Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 187

#186. With an Idol (1)

“Secretary-General, this is too much. Even so, how can you ask us to send six players from one team?”

– Director Park, please understand our situation. We put in a lot of effort last time with the Otani Rule [a rule in baseball that allows a player to be both a pitcher and a hitter], didn’t we? Huh? Please reconsider just this once.

“Han Su-hyeok, Ahn Chi-wook, Seo Hyeong-joo, Yang Gi-cheol… well, I can accept up to there, but Im Joon-yeong and Jang Deok-soo? You’re asking us to send players who are under special care due to the aftereffects of overwork last year to the Olympics?”

– Sigh… it’s true right now, but they should be mostly recovered by July, right? Aside from everything else, the public’s expectations are too high because of our WBC [World Baseball Classic] win last time. The atmosphere is that we absolutely have to win this Olympics too.

“What’s important to us isn’t the Olympics, but winning the Korean Series [the championship series of the KBO League], Secretary-General.”

– I really didn’t want to say this, but… please understand our situation. The KBSA [Korea Baseball Softball Association] is also making a fuss about needing to bring those players. We need to show some sincerity since our relationship with them is just starting to improve. And more than anything…”

“More than anything?”

– Isn’t it the case that American and Japanese major leaguers have all declared they’ll participate in the Olympics? They’re saying they absolutely want to face Han Su-hyeok again. If we go with only players who haven’t fulfilled their military service like before, we’re going to get completely crushed. So, huh?

While the opening game of the exhibition series was in full swing, Director Park Jae-cheol didn’t even have time to watch it.

It was because of the KBO’s [Korea Baseball Organization] requests, pleas, and pressure that had been going on for days.

Baseball was adopted as a formal sport for the 2028 LA Olympics, which will be held in July.

The IOC [International Olympic Committee] and the Major League Baseball Secretariat were struggling over the issue of major league players’ participation, and as a result, baseball was kicked out of the Olympics after 2008.

In the end, it was a battle of interests.

A power struggle between the IOC, which wanted to raise the authority of the Olympics by having big league players participate, and the Secretariat, which wanted to create an American-centered world tournament through the WBC.

Baseball disappeared from the Olympic stage due to the battle of interests between the two giant groups.

But an unexpected event occurred.

The public opinion of sports fans around the world who wanted to see the world’s best players at the Olympics, just like in basketball and soccer, and the need to promote baseball to developing countries, eventually led the Major League Baseball Secretariat to allow big league players to participate in the Olympics.

However, one condition followed.

The condition that the player wants to participate and the team approves, which is very natural but difficult to achieve.

The circumstances of Korean players, who participate almost pushed by military service issues and national sentiment, were completely different from those of those in other countries.

Players with salaries of tens of millions of dollars had no reason to go to the Olympics, and even if they wanted to go, the team could simply not allow it.

But…….

“Our valued client says he will participate in this Olympics.”

“Oh, oh, wh, why there……”

“He says there’s a player he definitely wants to face again. Anyway, please quickly approve so as not to displease our client. We’re not in a relationship where we should be blushing over something like this, right?”

It started with Ty Johnson, who represents St. Louis, or rather, it’s no exaggeration to say he represents Major League Baseball.

After being greatly shocked by his defeat to Han Su-hyeok in the last WBC, as soon as he heard that Han Su-hyeok would be at the Olympics, he immediately notified the team of his participation in the Olympics through his agent.

It’s not easy to refuse Ty Johnson’s request, no matter who the other players are.

He was a baseball hero supported not only by St. Louis fans but also by the entire American public.

Moreover, his contract period was not long.

In the end, as Ty Johnson opened the floodgates, players who wanted to participate in the Olympics popped up from everywhere.

Most of them were those who had been crushed by Han Su-hyeok in the WBC, and were groaning with severe internal injuries.

It was natural that the Korean baseball community, which was aiming for a medal in the Olympics, was in a state of emergency.

– Director Park, anyway, please take care of it. It’s good for the Warriors players not to be lonely if six of them go together, right? Huh? Can I notify the KBSA that we’re positively considering it?

Although he was repeatedly declining, Park Jae-cheol also knew.

That he would have to go along with it anyway, considering public opinion.

However, the reason Park Jae-cheol was holding out like this was because he wanted to say this last thing.

