Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 199

#198. Hope or Nightmare

As expected, experience in the baseball world couldn’t be ignored.

Just as Kim Ju-ho had predicted, Rafael Silva, the Mexican starting pitcher for today’s game, was determined to get Han Su-hyeok out.

After grinding through the minor leagues for four years in what could only be described as a miserable existence, he barely made it to the big leagues. And because of his unfortunate call-up timing, he was stuck serving the team for the minimum salary for another four years.

Last season, he had 10 wins and 5 losses, and in the first half of this season, 6 wins and 2 losses.

He felt he was worth far more than the mere $600,000 he was being paid.

But what could he do? That was just how the Major League regulations worked.

In any case, he would finally gain eligibility for salary arbitration at the end of this season, something he had been eagerly awaiting.

His agent had told him:

“Don’t cause any trouble and build up your achievements, no matter what. If you do that, I’ll negotiate with the team and get you unimaginable wealth.”

Thinking of his family back home who were depending on him, he needed to earn as much money as possible.

In that sense, the Korean team, especially Han Su-hyeok, was a pretty good target.

Despite the ongoing controversies, he was a super rookie who had made his name known to the world through the last WBC [World Baseball Classic].

A hitter with a batting average of over .400 in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], which couldn’t compare to the Big League, and a power hitter who had broken the Asian home run record, as well as being the league’s best pitcher.

Even though many experts were conservative and negative in their assessment of Han Su-hyeok, at least the Boston Red Sox, the team Rafael Silva played for, had a consistent stance.

If he applied for posting [a system where KBO players can be bid on by MLB teams], they would do whatever it took to get him.

So, what if he could make the super rookie, whom the team considered their top priority for recruitment, look foolish?

It was needless to say that his salary negotiation table would be much more generous.

‘Shake, shake.’

The bench sent a signal through the catcher to pitch defensively and avoid a direct confrontation.

However, Rafael refused with a resolute expression.

Run away here? For whose benefit?

1st Right Fielder Lee Chan-ho

2nd Center Fielder Seo Hyeong-ju

3rd Shortstop Han Su-hyeok

4th First Baseman Lee Su-young

5th Third Baseman Kim Se-jun

6th Designated Hitter Ahn Chi-wook

7th Left Fielder Yang Seon-woo

8th Catcher Jang Deok-su

9th Second Baseman Son Jae-hoo

Among the hitters in the Korean team’s lineup today, there wasn’t a single Big Leaguer. Some of them were even rookies who hadn’t been in the KBO for very long.

No matter how good the results he got against those guys, it wouldn’t help his salary negotiation at all.

The only target was Han Su-hyeok.

He would get him, he would definitely get him.

When the starting pitcher wouldn’t budge, the Mexican manager sighed deeply and nodded.

The manager thought.

He had been trying to avoid a confrontation with the only hitter on the Korean team they needed to be wary of, but if the starting pitcher was showing that much enthusiasm, it was right to let him have a go.

Preconceptions were so frightening.

Even though Han Su-hyeok had crushed the United States in the last WBC, seeing that there were still people with such naive thoughts was telling.

The pitcher, having received permission from the bench, powerfully began his pitching motion.

And a tremendous sound of impact echoed through Dodger Stadium.

Thwack!

* * *

Whoosh.

Boom.

“Swing! Out!”

“Wooaaah!”

Im Jun-yeong, who had been given the important role of starting the first game in this Olympics, where every game was like a final, slowly walked off the mound after finishing his pitching in the top of the 5th inning.

The score was 2 to 0.

The faces of the coaches and players sitting in the Mexican dugout were filled with bewilderment.

Even with Han Su-hyeok, it was certain that Korea was the weakest of the eight countries participating in the Olympic finals in terms of objective power.

Leaving aside the United States, where the entire team was made up of Big Leaguers, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba also had about half of their entire team made up of Big League players. Even Israel had five current and former Big Leaguers included.

However, Ryu Han-gyeol was the only Big Leaguer among the Korean team’s players. And he wasn’t playing today.

For Mexico, Korea was an opponent they had to beat.

Mexico’s strategy of beating Korea and the Netherlands and competing with Japan for first place in the group was facing a major obstacle from the start.

“Good job. Jun-yeong, how’s your shoulder? Do you think you can go for another inning?”

“I’m great, Manager.”

“Good, then I’ll ask you for a little more.”

Manager Gu Yong-sik, who had worked with Im Jun-yeong for several years in Incheon, smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

There was no need for a long conversation between the two men who knew each other so well.

“Alright, let’s watch the ball a lot so Jun-yeong can rest a bit, and don’t respond to those guys’ provocations one by one.”

“Understood, Manager.”

“Especially Deok-su and Su-hyeok, you guys need to be especially careful. No, should I just plant a stake here and tie you up?”

“That might be better. Hehe.”

Some of the players chuckled at Manager Gu Yong-sik’s uncharacteristic joke.

The atmosphere was definitely different from before the game started.

The players who had been intimidated by the Big Leaguers appearing in succession from the 1st to the 5th batters were now finding their composure.

“Play!”

The Korean team’s attack began in the bottom of the 5th inning.

Jang Deok-su, who had been warming up in the on-deck circle, stepped up to the plate and glared at the opposing pitcher.

“Deok-su hyung [older brother/friend], fighting!”

“Fighting!”

Han Su-hyeok leaned against the dugout railing and shouted Jang Deok-su’s name loudly.

Suddenly, Im Jun-yeong had a thought.

