Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 338

#337. How Did You Know?

“Hey, Han.”

“What is it, Ty?”

“One of the best things I’ve ever done in my life was following you to this team.”

“Hmm.”

“Maybe it’s the rain, but I’m getting a little sentimental. Anyway, since I brought it up, let me finish. I think I lost a bit of my sense of purpose in St. Louis. That team… could challenge for the championship even without me, and my teammates were too busy watching out for a veteran like me. It felt like I was just a cog in a giant machine.”

“I think I know what you mean.”

“Good, you get me. Anyway, I’ve been enjoying every day since I came to Seattle. It feels like I’m challenging myself every day. The season’s almost over. We’ll make it to the postseason no matter what, so let’s make this our best season.”

Ty Johnson, still wearing a cast on his finger, comes to the stadium every day and stays with the team, even though he can’t participate in training at all.

Drizzle was falling on T-Mobile Park before the second game of the three-game series against Houston.

Listening to Ty’s sudden confession, I can’t help but think that no matter how much I regress, there will come a time like that for me too.

I’ve already experienced it once, but it doesn’t seem like I’ll ever get used to it.

The thought that there will come a time to wrap up my career.

I wonder what goals I’ll have when I step onto the field then.

What will the final years of my second career look like?

“Alright, everyone, we’ve decided to give more opportunities to players who haven’t played much today. But don’t let your guard down. We’re on a winning streak, and we’re aiming for the second-most wins in team history. If there’s even a slight problem, the starters will be put in right away. And Han, you’re batting second again today. No problem, right?”

“Of course not, Manager.”

“Good, this might be a burden for other players, but you’re different. Swing hard. Knock those idiots’ balls out of the park.”

“That’s what I do best.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Benjamin, looking pleased, returned to the manager’s office, and the players gathered in front of the lineup sheet.

1. Center Fielder Henry Hernandez

2. Left Fielder Han Su-hyeok

3. Designated Hitter Antonio Garcia

4. First Baseman Rafael Osuna

5. Catcher Bruce Matthews

6. Third Baseman Liam Landman

7. Shortstop Josh Oliver

8. Right Fielder Kyle Shanahan

9. Second Baseman Lonnie Montalic

Starting Pitcher Mike Warren

“Oh! Awesome!”

“Finally!”

“Hmm, a day off today. Oh well.”

A radical lineup consisting of backups or rookies, except for me, Bruce, Liam, Josh, and Tony.

The second game against Houston began with the players who would be starting for the first time in a while smiling brightly.

* * *

“You freaking bastards, you guys are really unlucky. You know that?”

“Hmm, just as I expected.”

“What? This cocky rookie.”

“Just listen to me for a second. Han Su-hyeok just told me that if the catcher talks nonsense, just punch him in the jaw and run behind him.”

“…….”

“He said that if I told you this, the catcher would shut up, and he was right. He’s amazing.”

With Houston’s attack in the top of the first inning ending without a score, Seattle’s counterattack began.

Henry Hernandez, who joined the team with the September expanded roster, shrugged his shoulders and took his batting stance.

Seattle had to trade away several promising players to reinforce the team, and Henry was one of the few remaining prospects in Seattle.

When Henry found out that he was included in the expanded roster, he was deeply moved.

He expected to make his big league debut someday, but more than that, it was a great honor to be able to watch Han Su-hyeok, who was having the best season of his career, right next to him.

And today, he would even be able to play alongside him as a table setter, sharing the defensive space as center fielder and left fielder.

In the distant future, if someone asked him when the best moment of his life was, he would answer without hesitation that it was today.

Henry, feeling so good that he felt like he could fly into the sky, carefully picked out the first pitch.

Paang

“Ball.”

Henry is called ‘Idiot 1’ by his teammates for idolizing Han Su-hyeok, but in the minor leagues, he was evaluated as an outfielder with the best potential, who could become a center fielder surpassing Derek Fleming.