“Okay. Um… if the Secretary-General says so… I understand. I’ll send them. Oh, don’t cry now… but from our perspective, I wish Doo-yeong could also gain some international experience… How about Kim Doo-yeong instead of Im Joon-yeong? You can’t? Ah, forget it. Then just take both of them. Ugh, that’s seven from our team alone. Is there any other team in the world that sacrifices so much for the country? Hmm, since you mention sacrifice, a thought suddenly comes to mind. It was when I participated in the second WBC. It was a time when the team didn’t treat me very well. At that time, a reporter asked me. What is the nation to you… Hello?”

* * *

1. Center Fielder Seo Hyeong-joo

2. Shortstop Han Su-hyeok

3. First Baseman Jo Seong-oh

4. Right Fielder Walter Smith

5. Third Baseman Min Joo-hyeon

6. Designated Hitter Ahn Chi-wook

7. Catcher Jang Deok-soo

8. Second Baseman Lee Chang-mo

9. Left Fielder Choi Min-seok

In the top of the first inning, the Warriors scored three runs first with Han Su-hyeok’s home run, Jo Seong-oh’s hit, and Ahn Chi-wook’s furious two-RBI double as a designated hitter.

“Good job, Gyeong-jae. Let’s stop here.”

“Yes… Manager.”

Choi Gyeong-jae, the eagerly recruited ace candidate, was being battered from the first inning.

I knew he was so weak against Han Su-hyeok that I tried not to put him on the mound in today’s game if possible.

But the club president himself gave the order.

‘The chairman wants to see the results of his investment. Yes, so don’t spare the players we brought in with expensive money and put them all in the game. Make sure they show a good performance somehow!’

That’s the result.

Choi Gyeong-jae, whose face turned white as soon as he saw Han Su-hyeok, eventually came down from the mound after giving up three points in the top of the first inning.

The result would have been even more miserable if Jang Deok-soo’s home run-like hit hadn’t been caught right in front of the fence.

The pitcher, who was brought in with a lot of money last winter, is sitting crouched in the dugout in a pathetic state.

The Magicians manager closed his eyes without realizing it.

His head is spinning, but he can’t lose his mind here.

Only the top of the first inning has passed.

There are still several cards left to show.

He has to show a counterattack.

But…….

Whoosh

Pow!

“Strike! Out!”

Number one batter Yang Seon-woo struck out on three pitches.

And Lee Chan-ho, who was brought in from the Fighters at a huge cost, also struck out on three pitches.

“Wow!”

“Han Su-hyeok!”

The monster, who hadn’t touched a ball for a while due to the aftereffects of the last Korean Series, was throwing balls over 160 km/h [~99.4 mph] from the exhibition game.

By the way, what was that ball he just threw?

Is it a knuckle curve?

Could it be that he wants to laugh at Choi Gyeong-jae for throwing a knuckle curve at him?

Whoosh

Boom

“Swing! Out!”

“Fuck!”

Daniel Hunter, a special foreign player who hit 10 home runs in the big leagues last season, who was brought in for almost $2 million including hidden options, struck out in three pitches.

Joo Seok-do, the manager who is leading the Magicians, who are considered the strongest championship contender this season, thought.

As long as Han Su-hyeok remains in the country, will it really be possible to win no matter how hard he struggles?

* * *

“Listen carefully, Dong-seok. You know from experience that you shouldn’t try to do framing [subtly influencing the umpire’s call] or anything like that clumsily. Just put your mitt on the course Su-hyeok is going to throw and stay still. Don’t worry about anything other than catching the ball. That alone will be quite 벅찰 [buck-chal, meaning overwhelming or challenging], right? Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“……”

“Hey, Park Dong-seok. Park Dong-seok? Ha, this bastard is completely frozen. Wake up, you idiot.”

“Yes? Yes! Yes! I understand, Coach! Don’t try to do anything. Just catch the ball straight. I understand. I’ll try to catch it with my life on the line.”

“Good, then go out. Uh, you didn’t tie your leg guard straps properly!”

After the last season, some of the coaches Benjamin, the head coach, brought in went back to the United States after receiving good offers.

Benjamin also received a pretty good offer, but he decided to stay with this team a little longer. It was because he was gaining new insights while watching Han Su-hyeok from the side.

Anyway, the positions that were vacated were filled by coaches directly selected by Lee Dae-joon. The battery coach who is moving busily right now is also one of them.

The battery coach, who barely calmed down rookie catcher Park Dong-seok and sent him behind home plate, sighed and said to the manager.

“Hoo, hyungnim [older brother or respected older male figure]. I sent him up for now.”

“Deok-soo? Is he really okay?”

