Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 256

#255. I’ll Do It

Noah Anderson, the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners (formerly the Benjamin Reynolds Division), who had been with the manager through thick and thin between Korea and the United States, finally realized it was his time to step up.

On the day he left the Warriors, where he’d spent three years, and donned the Seattle uniform alongside Benjamin, the manager had called him aside and given him specific instructions:

‘Noah, I heard you played baseball in college and were also a running back in football.’

‘That’s right, Boss.’

‘Good. You’re the youngest of our team’s coaches. You’re fast and pretty strong. Being a running back, you’re a good tackler.’

‘Well… that’s true, but why are you bringing this up?’

‘There will come a time when you have to step up. So when you’re in the dugout, always be alert and listen to me. Remember, when I give an order, you have to react immediately. Hesitation will be too late.’

‘What on earth…….’

He hadn’t understood it at the time.

But as this moment arrived, the manager’s words echoed clearly in his mind.

‘Noah! Now! Grab him! We have to protect our team’s starting pitcher for tomorrow!’

‘Yes, Boss!’

He shot up from his seat without thinking.

Noah Anderson, still in his early forties and possessing the physique and tackling skills of his prime, burst from the dugout and sprinted forward.

‘Woo! Kill him! Those sons of bitches! Kill them!’

‘That damn bastard, it’s definitely intentional! It’s not the first or second time, it’s the third! What is the umpire doing? What about the league office?’

‘Sean Tucker! You son of a bitch! You better watch out for the Seattle streets tonight!’

‘I swear on my dog, if I see you outside, I’ll put a hole in your head!’

Sean Tucker had just struck out against Ryan’s deceptive changeup.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

The long, exaggerated follow-through of Tucker’s swing slammed into the catcher’s headgear.

Bruce, despite wearing a helmet, couldn’t get up, the blow had been too forceful.

The enraged players from both teams surged onto the field, and the umpires struggled to restore order.

Everything was chaos, but Noah Anderson focused solely on his immediate task.

He knew that hesitation would ruin everything.

‘Argh!’

As he neared third base, Noah Anderson roared and accelerated.

He was almost there.

Han Su-hyeok, who had risen from the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] to become a feared hitter in the major leagues, known for his quick temper and devastating punches, was striding forward with a furious expression.

‘No!’

Even Noah believed the play hadn’t been an accident but a deliberate act, making a bench-clearing brawl seem inevitable.

But Han Su-hyeok couldn’t get involved.

Han Su-hyeok was scheduled to be the starting pitcher tomorrow.

Normally, the next game’s starting pitcher would be sitting quietly in a corner of the bench, excluded from any brawls, but he was on the field because he was a two-way player (both pitcher and hitter).

He had to be stopped.

What if Han Su-hyeok broke Sean Tucker’s jaw right here?

He would undoubtedly be suspended again, forcing a minor league call-up rookie to take the mound for Seattle tomorrow.

And the team would sink further into their losing streak.

‘Eeeek!’

Noah Anderson, running with every ounce of his strength, caught up to Han Su-hyeok, who was storming toward home plate.

Okay. The target was within reach.

He grabbed him tightly from behind and yelled toward his dugout in the distance.

‘Boss! Help me! I can’t do it alone!’

* * *

– Ah, what is going on? This is a disaster waiting to happen.

– What the @%$%!!

– Commissioner! Wait! Wait! Calm down!

– Haa, I’m sorry. I was so caught up in the moment that I lost myself… Viewers, I apologize. I sincerely apologize.

– Whew, first of all, Commissioner, please summarize the situation for us.

– Yes, this has happened before. Both in the KBO and in the major leagues. Usually, players with poor swing mechanics have an exaggerated follow-through and accidentally hit the catcher in the head.

– I remember seeing it a few times during broadcasts.

– That’s right. But the current situation is… Let’s analyze it in slow motion. Watch. The batter swung at the outside changeup, correct? A strikeout was called. So far, so good. But look at the next scene. While swinging, he leans back and executes a follow-through like a spinning tornado kick… almost drawing a full circle.

– Yes, it’s almost a 360-degree rotation, as if he spun around completely.

– I haven’t reviewed every swing of that player this year, but I’m willing to bet. That was 100% intentional.

– Commissioner, until the facts are confirmed, such statements are… Uh! What’s that? A coach just bolted out of the Seattle dugout and tackled Han Su-hyeok! Other coaches are swarming him! They’ve surrounded Han Su-hyeok!

– Wow… in my opinion, that’s um…….

– Yes, I think I know what you’re getting at.

– Right? Haha, well… let’s be optimistic. Let’s assume they’re trying to protect their starting pitcher for tomorrow.

