Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 302

#301. Invitation

‘If I had just given up back then… Damn, just thinking about it is awful.’

While the second game of the doubleheader between the Mets and the Mariners was underway, Daniel Mitchell, the head of operations for the team, was watching the TV broadcast with a satisfied expression in his Seattle executive suite.

As the team’s general manager and an avid fan, Daniel was extremely happy these days.

He was busy trying to please the owner above and appease the manager and players below, but it was nothing compared to the fact that the team was leading the division.

It was all thanks to Han Su-hyeok.

What if he had just given up back then, in the fall of 2026, when Han Su-hyeok, who was about to sign a contract, declared that he would remain in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]?

What if he had just given up and stopped caring, thinking that he was already someone else’s player and would see him in seven years?

‘Holy shit……!’

At first, everyone laughed.

No one could help but click their tongues at Daniel for chasing after Han Su-hyeok, who couldn’t even be brought to the United States right away.

However, Daniel’s seemingly foolish efforts paid off one by one, and Han Su-hyeok eventually became a Mariner.

– Swing! Out!

– Ah! Amazing! Unbelievable! Han Su-hyeok strikes out another batter and escapes the two-out, runner on second crisis!

– How many strikeouts does that player have today?

– One thing is certain. That player is the best pitcher in the world right now.

In the second game of the doubleheader, with backup members playing instead of the starters,

Han Su-hyeok, who started as the starting pitcher, escaped the two-out, runner on second crisis in the bottom of the eighth inning with a strikeout.

Humans are not robots.

Han Su-hyeok was also showing signs of fatigue as the tight schedule continued.

Nevertheless, Han Su-hyeok recorded a 3-RBI [Runs Batted In] double as a batter today and showed decent pitching as a pitcher, recording 2 runs on 2 hits through the 8th inning.

‘Wait… if he pitches a complete game again today…….’

The Mariners’ bullpen and closer are noticeably weaker than their starters.

Considering that he has only thrown 92 pitches so far, it seems likely that Han Su-hyeok will pitch a complete game.

Daniel’s mind raced.

If the game ends like this…….

‘133 innings, 5 earned runs… 0.41 ERA [Earned Run Average]… Heh, heh heh…….’

He had been giving up runs a little more frequently lately, but he had accumulated so many stats early in the season when the batters couldn’t adapt to Han Su-hyeok’s fastball that his ERA was unbelievably low.

It’s really amazing for a starting pitcher, not a closer, to have an ERA in the 0s. In other words, there is a high probability that he will not give up a single run even if he pitches a complete 9 innings.

In fact, the 2 runs he gave up today were the most runs he had given up in a single game this season.

It means that his ERA went up even though he pitched a complete game with 2 runs in 9 innings, which would have been a cause for celebration for other pitchers.

‘I want to see the faces of the guys who laughed at me.’

A long time ago, in Han Su-hyeok’s first year in the KBO, he told other big league scouts that.

In the near future, people would call Han Su-hyeok this.

Mr. Baseball.

The other scouts who heard that said this.

That he was completely out of his mind.

But in the end, Daniel’s prediction came true.

Han Su-hyeok, who dominated the KBO in just three years after his debut, came to the United States and dominated the arrogant big leaguers one by one, becoming an absolute presence that could not even be compared.

– Ah! It’s over! The game is over! Han Su-hyeok strikes out the Mets’ last batter and finishes the game on his own. Score 3 to 2, a one-run victory for Seattle! Han Su-hyeok recorded a game-winning 3 RBIs as a batter and a complete game with 2 runs in 9 innings as a pitcher, once again creating a perfect victory.

– Let me be honest. Seattle fans, I’m really jealous. You are the second people to be able to cheer for such a player, following the citizens of New York in the 1920s. That’s after a gap of 100 years. Enjoy it. Enjoy the precious time that the god of baseball has given you as a gift.

“That guy is saying something I like for the first time in a while.”

Daniel smiled involuntarily at the man’s praise, who was a Yankees fan before he was a commentator.

He had reunited with his father in his hometown last week after a long time.

It had been almost 10 years.

It was the first time in a long time that he had met his father, but the two of them didn’t need much conversation.

“Son, I heard you brought that Han Su-hyeok guy over.”

“Yes, Father. I did it.”

“Okay, that’s enough. Good job.”

The two men, who were Mariners fans to the bone, hugged each other in silence for a long time.

At that time, Daniel made up his mind once again.

He would advance to the World Series no matter what.

He knew better than anyone that if he couldn’t achieve that in a situation where the god of baseball had descended, the team would never have another chance.

‘I wonder if there are any inconveniences? Or anyone bothering him?’

Come to think of it, there were a few things left to check, starting with the Asian Games selection.

Daniel thought he should meet with Han Su-hyeok’s newly appointed agent a few days later and left the executive suite.

* * *

“Great, this day has finally come. Welcome, Han. This is my lovely wife, Mia, and this is my only daughter, Riley.”

“Welcome, Han. And Min, can I call you that? I’m really enjoying your songs.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Tebow.”

