Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 329

#328. Utah Street

‘Hmm, what’s up with that guy?’

Seattle arrived in Baltimore in high spirits after clinching a winning series in their final three-game set against Boston.

Leonard Jones, the backup catcher suddenly thrust into the starting role due to Bruce, the usual starter, suffering a mild stomachache, was staring at something with a peculiar expression.

His gaze was fixed on Hayashi Rentaro, the Japanese left-handed pitcher scheduled to work with Leonard that day, who was peering into his locker with a somber look.

Hayashi, who initially struggled to adjust to the team atmosphere after his transfer, seemed to have found some stability after enshrining a Buddha statue in the locker room. [Enshrining a Buddha statue means placing it in a respected position, often for worship or as a good luck charm.]

Of course, being on the same team as Soo-hyuk Han played a more significant role than the Buddha statue or his newfound meditation practice, but regardless, Hayashi had solidified his position as Seattle’s fourth starter.

However,

Hayashi’s expression was unusually grim today.

Leonard, after contemplating whether to inquire about the issue, finally approached him, having made up his mind.

“Hey, Hayashi. You feeling alright?”

“Um… Leonard, to be honest, I’m not feeling so great.”

“Really? What’s wrong? Is something bothering you? Should I call the coach right away?”

“No, it’s not that… Haa.”

“What is it, then?”

“The Buddha, who always offers me encouraging words, is silent today. It’s not a good sign. I feel like something bad is going to happen. Is he predicting I’m going to get shelled [get destroyed] today? Damn it, I can’t let that happen. I don’t want to be traded from here. God, no, Buddha, oh my god, what should I do, Leonard?”

Seemingly genuinely distressed, Hayashi continued to spill out his anxieties.

Leonard, now understanding the situation, sighed deeply and gathered his thoughts.

As a devout Puritan, offering religious advice to Hayashi, a Buddhist, felt inappropriate.

Therefore, he saw only one course of action.

“Hayashi, come with me.”

“Um? Why? Where?”

“This way.”

Leonard led Hayashi to the board mounted on one wall of the locker room.

There, Seattle’s starting lineup for the day’s game was displayed.

1. Center Fielder Derek Fleming

2. Third Baseman Han Soo-hyuk

3. First Baseman Ty Johnson

4. Right Fielder Chuck Clark

5. Left Fielder Jim Brown

6. Designated Hitter Antonio Garcia

7. Second Baseman Liam Landman

8. Catcher Leonard Jones

9. Shortstop Josh Oliver

Pitcher Hayashi Rentaro

“Now, take a good look at this lineup sheet.”

“I’ve already seen it. Why are you showing it to me again?”

“I don’t know much about Buddhism. But I’d like to call this lineup sheet… your own scripture, filled with good omens.”

“Scripture? What’s that supposed to mean…….”

“Now, come this way.”

Leonard, still not explaining himself, led Hayashi to another location.

There, Soo-hyuk Han was changing his undershirt in front of his locker.

“Now, look at that guy.”

“Han? Why are you telling me to look at Han?”

“That’s your new Buddha. The one who will protect you and lead you to victory today.”

“Oh…….”

“I fully acknowledge and respect your religion. But if your Buddha is silent today, I’d like to suggest this: on the baseball field, that friend is Buddha, Allah, and God all rolled into one.”

“Oh oh…….”

“Now, let’s listen to what that person has to say. Hey, Han.”

“Um, what’s up?”

“Are we going to win today?”

“Do you even need to ask? Isn’t it obvious?”

“Okay, that’s all I needed to hear.”

Leonard turned to Hayashi and said.

“Now, the god of baseball has declared that we will definitely win today, so don’t worry about a thing and go out there and pitch. Friend.”

* * *

The Baltimore Orioles, currently ranked 4th in the American League East behind the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays, find themselves in an awkward position. They can’t fully commit to tanking [intentionally losing to secure a better draft pick] due to the long-term contracts they signed with key players last season, but they’re also too far behind to realistically contend for a wild card spot.

When Kim Sung-soo and Lee Chang-mo played for them in the late 2010s and early to mid-2020s, the team had a moderate level of recognition among Korean fans. However, after a long absence of notable Korean players, they’ve faded into relative obscurity in both the United States and Korea.

However, that doesn’t mean today’s game will be a cakewalk.

Jamal Montgomery, the ace pitcher who signed a 10-year long-term contract with Baltimore last season, raising hopes for a postseason run, is on the mound.

“Play!”

As soon as the umpire signaled the start of the game, Jamal Montgomery began his windup.

His pitching form, close to a sidearm delivery with a towering height of 2 meters, features a 102-mile fastball, a slider with a sharp break, and a splitter occasionally used as a changeup.

Hearing this description, a particular player might come to mind.

He bears a striking resemblance to Randy Johnson, who starred as an ace for Arizona after a stint in Seattle, differing only in handedness.

But no one refers to this player as the second Randy Johnson.

His nickname is different.

The second Roger Clemens.

It’s not just a flattering comparison.

It implies that he doesn’t hesitate to throw intimidating pitches at the batter’s body.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

A 100-mile fastball, living up to that reputation, whizzed dangerously close to Derek’s body.

Derek frowned but didn’t flinch from his position.

Jamal Montgomery fired his second pitch at Derek.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

A pitch even tighter to the body than the first, designed to keep the batter off the plate.

Derek, narrowly avoiding being hit in the elbow, shook his head and took a half-step back from the plate.

