Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 289

“Listen, Champ. You’re playing until the last inning today, unless something drastic happens. It’s for the fans who voted you in with the most votes.”

“No problem.”

“Good, and… about that thing, are you really going to do it?”

“Yes, for the fans.”

“Well, alright. The trainers said there shouldn’t be any problems… Okay, then I’ll let you know when the right moment comes. Remember, don’t overdo it. You’re the heart of Seattle, first and foremost, before being an All-Star.”

“Of course.”

After the short conversation between Han Su-hyeok and Manager Benjamin, players from both teams took the field for the game.

Top of the 1st inning, the National League All-Star team’s attack.

Starting pitcher Ryan Thibodeau thought to himself.

He’d been selected for the All-Star game several times, but this was his first time on the mound as the starting pitcher.

It was a significant honor. It was proof that he was considered the best pitcher in the American League this season, both in terms of skill and popularity.

Whoosh

Crack

“Strike!”

The batter was Grant Dixon, the center fielder leading the St. Louis team after Ty Johnson’s departure.

A well-rounded player with power, precision, and speed.

Starting with him, batters representing the National League would be stepping up to the plate one after another.

Of course, he wouldn’t have to face them all.

Ryan was only scheduled to pitch one inning today before the second half of the season, which would begin after a two-day break.

That’s why he had to pay extra attention to each pitch.

He wanted to show the baseball fans in America and around the world watching the game today what he was capable of.

He wanted to show them how he had grown, that he, who had relied solely on power until last season, was finally learning the nuances of baseball.

Whoosh

Whizz

“Swing!”

After opening his heart to Han Su-hyeok, he had been almost blatantly shadowing him, learning a different side of baseball than he knew before.

He wasn’t exactly the friendliest person, but he wasn’t someone who pushed away those who approached him either.

Han Su-hyeok was stingy with words but showed everything through actions.

Ryan only regretted one thing: if he had met him sooner, if he could have met him when he was younger and talked about baseball with him…

Then he might have developed even further.

That was his only regret.

Whoosh

Crack

“Strike! Out!”

But it wasn’t too late.

This season, Seattle was aiming for the World Series.

Han Su-hyeok had said that the ace who protects the mound no matter what, the most suitable person for that position, was Ryan himself.

He would follow his words, and together with him, he would lead the team to victory.

[2nd batter, 3rd baseman Aaron Decker]

After striking out the first batter, Aaron Decker, the Dodgers’ and the National League’s leading hitter, stepped up to the plate.

Some people said the All-Star game is just an exhibition.

But Ryan thought differently.

If Seattle were to reach their first-ever World Series this season, one of the teams most likely to be their opponent would be the Dodgers.

And Aaron Decker was the heart of that team.

He would crush him. Thoroughly.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Foul!”

A strong hit that went just outside the third base line.

But Han Su-hyeok simply watched the ball from his position, as if he had predicted the direction of the hit.

When you think about it, Han Su-hyeok’s true value isn’t just about throwing and hitting well.

He’s a player who does his part no matter when or where he’s placed—no, a player who goes beyond doing his part and does it the best.

That’s Han Su-hyeok.

Whoosh

Whizz

“Swing!”

When he pitched with him behind him, he couldn’t help but feel at ease.

He had once imagined such a thing.

He wanted to pitch with seven Han Su-hyeoks behind him.

Of course, it was an absurd fantasy, but what if such a thing were possible?

‘I could show them what pitching to get outs really is.’

Han Su-hyeok the fielder was that kind of player.

A presence that could give a pitcher stability just by standing on the field.

Ryan Thibodeau, having finished his pleasant fantasy, immediately focused on winning against Aaron Decker.

“Ta-hat!”

Whoosh

Whizz

“Swing Out!”

A 70-mile changeup launched with a powerful shout.

Aaron Decker’s bat, who had naturally expected a fastball, swung through the air, and a huge round of applause and cheers erupted from the stands.

Good.

This feeling is what keeps me alive.

