Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 351

#350. A Bombshell Declaration

Athletes who continue their public activities by appearing on entertainment programs while still active or after retiring from their careers are called ‘sports-tainers’ [a portmanteau of ‘sports’ and ‘entertainer’].

It’s a combination of sports and entertainer, as the word suggests.

However,

[No. 1 Hitter, Third Baseman Han Su-hyeok]

Han Su-hyeok, who excites fans just by stepping up to the plate and makes their hearts flutter with every small gesture, might be the *real* sports-tainer.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, after the Rays’ attack ended without a score, Han Su-hyeok’s first at-bat arrived.

Having hit 79 home runs before today’s game, Han Su-hyeok has built a towering achievement that no other hitter in the Major League can ever surpass.

Now, what he and the fans are hoping for is just one thing.

80 home runs, a realm of unprecedented achievement.

“Can you hear the fans cheering over there, buddy?”

“Why am I your buddy? And I’m not deaf. Of course, I can hear them.”
The Rays’ catcher, whose pride was hurt after losing the last two games, retorted in a sulky voice.

If he had his way, he would just walk him [intentionally issue a walk].

He didn’t want to be a victim of the record, and he hated listening to that damned bass riff that played every time this guy hit a home run.

But before the game, the manager said this:

‘It’s an order from the team’s executives. We’re not running away today, and we’re going to face him head-on. There will be no intentional walks. So, you guys on the field figure it out. Whether you want to compete or walk him is up to you.’

Despite the inherent limitations of being a small-market team, the Tampa Bay Rays have achieved some success because of their well-developed farm system [a system for developing young players] and their commitment to prioritizing the fans.

Remembering the manager’s instructions, the catcher carefully sent a sign.

‘Let’s throw one outside to get away from the plate for now.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Then, should we try to scare him with a high fastball inside?’

‘I don’t want that either.’

‘Damn it, then what do you want to do?’

The pitcher, who kept shaking his head, sent his own sign.

A changeup with a big drop that falls from low inside to even lower.

A ball that’s definitely a ball if he doesn’t swing, and even if he does, it won’t produce a good result.

The catcher nodded, thinking it wasn’t a bad choice.

But,

Crack!

“Ball.”

Han Su-hyeok didn’t react to the ball at all.

The pitcher, swallowing hard, sent a sign to throw the same course again.

The catcher thought.

In this situation, wouldn’t it be better to just let him throw whatever he wants?

Ignoring the pouring cheers of the crowd, the catcher nodded.

And the next moment,

Whoosh

A changeup flew in, almost the same as the previous one, but slightly higher, maybe about the height of one ball.

At the same time, Han Su-hyeok’s bat lashed out like lightning.

As if he had been waiting for that ball, as if he had been waiting his whole life for a falling changeup.

Kwaaaang!

Along with a serious destructive sound, more like something breaking than a batting sound, the ball soared blackly into the sky.

“It’s going! It’s going! It’s going!”

“Don’t stop! Damn it! Keep flying!”

“Yes, here! Here! Oh, oh, not there! No!”

Han Su-hyeok’s batted ball, flying at an angle of over 45 degrees, one of the highest launch angles in the Major League.

That one white ball rode the currents of T-Mobile Park, flying powerfully.

Far, far away.

The batted ball finally,

Thwack!

Slammed into the central lighting tower of T-Mobile Park and fell into the stands.

“Get out of the way! It’s mine!”

“Agh! It was in my hand!”

“Oh, Lord! Give me strength!”

The area around where the home run ball fell instantly turned into chaos, and Han Su-hyeok, confirming that the batted ball had completely gone over, began to circle the ground very slowly.

Bang! Bang!

Fireworks that had been set up in advance were fired from all directions, and Han Su-hyeok’s new theme song, which had been announced before today’s game, played solemnly.

It wasn’t just the inside of the stadium that was in chaos.

Many fans who hadn’t been able to enter the stadium and were watching the game on their smartphones nearby, and fans who were watching the game on TV in their homes.

Everyone shouted his name with all their heart.

“Han Su-hyeok! Damn it, you’re the best! You’re the greatest baseball player in history!”

* * *

“I’ll pitch, Manager.”

“You? No way.”

“I can do it. It’s awkward to break the routine now, and I’ve warmed up enough before today’s game. I can pitch at least one inning. We have a week off after today’s game anyway. Please let me go.”

“Hmm.”

The game between Seattle’s temporary starter and the Rays’ fifth starter was unexpectedly tight.

