol, but anyway, standing on the mound after a long time made me feel alive.

“Su-hyeok, I’m thinking of throwing a high-speed slider… what do you think?”

“Jun-yeong hyung [older brother/senior].”

“Yeah?”

“You’re the best even without throwing something like that.”

“Hehe, you’re just annoyed, aren’t you?”

“Me? No way.”

Lim Jun-yeong, who returned to his former team after a long time, looked like he had the world at his feet.

He was taking care of his juniors and acting as a bridge between the players and the coaching staff.

I was about to ask him if he regretted not going to the Big League [Major League Baseball], but I stopped.

I felt like I could tell just by looking at his expression, without having to ask.

“Han Su-hyeok.”

“Yes, Ju-hyeon hyungnim [term of respect for older brother/senior].”

“What I said before.”

“What are you talking about?”

“During last season, I said you were cocky…….”

“Ah, that. We decided to forget about that. Why bring it up again…….”

“It’s just, every time I see your face, it reminds me of that. Hey, you’ll really forget about it, right?”

Min Ju-hyeon, who I thought was the ultimate *kkondae* [꼰대, a Korean term for someone who is condescending and insists on old ways], seemed to be a surprisingly delicate and sensitive person.

Seeing that he still held something from half a year ago in his heart.

Of course, I also remember guys I don’t like for not just half a year, but for several years, and I make sure to get my revenge…….
Hmm.

Anyway, regardless of that personality, Min Ju-hyeon is a decent national team third baseman.

Strictly speaking, he is a good fielder who can cover both 1st and 3rd base, and a useful cleanup hitter.

An Chi-wook, who had been guarding the third base alone throughout last season, was concentrating on training with a face devoid of any playfulness during spring camp.

He knows that he could lose his position and be pushed to designated hitter if he’s not careful.

“Well, I never thought we’d be wearing the same team uniform.”

“Welcome, Ju-ho hyungnim. Did you finish moving okay?”

“I came up alone first. I think I’ll have to think about my family later.”

In addition to signing FA [Free Agent] Lim Jun-yeong and Min Ju-hyeon, quite a few players joined the Warriors.

Kim Ju-ho, who is making an awkward expression in front of me right now, was one of them.

Kim Ju-ho, who was treated like an outcast in Busan due to high school issues, eventually failed to extend his contract with Busan.

Several clubs contacted Kim Ju-ho, who was released, and he chose the Warriors.

Kim Ju-ho, who can play third base and left field, will play the role of backup outfielder and pinch hitter this season.

This is because Kang Jin-seok, who was in charge of that role, transferred to the Seoul Fighters.

The Fighters, who lost their starting outfielder Lee Chan-ho, had to fill the void, and we brought in a decent middle relief pitcher instead of sending Kang Jin-seok.

I still remember the last words that Kang Jin-seok *sunbae* [senior] left on the day he left the team.

‘Su-hyeok, I don’t care if you strike them out, but don’t throw a slow curve. It’s really ugly if you get hit by that. My daughter might curse you.’

He was a really strong player…….

When I think about it, playing as a starter for the Fighters might be much more helpful for that *sunbae’s* career than being a backup for life on our team.

In addition, the Warriors succeeded in releasing the mediocre rookies selected by the former scouts and bringing in decent pitchers in return.

The pitching staff, which was our team’s weakest point last season, has become noticeably richer.

Ah, come to think of it, there was a change in the foreign player side as well.

First of all, Walter Smith, who can play outfielder, center hitter, and even catcher, signed a three-year long-term contract with us and chose to remain a Warriors player.

“Damn it… I heard there’s a decent catcher among the newly arrived rookies, so develop him quickly. I can’t wear a catcher’s mitt forever, can I?”

“Develop? I’m not a coach, how can I develop him?”

“Just set aside a day and throw 100 knuckleballs at him. He’ll have no choice but to grow, even if he doesn’t want to?”

“Hmm.”

Like he said, Choi Ma-ru and Park Dong-seok, who newly joined this time, seem to be quite useful.

Choi Ma-ru seems to be able to be used as a middle relief pitcher from this season, and I think Park Dong-seok, who is a catcher, will become a decent catcher to support Jang Deok-su if he gains experience in the minor leagues.

Except for the fact that they keep talking nonsense about me being their idol even though they’re only a year younger than me.
Hmm.

Ryan Stark and Brooks Parker, of the two foreign pitchers, Brooks chose to transfer to Japan.

I wished him luck in his new challenge and called Daniel.

– Han Su-hyeok player! No, what brings you to call first! What’s going on? No, should I go to Korea first?

“No, there’s no need to do that… There’s a player named Eric Thompson in Triple A there, right?”

– Eric, Eric, Eric… Ah, yes, of course. But why that friend……?

“I want to bring that friend to Korea… Can I get some help? I think I’ll have something to repay you with later.”

– Aha! Of course! Anything! I’ll meet him once.

Eric Thompson, who once wore a Seattle uniform and recorded 10 wins in the Big League, but fell into a slump due to a decrease in speed as he passed thirty, and spent two years in Triple A because of that,

Nevertheless, Eric Thompson, who is expected to be able to perform as an ace on the domestic stage, joined the Warriors.

