Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 244

#243. A New Beginning

For the past month, Han Su-hyeok had undoubtedly been the central figure in Seattle’s batting lineup.

With Ty Johnson holding strong at number 3, pitchers were forced to focus on getting the 1st and 2nd batters out, which often resulted in Han Su-hyeok being given opportunities to make big plays.

As the pitcher would often falter right from the start, Seattle was able to dominate their opponents with ease.

This was the secret to Seattle’s early-season lead in the division, despite various imbalances in their overall strength.

That month passed.

Each team’s managers and pitchers came to understand what kind of player Han Su-hyeok was. They realized that he was not someone to be trifled with.

But the problem was still Ty Johnson.

If they walked Han Su-hyeok or played cautiously around him, they had to deal with Ty Johnson right after.

And if they walked Ty Johnson as well?

Then they would be putting two runners on base right from the start of the game. No matter how much the following batters might pale in comparison to Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson, they were still major league players.

While teams facing Seattle were racking their brains over this issue, Jerry Wagner, considered the best catcher in the league, noticed that Ty Johnson’s condition was slightly different than before.

Although the sample size was small and not clearly reflected in the statistics, he noted a significant decrease in Johnson’s reaction speed and batted ball distance under specific conditions—namely, when there was a runner on first base and he had to hit an outside pitch to the opposite field.

After repeatedly confirming this fact through video and data analysis, Jerry Wagner consulted with the manager and came up with a bold strategy.

Absolutely walk Han Su-hyeok, no matter what. He was a batter they should never challenge at this point.

And then challenge the old lion who still believed he was the best.

Ty Johnson, who had lost the power to hit outside pitches over the fence and whose pride was wounded by being walked after Han Su-hyeok.

Jerry Wagner’s choice was spot on.

After sending Han Su-hyeok to first, they succeeded in getting Ty Johnson out.

As he had done for the past 16 years, Ty Johnson was a player who had to solve everything himself, and he was more than qualified to do so.

After Han Su-hyeok was intentionally walked, Ty Johnson, unable to resist the relentless outside pitches, swung at the ball.

It was a course that would have resulted in a bullet-like hit through the 1st and 2nd basemen, or a long hit that would have gone over the right fielder’s head in the past.

But his slowed bat speed and wrist strength couldn’t keep up with his intentions.

A weak ground ball to the infield.

The solution to breaking through Seattle’s 2nd and 3rd hitters, Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson, was finally revealed to the world.

But,

“Ball! Batter to first!”

In his second at-bat, the old lion, having noticed the opponent’s tactics, showed patience with a potential meal right in front of him.

He set aside his long-held pride and aggressiveness and passed the opportunity to compete to the younger lion in the pack.

Ty Johnson, having done his part, walked to first base with a calm expression.

With runners on first and second and no outs.

The carefully laid plan had fallen apart too early.

Disappointment flashed across Jerry Wagner’s face.

* * *

The moment Ty Johnson held back from swinging at a tempting pitch that he would have gone for without hesitation in the past,

Benjamin, the manager, realized it.

That a new era had arrived for Ty Johnson and for this team.

The man who had always tried to carry everything on his own and solve it himself had finally learned to share the burden with other players.

It was a process that every great player had to go through.

Once the period of covering every variable with physical strength passed, they eventually had to look at baseball from a different perspective and play differently.

It was bittersweet and admirable to see a batter who had dominated the major leagues for so long entering such a phase.

It was as if he was sending a child he had raised himself off to college, even though he hadn’t personally developed the player.

In any case, it was time to put those personal feelings aside for a moment.

Now that Ty Johnson had taken a step toward a new realm, it was up to them to help him.

To show him that his choice was not wrong, that even the greatest hitters sometimes had to rely on other players.

“Time!”

With runners on first and second and no outs.

Manager Benjamin called the next batter, Chuck Clark, to the bench.

“Chuck, it’s okay. Don’t be nervous. Do you understand what I mean?”

Before Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson joined the team, that is, until last season, the core hitters of this team were Derek Fleming, who was currently batting first, Jim Brown at fifth, and Antonio Garcia at sixth.

Chuck Clark, who had been fixed in the cleanup hitter position throughout this season, was the player who had been batting seventh right after them.

A batter who recorded a slash line [batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage] of .273 / .345 / .409 last season with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs.

In terms of batting precision, Derek Fleming and Jim Brown were better, and in terms of power, Antonio Garcia was stronger.

