Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 191

#190. Why Do You Even Watch Baseball?

‘Hmm… so this is Korean baseball.’

Sajik Stadium, the symbol of Busan baseball.

Standing on the mound of this stadium, which, along with Jamsil Baseball Stadium, is one of the oldest—or, more accurately, the most dilapidated—in the country, is a foreigner who looks somehow lonely.

The man’s name is Eric Thompson, a 33-year-old veteran pitcher who spent last season bouncing between the major and minor leagues in Seattle.

Just two years ago, he was closer to the major leagues than the minor leagues, a left-hander who threw a fastball reaching a top speed of 156 km/h [approximately 97 mph]. But he ultimately failed to break through and remained a minor leaguer, eventually becoming a Warrior.

Daniel Mitchell, the Seattle general manager who recommended he go to Korea, said this:

‘To be honest, it won’t be easy for you to get back on a major league mound. But you have been presented with an opportunity. How about going to Korea? Maybe a new opportunity awaits you. Ah, that is, if you sign with that team…….’

‘Huh?’

Eric Thompson, stunned by the sudden call from the general manager and the unexpected recommendation to go to Korea, asked with a look that seemed to say, ‘What the heck are you talking about?’

Daniel replied:

‘I’d recommend becoming friends with Han Su-hyeok. If you can become friends with him… well, maybe you’ll end up with a pretty important position in this Seattle front office after you retire.’

Only then did he understand what he meant.

He knew very well how obsessed Seattle’s general manager was with Han Su-hyeok.

In any case, Eric Thompson, feeling the appeal of the Warriors’ offer, chose to go to Korea.

A left-handed pitcher who, although his speed had dropped a bit, could still throw balls exceeding 150 km/h [approximately 93 mph] into every corner of the zone.

In every way, he was an upgrade over Brooks Parker, who played for this team last season, and he started the first game of the three-game series against Busan.

The Warriors, who had easily won two games in the opening two-game series against Incheon with Han Su-hyeok and Lim Jun-yeong as their one-two punch, overwhelmed the Busan Titans.

“Woooooo! Die! You bastards! All die!”

“Get it together! You morons! Get it together!”

“My dog would do better than you guys, you idiots!”

The Warriors’ first-inning offense, in which eight batters appeared and scored five runs, had just ended.

Eric Thompson turned his head and looked at the scoreboard.

Although five runs had been scored, there was only one hit, four walks, and a whopping three errors.

A miraculous achievement by the Titans’ defense in the first inning.

The home team fans were furious.

Already in a foul mood because of the team’s performance last season, which saw them finish in last place, the Busan fans threw chicken legs, sashimi platters, donuts, and pizza slices onto the field.

“Time! Time!”

Eventually, the umpire, unable to watch any longer, stopped the game.

Then, the maintenance staff rushed out and began to collect the trash on the ground into bags.

Eric Thompson, who had come to the mound in the bottom of the first inning and had not yet thrown a single ball, thought:

‘Boss… it seems like the story is very different from what I heard from you.’

Seattle’s general manager, Daniel, had said.

‘The level of Korean baseball is very high, as you can see from winning the WBC [World Baseball Classic]. If you do well there, you can become a star, enjoying a high level of baseball and living happily.’

‘Even if I gloss over the other things, a high level of baseball, I don’t think so.’

‘Is that team even a professional team?’

“Woooooo!”

“Is it good? Is it good? Want another one?”

“Eat it all! You bastard!”

A large Busan player in front of the dugout snatched a hot dog thrown by a spectator and put it in his mouth.

He seemed to want to show a witty side, but instead, he only provoked the fans and made things worse.

Eric Thompson, in confusion, muttered to himself.

“When can I even play baseball…….”

* * *

Thwack!

“Waaaaah!”

“Damn, that’s hot! Yeah! Kill them all! Kill them all!”

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s get hit with about 60 home runs today!”

In the top of the 6th inning, with the Warriors leading 7-1, Han Su-hyeok, as the lead batter, hit his second home run of the season, further widening the score.

The Busan fans shouted.

Since it’s come to this, let’s get hit with 60 more home runs by Han Su-hyeok today and set a new record.

It was physically impossible, but the Busan fans were that angry.

As the score widened to a seven-point difference, the pitching coach asked Eric Thompson.

“You still have plenty of pitches left, can you throw a little more? The manager wants to see your pitches a bit more.”

“I don’t think a couple of innings will be a problem at all. Coach, more than that…….”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Why are those people so angry? It’s only been three days since the season started.”

Eric Thompson pointed to the Busan fans, who were red-faced and constantly shouting.

“Hmm, that’s a rather complicated question to answer. But to explain it as easily as possible, that team finished in last place last season.”

“Ah…….”

“Of course, even before that, they were mostly 8th or 9th.”

“Oh…….”

“And after last season, they gave a long-term contract worth nearly 10 billion won [approximately $7.5 million USD], including options, to a shortstop with a .200 batting average. It seems that being from a local franchise high school gave him an advantage.”

“Wow… that’s really amazing.”

“It’s amazing. But there’s one more important thing left.”

“There’s something more there?”

“That shortstop went on the injured list as soon as the season started. He might miss the whole season.”

“Jesus…….”

“Hmm, the next thing I’m going to talk about is related to you.”

“To me? What is it?”

“A year ago, we had a trash-like guy on our team who was eating away at the team atmosphere. He was so unrecyclable that we had to get rid of him before the season started.”

“And?”

“We sent him to a team called the Magicians, but he couldn’t settle there either and was kicked back to Busan. Hmm, the guy who’s replacing the 10 billion won injured shortstop is that guy.”

“Oh my god…….”

