Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 280

#279. The Leadoff’s Responsibility

A short while ago, the interim results of the first round of voting for the 2030 Major League All-Star Game were announced.

At the team’s request to give his shoulder a rest, even if it was just for the All-Star Game, Han Su-hyeok was listed as a third baseman instead of a pitcher.

It goes without saying, but for Han Su-hyeok, who was rewriting the history of Major League Baseball in every aspect of pitching and hitting, positions were meaningless.

He was the overwhelming leader across both leagues and all positions. Unless a miracle occurred, Han Su-hyeok was likely to head straight to the All-Star Game without a second round of voting.

However, some Seattle fans were expressing dissatisfaction with the results of this vote.

└ Damn, the difference between him and second place is only three times?!

└ This is definitely rigged. What has that James Taylor done? Is it because he’s a handsome blonde white guy?

└ This is proof that there are still plenty of racists in this country.

└ Maybe those Giants bastards are throwing their votes to other guys?

└ Why?

└ Because they don’t want someone challenging the steroid user’s home run record?

└ Oh my god, that’s a definite possibility.

James Taylor, the third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, was being touted as the next-generation star hitter in Major League Baseball before Han Su-hyeok appeared.

Even this season, he was showing off his still-impressive skills with a slash line of .300/.400/.500, 19 home runs, and 25 stolen bases, but the truth was that it fell far short of Han Su-hyeok’s record.

Even Taylor himself said in an interview that Han Su-hyeok should be the third baseman for this All-Star Game and that he wasn’t qualified.

Nevertheless, Seattle fans were furious that the difference in votes between him and Han Su-hyeok was only three times.

That’s what led to this situation today.

“Boo! I can smell the steroids from here! It feels real to be in the den of bastards!”

“All you have to brag about is that home run record, you morons!”

Seattle visiting fans, who had traveled a distance of two hours by plane or more than 14 hours by car, even though they were in the same Western Division, were making their voices heard.

And the majority of Giants fans surrounding them were not taking it lying down.

“You goddamn bastards, you’re going to die as soon as you leave the stadium!”

“Seattle morons who bet everything on just an Asian! You’re going to be ruined!”

Oracle Park, filled with 40,000 people, was the scene of a war of words between the Mariners visiting fans, who numbered around a thousand, and the Giants fans who filled the surrounding area.

The game began in an atmosphere so tense that it felt like it could explode with the slightest spark.

* * *

Taking the initiative is important in any fight.

Derek Fleming, who had initially been dissatisfied with being forced into the leadoff hitter position due to Han Su-hyeok’s arrival, was now a more ardent supporter of Han Su-hyeok than anyone else.

And he had come to realize what a leadoff hitter had to do.

Derek Fleming, stepping into the batter’s box, provoked the Giants catcher.

“Hey, you don’t think so too, do you?”

“Think what?”

“That James Taylor should go to the All-Star Game as a third baseman instead of Han Su-hyeok.”

“Why are you asking us about a player from another team, you bastard?”

“Because you guys threw your votes at that player from another team, didn’t you?”

“Fuck you.”

Derek closed his mouth with a satisfied expression as the Giants catcher spat out a curse.

The best thing to do is to provoke the pitcher, but if that’s difficult, provoking the catcher like this is also fine.

If the catcher is shaken, the pitcher will be shaken as well.

That was the first lesson Derek learned as a leadoff hitter this season.

Whoosh

Bang

“Ball.”

The effect was immediate from the first pitch.

A high pitch inside that was ambiguous as to whether it was aimed at the head, but far from the strike zone.

Derek, who had slightly leaned his upper body back, chuckled and said.

“If you’re going to hit me, why didn’t you hit me properly? Oh, were you afraid a bench-clearing brawl would break out?”

“Shut up, you bastard.”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down. You must be excited since you’re cursing with every word. Anyway, I understand. If I were you, I’d just run away if I thought I had to fight Han Su-hyeok. I fully understand your position.”

“Fuck you.”

Derek gave a satisfied smile as the catcher spat out another curse.

He wasn’t just saying it.

Tegan Burkhead of the LA Dodgers, Sean Tucker of the Chicago Cubs, Desmond King of the Oakland Athletics, and most recently, Tyson Barsham of the New York Yankees.

This is a list of players who fought with Han Su-hyeok this season and got destroyed.

What’s interesting is that the players on that list were well-known fighters in Major League Baseball until the previous year. Real fighters that other teams’ players were starting to avoid.

Since those guys were all crushed by Han Su-hyeok, it was only natural that the other players would be afraid of him.

The player who was called the best fighter in Major League Baseball before Han Su-hyeok appeared was Albert Belle, who dominated the late 1990s and early 2000s.

People said this about him.

‘Don’t go near Albert Belle when a bench-clearing occurs, or your career may be over.’

And now, those people are saying this about Han Su-hyeok.

‘Don’t get into a bench-clearing brawl with a team that Han Su-hyeok belongs to. You may wake up in the hospital emergency room.’

Whoosh

Bang

“Ball.”

This time, the ball was close to the body.

The catcher, who caught the ball, was puffing out his nose.

When the entire battery [pitcher and catcher] is shaken by his provocation, the leadoff hitter feels an unspeakable joy.

This small crack that has begun will have a positive impact not only on himself but also on the hitters who come after him.

Especially since Han Su-hyeok is behind Derek.

Han Su-hyeok, the best hitter in the league.

Whoosh

Bang

“Ball.”

“Damn it!”

The pitcher, who had just started the game, cursed and kicked the mound with a tired expression.

A complex result of Derek’s provocation and Han Su-hyeok’s umbrella effect.

Derek, who imagined himself standing on the mound for a moment, swallowed hard and muttered.