But the cleanup hitter chosen by Manager Benjamin, that is, the batter who would stand behind Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson, was none other than Chuck Clark.

“No problem, boss. Ah, am I supposed to feel any pressure?”

“No, just do what you want. Just do what you can, regardless of the outcome.”

“Of course. That’s what I do best. Then I’ll be going.”

“Good.”

The reason was simple.

The boldness of the batter Chuck Clark.

Or, to be precise, his indifference.

He was a batter who could always swing his own way, regardless of the number of outs, the batters before or after him, or the runners on base.

Some coaches pointed out that he wasn’t focused on the game and didn’t hit according to the situation, but,

[Number 4 hitter, right fielder Chuck Clark]

Benjamin thought that was a necessary skill for this team.

Even as the team cruised along with Derek Fleming, Han Su-hyeok, and Ty Johnson tearing apart opposing pitchers in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd spots, Benjamin had been preparing for this moment without letting his guard down.

He knew it.

That there would come a time like this,

When the opposing team would openly walk Han Su-hyeok, and Ty Johnson would be bombarded with breaking balls, eventually forcing the next batter to share the burden.

In that respect, Chuck Clark was the most suitable batter for that spot.

Most batters would be unable to swing their own way due to the pressure and stress of the opposing team walking Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson and challenging them.

But Chuck Clark, that indifferent player, was an exception.

The batting stats of the past few years speak for themselves.

In no-out, no-runner situations, two-out, runner-on situations, and even situations where he could turn the game around with one swing, Chuck Clark’s batting stats always maintained a consistent level.

Manager Benjamin’s prepared move was finally put into action.

“Play!”

With the umpire’s call of play, the pitcher slowly began his pitching motion.

Chuck Clark’s face remained expressionless.

Wavy blonde hair, reasonably handsome features, and half-closed eyes.

Jerry Wagner, sensing something unusual about him, tried his best to trash-talk, but there was no reaction.

Whether there were runners on base or not, and no matter who was talking, Chuck Clark’s bat swung powerfully, with no interest in anything other than his own job.

Thwack!

The ball he hit flew in a large arc and hit the top of the Green Monster [the left field wall at Fenway Park] on the left side of Fenway Park and fell.

The moment the speedy runner Han Su-hyeok easily slid into home, despair appeared on Jerry Wagner’s face.

It was only one point, but that one point felt so distant.

* * *

In the top of the 6th inning, Seattle took the lead with a run scored by Chuck Clark’s double, but ultimately failed to score additional runs due to subsequent hits failing to materialize with a good chance of runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs.

But that one point was quite meaningful for both Seattle and Boston.

For Boston, it was proof that their Han Su-hyeok containment strategy had failed, and for Seattle, it provided an opportunity to present a solution to the opposing team’s future checks.

“Damn it! It’s just one point! Turn it around quickly! Turn it around!”

“Get hit by the ball and get on base! If you’re getting paid tens of millions of dollars, show that much grit!”

“Hit a home run! Kill that cocky pitcher!”

With a precarious one-point lead of 1 to 0, Boston fans shouted themselves hoarse, cheering for their home team and calling for a comeback.

But they also knew.

That scoring a point against Han Su-hyeok, who had been on a 38-inning scoreless streak until today’s game, would not be an easy task.

Fortunately, Jerry Wagner got a walk in the bottom of the 7th inning, ending Han Su-hyeok’s perfect streak.

And in the top of the 8th inning, Han Su-hyeok’s at-bat came around.

Although they had already tasted failure once, Boston walked him again. They had not yet found another solution.

Once again, with a runner on first and no outs, Ty Johnson stepped into the batter’s box.

“Ty, I was surprised earlier. I didn’t think you’d hold back on that pitch.”

“I didn’t hold back, I just couldn’t swing in time. The ball was too fast.”

“Right? Even for you, it would be impossible to hit a 90-mile fastball. Hmm, okay. I’ll tell the pitcher to lower the speed a bit.”

“Good, then I’ll buy you a drink in return.”

“It would be an honor.”

After exchanging light banter, Jerry Wagner hardened his expression and moved his catcher’s mitt.

Andy Dixon, who was the starter today, had gone down, and a relief pitcher was on the mound.

If nothing else, he was a pitcher with strengths in control.

According to the sign entered into PitchCom [a device for catchers to communicate pitch selections to the pitcher], the pitcher prepared to throw the ball, and the fielders subtly adjusted their positions.

