Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 271

#270. First Earned Run

While individual preferences may vary, many baseball fans are drawn to the sport by the thrill of dynamic offensive plays. As their understanding of the game deepens, their interest often shifts towards the pitchers who dominate.

In that sense, discovering baseball through Han Su-hyeok is quite fortunate.

Following his plays allows one to experience the full spectrum of baseball excitement, from spectacular home runs to overwhelming pitching performances.

A mansion on the outskirts of New York,

The young master of a family, who even acquired a broadcasting station just to watch Han Su-hyeok’s games, was glued to the TV.

“Joe, was that last pitch a decoy to disrupt the batter’s balance?”

“It could be, but it might also have been aimed at inducing a ground ball.”

“Ah, that’s possible too.”

The boy, captivated by baseball after watching Han Su-hyeok dismantle American pitchers in the WBC [World Baseball Classic], had reached a level where he could analyze each pitch, truly enjoying the game.

Joe Wilson, the secretary, watched the boy with a pleased expression and said in a calm voice,

“More importantly, young master, the acquisition of the Mariners’ shares you mentioned last time seems to be progressing well.”

“Huh? Oh, right. That’s happening, isn’t it? How many shares is *hyung* [older brother or respected male figure] planning to acquire?”

“The goal seems to be around 35%.”

“I see. Hmm….”

The boy pondered for a moment and then said,

“Then we need to adjust our goal a bit. Make sure *hyung* becomes the largest shareholder even after the share acquisition is complete. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Of course, young master. Then our voting rights….”

“Yes, give them all to *hyung*. We’ll just hold the shares and let him manage the team. I don’t want money to affect *hyung’s* plays. More importantly, Joe, what did that last pitch mean?”

“It looked like he was just daring him to hit it.”

“Really? Haha, you’re amazing, Joe. I still don’t understand it that well.”

With the support of a prestigious family’s young master, who wanted Han Su-hyeok to play baseball in the most comfortable environment possible, the game continued.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Seattle succeeded with a pinch-hitting strategy, taking a 2-0 lead.

Ronnie Montaric, a backup player, came in to fill the shortstop position left vacant by the pinch hitter.

The 3rd inning passed without any scoring from either team.

And in the top of the 4th inning, after Tampa Bay’s leadoff hitter was struck out, James Taylor stepped up to the plate for his second at-bat.

[Number 2 hitter, third baseman James Taylor]

‘Damn it.’

James Taylor felt an immense sense of defeat towards Han Su-hyeok, who repeatedly stood in his way as both a hitter and a pitcher.

He felt like a mouse in front of a cat when facing him.

The guy on the mound looked so huge.

Before today’s game, he had gone to see Ty Johnson.

The living legend of Major League Baseball, who treated him kindly due to various connections.

He knew it wasn’t a question to ask someone like him, but he felt like he wouldn’t get another chance if he didn’t ask now, so he mustered his courage.

‘Ty.’

‘What’s so serious? Just tell me.’

‘It’s not that, um….’

‘Why? You’re not going to ask if you keep shrinking when you stand behind a guy like that, are you?’

‘Gasp!’

‘Damn it, I guess that’s it. Hehe, good. Well, you’re not the only one who’s asked.’

‘Has someone else asked before?’

‘Yeah, my daughter said so. She said it’s the first time she’s seen someone better at baseball than her dad, and asked if it’s not burdensome to stand behind him. How about that? You can feel the consideration even in the same question, right?’

James Taylor, who was about to argue that bringing up his daughter was unfair, suddenly remembered something and closed his mouth.

It was taboo among Major Leaguers to talk about Ty Johnson’s family.

Ty Johnson, who lost his wife in a car accident and raised his daughter alone.

Even though it had been four years, Ty Johnson had never once brought up the story himself.

The fact that he mentioned his daughter’s name today was proof that Ty Johnson thought of James as a close friend.

When James closed his mouth, Ty Johnson continued, with an expression that seemed to understand everything.

‘Okay, it’s a bit pathetic, but I’ll have to bring up that answer again. I answered like this: My daughter, I think there will come a day when I will be proud to have stood behind that player.’

‘What… what does that mean?’

‘It’s exactly as I said. Right now, everyone would laugh if I said I feel inferior to that kid, but in the distant future, like maybe 15 or 20 years from now, wouldn’t it be possible? Han Su-hyeok, the greatest baseball player of all time, and Ty Johnson, who was with him during his prime.’

James couldn’t help but be shocked by the words coming from a player who was guaranteed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame even if he retired today, and who was certain to reach the pinnacle of his accumulated career.

Ty Johnson continued.

‘Damn it, you don’t have to look at me like that. It goes without saying, but I haven’t given up yet either. I’m going to work until the end to be remembered in history not as Ty Johnson who played with Han Su-hyeok, but as Han Su-hyeok who played with Ty Johnson. Hehe, sorry if it’s not the answer you wanted. Anyway, get your act together. From now on, the era of Han Su-hyeok will begin. You have to work your ass off to include your name in it in any way, kid.’

Whoosh

Crack!

“Strike!”

While lost in thought, a 105-mile fastball flew in and struck the center of the zone.

James Taylor, gritting his teeth, swung his bat powerfully at the next pitch.

Whoosh

Woong

“Swing!”

“Haa…….”

A hard sinker that came in on the same course but followed a completely different trajectory from the fastball.

Suddenly, something welled up inside him.

Two pitches flying in with the same speed and trajectory until right in front of home plate.

How was he supposed to hit something like that?

He was known as a batting genius who appeared once every few decades, but life was still a relative evaluation.

The guy standing on the mound was a monster who appeared once every hundred years, not just a few decades.

