Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 320

#319. Ranked In

“Damn it, can you believe this flimsy butterfly net costs 20 bucks?”

“I told you, you should have just worn a glove like me. What’s with that thing?”

“Glove? Ha, look around. There are tons of guys with butterfly nets. You think you can handle that with a glove? Be honest. You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“No, I just don’t want to use something that obstructs other people’s view.”

“Hehe, don’t be like that, just admit you’re jealous. If you admit it, I might even lend it to you.”

“Damn it.”

Like some other fields, the United States is a much more conservative place than Korea, especially when it comes to baseball.

In the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], fans with butterfly nets would fill the outfield whenever a home run record was expected, but here in the United States, gloves were the most you’d see.

However,

As Han Su-hyeok climbed to 10th in the single-season home run rankings, the number of spectators with butterfly nets in the outfield seats of T-Mobile Park began to increase.

Amidst news that the city authorities were struggling to crack down on people illegally selling butterfly nets around the stadium, Han Su-hyeok’s first at-bat began.

“Play!”

It had already been eight years since Aaron Judge, who was virtually ranked first excluding the records of drug users, set the record for 7th most home runs in a single season.

Although the speed and power of pitchers’ throws are increasing, and the power and hitting mechanisms of batters are constantly developing, most baseball experts estimate that the maximum number of home runs a human can hit in a 162-game season is around 60.

In this situation, Han Su-hyeok hit 59 home runs in just 120 games, so the entire baseball world was bound to be shaken up.

A long time ago, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa used performance-enhancing drugs to engage in a home run race of the century, and as a result, they became American heroes who revived the popularity of Major League Baseball, which was collapsing due to player strikes.

Of course, all that popularity and fame vanished when the fact that they had taken drugs was revealed.

Whoosh

Clang

“Ball.”

While Derrick on first base continued to bother the pitcher by constantly taking leads, Han Su-hyeok watched the first pitch, a slider on the outside low corner, go by for a ball.

Although it was a ball, it was a very good pitch designed to induce a swing.

Cuban pitcher Emilio Castro, who had faced Han Su-hyeok once in the previous WBC [World Baseball Classic], threw each ball with all his might.

Whoosh

Clang

“Strike!”

Clang

“Ball.”

Even if the White Sox had taken the lead due to the other teams in the division floundering, not just anyone could become a team’s ace.

Han Su-hyeok also faced Emilio, who boasted a fastball reaching up to 102 mph, a league-leading curveball, and a slider, with everything he had.

Emilio’s pitches were powerful and precise.

Emilio’s pitches, which pushed his abilities to the limit against Han Su-hyeok, were worthy of being called the best in the league in terms of power and control.

However,

It wasn’t enough to stop Han Su-hyeok, who had embarked on a full-fledged home run chase with the support of home fans and fellow players.

Thwack!

“Wooaaah!”

The moment the ball connected with Han Su-hyeok’s bat and he tossed the bat into the air, anticipating a home run, the spectators filling T-Mobile Park leaped to their feet.

“It’s going! It’s going! It’s going!”

“Damn it! I should have sat in the outfield!”

The batted ball, struck squarely, soared over the left fielder’s head. It was a tremendous hit that barely lost altitude even after clearing the fence.

Including Min Ye-rin, the spectators sitting in the left outfield scattered in all directions with butterfly nets and gloves, trying to predict where the ball would land.

However, the batted ball continued to fly towards the outer wall, passing over the heads of those people.

“No!”

“It’s mine! It’s mine! Don’t go!”

Just as the batted ball passed over the spectators’ heads and was about to disappear out of the stadium over the outer wall,

Click

“I’ve been preparing for this moment!”

A man with an Afro hairstyle raised the butterfly net he was holding above his head with all his might.

Then, the butterfly net, which was only about 1 meter long, stretched out and Han Su-hyeok’s batted ball was sucked into the net, which had stretched to over 2 meters.

“Ugh!”

“Damn it, that weird-haired guy caught the ball!”

“What is it! What is that butterfly net? Is it a gadget arm? Why does it stretch?”

* * *

– It’s over! Amazing! Finally! Finally! Seattle Mariners’ Han Su-hyeok has recorded his 60th home run of the season, tying Babe Ruth’s 1927 record and ranking 9th in the all-time single-season home run list!

– Unbelievable! It’s really amazing! Great! It was a tremendous hit that felt like a home run the moment it left the bat. Let’s watch it again. He hit the fastball that was perfectly placed inside, right? 102 miles! Han Su-hyeok turned the fastest ball Emilio Castro threw this season into a home run!

– The home run is incredible, but the spectator who caught the batted ball is also amazing. Thomas, what is that? He used a butterfly net that extends over 2 meters to catch the batted ball that was about to go over the outer wall.

– I don’t know. What is that? It’s definitely a butterfly net… At first glance, it looks like some kind of antenna, and I’ve never heard of a butterfly net that stretches and shrinks like that. Could it be that he made it himself?

– Even if he made it himself, it would have been a worthwhile thing to do, right? I don’t know if he’ll sell the ball or not, but he’ll definitely make enough money to cover the cost of making the butterfly net. Haha.

