Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 262

261. How to Face a Monster

Some people have lost out because of my regression, and some have benefited.

If we limit the scope to the baseball world, most of the Warriors players have benefited.

On the other hand, players like Hwang Seong-min and Song Ki-tae would be on the losing side.

It’s the same for players on other teams, too.

There may be differences in degree, but they have certainly been affected in big and small ways.

So, what about Ryu Han-gyeol, the Angels’ starting pitcher today?

He’s been challenged by me so much that his skills have improved compared to before the regression, so he can definitely be said to be among those who have benefited.

Of course, he may see things a little differently.

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

In the bottom of the 1st inning, with the Angels’ first attack ending without a score, Seattle’s attack began.

Ryu Han-gyeol, who started as the 2nd starter and gradually took over the ace position for the Angels, threw the first pitch to Antonio Garcia, the leadoff hitter.

Starting center fielder Derek Fleming and backup catcher John Glenn, who were suspended due to the bench-clearing incident with the Cubs, cannot play in today’s game.

Therefore, Seattle is using the same lineup as in the third game against the Cubs.

1. Designated Hitter Antonio Garcia
2. 3rd Baseman Han Su-hyeok
3. 1st Baseman Ty Johnson
4. Right Fielder Chuck Clark
5. Left Fielder Jim Brown
6. Shortstop Josh Oliver
7. 2nd Baseman Jonathan Owens
8. Catcher Leonard Jones
9. Center Fielder Kevin McCloud
Starting Pitcher Dimon Anderson Jr.

Antonio Garcia, who is leading off today in place of Derek Fleming, is actually a type of hitter that is quite difficult for Ryu Han-gyeol to face.

Because Tony doesn’t even think about swinging unless it’s in his designated zone, given Ryu Han-gyeol’s style of putting the ball in and out of the zone based on precise control.

The ball he just threw was one that most hitters would have swung at.

But Tony still didn’t budge, and the well-thrown first pitch became a ball.

* * *

‘It’s tough even though two of the starters are missing.’

Ryu Han-gyeol sighed without realizing it when the hitter didn’t even flinch at the induced ball he threw with all his effort.

Two starting hitters are missing due to the bench-clearing against the Cubs, but it’s still bleak.

Of course, the lower batting order is definitely weaker, but the problem is that the power of the remaining hitters is still there.

Seattle’s upper batting order, starting with Antonio at number 1 and continuing to Jim Brown at number 5.

A bit early, but some baseball fans are already excited, saying that the combination of Han Su-hyeok at number 2 and Ty Johnson at number 3 will be the best combination in Major League history, surpassing Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the early 1900s.

‘First of all, I must never let him get on base.’

Therefore, when facing Seattle, you must first deal with the leadoff hitter.

If the leadoff hitter gets on base, Han Su-hyeok immediately steps up to the plate, and then Ty Johnson stares at the pitcher from the waiting batter’s box.

Unless you’re a pitcher with nerves of steel, the game is already in a precarious position.

‘Carefully.’

Whoosh

“Strike!”

In Ryu Han-gyeol’s view, Antonio Garcia was a truly perplexing type of hitter.

The first ball that became a ball and the ball that was called a strike just now were actually on the same path.

It’s just that one was called a ball and the other was called a strike because of the AI judgment system [an automated system used to call balls and strikes].

It’s a ball that any hitter would flinch at.

But that guy didn’t budge either time.

The only reason is that the ball didn’t enter the zone he had set for himself.

Because he’s that type, even though he has good eyes, he also has a lot of strikeouts and a lot of walks, so he has batting indicators that don’t make sense, with a batting average of .200 and an on-base percentage of .300.

Anyway, what’s important now is not that.

‘One more?’

If the hitter doesn’t react, it might be good to focus on attacking that path.

If it’s well controlled into the zone, you can get a strike, and even if it’s a little off, the hitter won’t hit it, so you’ll just get another ball.

Ryu Han-gyeol nodded and threw the third ball to Tony.

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

As expected, he doesn’t react.

Two balls and one strike.

What’s scary about Antonio Garcia is that he has that consistency and at the same time has tremendous power.

His batting average is only .200, but half of the hits he records are home runs.

From the pitcher’s point of view, it can only feel like handling a time bomb.

A hitter who doesn’t know when he’ll swing, and a possessor of tremendous power who, once he swings, will send it over the fence one out of two times.

Calming his pounding heart, Ryu Han-gyeol threw the fourth ball.

“Ball.”

“Haa…”

He threw all four balls to the same path, but he still doesn’t react.

The problem is that the ball is strangely off the zone by half a ball today.

With the introduction of the AI judgment system, it has become impossible to play tricks by hand or for the catcher to frame [influence the umpire’s call by subtly catching the ball to make it appear within the strike zone].

In the end, it means you have to break through with skill.

‘One more.’

A hitter who endures to the end because the ball that looks good enough to be a strike is not in the zone he set.

And a pitcher with a lot of guts who throws five consecutive balls to that path.

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

“Waaaa!”

“Good! Tony!”

The winner was the hitter who resisted the temptation to the end.

Seattle’s leadoff hitter Antonio Garcia advanced to first base, and the next hitter stepped up to the plate.

Doo-duk doo-doo-duk

The night before he moved to the major leagues, Ryu Han-gyeol asked Han Su-hyeok at a year-end party attended by players from several teams.

‘Su-hyeok, when you step up to the plate, you turn your head left and right and make a sound.’

‘Yes, what about it?’

‘You’re doing that on purpose, right? To scare the pitchers?’

