Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 250

249. Getting Used To It

The hitters who currently form the core of our team’s lineup each have distinct strengths and weaknesses.

Derrick Fleming, who played in the 2nd and 3rd slots before I and Ty joined the team, is an all-around hitter with good eyes, contact, power, and base-running sense. However, he has the disadvantage of not being able to swing properly with runners on base.

So, although he initially expressed dissatisfaction with being pushed to the leadoff spot, he seems to have realized that the position suits him well and is adapting to the role without complaint.

On the other hand, right fielder Chuck Clark, who bats cleanup, has slightly lower batting stats compared to hitters of a similar level, but his biggest advantage is that he can swing his own swing in any situation.

That’s why he stands behind me and Ty Johnson, even though there are hitters who are better at hitting.

Meanwhile, Jim Brown, the left fielder who bats fifth, is a well-balanced hitter in many ways.

His personality is calm, and his batting is as calm and stable as his personality. However, his disadvantage is that he lacks the explosiveness or intimidation as a cleanup hitter because he is too stable, but Manager Benjamin values him in the fifth spot.

And…….

“Tony, that guy doesn’t seem to have good control of his low pitches today. I think we can narrow the zone a bit more.”

“Hmm, thanks, Han. If I hit a big one thanks to you, I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Okay. Actively aim for high pitches.”

That guy, who bows to me in the Korean style—which I don’t know where he learned—is the most mysterious existence on this team.

A hitter who inspired Choi Jae-min during the joint spring training with the Warriors a year ago.

I’m talking about Antonio Garcia, who recorded a batting average of 0.198, an on-base percentage of 0.355, a slugging percentage of 0.551, 50 home runs, and 101 RBIs last season.

He only swings when the ball comes into his designated zone, and he never swings at balls that are outside of that zone. That’s why he has a lot of strikeouts and a lot of walks. He is fixed in the 6th designated hitter position this season.

It’s a bit of a waste to use the guy who was ranked 3rd in the American League in home runs in the 2029 season as the 6th hitter, but considering Manager Benjamin’s tendency to value the flow of the batting order, it’s somewhat understandable.

“Play!”

I think if Derrick Fleming hadn’t adapted to the leadoff spot properly, there’s a high probability that that guy would have come up as the leadoff hitter instead.

A leadoff hitter with a low batting average of less than 0.200, but who offsets it with his on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

That’s the true form of Antonio Garcia that I remember from before my regression.

Whoosh

Bang

“Strike!”

A hitter who insists on his own zone like that is bound to be greatly affected by who the umpire is.

If he thinks it’s clearly a strike, but the umpire starts calling it a ball, he’s bound to ruin the game that day.

However, with the introduction of the AI ball-judgment system and the securing of zone consistency, one of that guy’s concerns has disappeared completely.

Perhaps that’s why his batting average has risen to 0.221 this season, and he’s showing even numbers in other batting stats as well.

It’s a shame that the number of home runs per game has decreased a bit, but that’s probably because his batting order has dropped to 6th, so there’s no need to worry.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Nice!”

A bullet-like hit that goes through the infield without a fielder being able to do anything about it.

Tony raises his thumb towards me on first base.

After nodding lightly towards that guy, I shouted loudly towards Bruce in the on-deck circle.

“Bruce! Don’t forget what I said earlier!”

* * *

When Benjamin was first offered the position of manager of the Seattle Mariners, he said this.

‘Can you get Han Su-hyeok to wear a Seattle uniform? If so, I am confident that I can get the team to the World Series within three years.’

The World Series stage, which they had never set foot on in the 52 years since their founding.

If a rookie with no experience as a big league manager said he would do that in three years, general managers would laugh. They would tell him to worry about getting to the playoffs first.

However, Seattle’s general manager, Daniel, was a little different.

‘Of course. I’m willing to risk my life on it.’

A new manager who felt like he could do anything with Han Su-hyeok, and a general manager who was prepared to risk his life for the job, joined forces to create a miracle.

Last season, they brought Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson to Seattle, which had finished fourth and was considered to have high future potential but was only a mid-tier team right now.

As a result, Seattle has been running first in the division since the start of the season.

Whoosh

Thwaaaack!

“Alright! Run! Run! Tony!”

With no outs and a runner on first, Bruce Matthews, the 7th hitter, pushed the opposing pitcher’s high pitch and pierced through the first baseman’s side.

Tony, who is so slow that it’s hard to believe he was sometimes the leadoff hitter until last season, arrived at third base with all his might.

The hitter who created runners on first and third with no outs bowed his head towards Han Su-hyeok on the base, and Han Su-hyeok, who was leaning against the bench, waved his hand at the hitter as if it were natural.

‘Hmm.’

To be honest, it’s so amazing that I can’t help but laugh.

I knew that Han Su-hyeok had the qualities of a leader since his KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] days, but that was Han Su-hyeok’s hometown, and he was an incomparable superstar there.

That meant he had the foundation to act as he pleased.

But this is the big leagues.

A place full of big, stubborn, and proud guys who think they are the best in the world.

I never imagined that a rookie in his early twenties, who is only in his first year of debut, would be able to exert this much influence in such a place.

When I found out that there was infighting within the team surrounding Han Su-hyeok at the beginning of the season, I was ashamed of myself for worrying about what to do.

Han Su-hyeok solved all the problems surrounding him with his skills and leadership, just like he did in the KBO.

“Josh!”

