Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 209

Genius Pitcher Hides 170km – Episode 208 (209/412)

#208. Han Su-hyeok’s Heart

In just two years since his debut, Han Su-hyeok had completely taken the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] by storm. No, that wasn’t enough; he utterly crushed teams filled with Big Leaguers in the WBC [World Baseball Classic] and Olympics.

With the revision of the Korea-U.S. posting system, the obstacles to Han Su-hyeok’s advancement overseas disappeared.

And after dominating the Olympics following the WBC, he firmly established what kind of player he was.

The reports from scouts dispatched to Korea by each club were all the same.

A hitter who could perform at a minimum of .300/.400/.500 with 30 home runs in the Big Leagues, and at best, an MVP-caliber player. As a two-way player, if managed well, a pitcher who could consistently pitch over 120 innings per year with an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] below 3.00.

Of course, this was still an extremely conservative estimate, but it was enough to move Big League clubs.

Even when considering the hitter and pitcher separately, they were amazing, but the fact that one player could do both was invaluable.

For Big League clubs, struggling to manage their 26-man rosters, he was a player whose value was beyond measure.

But problems remained.

First, the player himself had almost no desire to advance to the Big Leagues.

For some reason, he didn’t seem interested at all in the Big Leagues, which is a dream for all baseball players.

To entice such a player, they would have to offer an enormous amount of money, but there was a problem with that as well.

The newly revised posting regulations between Korea, the U.S., and Japan’s professional baseball leagues can be summarized very simply like this:

A player who has played for more than one season in their domestic league can advance to an overseas league through posting.

Big League clubs participating in the posting submit their posting fee, i.e., transfer fee, in a first round of closed bidding.

However, the posting fee is limited to a maximum of $25 million, and if multiple clubs submit the maximum amount, all of those clubs can negotiate with the player for 30 days.

For players under the age of 25, they are classified as international prospects and can only sign minor league contracts, and the signing bonus can only be set within the slot money measured for each club.

It’s somewhat complicated, but to put it simply:

From Han Su-hyeok’s perspective, the money he could receive if he advanced to the U.S. would be a signing bonus of up to $5 million, which varies slightly from club to club, and he would have to play for the salary set by the club during the three-year service time period.

At first glance, you might think that the club could just give a high salary, but from the perspective of Big League clubs that have only paid the minimum salary to players in service time, this is absolutely impossible.

Using players at the minimum salary during their service time was the core of running a Big League club.

If they messed that up to get one player, there was a high probability that other players would rise up and demand the same.

It meant that the salary system could completely collapse.

In the end, Big League clubs began to devise other ways to capture Han Su-hyeok’s heart.

“Damn it, first, recalculate how much we can give for the 2nd and 3rd year salaries within a reasonable range, and how much support is possible through partnership agreements!”

“Yes, sir.”

There was a suitable method.

Attracting other large corporations.

Clothes, shoes, watches, bags, perfumes, cosmetics, baseball equipment, even cars and houses.

They could broker partnership agreements with companies that wanted to use Han Su-hyeok as an advertisement and give him a considerable amount of money.

But…….

“They say they don’t want to?”

“What? Is $20 million not enough?”

“No, they don’t want to be restricted in their daily life for such a small amount of money.”

“A small amount of money?”

The best prestigious clubs in the U.S., including the Yankees, who pride themselves on never being outspent, as well as the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Cubs, and other prominent big-market teams, approached Han Su-hyeok with similar conditions.

But none of them could meet Han Su-hyeok directly.

All were cut off by Min Tae-hyun, who was in charge of Han Su-hyeok’s personal finances and acting as his agent.

“No, but please listen to our proposal a little more…….”

“It’s no use. He says he has no interest at all. Please go back.”

Meanwhile, there were also subtle feelers trying to exploit the gap.

It was the Yomiuri Giants, who pride themselves on being the best prestigious club in Japan.

“Our Yomiuri offers Han Su-hyeok…….”

“Where? Japan? There’s no need to listen. Han Su-hyeok has no intention of playing in Japan at all.”

“No, but at least listen to the proposal…….”

“He says he wouldn’t even want the entire Japan. Is that enough of an answer?”

“…Nani?” [Japanese for “What?”]

Impregnable.

While no proposal could move Han Su-hyeok’s heart, one team that had been quietly watching the situation moved.

The St. Louis Cardinals.

Simply looking at the size, it’s ambiguous to call them a big-market club, but they are a strong team that aims to win every year based on the number of World Series championships, second only to the Yankees, and the attendance, which is among the top three in the Big Leagues.

They had another reason to put all their efforts into acquiring Han Su-hyeok.

“If you bring that friend, I will immediately agree to an extension contract.”

“Really?”

Ty Johnson, the team’s star player and a superstar representing the entire Big League, whose contract expires at the end of the 2029 season, but has not yet clearly stated his future.

Although he is about to enter his mid-thirties, he is a player who can compete at the highest level for at least 5 years based on the current trend.

No, beyond that, if they let that player go, they don’t know where the arrows of angry fans will be directed.

The Cardinals, who were already planning to jump into the Han Su-hyeok acquisition battle, began to move more actively after hearing Ty Johnson’s words.

