Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 200

#199. Regret

Two consecutive first-round eliminations at the 2017 and 2023 WBC [World Baseball Classic].
A humiliating second-place finish to Taiwan at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where a gold medal was all but guaranteed.

This is the international tournament record of the Korean national baseball team over the past decade, despite operating the world’s third-largest professional league. It’s a shameful reality created by the convergence of various factors.

What if Han Su-hyeok hadn’t participated in the 2027 WBC?
Or, what if his participation had been thwarted by the ‘experience-first’ approach of some conservative baseball veterans?

The mere thought is enough to make one shudder.

In any case, thanks to the 2027 WBC victory, Korea had risen from being a ‘weak team of pampered pigs’ to a ‘dark horse’.

Of course, despite this, Mexico was still widely expected to win this game.

In the end, however, the gamblers who had bet everything on Mexico’s victory based on those expert predictions were left clutching their necks and collapsing in disbelief.

[In the first game of Group A at Dodger Stadium, South Korea upsets expectations, defeating Mexico 5-2]

[Han Su-hyeok’s two two-run home runs in the 1st and 5th innings decide the game]

[Mexican pitcher Rafael Silva, who gave up two home runs in his showdown with Han Su-hyeok: “I need a time machine. I want to go back and punch my past self in the face.”]

[6 innings, 1 run, complete pitching by Lim Jun-yeong, Big League experts: “He would have been competitive enough even if he had advanced to the US.”]

[PHOTO: Min Ye-rin trembling while holding onto the safety net during Han Su-hyeok’s two-run home run]

[When asked why she didn’t grab the safety net, “Su-hyeok oppa [an affectionate Korean term for older brother or male friend] was worried about me getting kicked out.”]

Korea, scoring 5 points with Han Su-hyeok’s two home runs, defeated Mexico and secured a pleasant first win.

On the mound, Lim Jun-yeong pitched a stellar game with 6 innings and only 1 run allowed, and Kim Yong-jae and Park Do-yul closed out the game steadily.

Meanwhile, the game between Japan and the Netherlands, held at Angel Stadium at the same time, ended with Japan winning by a narrow margin of 2-1.

Japan, initially confident of winning against the Netherlands, was only able to smile after their star hitter Hamasaki Akinori hit a game-winning RBI [Runs Batted In] in the bottom of the 9th inning.

With that, Korea and Japan each had 1 win, and Mexico and the Netherlands each had 1 loss, as the first day of the competition came to an end.

* * *

‘Chikusho…….’ [Damn it…]

It wasn’t just the Korean team that was approaching each game with the mindset that it was the final.

Japan, which finished third after losing to Korea in the 2027 WBC, had bet everything on this Olympics.

Having secured a win against the Netherlands by fielding a left-handed pitcher who is currently ranked first in NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s major baseball league] wins against the left-handed-heavy Netherlands, Japan was now preparing for a showdown with Korea.

The pitcher they put forward was none other than Tanaka Yamato.

The ace of the Japanese national team and his team, the Chicago Cubs, was burning with the desire to avenge the humiliation he suffered against Han Su-hyeok in the last WBC.

Of course, that’s what it looked like from the outside.

In reality, Tanaka’s heart was rotting away.

The hitter Han Su-hyeok, whom he met in the previous tournament, was truly a monster.

To be honest, even while playing in the Big League [Major League Baseball], he had never met a hitter who exuded such a sense of intimidation.

Putting skill aside, the unique aura that guy emanates is just too unpleasant.

No,

To be honest, it’s scary.

‘Baka-yaro…….’ [Idiot…]

No matter how much he cursed himself, pushed himself, or tried to pull himself together, it was no use.

If he competed, he would get hit; if he ran away, he would be humiliated.

That’s why he tried to come up with any excuse to avoid participating in this tournament.

‘Haa…….’

“Play!”

In the end, he was driven here, and now he will soon have to face that monster once again.

That monster named Han Su-hyeok, sitting over there on the bench in the distance.

* * *

“Su-hyeok…….”

“Shhh.”

Someone seemed to be calling me, but it quickly quieted down with the voice of senior Lim Jun-yeong.

As I sat on the bench with my eyes closed, the surroundings became strangely quiet.

I know.

I know how much the other players are on edge when the starting pitcher is like this before a game.

