Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 203

#202. Han Su-hyeok’s Smile

There are two main types of successful people:

Those who burn everything for their own pure desires, greed, and profit, and

those who drive themselves to the extreme, sacrificing themselves out of a sense of responsibility for something.

Lim Jun-yeong, who started as the pitcher in the semi-final game against Dominica today, clearly belonged to the latter.

When he first joined the Warriors, he gave his all for the team that accepted him, the seniors who took care of him like 친형 [close older brothers], and the fans who called his name in loud voices.

After being abandoned by his former team, he was briefly shocked, but he quickly recovered and did everything he could for Incheon’s victory.

And now, Lim Jun-yeong was ready to do anything for the Korean national team to advance to the finals.

Whoosh

Bang!

“Ball!”

Top of the 5th inning, with both teams fiercely tied at 2-2.

Luis Ortiz, who hit a two-run home run against him in the previous at-bat, let the 诱人球 [enticing ball] pass.

A player who hit 42 home runs last season and already 25 home runs in the first half of this season.

A top-class Major League hitter with arm muscles as thick as an average athlete’s thighs.

Although he allowed a two-run home run to such a player, Lim Jun-yeong was not intimidated at all.

Because he had been 미리 예방주사를 맞았기 때문이다 [inoculated in advance].

The 미리 예방주사를 맞았기 때문이다 [preemptive inoculation] that had continued throughout last season, Han Su-hyeok.

He was definitely a scary and great hitter, but strangely, he didn’t feel the same pressure as Han Su-hyeok.

Last season, especially in the Korean Series, Han Su-hyeok was truly amazing.

How should I put it? When the already fearsome guy’s face was filled with a determination to win, it felt like a devil was there.

Rather, after winning the championship once, the unknown obsession, stubbornness, and anger that remained on Han Su-hyeok’s face seemed to have faded a lot.

‘Hmm… I don’t like this.’

It was Jang Deok-su, not Jeong Dae-han, who wore the catcher’s mask today.

There was a need for a generational shift, but more than that, Jeong Dae-han’s condition had not been very good throughout this Olympics.

In any case, Jang Deok-su, who had been working with him since his 所属팀 [affiliated team], asked for a breaking ball that would 흘러 나가다 [drift] outside, but Lim Jun-yeong firmly shook his head.

He couldn’t explain why, but he felt it was better to 승부를 걸다 [gamble/take a chance] here.

One out, runner on second base, it might be better to send Luis Ortiz to first base and face the next hitter, as the bench decided, but…….

‘Let’s do it.’

As always, Lim Jun-yeong was never a pitcher who preferred to run away.

He knew better than anyone the importance of today’s game, but he was also a player who believed in his and his team’s abilities as much as that.

슥

Lim Jun-yeong felt the movement of the runner on second base behind him.

Lim Jun-yeong, who 묶다 [tied down/watched] the runner’s movement by slightly turning his head, powerfully threw the ball toward the catcher’s mitt.

탁!

He was indeed a good hitter.

Luis Ortiz 멋지게 받아쳤다 [beautifully hit] a 몸쪽 포심 [inside fastball] that Lim Jun-yeong himself thought he had thrown really well.

A strong and fast line drive that passed by the pitcher without even a chance to get a glove on it, flying over second base.

The Dominican fans, who had just begun to cheer, anticipating the team’s third point, at that moment,

턱

“Out!”

Han Su-hyeok, who appeared from somewhere, caught the ball without a bounce, throwing his body.

Then, he immediately rolled his body once and got up, stepping on second base to catch the runner who had failed to 귀루 [return to base].

“Out!”

The situation that would have led to a one-RBI hit and another runner on first base with one out instantly turned into a three-out 공수교대 [change of offense and defense].

The second base runner, who had started thinking it would be a timely hit, stared at Han Su-hyeok with a dumbfounded expression.

“빌어먹을 새끼, 저걸 잡는다고?” [You son of a bitch, he caught that?]

A Spanish curse word came out of his mouth.

Of course, Han Su-hyeok wasn’t going to let that go.

“Shut up and go back and call your mom crying, you 개자식 [son of a bitch].”

The runner’s expression became even stranger when Spanish suddenly came out of the mouth of a yellow-skinned Asian.

Leaving the runner as he was, Han Su-hyeok went into the dugout.

“Wow!”

“Really, the best! The best!”

“Han Su-hyeok!”

The spectators, who had now accurately assessed the situation, belatedly burst into cheers.

Seo Hyeong-ju, who had run in from the outfield, almost 메다꽂힐 뻔 [was about to be slammed] on the ground while trying to hang on Han Su-hyeok’s back, and Ahn Chi-wook, who was playing third base today, was frozen in place, clapping like a seal.

Lim Jun-yeong said to Jang Deok-su, who came to his side, in a pleasant voice.

“See, I told you it was okay to 승부 [take a chance]!”

Baseball is a team play.

I don’t necessarily have to win the 승부 [matchup] with the hitter.

The important thing is that the team wins.

Lim Jun-yeong, who had been responsible for the team throughout his baseball career, was now learning how to rely on other teammates.