“Okay, here are the conditions we are proposing. Guaranteeing an annual income of $30 million through partnership agreements. In addition, a mansion and car for living in the United States, and employees… We will help the player adapt to the Big League without any worries. How is it?”

“Well. I’ll pass it on for now.”

The conditions went up sharply with St. Louis’ participation.

The situation was different from when Ohtani was around.

The reason why Big League clubs couldn’t be so active at that time was because they were negative about two-way players.

Ohtani, who was trying to continue as a two-way player at all costs, eventually wore the Angels uniform, who actively accepted his intentions.

But the situation is different now.

Han Su-hyeok was a player without such verification, no, worries.

A body blessed by God that has played as a hitter, pitcher, and even shortstop for two seasons, and without any major injuries.

He is on a different level from Ohtani, who groaned from frequent injuries and eventually ended his career early because of them.

If they adjust the number of games played and innings pitched a little, he will be able to have a long run.

That was the conclusion that Big League clubs came to about Han Su-hyeok.

Of course, it’s useless now.

Because the person in question has no interest at all.

– So, Han Su-hyeok, the Cardinals’ conditions are quite attractive. Above all, the fact that Ty Johnson wants to acquire Han Su-hyeok…….

“It’s not a bad offer, but not right now. Just reject it.”

Unwavering.

Han Su-hyeok did not budge at any offer.

Big League clubs thought.

Is this friend thinking of getting FA [Free Agent] qualification and then moving to the Big League stably with more money?

If so, clinging to him now is not a good decision.

They are in a situation where they have to start planning for next season right away.

In the meantime, time continued to flow.

As the Big League clubs’ interest in Han Su-hyeok, which had been burning hot, gradually cooled down,

He finally moved.

An American who had been watching Han Su-hyeok for a long time and accurately caught what he really wanted.

Daniel Mitchell, the former scout and current general manager of the Seattle Mariners, barely revived his past ties and succeeded in meeting Han Su-hyeok.

“Han Su-hyeok, thank you for meeting me. It’s been a long time.”

“I know. Well, I know roughly what’s going on, but as I’ve said several times, I’m not very interested in advancing to the United States…….”

“It’s okay. I’m not here to talk about that today.”

“Hmm… Yes, I understand for now. But why does our general manager want to see me together…… Let’s see, he seems to be arriving in 5 minutes. The traffic seems to be a bit heavy.”

“Good. I have to tell you the details after General Manager Park arrives, but… to put it bluntly, our Mariners want to become sister clubs with the Warriors. Not just in words, but really sister clubs.”

“Uhhhm?”

“Not formal player training, technical exchange, coaching staff training, but a true, literal club that shares the same fate on the same boat. How is it? Will you accept it?”

“Well… it’s not bad, but aside from all that, why are you making such a proposal to me, a player?”

“Hahaha, what does that matter? Ah, General Manager Park has arrived. Now, shall we have a full-fledged conversation?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. The traffic was so heavy… Well, I was looking out the window on the way here and I had a thought. It’s the story of the 1990s when I first went to the United States. There were a lot of cars in Seoul back then too. But not as much as now. Maybe that difference is because of the parking fee. I checked the parking fees around this hotel while coming in. 10,000 won per hour… Yes, this is clearly a signal from the government not to drive a car. In that respect, the United States is a blessed country. Ah, except for big cities like New York. Wait, why am I talking about parking fees?”

For two years after the contract with Han Su-hyeok fell through, Daniel Mitchell thought countless times.

What is baseball player Han Su-hyeok’s real goal, and how can he bring him to the United States?

And he realized one thing.

He had already told him the answer.

The Warriors’ victory and the construction of a dynasty.

For some reason, this player named Han Su-hyeok cherished the Warriors as if they were his own.

Of course, it’s true that they are his own.

Anyway, it’s an incomprehensible thing, but if you assume that as a premise, the way to bring Han Su-hyeok to the United States is surprisingly simple.

Just make the Warriors a dynasty.

Make it a team that can crush the KBO without any problems even if Han Su-hyeok is gone.

First of all, that is the top priority.

The stupid big-market guys ignored such a simple truth and were busy offering Han Su-hyeok more money.

Of course, it didn’t work.

His thoughts were right.

Han Su-hyeok is not a player who can be moved by money.

It’s a pity that he realized it a little late, but it’s okay.

He will make a bet within the next year.

The Warriors, whom Han Su-hyeok cherishes like his life, will somehow make that team the strongest in the KBO.

He will give all the help he can in the process.

Whether it’s player and coach training, technical exchange, or dispatch of minor league players, whatever it is,

He will make the Mariners and Warriors true sisters.

And he will subtly suggest to Han Su-hyeok.

Well, did you enjoy it enough?

Then wouldn’t it be more fun to play in a slightly higher-level league?

In that sense, wouldn’t you come to our Seattle? We need your help.

‘Great idea!’

The owner, who was skeptical at first, began to change his mind little by little as Han Su-hyeok rejected all the Big League clubs’ offers.

Anyway, they can’t win against those guys with money.

It would be good if things go according to the plan that the new general manager brought, and even if it fails, there is not much loss to be seen.

Daniel, who received the owner’s approval, wrote a proposal containing everything he had.

And now it has been passed into Park Jae-cheol’s hands.

“This is the proposal we have prepared. Please give it a positive review.”