The moment he acknowledged that, he felt a sense of relief.

His senses became so sharp that he could see every speck of dust floating in the air, and confidence that he could do anything surged within him.

‘Alright!’

James Taylor, sensing that he had grown one step further for some reason, glared at Han Su-hyeok with a serious look.

A white ball rose from his fingertips.

At the same time, James began to swing powerfully.

Confident that this time would be his victory.

But,

Whoosh

Woong

“Swing! Out!”

There was no miracle.

No, the monster on the mound was too powerful to be dealt with by a mere miracle.

James Taylor, who had struck out in two consecutive at-bats, lowered his head and returned to the dugout.

* * *

Generally, in a battle between a pitcher and a batter, the pitcher has a greater than 70% chance of winning, while the batter has about a 30% chance.

Therefore, it’s not strange for a pitcher to play with the assumption of success, and for a batter to play with the assumption of failure.

Pitcher and batter,

Which is more difficult?

If someone asked me, I would answer without hesitation that it’s the pitcher.

Because the pressure of playing with the assumption of success is greater.

But if I were given a choice,

If I had to choose only one between pitcher and batter,

I would choose the pitcher without hesitation.

Now and always, my purpose in playing baseball is to dominate the game.

And dominating the game is, without a doubt, the pitcher.

That’s why I always live thinking that my essence is that of a pitcher.

“Play!”

In the bottom of the 4th inning, our team hit a series of consecutive hits, adding 2 more runs.

The score was 4 to 0.

At this point, one might give up, but the Tampa Bay manager seemed to have a slightly different idea.

The starting pitcher went down, and Tampa Bay’s bullpen ace came up to the mound.

At that moment, I realized.

Tampa Bay was already preparing for a showdown with us this fall.

With Seattle leading 4-0, the game continued.

The top and bottom of the 5th inning, and the top of the 6th inning passed without incident.

And then in the bottom of the 6th inning,

Clang!

Starting with my double, 4 hits in a row resulted in 3 runs.

The score widened to 7 to 0.

Only then did the Tampa Bay manager give up on the game.

The bullpen ace came down from the mound, and instead, a mop-up pitcher who could handle long innings was brought in to deal with the remaining batters.

And in the top of the 7th inning, I faced James Taylor again.

* * *

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it.’

James Taylor, who had struck out in both of his previous at-bats, stepped up to the plate with a stiff expression.

He realized for sure through today’s game.

That he couldn’t beat Han Su-hyeok no matter what he did right now,

And that he had to struggle with all his might if he didn’t want to be buried in history like Ty Johnson said.

Now he understood.

Why Andrew Davis, his friend, rival, and one of the best pitchers in America at the moment, would shut his mouth whenever Han Su-hyeok was mentioned.

Why he would pretend not to hear and change the subject if Han Su-hyeok’s name came up even by chance while talking about baseball on the phone.

‘Damn it, what do I do? What should I aim for? Fastball? Sinker? Cutter? Changeup? Holy shit…….’

His mind was fading.

What pitch should he aim for from a guy who takes out his main weapons, which other pitchers struggle to have even one of, like peanuts from his pocket whenever he needs them?

James Taylor, who was half-giving up, stared blankly at Han Su-hyeok with unfocused eyes.

The pitcher and catcher exchanged signs, and one white ball rose from Han Su-hyeok’s fingertips.

“Screw it!”

James Taylor, closing his eyes without realizing it, swung wildly into the air with the thought of whatever will be, will be.

But,

That absurd attempt created a miracle.

Clang!

The 104-mile hard sinker, which was digging into the center of the zone and then falling violently in the opposite direction, was caught precisely by that random swing.

With a powerful sound, the batted ball flew far away.

And finally, it slightly crossed the fence behind the right fielder and fell into the stands.

“Uwaaa! I did it! I did it! I did it!”

James Taylor, his eyes wide open as if he couldn’t believe what he had done, raised both hands in the air and began to circle the ground.

“God Father, I have finally defeated the monster!”

“Woooo! Shut up! Shut your mouth and run, you son of a bitch!”

The Seattle fans poured out jeers.

But James Taylor circled the ground with tears in his eyes, as if he didn’t care about the jeers.

Han Su-hyeok on the mound looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Uwaaaa! Han Su-hyeok! You bastard! Did you see that? Did you see that? Me, me!”

James Taylor, who seemed to be half out of his mind, kept rambling for a long time even after stepping on home plate and was eventually dragged into the dugout by his teammates.

“Damn it, James, stop it. Let’s go in. Stop it, it’s embarrassing.”

“Uwaaa! Why stop? I, I hit a home run against that bastard, you know?”

“I know, so let’s go in. Stop it, it’s embarrassing.”

It was definitely a great thing to hit a home run against a pitcher who hadn’t given up a single earned run this season.

But considering the score of 7 to 1, this was now close to being a nuisance.

Han Su-hyeok, with a faint smile on his lips as if he was dumbfounded, threw the ball to the next batter.

Whoosh

Clang

Out!

First batter, first baseman fly out,

And the next batter,

Whoosh

Woong

“Swing! Out!”

Han Su-hyeok, who perfectly dealt with the last two batters, exchanged jokes with Ty Johnson and returned to the dugout.

Although James Taylor hit a home run, it didn’t hinder Seattle from winning.

The bullpen ace came on and finished the game as it was, and Tampa Bay, who had been swept, had to pack their bags sadly.

With this win, the Seattle Mariners finally rose to first place in the American League West Division, and Han Su-hyeok, who recorded 1 earned run in 7 innings, earned his 9th win of the season.

Season record: 35 wins, 23 losses.

The Seattle Mariners’ hot May came to an end like that.