Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 287

286. Home Run Derby

[The Seattle Mariners won the series 2-1 against Milwaukee in the last three games of the first half of the Major League season, boasting a season record of 59 wins and 36 losses, a winning percentage of 0.621, ranking first in the American League West Division and second in the American League overall, behind the Yankees.]

[Han Su-hyeok’s pitching record for the first half of the Seattle Mariners season: 15 games pitched, 116 innings pitched, an ERA of 0.23, 211 strikeouts (1.82 per inning), and 14 wins – a truly dominant performance.]

[Han Su-hyeok at the plate? A batting average of 0.429, on-base percentage of 0.511, slugging percentage of 1.012, and 47 home runs. If he gets enough plate appearances to qualify, he’s expected to shatter all batting records.]

[A Major League expert who predicted Han Su-hyeok’s season performance would be a maximum of 10 wins and a .300 batting average with 20 home runs before the season: “He is beyond evaluation. I’m done analyzing him. From now on, I’ll just sit on the couch with a pint of ice cream and enjoy watching his games.”]

[KBC commentator Ko Dong-sik, who has broadcast all Seattle games this season: “Some people insisted that his OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging] would drop by at least 0.3 compared to his time in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]. Where are they now? I have no idea. What’s clear is that the difference in league level means nothing to Han Su-hyeok.”]

[Seoul Warriors coach Lee Dae-jun, Han Su-hyeok’s mentor during his KBO days: “I got a call from Manager Benjamin. He asked what to do if Han Su-hyeok ever slumps, and I told him, ‘You might as well worry about the sky falling down.'”]

[Warriors center fielder Seo Hyeong-ju, who shook off his slump in the late first half and returned to batting over .300: “He’s an idol and a goal for me, as well as my friend. I might not be able to catch up with him right now, but I won’t stop trying. I’m looking forward to the day when I can play with him.”]

[A week-long All-Star break, followed by 67 games in the second half. Where will Seattle and Han Su-hyeok ultimately end up?]

“Oppa, ah~”

“Ah.”

“A little bigger, ah~”

“Ah.”

Gulp.

“How is it? Delicious, right?”

“Yeah, it is. What is this?”

“Egg tart I made myself.”

“Delicious. Thanks, Yerin.”

“Hehe…….”

Having finished the first half of the season with a winning series against Milwaukee, we returned to Seattle.

Starting with today’s pre-event, the All-Star Futures Game will be held tomorrow, followed by the draft day that Daniel has been eagerly awaiting, then the Home Run Derby the day after, and the All-Star Game on the last day.

In other words, we can relax for two days, today and tomorrow.

“Here’s another one. Ah~”

“Ah.”

After shaking off the lingering feelings for *her* in my heart, I feel closer to Yerin.

Actually, it should have been like this from the start.

Knowing Yerin’s feelings, I hesitated and put it off because I didn’t know what emotions were left in my heart.

Of course, I haven’t forgotten everything.

Her voice, which sincerely cared for me, still resonates somewhere in my heart.

But now, I will try to forget that voice rather than remember it.

Believing that is the right path for me, and for her, who is living her life without knowing me.

“Oppa, haven’t you decided on an agent yet?”

“Well, that’s…….”

It’s kind of a funny story, but I still don’t have a formal agent.

Since I was playing for my team in Korea, there was no need for one at all, and Min Tae-hyun, Yerin’s father, took care of all the processes of coming to the United States.

There’s no need to negotiate a salary right now, and I don’t intend to take commercials or anything for a few bucks, so I’ve been putting it off, but it seems like there’s a limit to how long I can delay it.

I needed someone to take care of things other than money – endorsements, appearances, and general management.

“Oppa, is it because you’re too lazy? Do you have a list of candidates? Give it to me. I’ll meet them.”

“Huh? You?”

“Even though I look like this, I’m an expert in contracts, having changed agencies twice in Korea and three times in the United States. I’ll meet them first and organize my opinions, so Oppa, just relax and don’t think about anything. After a few days of rest, you won’t have time to rest until the second half of the season.”

Sometimes I wonder.

What am I that this girl is so good to me?

So I’m always sorry, and always grateful.

“Yerin.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

“Hehe…….”

Saying sorry when I’m sorry, and thank you when I’m grateful.

Why did I find this easy thing so difficult?

* * *

“Are you really going to ask me?”

“Yes, Mike. Unless you don’t want to.”

“Hmm… well, I don’t have any other schedules, but I was going to play with my daughter that day…….”

“She likes baseball, right?”

“Of course, her dad is a baseball player.”

“Great. Then, Elijah, is her name Elijah? I’d like her to be my escort kid. How about it? Coming to the ballpark with me that day?”

“Hmm? An escort kid?”

Players participating in the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby needed two assistants.

One was a batting ball pitcher to throw balls in the Home Run Derby, and the other was an escort kid to hold the player’s hand and enter the All-Star Game.

Antonio Garcia, who is participating in the Home Run Derby with me at this All-Star Game, has started practicing with his starting catcher, Bruce Matthews.

And I, who hadn’t decided on a partner yet, reached out to Mike Warren.

A veteran who helped me before my regression and a teacher who taught me the knuckleball.

Usually, catchers are preferred as partners to throw batting balls in the Home Run Derby, not pitchers.

This is because pitchers may inadvertently create movement on the ball, so it is better to have a catcher who can throw the ball consistently.

