Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 363

#362. World Series (1)

“Walon, I’m suddenly getting worried.”

“Hmm? What are you talking about out of the blue?”

“I’m worried that this might all be a dream. Damn it, is this really real? That we crushed those Yankees bastards and made it to the World Series.”

“Joseph, look at our sacred ground over there. What do you see?”

“Um… 2030 World Series, Seattle Mariners VS St. Louis Cardinals…….”

“Okay, then what’s hanging next to that?”

“What else could it be? It’s Han Su-hyeok. That friend’s banner is huge… Damn it, good. I guess it’s definitely not a dream.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried you might have dementia or something. Now, let’s cut the nonsense and go see our heroes.”

The day of the decisive battle dawned.

The first game of the World Series between the Seattle Mariners, who advanced to the World Series for the first time in their history, and the St. Louis Cardinals, the absolute powerhouse of the National League aiming for their second consecutive World Series title following last year, was about to begin.

The area around T-Mobile Park, where the first World Series game since the baseball team’s founding was to be held, was literally a sea of people.

Despite the game starting quite a while away, fans had already gathered around the stadium. Most of them couldn’t get tickets for today’s game, so the Mariners organization installed a large screen on the stadium’s outer wall and prepared outdoor heaters to accommodate the cheering crowds.

“Citizens! If Seattle wins the World Series, I will do whatever it takes to designate the next day as a temporary holiday so that all citizens can…”

It wasn’t just fans who gathered around the stadium.

The mayor of Seattle, trying to use this opportunity as a stepping stone for his re-election, was making appearances everywhere. Even tourists who had nothing to do with Seattle flocked to the area, creating a massive crowd.

Was it Han Su-hyeok’s influence?

Korean tourists who came here while touring the United States received tremendous hospitality from the citizens of Seattle.

Merchants were giving out free food and drinks, and fans readily handed over the famously expensive Han Su-hyeok merchandise.

The game was being prepared step by step in this enthusiastic atmosphere.

* * *

1st Batter: Pitcher Han Su-hyeok

2nd Batter: 1st Baseman Ty Johnson

3rd Batter: Center Fielder Derek Fleming

4th Batter: Right Fielder Chuck Clark

5th Batter: Left Fielder Antonio Garcia

6th Batter: Catcher Bruce Matthews

7th Batter: 3rd Baseman Liam Landman

8th Batter: 2nd Baseman Lonnie Montalic

9th Batter: Shortstop Josh Oliver

Benjamin Reynolds, the manager holding the lineup card that included all of the Mariners’ strongest players at this point, except for moving Han Su-hyeok to the leadoff spot to counter intentional walk tactics, unknowingly closed his eyes tightly.

It was as if time had passed in a whirlwind.

Benjamin, tired of the power struggles within the team, left the United States for Korea, where he met good bosses and good players and worked as a top assistant for three years.

While he was having a satisfying time in Korea, he suddenly received an offer to take over the Seattle Mariners, and he had to think hard about it.

Did he really have the qualifications to take the helm of a big league team? Could he be the right manager for a team aiming to advance to the World Series for the first time?

All those worries were perfectly resolved with one sentence.

‘Han Su-hyeok will be with us.’

Of course, getting to this point today wasn’t easy.

He led a team that was creaking and full of holes here and there in the early season, step by step, to this point.

In the meantime, Han Su-hyeok acquired shares in the Seattle Mariners and became the largest shareholder. And with budget support at a level that could not be compared to the past, the empty spots in the team were filled one by one.

Knuckleballer Mike Warren, who added rich experience to the young pitching staff, Rentaro Hayashi, a decent fourth starter who could be used as a third starter, Adam Murphy, a veteran closer from the Yankees, and Liam Landman and Kyle Shanahan, infielders and outfielders who filled the holes in the infield and outfield, Rafael Osuna, and so on.

Seattle, which acquired a large number of immediate reinforcements even though there were no big names, eventually rose to the top of the division and eventually became the team with the highest winning percentage in the major leagues in 2030.

Benjamin, who led the strongest team in Mariners history, thought.

All of this was thanks to the monster he met when he went to Korea—no, now the expression ‘monster’ is not enough. Someone said that the expression ‘Mr. Baseball’ is perfect for baseball itself, Han Su-hyeok.

That’s why today,

He couldn’t even imagine the Mariners, with Han Su-hyeok as the starter, losing to another team.

Step by step.

Benjamin, who left the manager’s office and entered the locker room, shouted loudly to the players.

“Okay! Are you ready? Here’s the lineup of the players who will be at the forefront! Today, we will gather the strength of the team and create a new history! Let’s go, Mariners!”

“Oooooh! Of course, boss!”

A deep smile appeared on the face of manager Benjamin at the players’ powerful response.

* * *

“Okay! Let’s go, Mariners!”

“You guys are our heroes! Damn it, we’ve come this far, you can’t lose!”

“I even quit my job to watch the World Series! Take responsibility for me, Mariners!”

The U.S. Army Band’s national anthem performance, and the first pitch by an old white-haired fan who had visited T-Mobile Park every day for 53 years, finally kicked off Game 1 of the World Series.

Amid the roaring cheers of Seattle fans that seemed to shake the stadium, Han Su-hyeok on the mound began his practice pitches.

