Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 355

354. A Changing History

“Ryan, me, Riley, and everyone who loves Seattle believes in you. But don’t feel pressured. I don’t know much about baseball, but I know you have the best teammates. Trust them and pitch, and I think you’ll get good results.”

“Thanks, Mia.”

“Go and do well. I’ll cheer with Riley.”

“Okay, when she wakes up, feed her some soup and tell her Dad loves her.”

The Seattle Mariners secured a 6-0 shutout victory in the first game of the Division Series, thanks to Han Su-hyeok’s masterful pitching and the team’s powerful offense.

The entire city of Seattle is buzzing with excitement after their first Division Series win in 29 years.

Today,

Ryan Thibeau, the team’s captain, a lifelong fan who couldn’t imagine wearing any other team’s uniform, is preparing to start the second game.

He was a little worried about his daughter’s sudden cold symptoms, but he trusted his wife and got into the self-driving car.

Wee-ing.

In the car heading to the stadium, Ryan closed his eyes and replayed yesterday’s game.

He analyzed how Han Su-hyeok dismantled the Oakland hitters, the choices he made in crucial moments.

Ryan, replaying each pitch, chuckled softly.

“Heh…”

It went without saying; Han Su-hyeok was a phenomenon.

There was no grand secret.

He simply threw inside pitches to hitters vulnerable to them and breaking balls to those with that weakness.

However, Han Su-hyeok’s success was clear.

It was due to the sheer power of his pitches, difficult to hit even when anticipated, and his pinpoint control.

Others called him one of the best pitchers in the American League, but

Ryan knew.

A vast gulf existed between himself—indeed, all major league pitchers—and Han Su-hyeok.

To an ordinary pitcher, Han Su-hyeok was almost mythical.

Just the ability to place a 107-mph fastball exactly where he wanted made him superhuman.

Unfortunately, or perhaps naturally, Ryan didn’t possess that ability.

His pitches were slower, his breaking balls less sharp, and sometimes the ball didn’t go where he intended.

But Ryan had unwavering confidence in one thing.

His love for Seattle and his determination to win for this team.

Squeak.

The car arrived at the stadium.

Even though the game was hours away, fans in Seattle jerseys and jumpers thronged the stadium.

Since Ryan was still developing, these fans had consistently supported him, believing he would become the ace to lead them to their first-ever World Series appearance.

He asked himself.

Am I a player who can single-handedly lead us to the World Series?

“No.”

The answer came unbidden.

But his face showed no despair.

Ryan couldn’t become a player who could win for Seattle alone.

No one could take their team to the World Series single-handedly.

Until Han Su-hyeok arrived.

Ryan knew.

From the moment he joined, T-Mobile Park belonged to Han Su-hyeok, not him.

But it didn’t matter.

It didn’t matter if he wasn’t the main attraction.

Ryan wanted one thing:

The team’s long-awaited first World Series appearance.

Ryan, a passionate fan before becoming a Mariners player, entered the stadium with a smile.

* * *

“How’s your arm feeling, buddy?”

“Couldn’t be better.”

“Good. You saw how those Oakland guys were yesterday, right? They’re completely rattled. Let’s ride that momentum and win this game quickly.”

A battery [pitcher and catcher] that had worked together for over six years, supporting each other since their messy rookie days.

Encouraged by Bruce Matthews, Ryan stepped onto the mound and began his warm-up pitches.

“Play!”

Oakland, overwhelmed by Han Su-hyeok in the previous game, moved Matt Robinson, who had been batting in the middle of the order during the postseason, back to leadoff.

They knew.

The early innings would significantly impact the series.

That a loss in the second game could lead to a complete collapse.

Paang!

“Strike!”

A 99-mph fastball, not as fast as Han Su-hyeok’s but well-placed on the outside corner, was called a strike.

It might seem slow to hitters who faced Han Su-hyeok’s 107-mph fastball yesterday.

It didn’t matter.

It was okay if he didn’t get as many strikeouts as Han Su-hyeok.

Because he had teammates he trusted more than anyone.

Ttaaak!

Following the outside fastball, this time the cutter [a type of fastball with a slight horizontal break] aimed for the inside corner missed its mark slightly.

Matt Robinson pounced, hitting the ball hard toward center field.

“No!”

“Run! Damn it, Derek, run!”

The ball soared in a high arc.

Playing it off the wall seemed the safer option, but

Tada dada dak.

“Eeeeek!”

Ryan wasn’t the only one who understood the importance of the early game.