“That’s right. That guy named Song Gi-tae, who’s out there making errors and looking pale as soon as he comes out, that’s the guy I’m talking about.”

“It’s sickening just to hear about it. Why do those team fans even watch baseball?”

“Well, as far as I know, that’s one of the three mysteries of this KBO League [Korean Baseball Organization]. Anyway, I’m counting on you for the next inning, Eric.”

* * *

Song Gi-tae, who was kicked out of the Warriors and went to the Magicians, and then traded from that team and is now wearing a Busan uniform, was in a terrible mood.

The Magicians, who had declared a win-now strategy, sent himself and Jung Gi-ho, two surplus players from the Warriors, to Busan without any hesitation.

In return, the Magicians received only one middle relief pitcher. Nevertheless, most Magicians fans were happy to see Song Gi-tae and Jung Gi-ho released.

Song Gi-tae glared at the foreign pitcher on the mound and the fielders behind him, one by one.

The Warriors are no longer the weak team they were when he played for them.

You can feel the weight of the champion from each of the players standing on the field.

‘Shit.’

It was all his fault that he was in such a miserable situation and that he couldn’t share in the glory of the Warriors,

But Song Gi-tae was not the kind of person who could realize or reflect on such things in the first place.

Eric Thompson’s first pitch flew toward Song Gi-tae.

Whoosh

Wham

“Swing!”

A reverse-spinning ball that came in from the outside and then went back out again.

Behind him, the spectators jeered at the ridiculous swing.

“Just die! You’re a waste of food! Aren’t you going to retire, Song Gi-tae?”

“Why did they bring in someone like that? Where’s the 10 billion won shortstop and why is that guy standing at the plate?”

“Damn it, I hope this shitty team goes bankrupt!”

He had only swung and missed once, but he had become a human being who deserved to die.

Song Gi-tae involuntarily uttered a curse.

“Shit……”

But the moment the word came out of his mouth, he was startled.

He was so angry that he had forgotten for a moment.

Who was sitting behind home plate right now.

“Ahem.”

He turned his head slightly so that it wouldn’t be noticeable to look at Jang Deok-su, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to care much about what he had said.

Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

I don’t want to.

I really don’t want to play baseball.

‘Let’s just swing and strike out and end the game quickly. I should go somewhere and drink.’

That was the thought of the starting shortstop who was brought in to replace the injured 10 billion won shortstop and who would be responsible for the Busan Titans’ infield this season.

* * *

[Seoul Warriors, Undefeated with 5 Straight Wins Since Opening Day]

[Sweeping the 3-Game Series Against Busan Following the 2-Game Series Against Incheon, Han Su-hyeok Records His 3rd Home Run of the Season, Challenging Another Great Record This Year]

[Another Championship Contender, the Magicians, Beat Changwon and Daegu, Tied for 1st Place with 5 Straight Wins]

[Incheon, Without Lim Jun-yeong, Sweeps the 3-Game Series in Gwangju, Recording 3 Wins and 2 Losses]

The first week of the 2028 season has passed.

As everyone expected, the Warriors and Magicians got off to a good start, while the Rangers, who had faltered with two consecutive losses in the opening game, also swept the Jaguars and gradually began to find their place.

The Warriors, who are tied for first place with 5 wins, were now preparing for a three-game home series against Suwon.

And today, Go Dong-sik visited Jamsil Stadium [a prominent baseball stadium in Seoul] to meet the Warriors players who were at the stadium for individual practice despite it being a day off.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Team Leader.”

“Oh, no, Commissioner. You always care so much about our club… I’m sorry that there’s nothing more we can do for you. Today, we just need to call in the players you requested, right?”

“Yes, I’m interviewing the players included in the Olympic preliminary roster. 10 minutes per player? That should be enough. I don’t want to interfere with their training.”

“Okay, I trust you to do the interview well, so I won’t be there with you. Feel free to proceed, and call me if you need anything. Shall I have Seo Hyeong-ju come in first?”

“Thank you. Hehe, by the way, the coffee here is really delicious.”

“We use really good beans. What was it called… Ah, Seo Hyeong-ju is here. Then, Commissioner, I’ll be out, so please proceed with the interview.”

“Thank you. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

“I should be the one treating you, hoho.”

Go Dong-sik, who sent out the Warriors’ public relations team leader, who was unusually excited today, sat face to face with Seo Hyeong-ju, who had sweat dripping from his forehead.

The little boy who had been sold to Seoul from his hometown team Daejeon as if he was being kicked out was now looking at him as a full-fledged starter on a champion team in just one year.

“Seo Hyeong-ju, nice to meet you.”

“Hello, Commissioner. I came straight from practice, so as you can see… I’m sorry. I don’t look too good, do I?”

“No, it’s natural for athletes to sweat. Tell me if you get cold or anything. It would be a disaster if you caught a cold.”

“Hey, I shouldn’t catch a cold this easily. Anyway, you’re interviewing me today?”

“Yes, as you heard, you were named to the preliminary roster for the 2028 LA Olympics baseball team, right? I came to hear about that… can I start asking questions?”

Except when broadcasting Warriors games, Go Dong-sik was a perfectly normal human being.

Seo Hyeong-ju nodded as he watched him continue to speak respectfully to a much younger junior.

“Of course. I think Chi-wook is next after me, so please do it as quickly as possible. I haven’t finished practicing yet.”

“Okay. Then let’s start. First of all, before the official questions, I have a personal question… you can skip this if you don’t want to answer.”

“Yes, I’ll listen first.”

“Thank you. What I’m curious about is… your thoughts on Han Su-hyeok, who is the same youngest member but is expected to be the center of this national team. It may be a bit rude… but as a teammate and friend who joined the team at the same time, I’m really curious to know what you think when you see Han Su-hyeok.”