“Damn, that’s terrible. Hehe.”

“What are you saying?”

“I wasn’t talking to you this time, so don’t worry and let’s just play baseball. That friend is waiting behind you.”

“…….”

The count is three balls, no strikes.

A normal leadoff hitter would wait for one more ball here, but…….

‘That’s not a very good choice.’

Derek, who had played more than 80 games with Han Su-hyeok behind him this season, knew.

No matter what, the pitcher will never let a runner get on base in front of Han Su-hyeok.

That’s why he aims.

The ball that comes in to catch the count in a three-ball, no-strike situation.

Although he is not as good as Han Su-hyeok, he was also a hitter who stood at the center of Seattle until last season.

Deudeudeuk

Perhaps not noticing Derek’s heart, a bland fastball flew from the pitcher’s fingertips.

Ttaaaak!

With an intense hitting sound, the batted ball flew toward the right wall of Oracle Park.

“Waaaaaa!”

“Damn it, Derek! Perfect! Run! Run!”

The strongly hit ball was pushed back by the sea breeze blowing in from McCovey Cove and gradually lost its power.

Derek, judging that it would be difficult to become a home run, gritted his teeth and started sprinting.

Turning first base to second base,

In the meantime, the batted ball, which hit the top of the center-right fence and fell, fell in the opposite direction that the right fielder was waiting for, and Derek, who turned second base, ran toward third base again.

The right fielder, who belatedly picked up the ball, threw the ball with all his might, but.

“Heuaaaap!”

“Safe!”

Safe by a narrow margin.

Derek, who created a triple as soon as the game started, shouted at Han Su-hyeok.

“Han, show them you’re the best!”

* * *

There are two catchers on the Giants, who are reorganizing their power after finishing tanking [deliberately losing games to secure a higher draft pick].

The team had not yet decided which of the two to push as the starting catcher.

So, depending on the situation and the starting pitcher, the two catchers took turns wearing masks, but unfortunately, one of the other catchers injured his finger, so Kevin Johnson was taking over the three-game series against Seattle.

He might have been happy if it were normal. How welcome would it be for a rival competing for the starting position to get injured on his own?

But Kevin Johnson was not in a position to welcome this situation.

‘Lord, why this ordeal when I have to play against these terrible guys!’

To be honest, Kevin Johnson was not a Giants fan.

He just got drafted by this team, and after rolling around in the minor leagues, he somehow ended up here.

Of course, he doesn’t have any special thoughts about Barry Bonds.

What does it matter to me whether he used drugs or not?

Therefore, whether Han Su-hyeok breaks the home run record or not, that was also nothing to do with him.

The problem was the Seattle fans.

Die-hard Seattle fans who are bombing the SNS [social networking services] of Giants players, including himself, every day after the interleague schedule between the two teams was set.

They had a tremendous antipathy toward Han Su-hyeok, suffering from a tremendous number of malicious comments that were difficult to count.

[No. 2 hitter, third baseman Han Su-hyeok]

The leadoff hitter got on base with a triple, and he stepped into the batter’s box.

The worst baseball player who kept them up at night and a thug on the ground.

“gulp.”

Kevin Johnson, who swallowed without realizing it, glanced up at Han Su-hyeok.

A perfect muscular giant who is hard to believe is an Asian, or rather, a bodybuilder rather than a baseball player.

A little bit of hair sticking out from behind the helmet, and a dark beard growing on it.

Eyes that sparkle as if you’re going to pee just by looking at them.

‘Holy shit…….’

The catcher, who swallowed again, sent a signal to the pitcher.

First, a low fastball to the body.

Shake shake

Then a high changeup to the body.

Shake shake

Or a reverse-spinning ball from the outside high.

Shake shake shake

Finally, a slider that flows out to the outside low.

Shake shake shake shake

‘What the hell are you going to throw!’

I wanted to call a time-out for a moment, but I forced myself to hold back, remembering that it was only the first inning.

Just in case, I pulled the glove completely out of the zone.

‘Are you going to throw it here?’

Nod nod nod

‘Are you going to walk him on purpose?’

Nod nod nod nod

Only then did the catcher understand the pitcher’s intentions and let out a sigh.

He feels the same way. I just want to walk him.

But,

‘The next hitter is Ty Johnson, you idiot.’

If he follows the pitcher’s intentions, he could give up a lot of runs from the first inning and the game could explode.

But if he just goes for the win, he’s worried about the pitcher’s complexion.

In the end, the catcher, unable to make a decision, turned his gaze to the dugout.

gulp

A sign came down from the coach to go for the win.

At that moment, the pitcher’s face turned white.

‘Outside low sinker.’

Kkeu… eu… deok

The pitcher, with a face like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse, reluctantly nodded.

And the ball was fired from the pitcher’s hand.

“Good… Keheok!”

The catcher was about to shout with joy at the ball flying as signed.

Ttaaaaaaaak!

Han Su-hyeok strongly pushed the ball flying to the outside.

The ball flies in almost the same course as the ball Derek hit earlier.

But,

“It’s going! It’s going! It’s going!”

“Good! Just a little more!”

Unlike Derek’s batted ball, which succumbed to the sea breeze and failed to cross the fence, the ball Han Su-hyeok hit continued to fly through the sea breeze.

Far, far away,

And,

Splash

“Waaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Fucking! Great! That’s it!”

The moment the ball that flew like that passed over the outer wall of the baseball field and fell into McCovey Cove, cheers erupted from where the Seattle fans were gathered, and curses erupted from where the Giants fans were gathered.

“Did we get hit with a splash hit by that damn bastard?”

“You morons! Just disband the team!”

“Seattle, you bastards! Go back to your town!”