If he hadn’t met that guy, what would he be doing now?

One thing was certain, whatever he was doing, he wouldn’t be able to focus solely on baseball with such a fulfilled heart as he did now.

Thwack!

“Foul!”

“Aww! So close!”

“His pitches are definitely getting flatter. I think it’s time for him to come down?”

“Ahn Chi-wook.”

“Why?”

“If you’re going to say something like that, at least get a hit first.”

“Why always me… Hyeong-ju is over there too.”

“He got a hit today, even if it was lucky.”

Im Jun-yeong chuckled as he watched Han Su-hyeok, who was as strict with Ahn Chi-wook here as he was on their team.

What surprised him the most after returning to his old team was Han Su-hyeok.

It wasn’t about his undeniable baseball skills.

It was about his leadership and inclusiveness.

In the Warriors team, Han Su-hyeok was a clear leader.

A true leader whom the others followed on their own, even if he didn’t want to be.

Younger players like Choi Ma-ru, Park Dong-seok, and Choi Jae-min, as well as his peers Yu In-cheol, Seo Hyeong-ju, and Ahn Chi-wook, were able to focus all their attention on baseball without any other thoughts because of Han Su-hyeok’s presence.

The seniors were the same.

He realized it only after coming to the Warriors.

The reason why Senior Jo Seong-oh had awakened, the reason why Senior Lee Man-sik had rejuvenated, and the reason why players like Yang Gi-cheol and Kim Du-young, who had come from other teams, were able to successfully settle in.

It was all because of Han Su-hyeok.

Just being with him ignited the passion of the surrounding players, instilled in them the will to do it, and was truly like the heart of the team.

That was no exception for Im Jun-yeong himself.

Having finally achieved his hope of returning to his old team, he now had only one concern left.

It was about his pitching career.

Without mentioning specific examples, it was becoming increasingly difficult for fastball pitchers to maintain their skills for a long time in modern baseball.

It couldn’t be helped.

In the first place, the human body was not designed to throw a 100-mile-per-hour ball.

The pitchers who were now throwing over 100 miles, even 105 miles, were literally using all the abilities of their bodies to the limit.

The development of sports science had made it possible for pitchers to throw unbelievably fastballs, but the price for that was entirely borne by the players.

Although he couldn’t throw 100 miles, Im Jun-yeong was also basically a pitcher who lived off his speed and power.

It wouldn’t be strange if he suddenly got injured or his skills deteriorated.

For Im Jun-yeong, who had returned to his old team with difficulty and had set his goal for the rest of his baseball career to play as long as possible, injuries and skill degradation were a nightmare in themselves.

So he asked.

He asked Han Su-hyeok, who threw the strongest ball he knew and managed his body so thoroughly that even bodybuilders shook their heads.

Han Su-hyeok, after listening to Im Jun-yeong’s concerns and fears about the future, replied:

‘I don’t think there’s a right answer in the end. No matter how careful you are, as a human being, that day will eventually come.’

Unlike himself, the fresh rookie who had just started his baseball career and still had only things to go up, replied with the expression of a veteran about to retire.

But strangely, it didn’t feel awkward at all.

It felt like he was getting advice from a player who was much older than him.

‘I think so. Do everything you can, but if that happens, cultivate a mind that can accept it calmly? Well, I’m trying hard every day with that kind of mindset.’

‘Then if it were you… it won’t happen, and it shouldn’t happen, but what would you do if you couldn’t throw as fast as you can now?’

‘I’d try to gather what’s left and try to get back on my feet somehow. Um… I don’t think it would have been possible before, but yeah, I think I can do it now?’

Did this guy get injured in high school?

The words that it wouldn’t have been possible before sounded strange, but that wasn’t important now.

The words that he would gather what was left and get back on his feet even if he got injured or his skills deteriorated, Im Jun-yeong was jolted awake by the words of a rookie who was only twenty years old.

He was right.

He realized how foolish it was to be afraid of something that hadn’t even happened yet, or even happened.

Sadly, humans are always unstable beings.

And most of the important things happen in such unstable situations.

Do what you can, all the answers to Im Jun-yeong’s worries were in those words.

‘Well… it won’t happen, but if there’s something wrong with your shoulder, Senior… should I teach you how to throw a knuckleball?’

‘What? Hahaha.’

After that day, Im Jun-yeong was freed from his fear of the future.

And without even realizing it, he became an ardent follower of Han Su-hyeok.

“Seo Hyeong-ju, fighting! Hyeong-ju! Set up a table for Su-hyeok!”

Im Jun-yeong’s consciousness returned to reality at the sound of someone’s loud shout.

While he was sitting on the bench and lost in thought, the Korean team’s 8th and 9th batters had been retired with ground balls, and 1st batter Lee Chan-ho had gotten on base with a hit.

Seo Hyeong-ju, hearing the voices of his seniors, snorted and glared at the opposing pitcher.

Im Jun-yeong knew.

How much Seo Hyeong-ju wanted to catch up with his peer Han Su-hyeok, and at the same time, how much he respected that peer.

Thwack!

“Alright! Nice!”

“That guy’s flying today.”

As if responding to the cheers from the bench, Seo Hyeong-ju hit another hit following the 1st inning, creating a 2-out, 1st and 3rd base situation.

And it was his turn.

The existence that had just plunged Im Jun-yeong into thought.

A player who was hope for some, but a nightmare for those who faced him.

Crack, crack.

Han Su-hyeok cracked his neck from side to side and stepped into the batter’s box.