The tension was palpable in the stadium as the Rays’ fourth batter got a hit in the top of the 9th inning, with the score tied 4-4 until the bottom of the 8th inning.

Except for Adam Murphy, there were no reliable relief pitchers, but considering the possibility of going into extra innings, putting him in a tie situation wasn’t a good idea.

Just then, Ryan Thibeau volunteered to pitch.

Seattle’s ace, who had finished his regular season starts but had been steadily preparing to pitch as usual, said with a firm expression.

“It’s a chance for a 25-game winning streak that may never come again. I want to show the fans who have supported us all season a good performance until the end. Please allow me.”

An ace who volunteers to pitch for the team and the fans, not for his own glory.

The manager, who had been contemplating for a long time, finally nodded.

“Okay. I’ll ask you for just one inning, Ryan.”

“Thank you.”

[Pitcher change, Carlton Bell out, Ryan Thibeau in]

“Ooh! Ryan?”

“Yeah, that’s it! We’ve been waiting for you, Ryan!”

“Crush them! Crush those Rays bastards!”

Han Su-hyeok, who recorded overwhelming results in all aspects of pitching and hitting, and therefore has no comparison in Seattle or the entire league.

Seattle fans love Han Su-hyeok more than anyone else, but deep in their hearts, there was a young ace, Ryan Thibeau, who had endured the team’s dark days alone.

The fact that he, who had already finished his regular season starts, was on the mound once again for the team’s glory drove Seattle fans into a frenzy.

Ryan Thibeau, who made his first relief appearance after his debut.

He threw a powerful ball with everything he had.

Crack

“Strike!”

The Rays’ batters, who were desperately trying to avoid a sweep and were clinging to the end for the fans who had supported the team despite the difficult situation, were swept away like fallen leaves by Ryan’s pitches.

Two strikeouts and one outfield fly.

Ryan, who perfectly blocked the crisis in the top of the 9th inning, took off his hat on the mound and greeted the crowd.

A tremendous roar that seemed to collapse the stands, reminiscent of when Han Su-hyeok hit a home run, echoed throughout the stadium.

And in the bottom of the 9th inning,

Henry Hernandez, who came up as a pinch hitter, reached first base with an infield hit thanks to an irregular bounce, and the atmosphere in the stadium heated up as if it would explode at any moment.

And he stepped up to the plate.

[No. 2 Hitter, Third Baseman Han Su-hyeok]

Han Su-hyeok, who hit his 79th home run of the season in his first at-bat today and challenged to become the first-ever 80-home run hitter.

He, who will be recorded as the best hitter and pitcher since the Major League was created, prepared to hit with a calm expression.

The pitcher, determined not to give him a good ball even if it meant walking him, squeezed out every last bit of strength to confront him.

Clack!

“Foul!”

Han Su-hyeok cut off the ball flowing to the outside, and instantly it was a full count.

The pitcher, exchanging signs, barely nodded,

And a powerful ball filled with the determination to prevent the team’s sweep loss flew into the low inside course.

But,

Claaaaack!

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Is it going? Is it going? Is it going?”

“Please! Please! Just a little more! Go! Go!”

The batted ball, hit on the top of the bat, flew higher than usual, so high that it was difficult to look up at.

The left fielder, his face pale, ran towards the fence with all his might, and all the players in the stadium except him, and the fans, shifted their gaze to follow the direction of the batted ball.

But,

Thud!

“Agh! You son of a bitch!”

“We should have lowered the fence! Damn it!”

“It didn’t go over! This!”

The batted ball flew over the left fielder’s head, hit the top of the fence, and fell to the ground, and the moment the runner, who had been stopped between 1st and 2nd base, rounded the diamond and stepped on home plate, a deep sigh lingered throughout the baseball stadium.

A deep regret arose in the eyes of the players, fans, and officials.

But only one person, Han Su-hyeok, was the exception.

“What the hell are you doing? We won! It was a great walk-off hit [a hit that wins the game at the end]. Isn’t it?”

“Is that what you’re going to say now? Ah, should I not have stepped on home? Should I have just been out with a ground ball and gone to extra innings!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Okay, everyone come out here! It’s the championship. Aren’t you going to enjoy it?”

Han Su-hyeok, who had missed the moment to be recorded as the first 80-home run hitter in Major League history, gathered the players as if he didn’t care about such things.

The Seattle players, who had hesitated for a moment, soon came to their senses and ran onto the ground.

