Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 326

#325. The Record to Surpass

Sixty-two home runs, ranking 7th in single-season home runs, and 63 home runs, ranked 6th just above it.

The difference was only one, but the feeling it gave to Major League fans was quite different.

This is because the records from 10th to 7th place in single-season home runs are records of pure hitters, untainted by performance-enhancing drugs, while the records from 6th to 1st place above them are records stained with drugs, a mark of shame on Major League Baseball.

You can’t deny what’s in the record books, but fans would rather someone break those tainted records quickly.

Such fans’ wishes seemed to reach the heavens.

Top of the 1st inning, no outs, runner on 1st in the fifth game of the season against the Boston Red Sox,

The ball Han Su-hyeok hit soared powerfully towards the area fans wanted to erase from memory.

– Uwaaa! Uwaaa! It’s going! It’s going! It keeps flying!

– It’s over! Finally! At last! Han Su-hyeok has hit his 63rd home run of the season, tying Sammy Sosa’s 1999 record for 6th in single-season home runs!

– Ah, the spectators who missed catching the ball are very disappointed. But there’s nothing you can do. You might need a flight suit to catch a ball flying over the Green Monster [the nickname of the left field wall in Fenway Park] and out of the stadium.

– Yes, even a second-stage transforming butterfly net can’t reach that far… Ah, this isn’t important right now! Now, Han Su-hyeok is entering a truly important stage. From his 63rd season home run onward, he’s transcending human limits. Han Su-hyeok has set foot in an area that can’t be reached without the power of drugs, achieving it with his own strength alone!

– That’s right. From now on, he’s making new history every time he hits a home run.

– That’s right. Haa… I knew Han Su-hyeok would do well from his KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] debut, but…

– Commissioner? Um, Commissioner. Are you crying right now?

– I’m just overwhelmed. Haa, whenever I talk about Han Su-hyeok, people treat me like I’m being paid off or something… I’m sorry. Anyway, it’s really frustrating to think about being treated like a weirdo. Look! Han Su-hyeok has become the best player in the world, beyond Korea, just like I said! I was the first to recognize this!

– I fully understand what you mean. Now, Han Su-hyeok, having rounded the bases, is walking towards the dugout, shoulder to shoulder with Derek Fleming. The score is 2 to 0, with Seattle taking the lead by two points after losing yesterday’s game.

– To be honest, the game is already over. Boston scoring 2 points against Han Su-hyeok? Well, is it even possible?

– By the way, the pitcher looks shaken. The pitching coach is coming up to the mound from the top of the 1st inning, and the game is temporarily stopped. We’ll go to commercials and come back. This is Fenway Park in Boston, USA, where the fifth game of the season between the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox is being held.

* * *

“Damn it, it went right down the middle. I’m sorry.”

“No, Rafael. There isn’t a pitcher who can throw the ball exactly where they want… Well, there is one. That monster over there.”

“…Anyway, I’m okay now. So let’s start again.”

“Okay, forget about the two points for now. Even if that guy is a monster, we can catch up with two points. In the meantime, all we have to do is trust our teammates and hold on. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Jerry.”

“Okay, let’s get back to it.”

Jerry Wagner, who comforted the pitcher who was mentally reeling after giving up a two-run home run at the start of the game, returned to his seat.

And Seattle’s 3rd batter, Ty Johnson, stepped up to the plate.

“How was it? Great home run, right?”

“I’ll say it again, your team’s rookie is terrifying.”

“Hehe, you’ll be in trouble if you’re surprised by that much.”

Jerry Wagner thought.

The ball that was just hit for a home run was a clear mistake.

With a runner on 1st base and no outs, Jerry couldn’t walk Han Su-hyeok, so he called for a slider that would break well outside, but Rafael’s ball, which still lacked control, came right into the middle of the strike zone.

Even if it was a mistake, it was so egregious that Han Su-hyeok turned it into a home run in one swing.

But you have to forget it. This is just like a natural disaster.

Jerry, regaining his composure, carefully signaled to the pitcher.

‘Inside fastball, as low as possible.’

Jerry’s signal was transmitted to the pitcher through PitchCom [a device used for communication between the catcher and pitcher], and the fielders, hearing this, subtly adjusted their defensive positions, putting pressure on Ty Johnson.

But,

Ttaaaak!

“Damn it!”

Ty Johnson’s light swing, seemingly devoid of power, accurately connected with the ball.

Ty Johnson, who got a hit that barely cleared the shortstop’s head, waved to the Seattle fans near first base.

In the past, Ty Johnson, who always swung for the fences, was scary, but he became even more dangerous when he could swing without greed like that.

“…It’s not easy. This.”

But Jerry, no, Boston’s ordeal was not over yet.

Chuck Clark, Seattle’s 4th batter, stepped into the plate with no outs and a runner on 1st base.

No one expected him to lay down a sacrifice bunt on the first pitch.

Tuk

“Second! No, First!”

“Out!”

As always, Seattle’s 4th batter, faithful to his role regardless of the situation, perfectly executed the sacrifice bunt ordered by the dugout.

That created a situation of 1 out and a runner on 2nd base, and Jim Brown, who stepped into the plate, pulled Rafael’s first pitch.

Ttaaaak!

“No!”