‘No way.’

‘No, I’m sure of it. Hey, even if I go to the United States, don’t do that to the Daejeon pitchers. Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps all over my body.’

He said it lightheartedly because he thought he wouldn’t see him for a while, but he heard that sound again in just two years.

Han Su-hyeok, who had the expression of an executioner who had finished preparing to cut off the prisoner’s head, stepped up to the plate.

‘Damn it.’

If Antonio Garcia is a difficult hitter to face because of his unique hitting approach, then Han Su-hyeok is even more difficult to face because his hitting approach itself seems nonexistent.

In the early days of the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], when no one paid attention to him, he produced tremendous hits with an unorthodox upper swing, but after the pitchers began to adjust to him, he adjusted his hitting form accordingly and continued to maintain his performance.

It was the same after moving to the major leagues.

Han Su-hyeok, who has increased his power by increasing his physique, is now a monster who can send any pitch or any ball out of the park regardless of his hitting form.

If Ty Johnson, a living legend, wasn’t behind him, Han Su-hyeok might have broken Barry Bonds’ record of 232 walks in a season.

“Play!”

Anyway, Ryu Han-gyeol, who has to face such a terrible hitter, swallowed hard and looked at first base.

The baserunning speed of the first base runner is below the major league average, no, definitely below average.

‘Damn it.’

But it’s not comforting at all.

Considering that Han Su-hyeok has the lowest ground ball/fly ball ratio among the hitters playing in the major leagues this season, inducing a double play is as difficult as picking stars in the sky.

Then, the most realistic scenario is to induce an outfield fly and handle it as a routine out.

Nod

In order to induce a routine out from a great hitter like Han Su-hyeok, meticulous prior work is required.

The ball selected for the decisive pitch is a high fastball on the inside, so you have to misdirect the hitter’s eye to make the ball exert its maximum power.

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

One ball to make him recognize that a ball coming inside, which is a little higher than the ball to be used as a decisive pitch, is a ball.

Nod

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

And a slider that flows out to the low outside path, which is exactly the opposite of the path you’re trying to throw.

He got two consecutive ball calls, but it doesn’t matter.

Anyway, if he feels something is off, he’s just going to walk him [intentionally walk the batter by throwing four balls].

It’s obvious, but Ryu Han-gyeol was much more afraid of Han Su-hyeok than Ty Johnson.

Nod

It’s time to misdirect the hitter’s gaze and balance to the outside once more.

The outside changeup that Ryu Han-gyeol can throw with the most confidence.

Whoosh

Crack

“Strike!”

I almost screwed up.

Han Su-hyeok was smiling and grinning in the batter’s box, and I almost peed my pants.

Instead of pulling it to the outside, it slipped slightly from my hand and went into the middle.

I got a strike, but I wasn’t happy at all. I feel like my lifespan has been shortened by 10 years.

‘Okay, now it’s a showdown.’

Ryu Han-gyeol, who barely calmed his pounding heart, finally prepared for the final showdown.

As planned, the fastest and most powerful fastball that Ryu Han-gyeol can throw, aimed high and inside.

The battery’s intentions were conveyed to the fielders through PitchCom [a communication system used between the catcher and pitcher], and the infielders and outfielders stepped back more than one step to prepare for handling fly balls.

And,

Whoosh

The 95-mile fastball fired from Ryu Han-gyeol’s fingertips flew accurately to the high inside part of Han Su-hyeok’s body.

‘Please, pleeaaase!’

Ryu Han-gyeol prayed in his heart as he threw the ball, and Han Su-hyeok’s bat indifferently tore through the space and moved forward, whether he knew his heart or not.

Thwack!

“Is it gone!”

Ryu Han-gyeol shouted loudly without realizing it when he saw the ball rising tremendously the moment it hit the bat.

Is it gone? Is it gone? Is it real?

The batted ball, which hit the upper end of the bat as he had originally aimed for, soared at an angle of nearly 55 degrees.

A rare sight unfolded as the pitcher who threw the ball, the hitter who hit the ball, and the fielders all stared at the batted ball without moving from their positions.

Floating, floating

The batted ball, which seemed like it would be a center field fly when it was first hit, continued its flight.

As the ball passed over the heads of the outfielders, Ryu Han-gyeol began to feel an ominous premonition.

‘Eh, no way.’

No matter how much of a monster Han Su-hyeok is, he couldn’t imagine that a mis-hit ball like that would become a home run, piercing through the sea breeze blowing from the Pacific Ocean and Seattle’s high humidity.

It’s coming down now, it’s coming down now.

That’s what everyone was thinking as they watched the batted ball.

“Uh, uh? Uh! Uhhhh!”

The center fielder, who was chasing the batted ball and stepping back one step at a time, suddenly started running towards the fence with all his might.

This is because the batted ball, which was flying in a parabola, suddenly gained power and stretched out.

“Go over! Go! Please!”

“Damn it! Just give it a little strength! You damn batted ball!”

The flight of the baseball continued amidst the screams and shouts of Seattle fans.

And,

Thud!

The moment the batted ball flew over the center of T-Mobile Park [Seattle Mariners’ baseball stadium] and landed in an empty space,

“Waaaaaa!”

“Oh my god! Is this really possible? Did that go over?”

“Han Su-hyeok! He’s a god! The god of baseball has descended on our team!”

“Damn it, take my money! Make a lot of products related to that friend! I’ll buy them all!”

Ryu Han-gyeol, who allowed an absurd home run, staggered on the mound with his forehead in his hands, and Han Su-hyeok shrugged and looked at him.