With various connections intertwined, the Warriors and the Seattle Mariners have become a mutually helpful relationship.

Well… if we help each other like this, I wonder if I can give something back someday.

Or not.

As Eric Thompson newly joined the team, many changes were expected in the Warriors’ starting rotation this season.

Han Su-hyeok (R) – Lim Jun-yeong (R) – Eric Thompson (L) – Ryan Stark (R) – Cheon Sang-jin (L)

The rotation was so full that Ryan, who played the role of the first starter until I became a pitcher last season, was pushed back to fourth. Even if Lee Man-sik returns, he won’t be able to guarantee a starting position.

In addition, Lee Young-ju and Kang Dong-ha, who played as the existing 5 starters, and rookie Choi Ma-ru joined the middle relief pitchers, strengthening the waist that had been supported by Hong Young-sik and Choi Jeong-su.

Despite strengthening our power to the fullest, most experts are picking the Magicians as the number one candidate for the championship.

This is because Choi Kyung-jae, the nation’s top-class left-hander, and Lee Chan-ho, the best outfielder, joined the already powerful existing power, and foreign players who played in the Big League until last season joined one after another.

A lineup with no gaps from number 1 to number 9, and the league’s strongest middle relief pitchers.

Well, it’s not that I don’t understand the experts’ opinions…….

If we face them once, they’ll quickly realize what they missed.

* * *

“Are we going to win this year?”

“We have to. If we can’t even do it with this, this team is really cursed.”

The unfortunate prestigious club, the Seoul Magicians, who have not lifted the Korean Series championship trophy even once since 1994—literally not once in the 21st century.

From the player pool to the infrastructure, the support of the parent company, and the number of fans.

Despite having everything, the Magicians’ potential, which had been strangely hovering in the lower ranks, finally exploded.

Starting with 4th place in the 2025 season, 2nd place in the 2026 season, and 3rd place again in 2027.

The road to the championship was long and arduous. But it wasn’t too far away either.

Just one step, that one step was not enough to win the championship.

A storm of acquisitions began under the leadership of the enraged owner, and the already strong power became so strong that there was literally no gap to be found.

A power that is evaluated as being one level above not only the Warriors, the winning team of last season, but also the Incheon Rangers in their strongest days.

Jamsil Baseball Stadium, which hosted the opening game of the exhibition game.

The Magicians fans were turning their happy circuits while facing each other.

“Looking at the lineup alone, I honestly think it could be thrown into the Major League instead of the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]?”

“That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but maybe Japan is possible?”

With national team leadoff Yang Seon-woo at the forefront, newly acquired Big Leaguer-class hitter Lee Chan-ho, Go Cheol-hwan, who can be said to be the pillar of the Magicians, Daniel Hunter, a foreign player who recorded 10 home runs in the Major League last season, and lower hitters who can immediately stand in the upper lineup if they go to another team, were named in the lineup.

In addition, Choi Kyung-jae, a left-handed special pitcher who was brought in for a whopping 12 billion won, is on the mound.

It’s literally a situation where you feel full even if you don’t eat.

“Play!”

“Waaaaaa!”

With the shouts of the Magicians fans, whose momentum had risen, the opening ceremony of the 2028 season finally began.

“Ball!”

Ttaaak!

“Out!”

“Hoo…….”

“That was close. Seo Hyung-ju couldn’t react well to left-handed pitchers’ inside pitches last year, but did he practice hard? The way he swings his bat is no joke?”

“It’s okay. Anyway, we got an out, that’s what matters. Lee Chan-ho, Choi Kyung-jae, good job! You’re worth the money!”

Right fielder Lee Chan-ho miraculously caught a hit that almost became a triple that would have gone past the right fielder, resulting in one out.
The faces of the Magicians fans, who were trying to comfort themselves that this was all thanks to investing in Choi Kyung-jae and Lee Chan-ho, turned white as soon as they saw the hitter entering the next at-bat.

[2nd batter shortstop Han Su-hyeok]

The intense bass riff that has now become a symbol of Han Su-hyeok.

Han Su-hyeok entered the plate with the entrance music that Min Ye-rin had put her heart and soul into for three days and nights.

Wooddeudeuk

As always, once to the left, and once to the right.

The blood drained from Choi Kyung-jae’s face with that one insignificant movement of loosening his neck.

The memories of the desperate past made his heart pound.

This won’t do. If I can’t overcome this, I’m finished.

Choi Kyung-jae, who barely managed to regain his confused mind, tried to comfort himself.

No matter how much of a monster he is, he can’t hit a hit every at-bat.

And it doesn’t matter if I get hit once.

Isn’t this just an exhibition game anyway?

Let’s somehow shake off the tension and show him the new weapon I prepared during the winter.

Nod

Choi Kyung-jae finally nodded after exchanging signs several times.

Good.

It’s a showdown.

The knuckle curve that I learned by hiring a personal instructor to catch the monster called Han Su-hyeok.

One white ball escaped from Choi Kyung-jae’s hand and flew towards Han Su-hyeok to face that monster who senses the subtle rise the moment the ball leaves the pitcher’s fingertips.

And,

Ttaaah!

“Waaaaaa!”

Choi Kyung-jae screamed.

“Damn it! That’s why you didn’t give me an offer! I wish you had taken me with you!”