“Please, call me Mia. It’s so nice to meet you. Please, come in.”

Seattle, who had won a thrilling come-from-behind victory against the Mets in the third game, 5-4, returned home after a nine-day road trip.

Waiting for them was a precious day of rest.

Ryan took action on a promise he had made a long time ago on a day off that he had barely managed to get during the grueling schedule that had exhausted even Han Su-hyeok, who could be called an iron man.

Inviting Han Su-hyeok, who had hit a great home run as a pinch hitter on his daughter Riley’s birthday, to dinner.

Han Su-hyeok, who had been invited, suggested that Min Ye-rin accompany him.

“Are you sure you’re okay with it? If not, I’ll go alone.”

“Ah, no! I’m okay with it! Of course! Wait, dinner, did you say dinner? Then I need to start with my hair… no, I need to get my dress first…….”

“A dress? You’re going to a teammate’s house for dinner, why would you wear a dress? You can just wear jeans, Ye-rin.”

“What are you talking about! A woman should dress up nicely in such a setting to make her man look good… Anyway, I’ll take care of it, Oppa [term of endearment used by a younger woman to an older brother or male friend].”

With those words, Min Ye-rin disappeared somewhere and reappeared five hours later.

Not as a hooligan climbing the baseball field safety net and being dragged away by security,

But as world star Min Ye-rin, perfectly set up from head to toe.

“Ye-rin……?”

“Oppa, how do I look? I’m not embarrassing to be with, am I?”

Han Su-hyeok felt his heart pounding at the sight of Min Ye-rin, who had dressed up more sincerely than when she was on stage for the first time in a long time.

It was a slightly unfamiliar feeling for Han Su-hyeok, who had always treated Min Ye-rin like a younger sister and regarded her more as a friend than a lover.

“Riley, come here. You have to say hello to Han and Min.”

“Ah, hello. My name is Riley.”

“Oh, look how cute she is. How old are you, Riley?”

“I’m nine years old.”

“Oppa, isn’t she so cute? She’s like a doll!”

“Um.”

“Don’t just stand there, come and hold her hand. She’s only looking at Oppa.”

“Umm…….”

Han Su-hyeok, who had taken a step back as if he was awkward, stepped forward and stood in front of Riley.

Then Riley bowed her head and opened her mouth first.

“Thank you.”

“Um, for what?”

“For hitting a home run on my birthday last time! For keeping my dad from crying!”

“Hey, Riley. Who’s crying? Don’t say things like that.”

“Dad, I clearly saw tears in your eyes back then.”

“Oh…….”

The adults burst into laughter at Riley’s words, and the laughter continued to the dinner table.

After a satisfying meal for everyone, Min Ye-rin asked Mia, who was enjoying a simple dessert.

“How did you two meet?”

“Didn’t I tell you? He’s my high school senior. The best-looking sports team captain in the whole school, and I was a cheerleader.”

“Ah ha! The legendary quarterback and cheerleader combination!”

Min Ye-rin clapped her hands as if she was having fun, and a reply came from the other side.

“I played baseball and football back then… well, I was a fullback, not a quarterback, but it’s not entirely wrong.”

“I see! That’s great. A love that has lasted since high school!”

“What about you, Ye-rin? How did you meet Han Su-hyeok?”

“Me? Uh…….”

The moment Min Ye-rin first met Han Su-hyeok came to her mind.

‘I went with my dad to deliver rice cakes when we moved in.’

The next time I met him was probably…….

‘Was it when I was struggling on the safety net? Well, I was definitely inexperienced back then. I didn’t know the safety net would be so dense.’

No matter how hard she tried to remember, she couldn’t figure out when to set the standard for their first meeting.

Min Ye-rin, with a troubled expression, was trying to figure out what to say,

“I didn’t know it was Ye-rin at first.”

“Yes?”

It was Han Su-hyeok who answered Mia’s words.

“It was my first debut in Korean baseball, yes, it was the opening game. A singer I had never seen before was giving a congratulatory performance… well, I’m usually not interested in songs at all, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her for some reason. I found out later. That the singer was the woman who lived next door to me.”

“Oh my! So you two met without knowing who each other was and found out later? How romantic.”

In fact, Min Ye-rin knew, but that wasn’t the point right now.

Han Su-hyeok continued.

“After that, Ye-rin… followed me to the baseball field every time I had a game and cheered hard on the safety net, no, she cheered, and she was there for me whenever I needed her. And at some point, I realized that I couldn’t live without her.”

Burning.

Min Ye-rin’s cheeks flushed red at Han Su-hyeok’s unexpected indirect confession.

Mia smiled without realizing it when she saw her.

From her perspective, who had been married for over 10 years, the sight of this young couple was so cute and lovely.

Mia, who had been looking at Min Ye-rin and Han Su-hyeok for a long time, said.

“You two look so good together. If you ever have a wedding, please invite me. Even if it’s in Korea, I’ll definitely attend. Oh, if you need a bridesmaid, I want to tell you that I’m always available. Besides that, if you need any help, please tell me anytime. It’s a reward for making our daughter smile.”