Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 381

380. Holy Shit…!

“Holy shit…….”

That night, after the opening ceremony of Warriors Field, the world-class dome stadium, and Han Su-hyeok’s historic KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] return match.

Marcus Lopez, the Magicians’ second starter, who was lying in bed reviewing the game footage, unknowingly cursed.

The game between the Magicians’ ace and Han Su-hyeok ended in a complete 9-0 victory for the Warriors.

‘Thwack!’

On the tablet PC in Marcus’s hand, Han Su-hyeok’s home run from his last at-bat was replayed once again.

In today’s opening game, Han Su-hyeok not only pitched a 9-inning, 1-hit shutout but also recorded unbelievable stats as a batter: 6 plate appearances, 4 at-bats, 2 walks, 4 hits, 3 home runs, and 6 RBIs.

The Magicians, who faced the worst Seoul rivalry match in history, chose to face Han Su-hyeok head-on.

Not because it was right or easier.

But because they needed data on the worst opponent they would likely face in the fall baseball season anyway.

Data on how he would play in the KBO league, which is clearly different from the major leagues, and what choices he would make in important moments.

But in conclusion, it was all useless.

All he did today was overwhelm the batters with his overwhelming speed and power, and in the batter’s box, he showed the power to hit any ball that came near the strike zone out of the park.

Korean baseball fans and experts who watched this realized.

Han Su-hyeok, who was already a monster 10 years ago, has returned as an even more terrifying monster, and therefore, unprecedented records will be set in Korean baseball this season.

“Holy shit…….”

Marcus Lopez, who muttered another curse, put down his tablet and picked up his smartphone. Then, he entered a group chat room created by foreign players playing in Korea.

└ Is everyone asleep? I know you’re still awake, so someone answer me.

└ What’s up, Marcus?

└ Shouldn’t you be sleeping early? You’re starting tomorrow.

└ Damn it, are you pretending not to know when you all know?

The reason Marcus is so worried is that he has to face Han Su-hyeok tomorrow.

A Puerto Rican pitcher who recorded 17 wins as the Magicians’ second starter last season and played a decisive role in winning the Korean Series.

Manager Kim Sung-soo gave him a special order before his start.

‘Even if we lose all three games, don’t run away from Han Su-hyeok. You can run away anytime. There’s a slim chance we might find his weakness. Can you do it, Marcus?’

The moment he heard those words, Marcus thought.

Could he do what even pitchers who dominated the major leagues for the past 10 years and cost tens of millions of dollars couldn’t do? Is this guy crazy?

But the poor foreign worker, who had to think about renewing his contract for next season, could only nod silently.

└ Marcus, if you’re worried about tomorrow’s game, I’d recommend putting down your smartphone right now and running to the mart [supermarket].

└ Mart? Why the mart? To buy some alcohol?

└ No, go to the seafood corner and buy a bunch of raw oysters and eat them all. Then you’ll probably get food poisoning. That way, you can avoid him, how about that?

For a moment, Marcus was about to answer that it was a plausible idea, but he shook his head and closed his smartphone.

Because he knew that if he kept talking, only similar stories would come out.

To Korean players, but especially to players like Marcus who have played in the United States, Han Su-hyeok was a ‘god’ himself.

A star among stars that they would run up to and ask for an autograph if they met him anywhere other than on the mound.

“Holy shit…….”

Marcus, realizing that there was no answer no matter how much he worried, leaned back on the bed and slowly closed his eyes.

In his head, the video of Han Su-hyeok’s home run was endlessly replaying.

* * *

“Choi Ma-ru.”

“Yes, hyung!” [an honorific term used to address an older brother or male friend]

“Your voice is too loud. You can answer quietly.”

“Yes… hyung…….”

“No, I don’t mean to make you feel so down, um, just do whatever you want.”

“Yes! Hyung!”

Warriors clubhouse before the second game of the opening three-game series against the Magicians.

Han Su-hyeok, who was about to call Choi Ma-ru, who was scheduled to start today, to tell him how to attack the Magicians’ batters, smiled without realizing it.

He felt quite proud of his junior, Choi Ma-ru, who had followed him so strangely since he first joined the team, and who had now grown into a full-fledged ace of the team.

“Ma-ru, yesterday they were so tormented by fastballs that their bat timing will be a little faster than usual. In this case, it’s okay to actively use changeups or curves.”

“Changeups… curves… I understand! Hyung! Thank you so much!”

“I told you, you don’t have to answer so loudly.”

“No! It’s an honor to receive your teachings! I will cherish what you said today in my heart for the rest of my life!”

“No, you don’t necessarily need to cherish the words to throw changeups and curves for the rest of your life… um, I don’t know. Do whatever you want.”

“Thank you! Hyung!”

Han Su-hyeok turned away from Choi Ma-ru, who stiffened like a soldier whenever he was asked to speak, and moved to another place.

“Hyung Deok-soo.”

“Oh, Su-hyeok. Did you sleep well yesterday? Is it strange to be playing in Korea after a long time?”

“Strange? Baseball is baseball, no matter where you do it.”

“Well, that’s true. But why did you call me?”

“Ah, it’s nothing, but I saw yesterday that your bat looked a little heavy… If you don’t mind, I’ll give you one of the bats I use, would you like to try it?”

“The bat you used? Oh… really? Give it to me. Let’s try it.”

