Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 379

#378. All Worries Vanished at Once

[Han Su-hyeok Returns to KBO After 10 Years in MLB, Receives Jersey Number 1 from Choi Ma-roo… Choi Ma-roo: “I always believed Su-hyeok would return someday and kept number 1. Now that the owner has returned, it’s natural to give it back. And right now, jersey numbers aren’t important. I’m so excited to play on the same team as my baseball idol again. Our goal is to win, and to win overwhelmingly.”]

[New Manager Jo Seong-oh, Who Will Lead the Warriors This Season: “I received such a great gift as my inauguration present that I’m speechless. Every morning when I open my eyes, I wonder if this is a dream. The best baseball player in the world is on my team. Need I say more?”]

[When Asked About Han Su-hyeok’s Utilization, Manager Jo Seong-oh: “I had a long conversation with Su-hyeok about that issue. For now, we have excellent third basemen and shortstops, so we are considering using Su-hyeok as a first-line pitcher and center fielder. Frankly, if Su-hyeok wants a position, I’ll give it to him unconditionally. He’s a player who deserves it.”]

[Seoul Warriors Suddenly Emerge as Championship Contenders with Han Su-hyeok’s Return, Release All Three Underperforming Foreign Players from Last Season and Replace Them with New Faces.]

[Each Team’s Calculations Become Somewhat Complicated as the Simultaneous Foreign Player Rule Increases to 3, Seoul Warriors: “We plan to fill the currently vacant right fielder, starting pitcher, and closer positions with foreign players.”]

[Han Su-hyeok, Current Player and MLB Team Owner: “I think a player that will surprise the fans will join the Warriors. Please wait with a little patience.”]

With Han Su-hyeok’s return confirmed and his complete return to Korea, the baseball world’s attention turned to the foreign players the Warriors would bring in.

The expectation was that Han Su-hyeok, as the owner of a current Major League team, could bring in players that other KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] teams couldn’t even imagine.

And Han Su-hyeok lived up to those fans’ expectations.

[Seoul Warriors Sign First Foreign Player Contract, Agree to a Total of $3 Million with Starting Pitcher Jose Carlos (29), Who Performed Well Last Season Between the Seattle Mariners and their Triple-A Affiliate Tacoma Rainiers]

[KBO’s 9 Teams Greatly Embarrassed by Unexpected Huge Contract: “Even if the salary cap for first-year foreign players has disappeared, $3 million is too much money. The discipline of the entire KBO could be disrupted.” Voices of Concern]

[Seoul Warriors General Manager Park Jae-cheol: “Jose Carlos is an excellent starting pitcher who has shown potential in the Major League, so he can sufficiently challenge the Big League again. It took a lot of money to bring in such a player, and our team happened to have that money. KBO’s discipline? I think that’s the least funny joke I’ve heard recently. What nonsense is that in professional sports dominated by the logic of capital?”]

[Who is Jose Carlos? A right-handed pitcher who recorded an ERA [Earned Run Average] of 2.01, 15 wins, 4 losses, and a WHIP [Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched] of 1.21 in 172 innings in Triple-A last season. Regarding the reason for deciding to go to Korea instead of re-challenging the Big League, “I needed a stable job for my family, and Boss (Han Su-hyeok) made a good offer, so I grabbed his hand without hesitation. He is my mentor and eternal idol. I will do my best for the Warriors’ victory.”]

└ㅋㅋㅋ Han Su-hyeok is really planning to destroy the KBO ecosystem properly. Not only is he coming back, but he’s also bringing Jose Carlos? Someone who could start in the Major League right away?

└ Hey, that’s cheating, isn’t it?;;; He throws a 101 mph hard sinker. How the heck are KBO suckers going to hit his ball?

└ Until now, the only weakness of the Warriors’ starting lineup was that there was no fireballer other than Choi Ma-roo, but Han Su-hyeok 109 mph, Jose Carlos 101 mph… Damn lol

└ To the guys who were bashing our team’s foreign players as trash last year, how’s the taste of capitalism?

└ The Warriors were quiet for a while, which was nice, but now they’re going to go crazy again;;;

The KBO was turned upside down by the recruitment of Jose Carlos, who had been moving back and forth between Triple-A and the Major League until last season, or, more accurately, was expected to take a starting spot for the Seattle Mariners this season.