However, Mike’s case is a little different.

Mike, who uses his fastball only for pickoff throws, having almost abandoned it to throw knuckleballs, would be a good partner.

It would also be a small gift to his daughter, who has never been to the All-Star Game stage, having played for the Dodgers for 17 years without ever making the All-Star Game.

“If I ask Elijah and she says it’s okay, should we practice together in the afternoon?”

“No, there’s no need to ask. My daughter will love it. Damn, I’m going to be on the All-Star Game stage like this.”

“You’ll be able to become an All-Star with your skills next year.”

“Really? Haha, I’d believe it a little if you said it, even if it were someone else. Anyway, great, then I’ll call home first. I have to tell my child this good news too.”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with. Then I’ll see you on the field.”

* * *

– Hello, this is Seattle T-Mobile Park, where the Home Run Derby, one of the pre-events of the 2030 Major League All-Star Game, is being held. I am joined by commentator Ko Dong-sik. Commentator Ko, please explain the current status of the Home Run Derby.

– Yes, Han Su-hyeok, his teammate Antonio Garcia, Lucas Anderson of the New York Yankees, James Taylor of the Tampa Bay Rays, Aaron Decker of the LA Dodgers, Grant Dixon of St. Louis, Luke Bell of the San Francisco Giants, and Javier Castillo of the Philadelphia Phillies are participating. The format is simple. A total of eight hitters will compete in a tournament format in three rounds, paired up in twos. The player who hits more home runs before accumulating 10 outs will advance to the next round.

– Yes, that’s easy to understand. The first round just ended, right? Lucas Anderson of the New York Yankees, James Taylor of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Han Su-hyeok, three American League hitters, won and advanced to the second round. Only Han Su-hyeok’s teammate, Antonio Garcia, was unfortunately eliminated, losing to Javier Castillo.

– That’s right. This means that Han Su-hyeok and Lucas Anderson will form one group, and James Taylor and Javier Castillo will form another group to play in the second round.

– By the way… Commentator, Han Su-hyeok is really amazing. He hit a whopping 45 home runs in the first round. I can only describe it as overwhelming.

– Yes, 45 home runs in 3 minutes and 30 seconds, with 3 minutes of basic time plus 30 seconds of additional time… It’s no exaggeration to say that he’s a home run hitting machine. It’s almost double the number recorded by other players.

– I understand. Well, let’s continue watching the second round of the 2030 All-Star Game Home Run Derby.

* * *

“Hello! Mister!”

“Welcome, Elijah. You’re Elijah, right?”

“Wow! Amazing! Dad! Is this Mister Han Su-hyeok?”

“Yes. Unless there’s another Han Su-hyeok somewhere, this friend is Han Su-hyeok.”

“Waaa… Nice to meet you! I’m nine years old this year, Elijah Warren, please take care of me!”

“I’ll take care of you too. Elijah.”

During the short break between the first and second rounds of the Home Run Derby,

Mike Warren’s daughter, Elijah, hugged me with an excited face.

To be honest, I’m a little embarrassed.

I’m not very good at handling children, either now or in the past, and it’s not like I’ve done anything special for her.

Well, it’s enough if the child is excited.

“But Mister!”

“Hmm?”

“My dad can’t play in the game tomorrow, right?”

Tomorrow here means the All-Star Game main stage.

It’s not easy to explain to Elijah, who is only nine years old, why her dad can’t go to the All-Star Game. And it’s not the right thing to do either.

There is an easier and more desirable answer.

“Your dad will be playing in the All-Star Game next year.”

“Next year? Really? Then can I hold Dad’s hand and enter then?”

“Of course.”

I soothed Elijah and sent her inside, and then started preparing for the second round again.

Mike, who was already on the field warming up, smiled and said.

“Damn, I would have regretted it if I had turned down your offer. The child is so happy.”

“You have to go to the All-Star Game main stage next year.”

“All-Star Game? Next year? Me? Well… I want to, but… is it possible?”

To be cold, the possibility of Mike Warren growing into an All-Star-level pitcher next season is, at best, fifty-fifty.

And even if he achieves such results, whether he can receive a vote from the team or a recommendation from the secretariat is another matter.

Nevertheless, I answered like this.

“What if you can throw a knuckleball as soon as you wake up?”

“What?”

“It means it’s possible if you can throw a knuckleball as naturally as breathing.”

“Damn, I asked a stupid question. You’re right. If I can make this knuckleball mine… then I can do anything.”

“More than that, shall we set a record?”

“Record? Hehe, shall we?”

Thwack!

About an hour later, I stood on the Home Run Derby awards stage with Mike Warren, who was carrying his daughter on his shoulders.

Mike, who initially refused to go up there with me, followed me as if he couldn’t help it when I suddenly picked up Elijah.

“Congratulations, Han Su-hyeok. You broke the all-time Home Run Derby record by hitting 51 home runs in the final round of the third round. Please say a word about your impressions.”

“Well, I think today’s record was possible not because I did well, but because the ball Mike threw was so good. The support of Elijah, who decided to be my escort kid, was also a big help.”

“Oh, great. Then we can look forward to the All-Star Game main stage tomorrow, right?”

“Of course. The All-Star Game is a festival for baseball fans. I hope everyone enjoys it. The festival of 2030 that will never come again.”