– After all, the United States is a country of advanced technology. Now, Han Su-hyeok, who hit the home run, has finally circled the diamond and entered home. It’s really amazing. The history of Major League Baseball is changing. Han Su-hyeok, I wish you could hit one more today.

└ Crazy lol, that guy finally did it.

└ What are you talking about? Do you know that Afro head?

└ That’s right, he’s the nerd who lives next door to us. Yesterday, he was making that butterfly net in the garage, so I told him not to do anything stupid, but damn it, I was the stupid one.

└ Really? Then let me ask you one thing. Find out if I can buy that butterfly net. I don’t care if the price is a bit high. It’s an amazing thing.

└ Hehe, I’m thinking of coming up with a business plan with that guy when he comes back. If I ever sell it, I’ll post it on SNS [Social Networking Service].

└ Anyway, it’s finally 60. Now there are 14 left until the record. The remaining games are…. 42 games, damn it! I think it’s really possible?

└ Of course, what did I say? I told you that friend would do it, right? Now, all we have to do is find the stadium with that cool butterfly net that nerd made.

* * *

“Han! Congratulations! You finally did it.”

“Hehe, damn it, 60 home runs, does that even make sense?”

“Derrick, you did well too. Get on base one more time next time. Give this friend a chance to hit!”

“Of course, I’m the best lead-off in the league. Getting on base is basic.”

It was only after being surrounded by his teammates and receiving congratulations for a long time that he was able to sit on the bench.

I hit it, and it was a really well-hit ball.

It was such a well-hit ball that there was no feeling or resistance at the moment of impact.

“Han, take a look at this. Hehe, he’s a really funny guy.”

When I received the tablet Bruce handed me, a replay of my home run video from earlier was playing. It was inconvenient because it was impossible to use electronic devices in the dugout during my KBO days, but it’s definitely helpful in many ways.

But what am I supposed to be looking at?

Hmm, it’s a really cool hit even if I watch it again… Ah, is that it?

The video showed a man with a huge and heavy-looking Afro hairstyle using a two-stage extending butterfly net to quickly snatch a home run ball that was about to go out of the stadium.

Seriously…

Now I’m seeing all sorts of things……

By the way, why is Ye-rin crying so hard next to that person?

I can give her as many of those home run balls as she wants.

Does she think it only has meaning if she catches it herself?

Then next time, to where Ye-rin is…….

“Play!”

The stadium, which had been in chaos due to my home run, became quiet again, and Ty Johnson stepped up to the plate.

Emilio Castro, who is famous for being hot-tempered, had a noticeably red face.

Ty Johnson would be well aware of what kind of ball that pitcher would throw now.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Oooooooooh!”

“Good! Here we go again! Going!”

“Crazy! I love this team so much! Fucking Mariners!”

As expected, my prediction was correct.

The pitcher, still fired up after giving up a home run to me, threw a 102 mph fastball right down the middle, and Ty Johnson, who had already anticipated the pitch, didn’t miss it and connected perfectly.

“Ty! You’re only allowed to wear the Seattle uniform for 10 years. You can’t go anywhere before that!”

“You’ll become a legend in Seattle and Major League Baseball!”

“Damn it, it’s our lineup, but it’s really terrible. You’re the best! You guys are the best!”

Once again, a roar that seemed to burst the stadium rang out, and Ty, who had quietly put down his bat as usual, slowly began to circle the diamond.

In an instant, the score was 3 to 0.

It was the moment when the balance of today’s game, which was expected to be tight, tilted decisively towards Seattle.

* * *

[Finally, the 60th home run, Han Su-hyeok, tied Babe Ruth’s 1927 record and ranked 9th in the all-time single-season home run list]

[Who is the lucky person who caught Han Su-hyeok’s 60th home run ball? Taylor Murphy (29) living in Seattle, an avid fan of Han Su-hyeok who even made his own butterfly net for this day]

[Taylor Murphy “I will donate the ball I caught today to Seattle. I just wanted to prove the performance of my two-stage separation butterfly net.” Baseball fans flock to Taylor Murphy’s SNS and clamor for him to mass-produce butterfly nets]

[Seattle (78 wins and 43 losses) won 4-2 with back-to-back home runs by Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson in the first inning and a 9-inning, 2-run complete game by ace Ryan Thibeault, finally ranking 2nd in the American League overall win rate, beating the White Sox (76 wins and 43 losses)]

[Major League Baseball experts “Seattle’s recent rise is terrifying. Not only Han Su-hyeok, but all the players on the pitching and hitting teams are united and showing their best performance.”]

[Ryan Thibeault, who achieved a 9-inning, 2-run complete game victory, “Han Su-hyeok has sacrificed a lot for our team. And now we are ready to dedicate ourselves to his record. Seattle will unite and challenge the World Series.”]

[Han Su-hyeok, who has come to stand shoulder to shoulder with the god of baseball, Babe Ruth, “I am grateful for the help of my teammates. Derrick, who is in front of me, gets on base, and Ryan perfectly shuts down the opposing lineup, giving me a good hitting opportunity. Record? As I always say, I am very interested in achieving records. It’s just that team victory is more important than records.”]

[Han Su-hyeok, the best baseball star of this era with perfect personality as well as performance, Seattle fans “We are so happy to have Han Su-hyeok.”]