He may not be the best in terms of career, but considering his current skills, he is the most outstanding player to have entered the KBO so far.

The shock didn’t end there.

Two days after the announcement of the contract with Jose Carlos, another big news came to Korean baseball fans.

[Eric Barkley (28), a 103 mph Fireballer Who Played as a Key Member of the Seattle Mariners Last Season, Agrees to a Total of $2.85 Million with the Seoul Warriors]

[Low Salary for a Current Major Leaguer, Experts: “Perhaps they greatly increased the salary for the second and third years through a multi-year contract. Whatever the case, it’s just amazing that they can bring in a player with such name value.”]

[Eric Barkley, Who Recorded an ERA of 3.50, 4 Wins, 3 Losses, 5 Saves, and 8 Holds in the 2039 Major League Full Season: “It’s an honor to play in Boss’s country. Some may question my choice, but well, I’m confident that I made the best choice in the current situation. My goal for next season? To perfectly fulfill my mission without a single blown save.”]

A young fireballer, who is more outstanding in terms of career than Jose Carlos, and who can be said to be a current Major Leaguer, has been selected as the Warriors’ new closer.

There were people who were critical of the Warriors for recruiting two Big League-level players.

Rumors began to circulate in the baseball world that there were additional options beyond what was announced, and that Han Su-hyeok was using his name value to exploit foreign players, but the Warriors did not respond at all. In the first place, it wasn’t true, and in a situation where the foreign player salary cap had disappeared, it was none of the other teams’ business how much money they gave.

The Warriors filled the vacant starting pitcher and closer positions with players of a different level than the existing foreign players.

People thought.

That adding Han Su-hyeok and two top-class foreign pitchers to the existing mid-tier power was enough to include the Warriors in the championship contenders.

But,

“The promised day has come. Is the decision made?”

– Yes, sorry it took so long. I finished talking with my wife yesterday. I decided to accept your offer.

“Good, you won’t regret it.”

– Of course, I should. I’m looking forward to life in Korea.

People still didn’t know.

That the real card for winning that the Warriors, or rather, Han Su-hyeok, had prepared was still left.

[Seattle Mariners Starting Right Fielder Derek Fleming (35), Signs a Shocking Contract with the Seoul Warriors for a Total of $5 Million]

[Current Big Leaguer Derek Fleming, Who Recorded a Batting Average of 0.265, On-Base Percentage of 0.379, Slugging Percentage of 0.488, 19 Home Runs, 68 RBIs, and 11 Stolen Bases Last Season, is the Strongest 5-Tool Player Among KBO Foreign Players Ever]

└ Are you kidding me? It’s not April Fool’s Day yet… Did the newspaper get hacked or something?

└ It’s real;;; It’s also on the MLB.COM main page. Derek Fleming is going to Korea.

└ Seriously lol Jose Carlos and Eric Barkley were okay, but Derek Fleming? Derek Fleming?

└ Even if he’s old, his mobility has decreased, and his batting average has been declining recently, he’s only in his mid-thirties… No, why is he giving up the Major League and coming to Korea? Did they push him with money? Did they give him about 10 million dollars?

└ His salary last year was $18 million… No matter what, it doesn’t make sense to buy him with money.

└ Does Han Su-hyeok have a sex video of him or something?

└ Even if he’s a foreigner, that’s not something to say to the head of a family who is about to have his first child.

└ No, otherwise it doesn’t make sense. Why the heck would he play in Korea for only $5 million when he has nothing to lose?

The moment the name of the foreign hitter who would fill the last vacant spot in the Seoul Warriors, the starting right fielder, was revealed, the KBO was turned upside down once again.

A speedy center fielder who formed the Mariners’ table setter with Han Su-hyeok during his prime.

A superstar who contributed to the team’s victory by moving from center field to right field, filling the reduced mobility with long hits as he got older, with a salary of $18 million.

A byword for a five-tool player who recorded a career batting average of 0.301, on-base percentage of 0.395, slugging percentage of 0.487, OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging] of 0.882, 225 home runs, 624 RBIs, and 305 stolen bases in 12 seasons.

That Derek Fleming is in Korea?

Even the rival teams and some officials who were foaming at the mouth, saying that Han Su-hyeok was destroying the KBO ecosystem at the time of the contracts with Eric Barkley and Jose Carlos, couldn’t say anything this time.