Belatedly, celebratory fireworks went off, and the 1st and 3rd base safety nets collapsed, and Seattle fans rushed onto the ground.

It was a great game that decided the division championship for the first time in 21 years and the postseason appearance in 8 years.

“Damn it! We have to declare today a temporary holiday! Where is the mayor doing?”

“Isn’t that the mayor jumping around over there?”

“He certainly looks like him with that stupid face. Hey, Mayor! What are you doing? Do something for our heroes!”

The players, covered in champagne, were jumping and rejoicing on the ground, and the fans, surrounded by those players, were cheering with enthusiastic voices.

The ceremony celebrating Seattle’s regular season championship ended, and the excited spectators returned to their seats.

Of course, fans who crossed the safety net and rushed onto the ground, including Min Ye-rin, had no choice but to sit awkwardly around the ground.

“By the way, what’s the surprise announcement? Is there anything more surprising than the team winning the championship?”

“Well, surely they’re not going to say something like they’re moving the team’s home base, are they?”

“Surely not. No, wait… come to think of it, they almost did that once before, didn’t they?”

“Damn it! Shut up! If that really happens, I’m going to blow up this team!”

Amidst various speculations, team employees came out and set up a small stage and microphone next to the mound.

One thing was certain. Whatever the surprise announcement was, it was quite important.

Who will grab the microphone? The general manager? Or the president?

Just then, as people widened their eyes and looked around, Han Su-hyeok, who had returned to the dugout for a short break, strode back onto the ground.

As he walked out and went up on the stage and grabbed the microphone, the curiosity in people’s heads grew even bigger.

What is a player, not a team official, going to do?

Han Su-hyeok, who grabbed the microphone, opened his mouth with a story about the 80 home runs he had narrowly missed today.

“First of all, I apologize for failing to reach 80 home runs today. But you don’t have to be too disappointed. I’m thinking of trying again next year.”

“It’s okay! Damn it! It was a terribly wonderful season!”

“Yes, thank you for thinking so.”

Light words were exchanged, and the light tension that had been lingering in the stadium was relieved a little.

But the next moment, to be exact, the moment Han Su-hyeok’s mouth opened,

The people in the stadium and the reporters who had been opening their laptops with tense expressions couldn’t help but doubt their ears.

“The reason I grabbed the microphone today is… um, I’m sorry for hiding it all this time. I am the owner of this team. I wanted to tell you this, so I prepared this place.”

“…Huh? What is he saying now? Did I hear something wrong?”

“Shut up and wait a minute! Let’s listen a little more.”

Han Su-hyeok, who had stopped talking for a moment due to the buzzing of the crowd and the flashes of reporters, continued in a calm voice.

“To be exact, I bought the Mariners’ shares that came on the market in the middle of the season, and recently all the work was completed, making me the largest shareholder with 35% of the shares in the Seattle Mariners.”

“W-wait a minute! Then Han Su-hyeok is really…”

“Yes, that’s right. The expression ‘owner’ is a bit strange, but that’s how it turned out anyway.”

“Damn it! What the hell is this! Headquarters, connect to headquarters quickly! Put up a breaking news!”

Reporters, with fire on their feet, hurriedly posted breaking news and requested the dispatch of a coverage team by connecting with the headquarters, and Han Su-hyeok brought up what he really wanted to say.

“The only reason I’m announcing this fact is that I know there are many concerns about the Mariners’ operating direction next season, regardless of this season’s performance. Yes, even in the middle of the season, there wasn’t enough money… hmm, anyway, I promise you this one thing. We will never miss out on a player we want because we don’t have enough money. We won’t do unnecessary overspending, but if it helps the team’s strength, we will actively recruit anyone. My goal is only one.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Han Su-hyeok’s mouth.

“For Seattle to build a dynasty that no one can touch while I’m playing. That’s all. Well, that’s all. I won’t take any questions. Don’t think too complicatedly and just enjoy this moment. Let’s make tonight a sleepless night in Seattle.”

“Wait a minute! Just one question, just one! Han Su-hyeok! Hey! Han Su-hyeok!”

“Ah! I almost forgot something important. About the Seoul Warriors, which was my team when I was playing in Korea.”

“Yes, yes, what about there? Surely that’s not owned by Han Su-hyeok either?”

“Oh, how did you know? Yes, that’s right. I am the largest shareholder of Iconic Partners, the parent company of the Seoul Warriors. Well, then I’ll really finish the announcement now. Have a good night, everyone.”