While Benjamin was lost in thought, Han Su-hyeok took a big swing at the next hitter, Josh Oliver. It meant don’t feel pressured and send the ball to the outfield.

And a moment later,

Thwack!

Josh created a big outfield fly that went near the fence, and in the meantime, third base runner Antonio came home, scoring the team’s third point.

“Nice! Tony, but you need to lose some weight.”

“Hah, thanks, Han. More than that, you were right. That guy couldn’t throw low balls!”

Tony, who stepped on home plate and returned to the dugout, expressed his gratitude to Han Su-hyeok.

Benjamin, who was looking at the scene with a sidelong glance while fixing his gaze on the front, thought.

It was a scene that I had seen somewhere before.

That’s right.

It resembled the scenery of the Warriors’ dugout that he had watched every day for the past three years until last season.

Teammates who were stimulated by Han Su-hyeok, or received help, and listened to his words.

Han Su-hyeok skillfully manipulating those teammates.

‘Hmm.’

Sometimes I think that.

A player who has already established himself as the center of the team in his debut season, when it is difficult to take care of himself.

A team leader who can maximize the abilities of other teammates in addition to his own role.

What if I play baseball with a guy like that and he goes back to Korea?

Can I fill that void?

‘Damn it, it’s terrible just thinking about it.’

Benjamin, who suddenly felt goosebumps all over his body, said to his aide and head coach who was sitting next to him.

“Always check to see if Han Su-hyeok is worried or uncomfortable about anything. Also, find out if anything is happening in the locker room. Report anything that could be a problem to me. Keep that in mind. Don’t leave anything out. Absolutely.”

* * *

Due to the aftermath of my regression, the faces of some of the players who make up the core of the Seattle Mariners in the 2030 season have changed.

The biggest change is that Sean Tucker, who fought with me for the third baseman position in my past life, is not here.

As the two-way player gradually established itself, the team tried to fix me as the third baseman.

For that reason, I didn’t say a word to Sean Tucker, who was the existing starting third baseman, and that awkward atmosphere continued until he was traded.

Anyway, Sean Tucker, who would have become the cleanup hitter of this team, was traded to the Cubs last season, even though he recorded the only 30% batting average on the team.

It was a trade to create my place and to replenish the lacking pitchers.

“Play!”

If that guy had stayed, our team’s composition might have become a little more solid.

No matter what anyone says, that guy is a pretty decent third baseman who will record a career batting average of 30% in the big leagues.

Whoosh

Bang

“Strike!”

But looking at the results alone, it seems like it was a good choice to trade him.

What should I say, Sean Tucker is the type of guy who is too ambitious and has a negative impact not only on himself but also on his teammates.

It’s not that he’s bad. It’s just that he doesn’t fit our team right now.

Whoosh

Bang

“Ball.”

After confirming that the hard sinker works better than the two-seamer against big league hitters, I am gradually increasing its proportion.

Some experts see my hard sinker as a fastball with a slight change, but this is clearly a reverse-spinning ball thrown with a sinker grip.

It’s just a little faster.

Whoosh

Thwack

“First!”

“Out!”

Second baseman Jonathan Owens caught a ball that bounced irregularly in the infield.

To be honest, I don’t expect anything from shortstop Josh Oliver and second baseman Jonathan Owens, who are in charge of the 8th and 9th spots on our team, when it comes to hitting.

But they also have strengths.

The strength of being very good defenders who will receive the Gold Glove in about three years.

The team’s offense is already sufficient even if those two don’t help.

That’s why what our team needs right now is a solid keystone combination [the shortstop and second baseman, known for their defensive partnership], and that’s what allows me to throw this hard sinker to my heart’s content.

Whoosh

Bang

“Swing!”

As the team is running first, the number of people trying to find our team’s weaknesses or 불안 [anxiety] factors continues to increase.

That’s natural for teams that face us, and that’s true for reporters or columnists whose job it is to dig into those parts.

To be honest, there are many weaknesses in this team. It’s just that they are hidden.

Whoosh

Thwaaang

“Strike!”

Whoosh

Thwaaang

“Strike! Out!”

Among them, the most fatal thing is the still young and inexperienced player base, and the dugout atmosphere that is still not united.

No matter how much Ryan has been playing the role of team leader, there are clear limitations to him alone.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Nice! First!”

“Out!”

“Damn it! You son of a bitch! Die! Die if you’re going to do it like that!”

“Burn those Seattle bastards at the stake!”

That’s why I’m trying to talk as much as possible on the field.

Our team’s shortstop, who is intimidated by the Phillies fans’ jeers even after handling a difficult ball well.

I believe that approaching that guy and saying things that don’t need to be said will help to eliminate the team’s weaknesses even a little bit.

“Josh, good job.”

“Huh? Uh, yeah. Whew, I really hate it here.”

“If you’re feeling pressured to handle the balls, should we try to get as many strikeouts as possible?”

“What? Hey, Han, that’s not going to work. I could become unemployed if that happens.”

“Hehe, okay. Then I’ll leave the remaining innings to you.”

“Of course.”

Seeing him regain his energy so quickly with a little bit of coddling makes me laugh without realizing it.

If I just play baseball quietly, memories of her, who is still missing, worries about the Warriors I left behind in Korea, and other miscellaneous thoughts will still confuse my mind.

As I focus my attention on my Seattle teammates to get out of that situation, I feel like I’m getting closer to them.

7th start of the 2030 season,

I am slowly getting used to the Seattle uniform.