*Paang*

Slowly and gently,

Han Su-hyeok, who threw a few balls mainly with four-seam fastballs and changeups, nodded as if he was ready.

Finally, the moment of the decisive battle had arrived.

[1st Batter: Center Fielder Grant Dixon]

With the stadium announcer’s comment, Cardinals’ leadoff Grant Dixon, who looked full of energy just by looking at him, stepped into the batter’s box.

A player who recorded 30 home runs and 60 stolen bases this season and became known as the best center fielder in the major leagues beyond the National League.

He was more familiar with the nickname ‘Black Panther’ than his real name, and he was a player with a combination of power, mobility, and plate discipline. To put it simply, he was a final evolved version of Derek Fleming.

Han Su-hyeok’s first pitch came against such Grant Dixon.

*Paang*

“Strike!”

A very ordinary 95-mile fastball that came right down the middle.

Grant Dixon’s head became complicated by the unexpected ball.

*What is it, this slow ball?*

*Was he injured, or did it slip out of his hand?*

His gaze turned to Han Su-hyeok on the mound.

But there was nothing he could figure out. Han Su-hyeok was preparing for the next pitch with a calm expression as if nothing had happened.

Grant Dixon, who nodded slightly, prepared to hit according to the speed of the ball Han Su-hyeok had just thrown.

If he was injured, or if he was trying something new, he was determined to hit it over the fence.

But,

*Paang*

“Strike!”

The moment the next ball came in, Grant Dixon realized.

Everything was Han Su-hyeok’s scheme.

The speed of the ball Han Su-hyeok had just thrown was displayed on the scoreboard.

It was a blazing fastball that recorded 109 miles and 3,020 RPM, considered the best in major league history.

“Fuck……!”

Grant Dixon, who unknowingly spat out a curse, barely regained his composure and looked at Han Su-hyeok.

He had become much more formidable than when they met in the interleague before.

It wasn’t just the speed of the ball that mattered; it was clear that they were constantly being outsmarted.

But he couldn’t back down like this. No matter what anyone said, the Cardinals were the best team that dominated the National League in the 2030 season.

*Hit it. He must, he must hit it.*

*Swoosh*

*Woong*

“Swing! Out!”

Of course, that was just Grant Dixon’s wishful thinking.

His bat cut through the air at the 80-mile changeup that seemed to hang in the air, and a deep sigh came out of the mouths of the Cardinals fans, who were only a handful in the stadium.

Grant Dixon, the best leadoff hitter who had dominated the National League this season, returned to the dugout with a bitter expression.

[2nd Batter: Left Fielder Travis Reed]

Travis Reed, a .300 hitter with 40 home runs who appeared after the leadoff hitter who recorded 30-60 [30 home runs and 60 stolen bases].

Just looking at the simple statistics was enough to plunge the opposing pitchers into despair, but the fans watching today’s game could not sense their strength at all.

*Paang*

“Strike!”

*Woong*

“Swing!”

A hard sinker that came inside and spun backwards, and a 95-mile power curve that was shown for the first time in a while.

Han Su-hyeok, who created two strikes in an instant with two balls, continued the game without the slightest hesitation.

The tremendous speed of pitching tempo that makes opposing hitters sick, an incredible pace that only Han Su-hyeok can maintain in this world.

*Paang*

“Strike! Out!”

“Haa…….”

The fastball that flew low as if it would hit his knee suddenly swerved as if it was pulled from the opposite side and was sucked into the strike zone.

Grant Dixon, who was struck out without even swinging his bat at the 102-mile high-speed slider, shook his head and stepped away from the plate.

Two outs in an instant.

“Uaaaaaa! Yes, that’s it!”

“Damn it, I even took out a loan to see this! Han Su-hyeok! You’re the best!”

“Crush the Cardinals! Bring us the trophy!”

[3rd Batter: Right Fielder A.J. Jones]

Amid the overwhelming cheers of Seattle fans that filled the stadium, a giant with a height of 2 meters [approximately 6’7″] stepped into the batter’s box.

A.J. Jones, a promising player who the Cardinals have been developing for a long time to make him Ty Johnson’s successor.

A monster who recorded 40 home runs and 100 RBIs in his rookie season, who stepped onto the big league stage a little earlier than planned due to Ty Johnson’s sudden transfer this season, and is likely to win the National League Rookie of the Year award.

He took a careful batting stance, considered the best prospect from the St. Louis farm system in the last 10 years.

His eyes were filled with a strong will to somehow overcome Han Su-hyeok.

Even if the opponent was Han Su-hyeok, he was also a player who grew up hearing the word ‘monster,’ so it was a reasonable pride to some extent.

But,

*Paang*

“Strike!”

What was on the mound now was Han Su-hyeok, who even those monsters could not easily covet—no, he could be called a monster-hunting specialist.

Before the game, a reporter asked Han Su-hyeok.

Was he afraid of the Cardinals’ artillery corps from 1st to 4th [the first four batters in the lineup, known for their hitting power]?

Han Su-hyeok’s answer was simple.

Whether it’s a cannon or a rifle, it doesn’t matter if you don’t get hit.

Perhaps the reporter who asked Han Su-hyeok that question would have gotten the answer through this pitch.