Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 246

#245. Cleveland

“Thanks to Han Su-hyeok, I’m getting to tour America, something I never expected in my life.”

“I’m single, so it’s fine, but what about Commissioner Go Dong-sik, who has a family? Will he be alright?”

“Announcer Park.”

“Yes?”

“My wife was thrilled when I told her I was going on an overseas business trip… Hmm, never mind. It’s not something I should be saying to a bachelor.”

The KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation] broadcasting team, which had returned to Korea after a month-long on-site coverage at the beginning of the season, was dispatched to the United States again.

The KBO League [Korean Baseball Organization], which had been losing steam due to poor performance and international embarrassments, successfully regained its former popularity during the three years Han Su-hyeok played.

Even though Han Su-hyeok advanced to the United States, interest in baseball did not diminish at all.

People watched Han Su-hyeok’s games in the morning and the KBO in the evening.

As national interest in baseball itself increased, KBC, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights for Seattle games, made a bold decision to not miss this opportunity.

They decided to continue the on-site coverage, which was initially limited to the beginning of the season, until the end of the season.

Go Dong-sik, the commentator with a bright smile, and Park Cheol-min, the announcer who seemed somewhat nervous, are here in Cleveland, where the game between the Mariners and the Guardians is about to begin.

“Alright, standby. Three, two, one, go!”

At the PD’s [Production Director’s] instruction, Go Dong-sik and Park Cheol-min straightened their ties once more and turned their attention to the camera.

The first game between the Seattle Mariners, who are leading the American League West with a season record of 24 wins and 13 losses, and the Cleveland Guardians, who are at the bottom of the Central Division, was just about to begin.

* * *

– Hello, viewers. This is Park Cheol-min, reporting live from the United States for the game between the Seattle Mariners, where Han Su-hyeok plays, and the home team, Cleveland Guardians. As always, I am joined by Commissioner Go Dong-sik. Commissioner, it’s good to see you.

– Yes, it’s good to be here. KBC has decided to broadcast all Seattle Mariners games live for domestic viewers. First, I would like to thank the president of KBC for making this decision. And I would also like to thank the Major League Baseball Secretariat for their help in the middle. Thank you! MLB!

– Great. Now, let’s take a look at the current status and lineups of both teams before today’s game. Let’s start with the home team, the Cleveland Guardians. Viewers who haven’t watched baseball for a while may find the team name unfamiliar. Could you briefly explain?

– If you find the team name Guardians unfamiliar, you probably haven’t watched a Major League Baseball game since 2022. The team name, which was previously Cleveland Indians, was changed to Guardians at that time.

– Ah, I see. What’s the reason?

– Yes, the reason for the name change is that the previous name, Indians, and the team logo were embroiled in controversy over racial discrimination. This is a highly controversial issue in the United States, and it can be interpreted in various ways, so let’s move on.

– Alright. So, what kind of team are the Indians, no, the Guardians, in 2030?

– In a word, they’re a mess… I’m sorry. To put it simply, if the Houston team was the absolute powerhouse of the American League West from the late 2010s to the mid-2020s, then the Guardians dominated the Central Division. That’s how I would describe it.

– Past tense, I see. And there seems to be some lingering sentiment at the end of your statement?

– That’s right. These two teams have something in common. Both teams, which were doing so well at the time, are now a complete disaster… a mess, and they’re tanking [strategically losing games to secure a higher draft pick].

– I understand. I fully understand what you mean. Just looking at their current record, it’s clear that they are a much weaker team compared to Seattle.

– That’s right. In this three-game series, Seattle will have Mike Warren as their fifth starter, Ryan Tibo as their first starter, and Han Su-hyeok as their second starter. Ah, don’t misunderstand, Han Su-hyeok is starting as the second starter only to protect a player who is both a pitcher and a hitter. In terms of skill, he’s more than qualified to be the first starter for the entire Major League, not just Seattle…

– Yes, Commissioner. I fully understand what you mean. I agree as well. Coming back to the United States this time, Han Su-hyeok’s popularity is incredible. Even today, when I entered the stadium, the Americans here kept asking me if I was from Korea and if I knew Han Su-hyeok. Seriously, I could understand if this was Seattle, but this is Cleveland.

– What more can I say? Look at Han Su-hyeok’s stats. He has 6 wins this season with an ERA [Earned Run Average] of 0, and he already has 17 home runs with a batting average of over .400. How can any baseball fan not fall in love with such a player?

– Yes, I am so proud that Han Su-hyeok is Korean. Well, all the preparations are complete, and the game is finally about to begin. Let’s take a look at Seattle’s batting order.

1. Center Fielder Derek Fleming (L)
2. Third Baseman Han Su-hyeok (R)
3. First Baseman Ty Johnson (L)
4. Right Fielder Chuck Clark (R)
5. Left Fielder Jim Brown (R)
6. Designated Hitter Antonio Garcia (L)
7. Catcher Bruce Matthews (R)
8. Shortstop Josh Oliver (R)
9. Second Baseman Jonathan Owens (L)
Starting Pitcher Mike Warren

– Seattle Mariners’ strength is that their batting order has hardly changed since the beginning of the season. That’s how stable they are. In addition, with the exception of Ty Johnson, all of them are in their 20s, making them a young and strong lineup. It will be tough for Cleveland to face them.

– Thank you for your comments. Now, the game will begin with Seattle’s attack in the top of the first inning. This is Progressive Field, the home stadium of the Cleveland Guardians.

* * *

If I had to pick the team I dislike the most out of the remaining 29 teams besides the Mariners, it would definitely be the Yankees.

