Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 374

“Hahn Su-hyuk, or should I say, Owner Hahn. As I always say, it’s a true honor to have you with our team, both as a player and as an owner.”

Hahn Su-hyuk, fresh from dominating the Asian Games, returned to the States and immediately began training with Jacob.

With the grueling 162-game Major League season ahead, coupled with the Asian Games, he couldn’t afford to waste a single day if he wanted to assess his body and prepare for the next season.

However, he couldn’t dedicate all his time solely to personal training. He was, after all, the owner with the largest stake in the Seattle Mariners, even before being a player.

The 2031 Major League Stove League [the off-season period where player transactions occur] had finally begun, and Daniel Mitchell, who had been promoted to CEO just a year after becoming general manager, greeted Hahn Su-hyuk with a broad smile.

At the strategy analysis meeting to prepare for the new season, all eyes were on Hahn Su-hyuk.

There had been instances of team owners playing as athletes in basketball and soccer, but Hahn Su-hyuk was the first in baseball. This situation felt somewhat unfamiliar to both the front office staff who had to serve him and to Hahn Su-hyuk himself, but such awkwardness wasn’t important right now.

“The most urgent issue is finding a new closer.”

“That’s right. And there are some good players on the market.”

“Is Adam still planning to retire?”

“Well, we’re scheduled to have a meeting with him shortly. Would you like to meet him? It might be good to ask him directly.”

“Should I?”

“Yes, just a moment… I’ll tell him to wait in the conference room when he arrives.”

Hahn Su-hyuk briefly thought about Adam Murphy before the thought faded away.

The 43-year-old veteran, who joined the team mid-season last year, recorded an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 2.11 with 4 wins, 1 loss, and 20 saves, single-handedly holding down Seattle’s bullpen.

The veteran, who channeled the anger of being abandoned by the Yankees into positive energy, burning brightly in his final days, had officially announced his intention to leave the team.

Whether that meant retirement or something else, he didn’t know, but he could find out soon enough by meeting him in person.

The immediate priority was to fill the closer position that he was vacating.

“I’ve reviewed all the materials you sent. You’re considering promoting Dalvin Schwartz from within or bringing in Jimmy McCown from Cleveland, right?”

“That’s correct. Our assessment is that if the starting four, including you, Owner, remain healthy, there shouldn’t be any major issues promoting Dalvin to closer. Of course, he’s not quite as good as Adam, but baseball isn’t always perfect.”

“Is using Dalvin as closer ultimately a budget issue?”

“Yes, it is. Since the closer isn’t the only position we need to fill, we’ve planned to primarily resolve the issue internally.”

“What if we don’t consider the budget? Is Jimmy McCown from Cleveland, mentioned in the report, the best option?”

“Um… if we disregard the budget… then no. Jimmy McCown is just the most realistic closer candidate we can afford with our budget.”

“Alright, let’s set aside Dalvin and Jimmy McCown for now. They’re too weak. We need a stronger closer for consecutive championships.”

“What? Are you really going to…”

“Don’t worry about the money and review it again. Or rather, let me make a suggestion first. How about Jamal Adams?”

“Jamal Adams? Are you talking about the Baltimore ace?”

“Yes. I’ve always felt he’s better suited as a closer than a starter. And there were rumors of him transitioning to closer at the end of last season… Among the free agents available, he seems like the best closer candidate.”

“Um… that’s certainly true, but…”

“Contact him immediately. But make it conditional on him transitioning to closer, and of course, match his salary to that of a starting pitcher. Since there are no better pitchers on the market, we can’t let the deal fall through because of a few bucks.”

“If that’s the case, we’d have to give him at least $18 million a year…”

“Give it to him. Of course, we can’t give him everything he asks for, but he’s worth that much, so consider it positively. I’ll provide the necessary budget.”

Daniel’s jaw dropped at Hahn Su-hyuk’s words.

He still vividly remembered the struggles he had every stove league season because of the stingy owners, but this genius player who had become the new owner wasn’t even batting an eye at the prospect of an $18 million annual budget.

‘Thank you, God, really.’

Daniel nodded deeply, thanking the heavens for bestowing upon him the strongest baseball player on the planet and the best owner as his superior.

“Understood. I’ll immediately form a team to contact Jamal Adams’ side.”

“Good. But let me say again, we can’t lose a truly necessary player because of a few bucks. That’s not what I want.”

Hahn Su-hyuk was so confident because his assets were increasing day by day.

The company he invested in had completely dominated the global electric vehicle battery market, and the dividends alone were enough to do anything. Moreover, even the Mariners, in which he had invested late, were generating significant profits.

In this situation, a few tens of millions of dollars were like pocket change.

Furthermore, Hahn Su-hyuk had the ability to predict the future of players to some extent.

He knew that Jamal Adams, the ace of the Baltimore Orioles, nicknamed the Randy Johnson of right-handed pitchers [Randy Johnson was a dominant left-handed pitcher known for his intimidating presence], would transition to closer around this time and become a top-tier closer for nearly a decade.