Of course, there was a lot lacking right now.

He needed to work on his power and batting mechanics to respond to the much faster and stronger pitchers than in the minor leagues.

But despite that, he already had one complete weapon.

That was his eye for the ball, which was considered the best among the hitters in the Seattle farm system.

“Base on balls, batter to first base.”

“Yes!”

Henry Hernandez, who picked out the last ball after a full-count battle, clenched his fist and ran towards first base.

Houston catcher Fred frowned slightly at his fuss, but soon had no choice but to relax his expression.

[No. 2 Batter Left Fielder Han Su-hyeok]

The presence of someone approaching from behind,

The entrance music that makes you automatically swear just by hearing it, and the batter entering the plate.

A monster among monsters who you can’t even dare to challenge, whether in baseball or with fists.

It was because of Han Su-hyeok.

“I thought another guy would come out today, but it’s you again.”

“…Please just shut up and play baseball.”

“That’s exactly what I want. The problem is that what you guys do can’t be called baseball in the first place.”

Han Su-hyeok always starts a fight whenever he meets them, even though he hit a home run yesterday. What else does he want?

Fred, who doesn’t know that he despises the act of tanking [deliberately losing games to secure a better draft pick] itself, frowned deeply and sent a sign to the pitcher.

‘Throw whatever you want.’

‘Really?’

‘Anyway, the manager has given up on the game a long time ago, and damn it, even if I tell you where to throw, you won’t listen to me. So just do whatever you want.’

Catcher Fred, who had a mental conversation with the pitcher standing on the mound, took a catching stance with a feeling of resignation.

He really didn’t care anymore.

The manager has already been fired, and the players have half their minds on vacation.

He just felt sorry for the pitcher who was still trying to do something.

Since it has come to this, he decided to hand over all authority to the pitcher who still had the will to do it.

‘I’m serious. Throw whatever you want.’

‘Okay, then the first pitch will be a high curveball inside.’

‘I don’t really recommend it, but if you really want to throw it.’

A curveball that flies towards the batter’s head and curves into the zone, which is evaluated as good enough to work in the big leagues.

To throw that ball, there was something he had to do first.

Paang

“Safe!”

The runner is moving actively on first base, getting on his nerves. He had to tie that guy up first.

After several pickoff attempts, the runner’s lead on first base narrowed visibly.

The pitcher, satisfied, finally prepared to throw the first pitch to Han Su-hyeok.

He thought.

Anyway, his mission today is to be responsible for the first three innings.

The manager promised that no matter how well he pitched, or how badly he pitched, he would not be taken off the mound before that.

That was enough. It was his first starting opportunity since coming up to the big leagues.

What the pitcher needs now is not a win, but potential. It is important to show how much potential he has against the league’s strongest team, Seattle.

Although he gave up a walk to the first batter,

It’s okay.

He’s just a 잡몹 [japmob – a Korean gaming term for weak, insignificant enemies], a rookie who, like himself, is better suited for the minor leagues than the major leagues.

There is a law that applies to both games and baseball.

As long as you can catch the boss, nothing else matters. No one will argue with the warrior who stands in front of the boss’s corpse, no matter what happened before.

That’s why he’s going to catch him.

That man, who is called the strongest in the major leagues in terms of baseball skills and punching,

He will definitely catch him.

The pitcher, impressed by the courage that soared from the depths of his heart after successfully hypnotizing himself, entered a powerful pitching motion.

And,

Ttaaaaaaaak!

With a tremendous cracking sound as if the ball was splitting, his consciousness returned to reality.

He didn’t know.

Han Su-hyeok is not just a boss.

He is a natural disaster that cannot be dealt with by human power.

“Awesome! Houston pitcher, you! What’s your name! Damn it, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to be the best pitcher in the league!”

“I salute your courage! Nameless pitcher! To dare to face Han Su-hyeok head-on, you fool!”

“Just one more, no, two more to go! We’re almost there!”