But right now, I’m not in the mood to be considerate of anyone else.

Thump, thump.

I got up from the bench and started walking towards the mound.

This path, which I’ve walked at least hundreds of times in my baseball career, feels especially long today.

“Waaaaa!”

“Han Su-hyeok! Han Su-hyeok! Han Su-hyeok!”

“Please win! I’m begging you!”

Perhaps because it’s not far from LA’s Koreatown, I seem to hear more Korean today.

That’s right,

Come to think of it, it was like that back then too.

Whenever there was a game against the Angels here, those people seemed to send me their support.

It’s just that I wasn’t very interested in those things.

Whoosh.

Thwack.

“Good! Su-hyeok, your ball is good!”

As the voices calling for a generational change in the national team’s home base grew louder, Jang Deok-soo wore the mask in yesterday’s game.

But today, in the game against Japan, an opponent we absolutely cannot lose to, veteran Jeong Dae-han is starting as the catcher again.

It doesn’t matter.

Who the catcher is, what does it matter?

Whoosh.

Thwack.

My condition is good. No, it’s so good that I’m worried I might overdo it without realizing it.

As pitches exceeding 102 mph continued to come out in practice throws, the voices of the spectators grew louder and louder.

But right now, none of those things are reaching my ears.

Damn it,

Something else came to mind again.

Her face, which had been vaguely remembered, suddenly became clear as if I could grab it.

It was from the moment I stepped onto this field.

As I looked at the seat where she used to sit every day, my heart turned as cold as ice at the thought of her face that came to mind.

Her voice, which remained as the only clear memory, her vaguely remembered face, the song she used to sing, her manner of speaking…….

All of it came to mind clearly.

I even remembered the mole in the middle of her back that was slightly visible above her tank top.

Damn it,

Damn it,

Goddamn it,

But why can’t I remember her name?

Am I stupid? Or is someone playing a trick on me?

Everything is coming back so clearly, but only the name is not coming to mind?

“Play!”

She was the only one in my past life who sincerely worried about me and tried to comfort me.

I can’t stand myself for not even being able to recall the name of such a person.

If today wasn’t my start, if this wasn’t a baseball field,

I can’t even imagine what kind of trouble I would have caused.

“Hey, stop stalling and start the game.”

The umpire instructed the start of the game in a gentle voice as the pitcher on the mound didn’t seem to be thinking of throwing the ball.

Right.

Let’s finish the game first.

Dealing with this shitty feeling is for later.

Maybe if I play the game in this goddamn stadium today, something else will come to mind.

I’m suffocating.

I want to get out of here quickly.

And crush those damn Japanese bastards.

Whoosh.

Pow!

* * *

– Ah, how should I explain this……? Han Su-hyeok is literally massacring the Japanese hitters. Han Su-hyeok, who struck out three consecutive Japanese hitters in the bottom of the 5th inning, is slowly walking down the mound.

– Amazing. This… it’s a perfect pitch that gives the viewer goosebumps. 5 innings, 12 strikeouts, and so far, none of the Japanese hitters have even reached first base.

– Commissioner, I think one thing is becoming clear.

– What is it?

– Those few experts who were saying that Han Su-hyeok still needed to be verified even before today’s game. Now they have no choice but to agree. He has proven himself that his performance in the last WBC was not a coincidence.

– Ah, those moro… I’m sorry. It’s just that those people don’t want to acknowledge leagues other than the Major League, especially Asian players. It doesn’t matter. Anyway, what the announcer said is right. Now, at this point, everyone has no choice but to nod in agreement.

– By the way, Han Su-hyeok seems a little strange today. He usually has a relaxed expression on his face, if not a smile, but today he looks unusually stiff. Is it because he’s raising the tension because it’s a game against Japan?

– Yes, that’s right. But what’s important now is not that. What’s really important is that Han Su-hyeok’s ball today is the best ever. In fact, the game was over when Han Su-hyeok threw his first ball at 170 km/h [kilometers per hour, approximately 106 mph] in the bottom of the 1st inning. Did you see the Japanese coach’s expression then?

– I saw it. To be honest, I even felt sorry for him.

– That’s right, that one ball instantly blew away the fighting spirit that had been in the Japanese team. Originally, these short-term international tournaments are all about momentum. I guarantee it. As long as Han Su-hyeok is on the mound, the Japanese team will never be able to raise their heads.