Feeling the joy surging from deep within his heart, he faced the next batter.

[3rd batter, shortstop Javier Castillo]

The Philadelphia Phillies’ star hitter and the best shortstop in the major leagues at the moment stepped up to the plate.

Ryan looked at his opponent with a cautious expression.

This was the last one. This was the last batter he had to face.

With this showdown, Ryan Thibodeau’s 2030 All-Star Game appearance would come to an end.

Ryan, with a more cautious expression than ever, exchanged signs with the catcher.

Jerry Wagner, the best catcher in the major leagues, who wasn’t as flashy as his teammate Bruce Matthews but could be considered superior in terms of skill.

The battery’s [battery refers to the pitcher and catcher as a unit] intentions matched after only two signs, and finally, the ball was released from Ryan’s fingertips.

But,

‘Oh no.’

He realized it the moment he threw it. He had put too much power into it.

As expected, the ball, which had been given too much power, flew higher than originally intended, and Javier’s bat didn’t miss it.

Thwack!

With an intense sound, a bullet-like hit flew over the third baseman’s head.

A hit that was sure to be a long one the moment it was hit.

The moment Ryan’s face was about to distort,

Wham!

“Ugh! He caught that?”

“Damn it! National League yokels! How does that taste! That’s Seattle’s starting third baseman right there!”

“I’ll bet you’ve never seen anything like this before? So go home and cry!”

Han Su-hyeok, who had jumped almost a meter or more from his position, caught the ball flying over his head.

“Damn, he’s really a monster. I thought those kinds of vertical jumps were only seen in American football.”

“With that kind of athleticism and crazy power, why is he even playing baseball?”

Han Su-hyeok, who had caught the ball, casually tossed it into the stands and went into the dugout.

Watching him, Ryan couldn’t help but laugh.

What can’t that guy do?

Leaving everything else aside, Ryan offered a deep prayer of gratitude that Han Su-hyeok was on his side.

* * *

“Play!”

Andrew Davis, who was selected as the first starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team today, thought.

He was going to show Han Su-hyeok what’s what this time.

The enemy who took away Ty Johnson, whom he respected the most, and the villain who stood in the way of his dream of becoming the best pitcher in the world.

It wasn’t simple animosity.

It was like looking at the final boss he had to overcome someday.

Whoosh

Crack

“Strike!”

Among the American League All-Star team’s lineup, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batters were all Seattle players.

A powerful lineup that he had already faced once in the interleague [games between teams in different leagues], and perhaps would remain in major league history.

The bigger problem was that unlike Seattle, where he only had to worry about the 3rd batter, the team Andrew was facing today was the American League All-Stars.

The manager had assigned him to pitch until the 2nd inning.

He wanted to shut them down completely.

At least he couldn’t afford to lose the MVP award for today’s game.

Whoosh

Whizz

“Strike!”

He didn’t need any breaking balls. After all, the second starter, not Andrew, was scheduled to pitch in the first game of the second half of the season.

That’s why Andrew was planning to give his all in the 2 innings he would pitch today, just like he was pitching as a closer [a relief pitcher who specializes in pitching the final inning of a close game].

A 102-mile fastball was launched from the fingertips of Andrew Davis, who was giving it his all.

Whoosh

Whizz

“Swing! Out!”

“Good job! Great pitching!”

“I believe in you, Andrew! Crush those guys!”

Whether they were St. Louis fans who had come all the way here, or just fans of some team who hated Seattle,

It didn’t matter who they were.

Andrew closed his eyes tightly as he listened to the cheers of the fans pouring out to him.

Andrew Davis, who was called a show-off who would go down in major league history before Han Su-hyeok’s regression.

While he was absorbed in himself, the next batter stepped up to the plate.

[2nd batter, third baseman Han Su-hyeok]

Suddenly, his mind snapped back.

The languidness that had been spreading throughout his body disappeared in an instant, and a tense feeling returned.

They met again.