Jang Deok-soo, the Warriors’ main hitter and starting first baseman, who recorded a slash line of 0.254/ 0.348/ 0.558 with 35 home runs last season.

He used to hit 30% with 40 home runs like eating a meal in his prime, but he couldn’t resist the flow of time.

He was already approaching forty, and his batting average and OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging] were declining little by little every year, which had a significant impact on the Warriors’ offensive power.

In yesterday’s opening game, while the Warriors’ lineup was on fire, Jang Deok-soo alone finished the game with only one sacrifice fly without a hit.

Han Su-hyeok, who played with Jang Deok-soo for the first time in a long time, thought.

That the time for change had come for Jang Deok-soo, who used a bat weighing over 1 kg [kilogram] befitting his huge physique.

A moment later, Han Su-hyeok picked up a bat and returned to Jang Deok-soo. It was the lightest 900g [gram] black bat he had.

“Hyung, here you go. Try it first.”

“Um, it’s 900g. It’s a bit light…….”

“It’s the bat I used when I hit my 700th career home run…….”

“Cough! What? 700th career home run bat? Su-hyeok, shouldn’t this be kept in a baseball museum? Is it okay to carry it around like this?”

“Museum? It’s just a bat. Anyway, I used to use this often when I couldn’t hit the ball well. Now you use it.”

“I feel burdened to receive it.”

“No, just think of it as a kind of player welfare.”

“Player welfare? Ah, I must be a little slow. I keep forgetting that you’re the owner. Anyway, this… ha, I feel a little burdened, but yeah, I’ll use it gratefully.”

“Yes, if it’s hyung, you can make big hits with a lighter bat and a shorter swing. I think it’s good to just do your own swing without feeling burdened.”

“Not only did I receive a bat, but I also received special tutoring from the best player in the world… Okay, thank you. I’ll do my best.”

“You don’t have to work too hard. Let’s just have fun. Then I’ll go.”

Jang Deok-soo, one of the few seniors who are still active among the colleagues who were with Han Su-hyeok in his rookie days.

Han Su-hyeok, who gave confidence to such Jang Deok-soo, returned to his locker.

There, his friend and classmate, and Ahn Chi-wook, who is currently called the best left-handed hitter in the KBO, was staring at him with wide eyes.

“Hey, don’t just take care of Hyung Deok-soo, give me a bat too…….”

“Shut up, if you have time to talk nonsense, swing the bat one more time. I saw yesterday that your follow-through was all over the place.”

“Why only me all the time…….”

* * *

[2nd batter center fielder Han Su-hyeok]

Gulp

In the bottom of the first inning, with one out and no runners, Marcus Lopez, the Magicians’ pitcher, who was watching Han Su-hyeok’s appearance, swallowed without realizing it.

The instructions given by manager Kim Sung-soo before the game were automatically replayed in his head.

‘Yesterday, we got smashed by fighting him with outside fastballs. Um, that’s right. That wasn’t his weakness after all. Then today, I’m going to test inside breaking balls in reverse. Hey, Marcus. Do you understand what I’m saying? We’re going with inside breaking balls. Understand?’

He wanted to say that if he could freely throw breaking balls inside as easily as he said, he wouldn’t be staying in Korea, but Marcus suppressed the words with strong patience.

‘Inside curve’

Shakes head

‘Then inside slider’

Shakes head repeatedly

‘Or inside changeup?’

Shakes head repeatedly

‘????’

The catcher looked at Marcus with eyes as if asking what he wanted to throw instead.

To be honest…….

‘I want to throw one at his head and send him to the hospital.’

The moment he thought that, Marcus shuddered in surprise at his own thoughts.

Because he remembered Han Su-hyeok’s numerous major league career records, including the most bench clearings and the most ejections.

Han Su-hyeok, the best and worst fighter in major league history, who caused 55 bench clearings in 10 seasons, and was ejected all 55 times, with 115 days of suspension.

Crushing the opponent’s ribs with one punch, and neatly extracting rotten teeth with one slap…….

‘Um.’

Marcus Lopez, who barely managed to hold on to his fading mind, finally confirmed the sign for the first pitch.

Nods

Marcus Lopez, who had never feared anyone since entering the KBO and shone as the Korean Series MVP last season, threw the ball towards Han Su-hyeok with all his might.

Whoosh

The inside low-course changeup that was accurately controlled as the catcher requested.

Han Su-hyeok’s bat stretched out towards the perfect changeup that would almost bury itself in the ground, which a normal batter would have no choice but to watch.

And,

Thwack!

With a tremendous hitting sound that made his hair stand on end, the ball soared blackly into the sky.

The ball, caught in Han Su-hyeok’s brutal uppercut swing, flew in a large trajectory as if it would fly away forever.

Over the head of the center fielder, who was staring blankly into the air, over the first floor of the central outfield stands, over the second floor, and finally to the third floor,

Thud

The moment the ball fell on the highest seats in the massive Warriors Field outfield, which boasts the largest size in the country,

“Waaaaaa!”

“Crazy! 4 home runs in just two games! At this rate, 100 home runs are possible!”

“Han Su-hyeok! You’re the best! Thank you for coming back to Korea!”

The echoing shouts of the crowd all over the stadium made it even harder for Marcus.

His legs completely gave way, and he knelt on the mound without realizing it and muttered.

“Holy shit……!”