His longtime friend and reliable center fielder, Derek Fleming, sprinted toward the fence.

And,

Tuck.

“Nice! That’s it!”

“Damn it! That’s the best center field defense I’ve ever seen!”

“Derek! The best center fielder in the major leagues!”

Derek, leaping and bracing himself against the fence, snagged the ball just before it cleared the wall.

The stadium erupted.

The crowd rose, stomping and chanting Derek’s name.

A small smile touched Ryan’s lips.

It was okay if he couldn’t get strikeouts.

He couldn’t do everything alone like Han Su-hyeok, but that wasn’t important.

He would beat Oakland and advance to the championship.

He would fulfill his dream of reaching the World Series.

The American League’s number 2 pitcher, closer than ever to his goal, glared at the next batter with determination.

* * *

“If Jerry hadn’t gotten hurt, you guys would never have made it to the Division Series. Don’t you think so?”

“…”

The bottom of the 1st inning, Seattle’s at-bat.

After leadoff hitter Derek Fleming grounded out to shortstop, Han Su-hyeok stepped into the batter’s box.

Desmond King couldn’t respond to Han Su-hyeok’s taunt, unsure if it was sarcasm or genuine.

There was a time when he believed no one in baseball could beat him in a fight unless they were a professional martial artist.

But he was wrong.

After fighting Han Su-hyeok and being soundly defeated twice, he became afraid of everything.

‘Ah, there are such crazy monsters in the world.’

‘Not only does he have an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] in the 0s and hits nearly 80 home runs, but he’s also a formidable fighter.’

‘Haa…’

Desmond King’s only thought was to get away from this guy as quickly as possible.

“Base on balls.”

The Oakland battery, intimidated, threw four consecutive balls, and Han Su-hyeok walked to first.

But it wasn’t over.

Now it was Ty Johnson’s turn, the player who hit a home run after Han Su-hyeok yesterday.

“Let me make something clear. If I even suspect you guys are trying anything against us, I’ll take you out first. Yes, I might get suspended. I might miss the rest of the postseason. But I don’t care. Considering I was injured at the end of the season because of you, I want to tear you apart right now.”

“…”

“Hey, Ty. I understand how you feel, but why don’t you calm down and play baseball?”

Desmond King couldn’t respond to Ty Johnson’s threat. Ty, over 6’6″ and 260 lbs, had a career as impressive as his physique.

Even the umpire hesitated to intervene.

This was a player who defined an era. Ty Johnson exuded an undeniable presence.

A monster on first base, another in the batter’s box, and an umpire offering no support.

The situation made Desmond’s head spin.

A catcher rattled from the start, and a pitcher losing his composure.

“Base on balls, batter to first base.”

Another walk, and suddenly it was 1 out, runners on first and second.

The moment Oakland felt a sense of dread,

Ttaaaaaak!

Chuck Clark’s bat, known for its reckless power, connected.

Teong.

The ball sailed past the center fielder and landed deep in the stands,

“Waaaaaaa!”

“That’s right! Smash those Oakland bastards!”

“Chuck! The Mariners’ cleanup hitter!”

Everyone watching the game in the stadium and on TV knew.

Oakland’s postseason was nearing its end.

* * *

[Seattle Mariners win the second game, needing only one more win to advance to the Championship Series]

[Ryan Thibeau, who pitched eight scoreless innings, said about being the second starter, “Han Su-hyeok is the ace of aces, with the best record in both leagues this season. Anyone else would have given him the first start.”]

[Chuck Clark, who hit a three-run home run in the first inning, said, “The hitters in front of me are the best in the league, no, the world. I’m proud to support them. We’re strong. We’ll definitely advance to the Championship Series.”]

[Veteran Adam Murphy, who struck out three batters in a row in the 9th inning to secure the 4-0 victory, said, “I feel a championship energy here in Seattle that I didn’t feel even in the Yankees. I’m glad I chose Seattle for my comeback.”]

[Mariners’ Han Su-hyeok, who had four intentional walks and two stolen bases, said, “I never missed the championship in my three years in Korea. It’s the same now. As long as I play, Seattle will be remembered as the eternal champion.”]

└ That’s an amazing statement. Eternal champion.

└ It’s like a dream. I’m grateful we made the postseason, but they’re dominating every game.

└ A player with 22 wins and 79 home runs… Oh my god! Can this luck last?

└ Future historians will write: The moment Han Su-hyeok arrived in the United States, the 130-year history of Major League Baseball changed forever.