From that point on, the game began to unfold as Jamal Montgomery intended.

Whoosh

Paang

“Strike!”

A 100-mile fastball painting the outside corner, farthest from the left-handed hitter.

Whoosh

Paang

“Strike!”

A backdoor slider that caught Derek looking, preying on his hesitation to take another pitch.

And,

Whoosh

Woong

“Swing! Out!”

Derek’s bat sliced through the air, fooled by a splitter that he was tempted to swing at, even though Montgomery only throws it about 10 times a game.

“Damn it! I feel it every time I face him, but he’s a really tough out.”

“I’ll get my revenge. Go back to the dugout and watch.”

“Be careful. Don’t crowd the plate too much. That guy is really going to drill you.”

Derek, after striking out, patted me on the shoulder and headed into the dugout.

I know.

That guy is someone who will hit a batter if he thinks it will help his team win.

But even knowing that, there are times when you have to stand your ground.

A slider thrown from a three-quarter arm slot that’s almost sidearm.

If I back away from the plate, fearing the beanball [a pitch intentionally thrown at the batter’s head] that guy throws, a right-handed hitter like me won’t be able to touch his slider at all.

Ultimately, the battle between that guy and me hinges on who gets intimidated and backs down first.

“Hey.”

“Hmm, what is it? You cheeky rookie.”

“Does that pitcher make about 25 million this year?”

“That’s right, about 30 times what you make.”

“Okay, a guy who makes that much money wouldn’t chicken out because he’s afraid of a rookie like me.”

“Chicken out? Who? Us? No way, Jamal? You better be ready. He’s a different kind of pitcher than the guys you’ve faced so far.”

I don’t think a hit-by-pitch is coming my way here, even without confirming it verbally.

Considering the aggressive ace who likes to work the body and Baltimore’s current situation, where they don’t have to worry too much about their team’s record.

“Okay, then I’ll make that guy’s face appear on the front page of the Baltimore newspaper tomorrow. As the idiot who helped me reach the 3rd-highest home run total in Major League history.”

There was no response from behind, likely because they were exchanging signs.

It doesn’t matter. As long as you don’t back down, you’re welcome to throw any pitch you want.

There are only three obstacles left in my path to the single-season home run record.

66 home runs recorded by Sammy Sosa in 1998, 70 home runs by Mark McGwire in 1998,

And the ultimate mark of 73 home runs by Barry Bonds in 2001.

The moment to shatter those old and dusty records is fast approaching.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

Almost identical to the pitch he threw to Derek, a 101-mile fastball that buzzed close to my body.

If it were just a bit closer, it would be a hit-by-pitch, or the umpire might issue a warning.

The ball he throws cleverly skirts the line, threatening the batter.

“I’m not scared at all, so don’t waste your time with useless intimidation tactics and just come at me.”

“Really? Is that so?”

Some people seem to have the wrong impression of me.

They mistakenly believe that I, who am on the verge of achieving a historic record, will be afraid of getting ejected.

Not at all.

The moment that guy, or any other guy, throws a beanball at me or my teammates, I will break that guy’s jaw without hesitation.

Record?

Of course, that’s important too, but there are far more important things in baseball than that.

“I’m telling you clearly, the moment that ball touches my body, I’m going to kill your pitcher.”

“We’ll see if you can back that up.”

As the exchange between us grew increasingly heated, the umpire, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up.

“Alright, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear anything up to this point. Tell the pitcher: it’s okay to work the body, but if I judge a pitch to be intentionally threatening, you’ll get a warning immediately. And Han, the same goes for you. Lay off the excessive threats.”

At the umpire’s words, our mouths snapped shut as if on cue.

It’s obvious, but there’s no point in fighting these guys here. The same goes for that guy who signed a 10-year contract this season.

This is simply a battle of wills between men.

Whoosh

Paang

“Strike!”

As expected, a slider that started close to the body and then curved into the strike zone.

I considered swinging, but I decided to hold back, wanting to perfectly memorize the trajectory.

As I remained unfazed by the continuous body-side pitches, Jamal Montgomery’s face on the mound flushed slightly.

The reason that guy is so insistent on making the batter back down is because he’s confident in his pitches on the outer half of the plate, but conversely, it’s because he’s less confident in working inside.

So, I have to endure. I have to protect this at-bat at all costs.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

As I didn’t back down, Jamal, running out of options, threw a splitter that dropped from the low center of the zone to even lower.

I didn’t even glance at the ball, let alone swing, and I heard the catcher sighing behind me.

I instinctively sensed it.

It’s time for the decisive pitch.

A sidearm pitcher who enjoys throwing threatening pitches inside, but is actually more confident in working outside.

The pitch I’m looking for is a slider that starts in the center of the zone and then tails away.

I can’t explain why, but I had such a strong conviction that I could bet everything on that pitch coming.

Deudeudeuk [Sound of adjusting stance]

To drive the ball heading outside, I closed my stance slightly inward and timed my swing to the 95-mile slider.

Whoosh

One, two, now!

Ttaaaaaaaak! [Sound of bat hitting the ball]

– That’s it! What a hit! Han Soo-hyuk sends the ball soaring over the right field fence, over, ah! The ball completely clears the outer wall of Camden Yards and flies towards the B&O Warehouse outside the stadium! Unbelievable! Han Soo-hyuk hits an opposite-field home run! Let’s celebrate! With this home run, Han Soo-hyuk ties Sammy Sosa for 3rd place in single-season home runs, with 66 in 1998!