“Fuck! What the hell are you doing!”

Amid the uproar of Boston fans, Ty Johnson, who was on 2nd base, rounded 3rd and sprinted home, and Jim Brown calmly raised his hand to the crowd from 1st base.

In an instant, the score was 3 to 0.

The word defeat began to creep into the minds of the Boston players.

* * *

As my home run numbers gradually increased, reporters often asked how I felt about the records set by previous players.

Well,

Barry Bonds, who set a great record of 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases at the young age of 33, but was overshadowed in the home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, chose the path of performance-enhancing drugs to surpass them.

In fact, these three are the most famous among the players who used drugs, but from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Major League Baseball was a chaotic mess, rightly called the steroid era.

It was a time when it was strange *not* to take drugs, so the achievements of players like Ken Griffey Jr., who resisted all temptations, shine even brighter.

Anyway,

I can understand it a little bit from a human perspective, but if I switch to the perspective of a baseball player, no, a sportsman?

I think all the unfair records they built up should be erased immediately, even tomorrow.

Because it is an insult to the many athletes who are fighting against themselves and their opponents with only their natural abilities.

“Play!”

Top of the 3rd inning,

My second at-bat arrived.

To be honest, the home run in the first at-bat was a bit lucky.

Even if that pitcher Rafael Silva on the mound still has some control issues, he’s not so bad that he’d throw a mistake right down the middle like that.

It’s just that excessive pressure about today’s game made his hand slip.

But,

As a pitcher before being a batter, I know better than anyone what kind of thoughts a pitcher has in a game like today, and what kind of situation they are in.

It’s not easy to untangle the tangled thread that went wrong at first.

There’s a reason they say a pitcher who cracks once will crack again.

Sreureuk

No outs, no runners,

Rafael’s first pitch flew fiercely towards the lowest outside corner.

It’s not an easy pitch to hit for power, but there won’t be any more pitches coming inside this at-bat today.

I’ll hit it.

Ttaaaaaaaak!

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“It’s going again! It’s goooooooing!”

“Please this way! This way!”

The ball, hit slightly off the end of the bat but with plenty of power, flew powerfully towards the right field fence.

I watched the batted ball, using the bat like a cane.

A batted ball that was uncertain whether it would be foul or fair, a fly ball or a home run.

Boston’s right fielder chased the ball with all his might.

“Just a little more! Just a little!”

“You bastards! Get out of Fenway Park! Get rid of that damn butterfly net!”

“What are you talking about! Get out of the way without talking nonsense!”

The spectators sitting in the right outfield stands scattered in all directions, chasing the direction of the batted ball, and the right fielder, anticipating the landing point, jumped with all his might right in front of the fence, but,

Teoong

“Aaaagh! Why did it hit there!”

“No! Give it to me! Give it to me!”

“You son of a bitch! Throw that ball here quickly!”

“Throw it! If you throw it this way, I’ll give you a thousand, no, ten thousand dollars, so throw it here quickly!”

The batted ball that hit the right field foul pole of Fenway Park, only 90m away from home plate, also known as ‘Pesky’s Pole’ [named after former Red Sox player Johnny Pesky], fell to the ground.

The spectators who missed a fortune right before their eyes reached out over the fence and screamed.

Amid the pouring cheers and jeers, Han Su-hyeok slowly began to circle the diamond, and Boston’s right fielder, who nearly caught the home run ball, looked at the ball in his glove with a miserable expression.

Two home runs in one game.

It was the moment when Han Su-hyeok’s name was etched right next to Sammy Sosa’s name in the record books.

* * *

“Adam. It’s a chance to wash away the unpleasant memories of yesterday.”

“Of course. I’m ready.”

“Okay, shutting down those Red Sox won’t be a problem for you. Go out and show them who you are.”

Although he was traded from the Yankees and became a Seattle player, Adam Murphy, who had maintained a rivalry with Boston for over 20 years, was thoroughly enjoying this moment.

Seattle, who scored 5 points through Han Su-hyeok’s two home runs, Jim Brown’s timely hit, and the opponent’s mistakes, took him off the mound without regret when Han Su-hyeok’s pitch count reached 95.

8 innings, 1 run, 1 earned run, 15 strikeouts.

It was a near-perfect performance that might not have given up a single run if it wasn’t for the error-like play by Jonathan Owens, who started as a second baseman after a long absence.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Seattle’s closer Adam Murphy took the mound to finish today’s game.

Although he gave up a walk-off hit in yesterday’s game, he was still Adam Murphy.

Adam Murphy, who wore the Yankees uniform for a long time and tormented the Red Sox.

He nullified Boston’s last counterattack with a perfect inning, allowing no runs.

Ttaaaaak!

“Out!”

“That’s it! We won!”

“As expected! I believed in you, Han! You’re the best!”

“Congratulations on reaching 5th place in home runs! Hit more quickly and surpass those damn cheaters!”

“You are Seattle’s hero and hope!”

Han Su-hyeok and the Seattle players took off their hats and returned the salute to the cheers of the Seattle fans, whose numbers seemed to be growing day by day.

Season record 85 wins 48 losses, win rate 0.639.

On the day Han Su-hyeok was named 5th in the most home runs in a single season,

Seattle took another step towards advancing to the World Series.