That was why Hahn Su-hyuk could nod without hesitation, even with an annual budget of $18 million, which might be a bit excessive for a closer.

Clap.

Hahn Su-hyuk clapped lightly to draw attention and quickly moved on to the next item on the agenda.

“Okay, let’s proceed with the closer issue as is. If Jamal Adams’ side doesn’t seem enthusiastic, let me know. I’ll meet him in person.”

“If you could do that, we’d be very grateful.”

Although there were some individual differences, the most important thing for a free agent when choosing a new team was either money or fame. In other words, it was important which team could offer more money or which team would give them a better chance to win the World Series trophy.

But what if Hahn Su-hyuk was added to that? What if the best baseball player in the world reached out to them personally?

Would there be any player who wouldn’t be swayed?

Daniel pictured Jamal Adams in a Mariners uniform in his head.

“Um… next is the second baseman. We certainly struggled with the second base position this season.”

“Yes, we’ve concluded that none of the three players on the team who can play second base—Liam Landman, Jonathan Owens, and Lonnie Montaric—are solid enough to be considered starters. In the case of Jonathan Owens, some teams have requested a trade, so it might be good to send him if the conditions are right. But the problem is that there aren’t any suitable resources among the second basemen in this free agent market, so we need to look overseas. So, Owner…”

“Speak freely.”

“I think we should bring in Seo Hyung-joo.”

“Hmm.”

Seo Hyung-joo, who had completed four seasons in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], applied for posting [a system where KBO players can be bid on by MLB teams] to the Major League as soon as the Asian Games ended.

Many Major League teams showed interest in this top-notch outfielder who recorded a batting average of 0.345, an on-base percentage of 0.439, a slugging percentage of 0.517, 21 home runs, and 48 stolen bases last season.

In the past, there would have been many question marks attached to Korean-born fielders, but Lee Chan-ho’s success served as a catalyst, proving that KBO-born fielders could also succeed in the Major League.

Therefore, many teams were expected to write the posting bid limit of $25 million in this posting. The problem was that the Seattle side was viewing Seo Hyung-joo as a second baseman, not a center fielder.

Seo Hyung-joo had occasionally filled in at second base whenever the team needed him, but there were still question marks about whether he could play as a starting second baseman at the Major League level.

Hahn Su-hyuk couldn’t say anything about this.

Before his regression, Seo Hyung-joo had only achieved decent results as a center fielder in the KBO and Major League. Hahn Su-hyuk also couldn’t make any predictions about Seo Hyung-joo’s future as a second baseman.

As always, Hahn Su-hyuk was a person who thought that work was work and life was life.

He had no intention of simply signing Seo Hyung-joo just because he was a classmate or a friend.

Hahn Su-hyuk, who was once again contemplating Seo Hyung-joo’s second base conversion issue in his head, slowly opened his mouth.

“Well, if there are no other alternatives… then yes. Let’s give it a try. We’ll have him come to the United States as soon as we sign him and work him to death. He’s naturally talented in baseball.”

“Yes?”

“No, I’ll take care of the rest. Good. Seo Hyung-joo, let’s bring him in.”

With those words, Seo Hyung-joo’s future was decided.

He would have to go through a posting that all Major League teams would participate in, but the Mariners were naturally the most advantageous in the current situation.

The posting fee of $25 million?

After all, the owners of the Seattle Mariners and the Seoul Warriors were the same person. It was like money coming out of one pocket and going into the other.

Because of this, some people were saying that owning sports teams in both the United States and Korea at the same time should be prohibited, but…

[Major League Baseball Secretariat: “It is already forbidden to own different teams in the same league in Major League Baseball. Should we prevent Major League team owners from owning sports teams in other countries? Well, that’s not our business.”]

The Major League Baseball Secretariat, which was always anxious not to offend Hahn Su-hyuk, would not dare to pluck the whiskers of a sleeping tiger. In the first place, it didn’t seem likely that there would be another situation where an active baseball player would own multiple teams in the United States and Korea, or even Japan, besides Hahn Su-hyuk.

Therefore, the Major League Baseball Secretariat chose to remain silent.

The KBO was the same. It was ridiculous to regulate the ownership of teams by active players in a league where operation itself was impossible without the support of large corporations.

“Okay, it seems like all the important discussions are over. We’ll bring both Jamal Adams and Seo Hyung-joo to our team.”

“Thank you again for your generous support, Owner.”

“You’re welcome. Then I should meet with Adam and talk to him. I suddenly had a good idea.”

Hahn Su-hyuk finished the meeting and left the Mariners’ CEO’s office, heading to the conference room where Adam Murphy was waiting.

In the long corridor connecting the CEO’s office and the conference room, the view of T-Mobile Park beyond the glass windows facing the ground came into view.

A lot had happened here in the past year.