“I think he just has a bit of an upset stomach. He ate too many sandwiches before the game.”

“Hmm, but send him to the hospital just in case. Anyway, will that Park Dong-seok be okay? There are so many spectators even in the exhibition game, I’m worried he might cause a big accident.”

At Lee Dae-joon’s words, the battery coach replied in a confident voice.

“He’ll be fine. He seems half out of his mind right now because he’s forming his first battery [pitcher-catcher duo] with Su-hyeok, but he’ll do well when he goes into the actual game. I guarantee it.”

“Hoo, okay. Then that’s a relief. Anyway, why are all the rookies who came this year like that? Do they even realize they’re baseball players? It’s not like they’re Han Su-hyeok’s fan club, why are they all like that?”

“Hahaha, well, Su-hyeok is the world’s greatest superstar to those guys.”

* * *

“Okay, Dong-seok. Stay calm, we’ll help you, so just do what you can.”

“Yeah, it’s just an exhibition game anyway. Don’t be nervous and make mistakes, just do as you practiced.”

Dugun Dugun [sound of a heart pounding]

The heart that I tried to calm down is pounding again.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, rookie Park Dong-seok suddenly had to wear a catcher’s mask because Jang Deok-soo complained of stomach pain.

He expected to sit in this position at least once while being included in this exhibition game roster.

It was obvious that he would be sent down to the minor leagues when the regular season started because there was Jang Deok-soo, the starting catcher, and Walter, the starting-level backup catcher, on this team.

Nevertheless, being able to show his face on the professional baseball first team stage as a first-year rookie was a great honor in itself.

But that opportunity came too quickly.

“Okay, then let’s fight, and since it’s come to this, let’s crush those Magicians bastards.”

Jo Seong-oh, the captain who returned to the ground after finishing more than three months of rehabilitation, reassured Park Dong-seok.

Even so, Park Dong-seok’s heart did not calm down easily.

My god,

It’s the opening game of the exhibition game against the Jamsil [area in Seoul] rival.

And the pitcher who will form a battery with me is…….

“Park Dong-seok.”

“Yes? Yes, yes! Hyungnim!”

“What hyungnim with only a one-year difference. And why is a guy with such a big body trembling so much?”

The words that I’m trembling because I can receive your ball came up to my throat, but Park Dong-seok swallowed those words with all his might.

It was because he learned through the last spring camp that Han Su-hyeok hated hearing such words.

What was it, he told me to practice one more time instead of flattering him.

‘It’s not flattery…….’

Anyway, Park Dong-seok, who had been dreaming of forming a battery with Han Su-hyeok for all three years of high school, achieved that dream much faster than he thought by chance.

“Play!”

Yang Seon-woo, the Magicians’ leadoff who struck out on three pitches in his first at-bat today, stepped into the plate.

I was distracted by Han Su-hyeok, but if you think about it, this person is also a great player.

Isn’t he a starting member of the last WBC winning team?

Park Dong-seok was just amazed that such a player was muttering strange things at the plate.

“…Damn it, heartless bastard. A bastard who can’t find any humanity… I even brought him a special sandwich and begged him to take care of me……”

I don’t know what he’s saying, but I definitely understood one thing.

That this batter is terribly afraid of Han Su-hyeok.

Sseuseuk [sound of rustling]

The bench said that Han Su-hyeok would give the signs himself.

But Park Dong-seok unknowingly sent a sign to Han Su-hyeok.

I suddenly had an inspiration as to which ball would be most effective for this frightened batter.

‘Inside fastball slider’

When Park Dong-seok gave the sign, Han Su-hyeok paused for a moment and then nodded.

From Han Su-hyeok’s point of view, it didn’t matter what he threw anyway, so it was just an action, but it was a very grateful consideration from a senior to Park Dong-seok, who worships him like the sky.

‘As expected, he’s a great person…….’

Park Dong-seok, who is now completely calm, has finished preparing to catch the ball.

And at the same time, a white ball was fired from Han Su-hyeok’s fingertips.

Whoosh

“Ugh!”

Yang Seon-woo was horrified and sat down as the high-speed slider came into the center of the zone and then swerved inward.

Paang! [sound of a ball hitting a mitt]

“Strike!”

Jiiiiiiing [sound effect]

Park Dong-seok, who caught the ball, closed his eyes tightly and thought.

That this moment is definitely the most shining moment in his 19 years of life.

“Hey, hey, catcher! What are you doing? Aren’t you going to play the game? Why are your eyes closed? Throw the ball to the pitcher quickly.”