* * *

Although players of other nationalities are in similar situations, there are players for whom success in baseball is the only way out of poverty.

Among the Central and South American countries, the situation is somewhat better, but there are still many countries like Dominica where boys pick up baseballs to escape the slums.

Among the players who participated in the Dominican Olympic team, some decided to join for the honor of their country, but most of them aimed to make their name known around the world.

With South Korea and the Dominican Republic tied at 3-3, the Korean team’s last attack of the 정규이닝 [regulation innings] in the bottom of the 9th inning began.

Han Su-hyeok stepped up to the plate with two outs and no runners.

The Dominican pitcher, who had taken over the mound this inning and caught two hitters well, had a determined look on his face.

The Dominican manager, sensing something ominous, sent a desperate signal through the catcher.

Walk him, just send him to first base.

However, the manager from the domestic league, not the Major League, did not have the power to control these 빅리거s [big leaguers] full of pride and vanity.

Whoosh

탁!

“No!”

The 타구 [batted ball] hit by Han Su-hyeok’s bat rose at a 45-degree angle and disappeared into the sky.

The 타구 [batted ball] continued to fly amidst someone’s scream and someone else’s cheers.

And,

“Wow!”

“Yes! Yes! It’s the finals!”

“Han Su-hyeok! You crazy bastard!”

Han Su-hyeok, who hit the 끝내기 홈런 [walk-off home run], returned to home plate, and the national team teammates in the dugout all ran out and surrounded him.

Advancing to the finals, securing at least a silver medal.

It was the moment when the Korean national team advanced to the Olympic baseball finals for the second time since 2008.

“됐어어어! 됐어어어!” [We did it! We did it!]

“Seo Hyeong-ju.”

“으아아아, 됐… 응?” [Uwaaa, we di… huh?]

“I should have sent someone like you to the military.”

“What are you talking about, you crazy bastard, 으아아! 됐어어어!” [Uwaaa! We did it!]

Han Su-hyeok, who realized that he had never been to the military either after thinking about it, 피식 웃으며 [smirking] walked towards the first base cheering section.

The Korean cheering squad was so excited that they seemed about to break the safety net.

Min Ye-rin, who was in the middle of it, screamed as if she was about to fall backward when she saw Han Su-hyeok.

“오빠아아아!” [Oppa/Older brother!]

“You endured well, our Ye-rin.”

“Yes! I listened to 오빠 [Oppa] and endured it.”

“Good job. Come to the bus later.”

“Bus? Why?”

“I’ll give you this bat as a souvenir. You don’t 싫은 건 아니지 [don’t dislike it], do you, to receive it?”

“바, 바, 받기 싫다뇨! 그럴 리가! [N-n-no, I don’t dislike it! There’s no way!] I’ll make it a 가보 [family heirloom]! I’ll go right away, 오빠 [Oppa]!”

“And thank you to everyone who cheered for us. If anyone needs an autograph, come to our team bus a little later and I’ll do it for you. Be careful because there are a lot of people, and I’ll see you later.”

With that, Han Su-hyeok finished what he had to say and returned to the dugout.

Koreans and fans who had come all the way to the United States to get Han Su-hyeok’s autograph began to run towards the Korean team bus.

Min Ye-rin was so happy.

She was happy to receive the bat that hit the 끝내기 홈런 [walk-off home run] in the Olympic semi-final, but more than that, she was happy to receive a gift from Han Su-hyeok for the first time in her life.

And also, his expression, which had been 축 처져 있던 [drooping/downcast] throughout the Olympics, had regained a little bit of life.

That alone made Min Ye-rin so happy.

She said to her manager next to her.

“오빠 [Oppa], America is the land of guns, right?”

“Yeah, hey, but why 갑자기 웬 총기 [suddenly guns], what are you trying to do again? It’s scary. I don’t know what it is, but don’t do it.”

“I’m not saying that, I’m saying let’s buy a bulletproof case that can fit a baseball bat. I’m sure they sell it somewhere. Find out right away today.”

“Bulletproof?”

“Yeah, absolutely. Please get something that can protect the contents no matter what happens. I have to keep our 집 가보 [family heirloom].”

“…….”

The manager thought.

‘Should I go to a jewelry store or something to find out…….’

* * *

[Korean national baseball team defeats Dominica in the semi-finals and advances to the finals for the first time in 20 years since 2008]

[Lim Jun-yeong’s good pitching with 2 runs in 7 innings, and Han Su-hyeok’s 끝내기 홈런 [walk-off home run], perfect Warriors 선후배 [senior-junior relationship]]

[2 hits Seo Hyeong-ju, 1 hit 1 walk Ahn Chi-wook, perfect defense Jang Deok-su, 1 inning scoreless Yang Gi-cheol, Kim Du-yeong, Warriors players 활약 [performance]]

[Semi-final between the United States and Japan, the United States, with an all-star-level member, completely defeats Japan 9-1 and will face Korea in the final]

[American team’s 간판타자 [star hitter] Ty Johnson hits 3 home runs in one game, 침몰시키다 [sinking] the Japanese archipelago]

[Ty Johnson “I thought Korea would come up. The moment I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.”]