He had succeeded in becoming the overwhelming hitter and pitcher who could dominate the game alone, which he had dreamed of so much before his regression, and he had brought the perennial underdog Seattle to the top of the World Series for the first time.

And, most importantly,

He had met Min Ye-rin, a precious person who he could no longer imagine his life without,

And he had gained a partner with whom he could spend the rest of his life.

Still, Hahn Su-hyuk couldn’t be sure what kind of relationship Min Ye-rin and her past self had. He could only guess that there was some kind of connection between the two, but he couldn’t know the details unless he was a god.

But why would that matter now?

The important thing was that Min Ye-rin was by his side, and that they loved each other.

Hahn Su-hyuk squinted slightly at the sunlight coming in through the glass.

Soon, this stove league would be over.

And enemies stronger than last season would block the path of the Mariners and Hahn Su-hyuk.

But he wasn’t nervous or afraid.

Rather, he felt a pleasant excitement and thrill.

A long time ago, baseball was a duty and responsibility for Hahn Su-hyuk. Because of that, he was always weighed down by something on the ground.

But not anymore. Now, baseball was not a purpose or goal for him, but a means to make himself and the people around him happy, a way to consistently maintain the direction of his life.

That’s why Hahn Su-hyuk enjoyed baseball.

He couldn’t wait for the baseball season to come,

Hahn Su-hyuk’s heart was already heading to the ground.

* * *

[Baltimore Orioles ace Jamal Adams signs with Seattle for 7 years, $120 million]

[Seattle Mariners: “We did our best to sign Jamal Adams, and fortunately, it turned out well. He will be our team’s new closer next season.”]

[Jamal Adams: “I hesitated at first when I was asked to play as a closer, but my mind changed after meeting Hahn Su-hyuk. He is the best not only as a player but also as an owner. I deeply sympathized with his vision, and that’s why I chose Seattle.”]

[New York Yankees, who were aiming for Jamal Adams, are overwhelmed with frustration]

[Exclusive: Seoul Warriors’ Seo Hyung-joo, who has risen to become the best center fielder in the KBO, wears the Seattle Mariners uniform through posting.]

[The three teams that wrote the highest posting amount of $25 million were Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and LA Dodgers… The final winner is Seattle Mariners]

[Seo Hyung-joo, who made his Major League debut in four years: “Many people said, ‘Not everyone can do what Hahn Su-hyuk can do, so it’s not too late to wait three more years and go to the United States after acquiring FA [Free Agent] qualification.’ But what I needed was a new challenge, and I chose challenge instead of complacency. Thank you to Seattle for offering me good conditions.”]

[Mariners’ outfield consisting of Jim Brown, Derek Fleming, and Chuck Clark, is Seo Hyung-joo’s place not in the outfield but in the second base?]

[Seattle Mariners CEO Daniel Mitchell: “We have fully consulted with Seo Hyung-joo’s side during the contract negotiation process. We plan to use him as a starting second baseman.”]

“Do it right. If you don’t do it properly, I’ll throw you into the minors.”

“…I know. I’ll work hard. Just watch. See what happens this winter. Even if it’s someone else, who am I? I’m genius Seo Hyung-joo. That second base conversion? That’s nothing.”

“Of course. If you don’t do it right, I’m really going to throw you in the minors and let you rot. Keep that in mind. You’re not a KBO star anymore. You’re a minor league contract player with the lowest salary. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Owner. I’ll work hard to break my body.”

He tried not to show it, but Seo Hyung-joo’s words were full of gratitude and apology to Seattle, or rather, to Hahn Su-hyuk, who believed in him.

In this situation, all Seo Hyung-joo could do was work hard. Becoming the Mariners’ starting second baseman no matter what, that was the only way Seo Hyung-joo could repay his friend and boss who believed in him.

[Seattle Mariners’ winning player Adam Murphy, heads to KBO, agrees to a 2-year contract with Seoul Warriors]

[Adam Murphy: “I felt all the lumps in my heart that I had lost in the past were released as I stepped on the Yankees and advanced to the World Series last season. And I lost my goal. I received an offer from Hahn Su-hyuk at the time when I was considering retirement. How about spending the last of my playing career in Korea? My wife and daughter were very interested in Korean culture, and I was also curious about baseball there, so I made this decision.”]

[Seoul Warriors, who had been suffering from foreign pitcher problems last season, solved all problems at once by signing Adam Murphy, a historic figure]

[Seattle Mariners, who have reinforced their holes in the second baseman and closer positions, are challenging for the World Series title for the second consecutive year… Player and owner Hahn Su-hyuk: “The player reinforcement work is not over yet. We will continue to reinforce all necessary means during the remaining period to fill the team’s shortcomings.” Seattle fans cheer]

[From a perennial underdog to a World Series champion… The moment that made it all possible, let’s take another look at the moment Hahn Su-hyuk joined the team, the best choice in Seattle Mariners history]