Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 387

#386. I Want to Go to America

“Hey, Choi Maru. What’s your plan?”

“What plan?”

“Don’t play dumb. What are you going to do after this season?”

“Ah…….”

Choi Maru and Park Dong-seok, the Warriors’ number two starter and starting catcher respectively, and also classmates who are contributing to the team’s first-place run, sat facing each other at dinner.

Choi Maru, who had been silently staring at the mountain of braised short ribs, put down his chopsticks at Park Dong-seok’s words.

“Did I ask you something unnecessary while you were eating? Hey, let’s eat first and talk. This is your favorite place.”

“It’s okay. My stomach already feels bloated, and I only came because you wanted to eat. I was just going to have a bowl of noodles, so you can eat all the meat.”

“Hmm, whatever.”

While Park Dong-seok nodded and devoured the braised short ribs, Choi Maru also finished his dinner with a bowl of noodles.

With plum tea, which was served as dessert, in front of them, the two began their conversation again.

“You’re done eating, so let’s talk. What are you going to do? Are you staying?”

“Um…….”

Choi Maru, who is one year junior to Han Su-hyeok and a pillar of the Warriors’ domestic starting lineup, chose to remain with the Warriors without any hesitation in his first free agency.

Although the conditions themselves were the best, more than anything, he wanted to protect the Warriors with the number 1 on his back, which Han Su-hyeok had passed on to him.

In that way, Choi Maru grew into the Warriors’ ace while Han Su-hyeok was away.

He excellently inherited the lineage of the Warriors’ ace, which had been left vacant as Im Jun-yeong and Cheon Sang-jin aged.

And after this season, Choi Maru will acquire his second free agency qualification.

“Let me ask you first. What about you, Dong-seok?”

“Me? Realistically, it’s difficult for Jae-min and me to go overseas. Of course, I have to stay with the Warriors. Of course, that’s assuming we get an offer.”

It wasn’t just Choi Maru who would acquire free agency qualification after this season.

His classmate and friend, catcher Park Dong-seok, designated hitter Choi Jae-min, and even one year senior Ahn Chi-wook, a total of four key players are scheduled to acquire free agency qualification.

What Park Dong-seok is talking about right now is exactly that.

Unlike pitcher Choi Maru, who has been receiving attention from Major League teams for several years, he and Choi Jae-min realistically wouldn’t be able to go to America.

Park Dong-seok’s position as a catcher made it difficult for him to go overseas, and Choi Jae-min, who has a hearing impairment, wouldn’t be able to play smoothly anywhere other than the Warriors, even in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], let alone overseas.

“I see. Um…….”

“Oh, Chi-wook hyung [older brother/senior] also appointed an agent a while ago. It seems Su-hyeok hyung introduced him. That means he’s aiming to go to America, right?”

“That hyung [older brother/senior] should definitely try. His skills are too good to be playing in the KBO.”

“If that’s the case, Su-hyeok hyung is…….”

“Su-hyeok hyung is um… uh-um…….”

It was Park Dong-seok who brought the story back to the core after it had briefly strayed elsewhere.

“Anyway, Maru. If you can go to America, you definitely should. You’ve done enough in Korea now.”

“Um.”

“The problem is whether Seattle will give you an offer…….”

“…Their starting lineup is too stacked. Hey, I’ll be honest. I’m thinking about going to America, but I don’t want to go anywhere but Seattle. You know why, right?”

At Choi Maru’s words, Park Dong-seok slowly nodded his head.

They’ve been together since high school, for over ten years. It means they know what each other is thinking without having to ask.

Baseball player Choi Maru’s life goal is to become like Han Su-hyeok.

Although he can’t do both pitching and hitting like him, following in the footsteps of pitcher Han Su-hyeok is the strongest driving force for Choi Maru’s growth.

It was only natural that Choi Maru wanted to follow Han Su-hyeok’s path from the Warriors to Seattle.

The problem was whether there was a place for him in the Seattle starting lineup, which had established itself as one of the best prestigious clubs in America.

“Instead, why don’t you go to the Yankees or the Dodgers…….”

“Whoa, don’t say such nonsense.”

When the names of the Yankees and Dodgers, the two clubs that have been most actively courting Choi Maru for the past two years, came up, Choi Maru waved his hand with a look of disgust.

Park Dong-seok realized.