[Instant fan signing event held in front of the Korean team bus after the Dominican game? Han Su-hyeok “It’s natural for the fans who came from afar” Signed for over an hour and returned to the 숙소 [lodging]]

[Seo Hyeong-ju, who participated in the instant signing event with Han Su-hyeok, “I was dragged along without knowing what it was, but I am grateful that there are people who need my signature. I’m so happy.”]

[Han Su-hyeok “It’s more like an instant fan service than a signing event. Please don’t 비방 [slander] the fellow players who didn’t participate.”]

└That’s right. There’s still the final left, so don’t go to the players’ SNS and 테러 [terrorize]

└The guy who hit the 끝내기 홈런 [walk-off home run] in the Olympic semi-final and signed for an hour is great, but the guy who 빠진 [missing] is the problem

└Anyway, Han Su-hyeok is 참 묘해 [really strange]. He seems to only know himself, but his fan service is good, and he takes care of other players unexpectedly

└He donates a lot here and there

└거참… American mind, or something? [Well… American mindset, or something?]

In the not-so-short history of Korean professional baseball, Han Su-hyeok was truly an 이질적인 존재 [heterogeneous being].

A player who completely overturned the culture of the Korean baseball scene, which was 돌아가던 [running] with 학연 [school ties] and 지연 [regional ties] as soon as he debuted.

A 무법자 [outlaw] on the ground who immediately 들이받아버리는 [butts heads with] seniors and others if they do something wrong.

A 강펀치 [strong punch] and charisma that make even 용병 [foreign] players who are much bigger than him unable to make eye contact and 쩔쩔매게 [fidget].

A player who receives absolute support from fans while breaking one by one the various 불문율s [unwritten rules] that were 공공연하게 [openly] in the baseball scene.

The news that Han Su-hyeok held an instant signing event for an hour after hitting the 끝내기 홈런 [walk-off home run] in the semi-final made many people his fans again.

Actually, it wasn’t intentional.

He just wanted to give the bat to Min Ye-rin, who had endured the ground invasion for some reason, and he wanted to repay the fans who were watching with envious eyes.

He grabbed Seo Hyeong-ju and Ahn Chi-wook, who were 방방 뛰는 [jumping up and down] saying they should have a 축하파티 [celebration party], and started signing, but when he came to his senses, team members such as Lim Jun-yeong, Jang Deok-su, Kim Du-yeong, and Yang Gi-cheol had joined.

And some of the other national team players got off the bus after seeing that, and even Min Ye-rin, who was hugging Han Su-hyeok’s bat and had the happiest expression in the world, joined in, making it a truly instant signing event.

Because of that, the move to the 숙소 [lodging] was delayed, and some 고참급 [veteran-level] players tried to complain, but no one 꺼내지 못했다 [could bring] it out of their mouths.

They would be 대역죄인 [traitors] if they said such a thing.

It was a moment that 그대로 보여주는 [directly shows] the power of the name Han Su-hyeok in the Korean baseball world right now.

With such a 훈훈하다면 훈훈한 뒷이야기 [heartwarming if heartwarming behind story] left behind, the Korean Olympic semi-final stage came to an end.

Now, the final against the United States is waiting in two days.

All-star-level Major Leaguers, including Ty Johnson, who were 개망신ed [utterly humiliated] by Han Su-hyeok in the last WBC, will be 바득바득 갈며 [grinding their teeth] waiting for the Korean team.

“Hey, Seo Hyeong-ju. If you don’t play the game properly because you won a medal, I’ll 인터뷰해 버릴 거다 [interview] as soon as I go to Korea.”

“Interview? What are you going to 소리를 [say]?”

“Seo Hyeong-ju didn’t train and 피둥피둥 놀았다고 [just lazed around] as soon as the silver medal was confirmed?”

“야 이 씨 [Hey you], even if you’re joking, what kind of… do you think people will believe that?”

“I’m not joking, and I think they’ll believe it if I say it.”

“…….”

“I’m telling you to do it right. And Ahn Chi-wook.”

“Okay, I’ll work hard. So you don’t have to say that.”

“What are you talking about? Thank you for sending 하귤 [Hagyu – a type of citrus fruit] from your parents last time, please tell them that.”

“Ah, ah, that. I thought…….”

Han Su-hyeok, who 잡다 the 기강 [caught the spirit/discipline] of the two 1st year 애송이s [rookies] who could be 들뜰 수 있는 [carried away] and who would soon have to face the world’s strongest team, the United States, came out of the hotel lobby and walked along the 산책로 [walking path].

After her face came to mind, the feeling that had been 추락하던 [falling] without end was 어느새 [somehow] recovered enough to play pranks.

Only then did Han Su-hyeok realize why he had been falling endlessly in his previous life.

There was no one around him at that time.

There were no friends to play these pranks with, no one to comfort him, no one existed.

He had lived thinking he didn’t know 외로움 [loneliness], but it turned out that he was a person who always needed someone around him like this.

He was sorry that he realized it too late, and on the other hand, he was grateful that he realized it now.

A smile that anyone could see was great appeared on Han Su-hyeok’s lips.