The monster who had crushed him in the last Olympics and interleague game.

A villain he had to defeat in order to avenge himself and for his future to become the best in the world.

‘I’ll win, I’ll win, I’ll definitely win.’

Andrew Davis’s face looked like fire was coming out of his eyes.

Andrew, who started pitching with a cautious expression as if he were on the World Series stage, unleashed a powerful fastball exceeding his highest speed of 102 miles, reaching 103 miles.

And,

Thwaaaaaack!

Along with an intense sound that seemed to cut through the cheers of the crowd, a white trajectory stretched towards the center of the field.

“It’s out!”

“It’s going! It’s going! It’s going!”

“Han Su-hyeok! Han Su-hyeok! Han Su-hyeok!”

The crowd, sensing it was a home run, stood up and chanted Han Su-hyeok’s name.

And Han Su-hyeok, as if to return the favor, watched the ball with a bat flip [throwing the bat high in the air after hitting the ball] that seemed to make him dizzy just by looking at it.

Thud

The moment the hit that had passed over the outer wall of T-Mobile Park’s center fence went out of the stadium,

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Fucking! That’s it! Yes! That’s the taste!”

T-Mobile Park, a pitcher-friendly stadium where it’s difficult to hit even a normal home run, let alone an outside-the-park home run.

Han Su-hyeok, who had hit an outside-the-park home run through the sea breeze blowing in from the Pacific Ocean, stepped on the diamond as if he were dancing.

“Haha! That guy can’t dance very well!”

“Good! That’s why he’s even cooler! He’s human!”

“Damn it, come to my house after the game! I’ll teach you some cool dances!”

Although he had learned directly from Min Ye-rin, Han Su-hyeok’s dancing skills were still a mess.

Nevertheless, he was happy, and the spectators who watched him all burst into laughter.

Except for one person: Andrew Davis, who had allowed the huge home run.

Han Su-hyeok, who had circled the diamond once, finally returned home.

His foot stepped forcefully on home plate.

Thump

To Andrew Davis’s ears, it sounded like the footsteps of a giant.

* * *

“Who’s going to finish it?”

“Won’t Emilio pitch another inning?”

The 2030 Major League All-Star Game was coming to an end.

In the American League team, following Ryan Thibodeau, Oakland’s ace Devin McPherson, Ryu Han-gyeol, Jimmy McCown, Shaquille Leonard, Emilio Castro, and others continued to pitch, giving up 5 points through the 8th inning.

On the other side, in the National League team, starting with Andrew Davis, Joshua Kalou, Tanaka Yamato, and Larry Armstrong took the mound.

Han Su-hyeok recorded 4 hits, 4 at-bats, 3 home runs, and 5 RBIs, single-handedly responsible for 5 of the team’s 6 points.

Top of the 9th inning, the National League All-Star team’s last attack in regular innings, trailing by one point at 6 to 5.

As the crowd buzzed about who would finish the last inning,

The bullpen door opened, and an unexpected player walked towards the mound.

“Huh?”

“Didn’t he say he wasn’t pitching today?”

“Is it some kind of surprise show?”

“Good! Whatever it is, we welcome it! Crush those National League idiots!”

It was Han Su-hyeok.

Han Su-hyeok, who wasn’t scheduled to pitch today, had taken the mound to finish the one-point game.

But,

“Wait… something looks strange?”

“Good heavens! He’s wearing the glove on his right hand!”

“Huh? No? Why? What is he doing?”

“Is he going to throw with his left hand?”

What they thought was impossible really happened.

The practice pitching began, and Han Su-hyeok began to throw the ball with his left hand.

Whoosh

Wham!

90 miles,

Whoosh

Wham!

91 miles,

Whoosh

Wham!

92 miles,

After completing the simple practice pitching, Han Su-hyeok signaled to the referee that he was ready.

The relaxed atmosphere of the stadium tightened again, and finally, Han Su-hyeok’s left-handed pitching began.

The Genius Pitcher Hides 170km