– I guess that’s it! Ah! As we speak, Han Su-hyeok, with three coaches clinging to his back, is shouting something at Sean Tucker. What is he saying?

– Well, that sounds like Spanish… Did Han Su-hyeok know Spanish? One thing is certain: it’s definitely swearing.

– Ah, the situation is escalating! Players from both teams are grappling on the ground, and the game has been temporarily suspended.

– Wow, look at Han Su-hyeok in the meantime. Even with four coaches holding him back, he’s dragging them toward Sean Tucker. That idiot… hmm, that player looks terrified. He can’t even meet Han Su-hyeok’s eyes. He knows it too. He knows he’s going to get a beating if he gets close.

– An ambulance has entered the stadium, and the game is still suspended. We’ll be back after a short commercial break. This is T-Mobile Park, where the Seattle Mariners are hosting the Chicago Cubs.

* * *

‘Woo! Kill them all! Kill them all!’

‘Cubs! You damn trash!’

‘Shut up! You Seattle idiots!’

The brawl that began on the field had spilled into the stands.

Bruce Matthews was on his way to the hospital, and Sean Tucker, who had injured the catcher with his reckless swing, received a stern warning.

That alone was a major problem, but even worse, several players who had thrown punches during the confrontation were ejected.

‘Damn it, what’s all the noise? What the hell are those guys thinking? Did they fly all the way from Chicago just to cause trouble?’

‘It’s nothing new for those guys. More importantly, Boss, what are we going to do? We’re out of catchers.’

‘Damn it, John, why did that guy throw a punch?’

‘The Cubs trash started it.’

‘I know. I’m just frustrated. Okay, let’s sort this out. Who got ejected?’

‘John and Derek, for starters. Bruce will be examined as soon as he gets to the hospital.’

‘Okay, so the starting center fielder, the starting catcher, and the backup catcher are all out at once.’

‘Yes, that’s right. For the center fielder position… should we put Kevin in?’

‘Kevin… yeah, do that.’

‘Okay. Hey! Kevin! Warm up! You’re playing center field.’

‘Yes? Yes! I understand! Coach!’

The player who received the order jumped up and began warming up.

The manager, watching the scene, sighed and continued.

‘So… the problem is the catcher. Who on our team has any experience catching?’

‘Taiga did some catching early in his career…….’

‘No. He’s too valuable to use as a temporary catcher. He’s also getting old. Next.’

‘Josh wore a catcher’s mask once or twice in high school.’

‘Damn it, are you kidding me? I’d rather send one of you out there. This is why I said we should have three catchers on the roster…….’

‘The general manager is working on that problem, so we should have a solution soon.’

‘I know. I’m just frustrated. So, what do we do? Should we really send Josh out there? Damn it, can a guy who hasn’t caught since high school handle 100 mph fastballs?’

‘Well… if we tell him to call for slower pitches…….’

‘Does that even make sense? Hey, we’re on a 3-game losing streak! Our team’s ace is on the mound. Are you telling me to just give up the game?’

‘Boss, calm down.’

‘Damn it, Cubs sons of bitches. I’ve hated those guys since I was a player.’

‘I feel the same way. But Boss, that’s not important right now. We need to find a catcher first.’

‘Damn it…….’

The Seattle dugout fell silent.

While the Seattle coaching staff was racking their brains over who would wear the catcher’s mask in place of Bruce, a player no one expected stepped forward and said:

‘I’ll do it.’

* * *

‘Grandpa, I don’t understand what’s going on. If you hit someone with a bat, you should be ejected, right? But why is that player still playing, and the other players were ejected?’

‘That’s, Roy…….’

The grandfather of the Morgan family, who had trusted Han Su-hyeok’s promise and returned to the stadium today, chose his words carefully in response to his grandson’s question.

‘Generally, if you hit someone with a bat, you should be ejected, but the current situation happened during the play, so it wasn’t considered intentional… Damn it, Roy.’

‘Yes, Grandpa.’

‘It’s just a messed-up situation. That Cubs bastard clearly swung the bat intentionally, but the umpire couldn’t find any proof. Roy, remember this. When something goes wrong in life—for example, when someone takes your candy or when you get into a car accident when you’re older—you must secure evidence first. That way, you won’t be treated unfairly.’

‘Um… I don’t fully understand, but I’ll try, Grandpa. But since the ambulance came and took our catcher away… another player will come in, right?’

‘That’s right. Originally, our team’s backup catcher, John Glenn, should have come in, but he was also ejected. Let’s see… In this case… who… huh?’

The eyes of the grandfather and grandson, who had been looking at the field and the scoreboard with worried expressions, suddenly locked onto something.

There, a player no one expected was walking onto the field wearing catcher’s gear.