No, in the first place, it was unbelievable that Derek Fleming was playing in Korea. Even if Han Su-hyeok went crazy and guaranteed a salary higher than the Big League, there was no reason for a current Major Leaguer with a guaranteed starting position to play in Korea.

In order to solve such people’s curiosity, reporters from each sports newspaper were urgently dispatched to the United States.

At Derek Fleming’s press conference held at the Mariners’ team office, he, one of the best current stars, explained the reason for going to Korea as follows.

“Yes, it’s true. I, who have been a Mariners player since my debut, will start my second baseball life wearing the Seoul Warriors uniform from next year.”

“The reason for choosing to go to Korea? Um, it’s very personal… Well, there’s no need to hide it. My first child will be born soon. But recently, there was a shooting near our house, and there was an unfortunate death. It wasn’t a new thing in this country where there are more guns than the total population, but… my wife was very surprised by that. And our couple had the idea of living in a place without guns.”

“But Han Su-hyeok, that friend, told me. He can’t give me as much money as in the Major League, but he will give me a safer and more comfortable life than that. I’ve talked about it several times a long time ago, but the most important thing in my life is family, and the second is baseball. So, why would I refuse his offer?”

When the reason why Derek Fleming chose to go to Korea was revealed to the world, various evaluations followed.

Opponents argued that it was a waste to give up his career as a Major Leaguer, and that if safety was really a problem, he could hire more bodyguards.

And the pro-faction, which applauded his attitude of prioritizing his family above all else, continued a fierce debate.

Of course, such discussions did not affect Derek Fleming’s actions at all. He signed the contract without hesitation and became a Warrior.

On the other hand, the Mariners were the biggest victims of Han Su-hyeok and Derek Fleming’s move to Korea, but the local public opinion was not so bad.

Although the team had a big gap due to the departure of two starting players, the club did its best by signing LA Dodgers ace Joshua Kalou and St. Louis Cardinals center hitter Grant Dixon as free agents.

[2040 Season Seoul Warriors Foreign Player Contract Concluded, Derek Fleming (35/ Right-Handed Hitter), Jose Carlos (29/ Right-Handed Hitter), Eric Barkley (28/ Right-Handed Hitter)]

[Seoul Warriors Fill Weak Center Fielder, Right Fielder, Starting Pitcher, and Closer Positions with Big Leaguers, No. 1 Candidate for the 2040 Season Championship]

Having completed all the foreign player contracts, the Warriors finished the stove league [off-season trading period] by additionally recruiting a middle relief pitcher and an infielder who came out on the FA [Free Agent] market.

And a little later, spring camp was held in Arizona, USA, and the players who joined the team, including Han Su-hyeok, had their first greetings.

Han Su-hyeok, who wore the same uniform as his old colleagues after a long time, unknowingly showed a faint smile.

Seniors who couldn’t keep their promise to play together on the ground once again, but now became coaches and coaches to play together in a different way, and juniors who are still on the ground.

Han Su-hyeok led the 2040 Seoul Warriors spring camp.

The junior players felt indescribable emotion about Han Su-hyeok, who dominated the Major League for the past 10 years and is called a living legend, taking the lead and teaching them.

Time continued to be confusing as to whether this was a spring camp for a professional baseball team or a Han Su-hyeok fan concert, and before they knew it, the exhibition game began.

In the exhibition game, which was assigned 12 games per team, Han Su-hyeok appeared only once as a pinch hitter and defensive substitute.

There was no special reason. Even in the Major League, Han Su-hyeok was a famous player who rarely played in exhibition games unless there was a special event, but instead prepared his body for the opening of the regular season.

It wasn’t just Han Su-hyeok who passed the exhibition game. New foreign hitter Derek Fleming stayed in the United States throughout the exhibition game.

“Wah!”

“Derek. Congratulations. It’s a daughter.”

“Oh my god… Jesus…….”

It was to protect his wife, who was about to give birth. And Derek’s wife gave birth to a healthy daughter on schedule.

With Derek Fleming, who had completed all preparations, entering Korea with his family, the Seoul Warriors’ preparations for the 2040 season were all over.

The hearts of the Warriors fans began to beat like crazy.

They rushed to the stadium to see the team’s appearance, which was completely different from last season and perhaps the best ever.

It was the moment when the area around Warriors Field, which had finally completed preparations for opening after a long preparation, was filled with people.