Han Su-hyeok, who slammed the bat he was holding forcefully on the ground, raised both hands and began to circle the ground.

The pitcher, hearing the tremendous cheers that seemed to collapse the stadium and the jeers for himself following behind, muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Damn it, my name is Scott… not some nameless idiot…….”

* * *

6 to 4, Houston’s last attack in the top of the 9th inning, trailing by two points.

Mike Warren, who had pitched the last 8 innings with four runs and met the requirements for a winning pitcher, went down from the mound, and Seattle’s new closer, Adam Murphy, went up to the mound to protect the team’s victory.

Although they are ahead by two points, Houston’s last attack continues with the 3, 4, and 5 cleanup hitters [the team’s best hitters].

They must not let their guard down.

Jonathan went into second base instead of Lonnie to solidify the victory, and Chuck Clark, the original owner, was also put into right field.

But manager Benjamin left rookie Henry Hernandez, who started as center fielder, alone.

This was partly because Derek Fleming, the starter, complained of some discomfort in his back, but it was also to boost Henry’s morale, who had recorded one hit in one at-bat and did not make any major mistakes in defense in today’s game.

And,

“A little more forward, a little more, okay, three steps to the left from there, yes, three steps to the left, not the right. Good. Right there.”

“Yes, Han. Thank you.”

It was also because he trusted Han Su-hyeok, who was adjusting his defensive position next to Henry.

Henry Hernandez, who had finished adjusting his defensive position according to his instructions, thought.

‘He’s originally a third baseman. He was a shortstop in Korea. But how is he so good at outfield defense?’

Today, Han Su-hyeok showed two great defensive plays in the left field position.

He chased down and caught a ball that was going out of the foul line, and he also saved a ball that was about to be a home run with a jumping catch. It could be said that Seattle was ahead by two points today thanks to Han Su-hyeok.

In the eyes of Henry, who is considered the best in outfield defense among Seattle rookies, Han Su-hyeok was a natural outfielder.

The strongest outfielder on earth with fast feet, instantaneous judgment of batted balls, and throwing ability that no one can even dare to imitate.

‘Well, if you put it that way, he’s originally a pitcher.’

Strictly speaking, that was the case. To define Han Su-hyeok’s position in one word, he should be seen as a pitcher and hitter. Even third base defense was just a side job for him.

Henry, who stopped thinking about him, bent his back slightly and took a defensive stance.

Adam Murphy, the team’s oldest player standing far away on the mound, threw the first pitch to Houston’s third batter.

At that moment.

Ttaaaak!

With a cheerful hitting sound, the batted ball flew towards Henry.

Henry, who started with an instantaneous judgment, chased the batted ball with all his might.

One step, and two steps,

He almost caught up. Just a little more, just a little more.

A ball that would be a hit in front of the center fielder 100 times out of 100. But Henry didn’t want to miss this ball.

He didn’t want to let the lead batter out in a two-point game.

Henry, who was chasing the ball with all his might, powerfully threw his body towards the baseball that was falling in front of him.

“Heuaaaap!”

The thought that Han Su-hyeok would back him up even if he failed to dive catch, the belief that he would already be preparing for the next play, made Henry’s body lighter.

Chwaaaaaak

Teok

The batted ball was sucked into Henry’s glove as he threw his body like that.

Henry, realizing that his adventure had ended in success, jumped up from his seat and raised the ball in his glove above his head.

“Out!”

“Good! Rookie! Great play! We have a great guy on our team!”

“Just keep doing that! Then I’ll buy you ten uniforms!”

Henry, whose face turned red from the cheers of the crowd pouring out from behind, looked around.

Someone caught his eye.

Han Su-hyeok, who had already run to the backup position as he expected, was looking at him and smiling.

Henry shouted loudly without realizing it.

“Han! You were right! I would never have caught it if I hadn’t gone forward. How did you know? How did you know the ball was going to come that way? Tell me, please?”