Whoosh

Clang

“Ball.”

A cutter that curved from outside to further outside.

Ty Johnson, who would have swung at that ball in the past, trusting in his long reach and powerful wrist strength, stood still and watched the ball go by without moving.

“Ty.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry. But we have to win.”

“You’re talking nonsense. Okay, bring it on.”

Ty Johnson and Jerry Wagner, who had been leading hitters representing the National League and American League until last season, were friends who continued to have various connections outside the stadium.

But that didn’t matter at all inside the stadium.

Jerry Wagner, determined to defeat this old lion today, sent a sign to the pitcher.

Whoosh

Clang

“Ball!”

“Hmm… Is that why you said you were sorry?”

“No, that was a mistake. I’m going to kick that pitcher’s butt after the game today, so please refrain from running onto the mound.”

“Hmm, you’re lucky. If it wasn’t me in the batter’s box right now, but that guy over there on first base, your pitcher would probably be crying with a broken jaw by now.”

Ty Johnson pointed to Han Su-hyeok on first base, barely dodging the ball flying towards his face.

Jerry Wagner recalled the Han Su-hyeok bench-clearing highlight video uploaded to YouTube.

“Damn it, Ty, to be honest, your rookie is terrifying.”

“Hehe, right. His bat power and punching power are really amazing.”

“In my opinion, he’s even more terrifying as a pitcher. Honestly, I was lucky to get a walk earlier.”

“Anyway, be careful. If that guy gets angry, no one on our team can stop him.”

“Okay, I’ll make sure the ball doesn’t go anywhere near his head.”

“Okay. I’ll tell him not to throw the ball at your head either.”

Even with the two continuing to talk, the umpire didn’t bother to stop them.

Having been active in the big leagues for a long time, he instinctively realized that this moment was important for both teams and both players.

With the umpire’s tacit approval, a few more words were exchanged, and the pitcher began his pitching motion again.

‘Outside sinker.’

A sinker that came in from outside the zone and grazed the border line with backspin.

The pitch that Jerry Wagner chose was exactly that.

Although Ty Johnson had proven in the previous at-bat that he could make a different choice than he had in the past, this was the only solution for now.

‘If we give up another walk… the next pitcher…’

Jerry Wagner, the commander on the ground and able to influence pitcher changes, was thinking about the at-bats of the batters after Ty Johnson when,

Whoosh

“Damn it!”

The tense pitcher’s ball ended up being right in the zone,

Thwack!

With a tremendous sound, the ball flew powerfully towards the Green Monster.

Far, far,

The moment that ball flew over the Green Monster’s stands and became a home run, he heard a familiar voice in his ear.

“How was that? A great home run, right? Then see you in the next game, friend.”

“…….”

There were still two offensive opportunities left for Boston in the bottom of the 8th and 9th innings, but Ty Johnson spoke as if the game was already over before slowly running towards first base.

A sigh escaped from Jerry Wagner’s mouth without him realizing it.

3 to 0, a three-point difference.

Considering Boston’s powerful strength, he wanted to believe that they could turn it around at any time, but considering that the pitcher on the mound was Han Su-hyeok, the point difference felt too great.

And that premonition came true.

[Game 1 between Seattle and Boston, Seattle’s complete victory with Han Su-hyeok’s no-hitter pitching and Ty Johnson’s two-run home run, 3 to 0]

[Han Su-hyeok continues his 47-inning scoreless streak and achieves his 6th win of the season, challenging the 85-inning scoreless streak he recorded in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] again?]

[Han Su-hyeok, who achieved a no-hitter against the Red Sox following a perfect game against the Yankees, “Aren’t you disappointed that you missed the perfect game? Well, I guess the Red Sox are a little stronger than that team, so this result came out?”]

[Red Sox fans who were cursing Han Su-hyeok, after the interview, “The Red Sox are stronger than the Yankees? Hmm, he must be a player who knows baseball very well,” change their attitude]

[Ty Johnson, who hit a two-run home run that decided the game, “I am learning the simple truth that it is okay if the team wins even if I lose the battle. Fortunately, I am happy that I won today, and the team also won.”]

[Chuck Clark, who scored the first run with a double hitting the Green Monster in the top of the 6th inning, when asked if he felt burdened standing behind Ty Johnson, “The only time I feel burdened is when I wake up in the morning and go out to the garden and see a scutigera [house centipede] sitting on the newspaper.” What does that even mean?]