In my previous life, they were the ones who repeatedly blocked Seattle’s path to the World Series, and personally, I don’t like the 꼰대(kkondae)-like [Kkondae refers to an older person who is condescending and stuck in their ways] team atmosphere that tries to control every move of the players.

Anyway, if the Yankees are the team I dislike the most, then the Cleveland Guardians are the team I can’t help but feel sorry for, the team that keeps catching my eye.

The Cleveland Guardians, my second and last team in my past life.

The team that has been eagerly waiting for a championship for 82 years since lifting their last championship trophy in 1948.

At the moment when I, who was a two-way player, was in complete decline as a pitcher but at my peak as a hitter, Cleveland, who was thirsty for a championship, offered me an irresistible amount of money, and I accepted the offer.

Of course, I had to switch to a full-time hitter immediately after moving to the team due to a shoulder injury, but anyway, I brought them what the team’s fans had been eagerly waiting for.

The World Series championship trophy.

Therefore, there is no reason to feel sorry for them.

It’s just a little sad to see the team I once belonged to falling apart so miserably.

“Play!”

The game began.

The Cleveland starting pitcher, who had an ERA close to 6 last season but still pitched 170 innings as a starter throughout the season, entered his pitching motion with a calm expression.

A pitcher who can throw his pitches without any agitation, whether he gets hit with a hit or a home run.

Each team usually has one or two pitchers who play such a role, even if it’s just to handle mop-up duty.

The only difference is that in a tanking team, such a pitcher can play the role of the first starter.

Because all they have to do is eat up a lot of innings, regardless of winning or losing.

Tanking is an act that gives a tremendous sense of helplessness not only to the fans watching but also to the players playing the game.

It’s hard to find familiar faces among the Cleveland players on the field.

The guys who will revive this team in a few years and fight against the Yankees with me have not yet been called up to the big leagues.

The guys who are on the current lineup are mostly just players who will grind through the games during the tanking period, players who can be used roughly and discarded at any time without regret.

Thwack!

“Nice, Derek!”

Lead hitter Derek hit a great ball that went past the left fielder and advanced to second base.

A crisis came as soon as the game started, but the Cleveland fans watched the game with calm expressions, as if this was nothing.

It wasn’t just the fans.

The players, who had become much more accustomed to losing than winning since tanking began last season, continued the game with emotionless faces.

Except for one guy.

[Number 2 hitter, Third Baseman Han Su-hyeok]

As I stepped into the batter’s box, I felt someone’s piercing gaze.

It’s that guy.

The only Cleveland player in the current lineup who survived and led the team to the World Series championship for the first time in 90 years, a legendary catcher.

But right now, he’s a twenty-year-old rookie catcher who’s been recklessly called up to protect Cleveland’s home plate, as it’s been determined that there’s no need to manage his service time [manipulating a player’s time in the major leagues to delay their eligibility for free agency].

Leonard Jones was staring at me intently.

“What are you looking at?”

“Ah, sorry. I was just a little curious. Have I offended you?”

Damn it, I suddenly feel drained.

Meeting someone I know well in a completely different time and place is quite awkward.

Especially since this guy is the only one in Cleveland who maintained human interaction with me.

Of course, all that human interaction amounted to was him occasionally talking to me because of his responsibility as a captain, and me answering him without ignoring him, but anyway.

“Let’s just play baseball, friend.”

“Good idea. Oh, the reason I was staring at you earlier was because I was curious, but also because I’m a personal fan of yours. Um, I guess that’s not something I should say to an opposing player, right? But it’s okay. I’m a rookie.”

Saying you’re a fan to an opponent during a game.

If that team was a proper team, and if there was even one proper veteran, this guy would have been scolded all night long after today’s game.

But unfortunately, there are no veterans on that team right now to teach him such things.

There are only a few older baseball players who are paid to do their jobs and don’t care about anything else.

Whoosh

Bang

“Ball.”

“So, I was wondering, could you sign an autograph for me after the game today? Ah, you can refuse if you feel uncomfortable. But if possible, I’ll come to your dugout after the game. Would that be okay?”

“You want my autograph?”

To be honest, I was a little disappointed.

Seeing the guy who was called the best catcher in the entire Major League, no, the best catcher in the last 10 years, asking for an autograph from an enemy with such a dazed look on his face.

At that moment, my complicated mind was neatly organized.

The past is the past.

No, I don’t know if I should call it the past or the future, but anyway, it’s something that hasn’t happened yet, and there’s a high probability that it won’t happen now.

I am living in the present. The catcher named Leonard Jones that I knew does not exist yet.

Realizing that fact, I ignored the guy who kept talking and focused on the game.

An opportunity with a runner on second base with no outs as soon as the top of the first inning began.

The first run is important in a game where the difference in strength between the two teams is so clear, like today.

It is not uncommon for things to go wrong if you miss a few early scoring chances in a game against a weak team.

That’s why what’s needed now is a clean hit to bring in Derek, who is on second base.

Aim for an accurate hit rather than a big one.

Narrowing my stance inward to hit the outside pitches that pitchers have been focusing on lately, adjusting the position of the grip, and timing it to about a 92-mile fastball.

One, two, three,

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Nice! Good job, Han.”

A clean RBI [Runs Batted In] single that brings in the runner on second base.

After handing the protective gear and gloves I was wearing to the base coach, I couldn’t help but look at the catcher on home plate.

I was curious if he still had a dazed look on his face.

But I couldn’t find any foolishness on the guy’s face as I looked at him from first base.

What filled Leonard Jones’s face was a deep regret for losing the game.

“Hmm……”

At that moment, I realized.

That every word the guy who claimed to be my fan said was actually to confuse me.