– Then the important thing now is the offense. Japan is completely ignoring Han Su-hyeok today, treating him as if he doesn’t exist, so the other players must step up.

– That’s right. Now there are a total of 4 innings left: 6, 7, 8, and 9. We have to somehow score the first run while Han Su-hyeok is on the mound.

* * *

It’s up to a person to like someone.

Conversely, whatever reaction the person on the receiving end shows is also that person’s choice.

That’s not wrong, but at least I shouldn’t have done that.

She always sent me unwavering support without asking for anything in return,

Whenever someone cursed me on social media, or when a bad article came out, she would get angry as if it were her own business and run around,

Whenever I was in a state of deep emptiness, she would know it like a ghost and try to cheer me up,

Even in a situation where I might become a half-player due to a shoulder injury, or perhaps even have to choose retirement, she was still only worried about my feelings until the end,

She even said that it would be nice if I learned to love and be loved by someone else, even if it wasn’t her,

I treated her like a bothersome bug.

I treated her so carelessly that people around me would shake their heads, wondering why she was following such a person.

Those memories are digging through my head like sharp awls.

My body is on the field, but my heart is not here.

My mind was elsewhere to the point where I wondered what I was even thinking about while playing baseball.

To be honest, I don’t even remember what kind of ball I threw today.

“Su-hyeok, don’t feel pressured. If they walk you, just take your base and come back quietly.”

Lim Jun-yeong came up to me while I was sitting on the bench and spoke carefully.

Come to think of it, it’s already my turn to bat.

I pick up my bat and step into the on-deck circle.

“Out!”

Following 3rd batter Lee Chan-ho, 4th batter Lee Su-yeong is retired with consecutive ground balls, and finally, it’s my turn.

But my mind is still blank.

Well, what does it matter?

Whether it’s that Tanaka Yamato or Yanaka Tamanegi who started today, the left-handed pitcher on the mound right now doesn’t seem to have any intention of throwing me a strike either.

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

As expected, two balls came in a row.

My interest in the showdown with the pitcher disappeared a long time ago.

Once again, I turned my gaze to the seat where she used to sit in the distance.

I know.

I know that all of this is meaningless, a self-destructive act.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t know how to revive this messed-up feeling.

“Ball.”

Another ball came in. Three balls, no strikes.

The pitcher throwing the ball, the catcher receiving it, and the umpire standing behind them are all indifferent, predicting the outcome of this obvious walk.

My mind was already on first base. I released the grip on the bat to walk quietly to first base, just like Lim Jun-yeong said.

That’s when it happened.

“Oppa!”

Min Ye-rin, who was sitting in the middle of the first base stands, called my name loudly and jumped down.

Min Ye-rin stood in front of the safety net, in the seat she always sat in.

Instantly, my head ached as if it would break.

My body started to run wild on its own, to the point where I could feel my heartbeat in my temples.

I don’t know. I was even more embarrassed because I couldn’t understand the reason.

“Time!”

I called a time-out and stepped away from the plate for a moment.

I took off my helmet and took a deep breath, and I felt my mind returning, even if only slightly.

What is it?

I don’t know. At least there’s nothing I can figure out in this place.

Right, there’s only one thing I can do now.

To find out what that unknown feeling from just now is, and what connection it has with Min Ye-rin, I need to end this game quickly.

“Why don’t you come back in now?”

The umpire’s voice brought back my half-gone mind.

I put my helmet back on and slowly stepped into the batter’s box.

The Japanese catcher growled, as if he thought I was deliberately stalling for time.

“You cocky… no matter how good you are at baseball…….”

“Shut up before I kill you.”

“What?”

The pitcher on the mound seemed to notice something as the catcher’s expression changed, and he glared at me.

At that moment, my thought of quietly walking to first base changed.

Swoosh.

I changed my stance to an extreme closed stance to hit the ball that would come out to the outside.

I adjusted the grip of the bat to maximize the reach.

I felt the catcher flinch as if he had noticed something, but it was already too late.

Whoosh.

The moment the ball left the pitcher’s fingertips,

I took a step forward and swung at the ball that was going out.

Crack!

The batted ball, which was forcibly pushed, began to fly fiercely towards the right fielder with a strong spin.