For his longtime friend Choi Maru, there are only two options: the Warriors and the Mariners. Therefore, to receive an offer from the Mariners, who have a rich starting lineup, he needs to work a little harder.

That’s why Park Dong-seok decided to put the thoughts in his head into action.

“Hey, Choi Maru. What are you doing during the All-Star break? You don’t have any schedule other than pitching in the All-Star game, right?”

“Well… I guess not?”

“Okay. Then let’s go somewhere together. Clear your schedule completely.”

“Go? Where?”

“I’m doing it all for you, so shut up and come with me. Okay, we’ve finished our tea, so let’s go home. Go get some rest and prepare for tomorrow’s game.”

Park Dong-seok recalled his conversation with Han Su-hyeok a while ago.

‘Dong-seok, Maru’s balance seems a bit off these days, doesn’t it?’

‘Yeah, Su-hyeok hyung [older brother/senior]. You feel that way too? I want to say something to him, but I’m not sure about anything.’

‘Hmm, was his physical training insufficient in the winter? That’s exactly the phenomenon that appears when he lacks strength… We need to take temporary measures right away…….’

‘Temporary measures?’

‘Make him stop his kicking motion even forcibly, raise his arm angle slightly, um, yeah, move the pitching plate he steps on half a step towards the center, and if you do that, it’ll be easier for him to throw. I’ll tell Jacob, so take him during the All-Star break and have him fix it. Let’s get through this season like that for now.’

‘Why don’t you just tell him yourself, hyung [older brother/senior], why me……?’

‘He makes me uncomfortable. If I say just one word, he keeps talking about gratitude and loyalty.’

‘Ah…….’

After a brief recollection, Park Dong-seok said to Choi Maru.

“You really need to treat Su-hyeok hyung [older brother/senior] well.”

“Hmm, even if I don’t know what it is, isn’t that too obvious?”

“Okay. Stop talking and let’s go home quickly. I have a lot to do.”

Park Dong-seok put his arm around his friend’s shoulder.

On the way home, he suddenly had a thought.

If they had been drafted by a team other than the Warriors, how would his and his friend’s baseball careers have changed?

He couldn’t be sure, but he was certain that it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable as it is now.

‘Su-hyeok hyung [older brother/senior]…….’

To the two of them, Han Su-hyeok was not just a senior baseball player, but also like a lighthouse that illuminates the path they should take.

* * *

It is said that home run hitters please the fans, and good pitchers please the manager.

It can’t be helped.

From the perspective of running or managing a team, there is nothing more important than a reliable starting pitcher, but from the perspective of fans who casually enjoy the game, there is no play more enjoyable than a home run.

The fact that the position of the most beloved superstar among the public, regardless of salary amount, has always been a hitter proves that.

In the case of baseball player Han Su-hyeok, which side, pitching or hitting, should be given more weight?

A hitter who records a batting average of over .400 and more than 70 home runs every year, along with more runs batted in than games played, and a starting pitcher who guarantees an ERA [Earned Run Average] in the 0s and around 20 wins.

It’s not easy to answer the question of which is more valuable because the criteria for judgment differ depending on the perspective.

[Seoul Warriors Han Su-hyeok “I think my essence is closer to pitching. But I also know that fans are more enthusiastic about my home runs. That’s why I’m always trying to strike a balance between the two positions.”]

[Pitcher Han Su-hyeok, hitter Han Su-hyeok, 17 out of 30 baseball experts choose pitcher Han Su-hyeok when asked which one to choose]

[Suwon Commanders Manager Jeong Dae-han “Looking only at indicators like WAR [Wins Above Replacement], it may seem that hitter Han Su-hyeok is more valuable. But from a manager’s perspective, a starting pitcher who almost guarantees victory when starting is more attractive.”]

[Public opinion poll conducted on baseball fans through the KBO website, pitcher Han Su-hyeok VS hitter Han Su-hyeok… 69.5% of approximately 1,000 respondents choose hitter Han Su-hyeok]

[Warriors fans “The most enjoyable moment while watching baseball is when Han Su-hyeok hits a huge ball that goes over the fence, it feels like all the stress that has built up is blown away.”]

In the first half of the 2040 season, while Han Su-hyeok is continuing his overwhelming dominance in all aspects of pitching and hitting without any rivals to compete with, Choi Maru, his second-in-command and ardent follower, took the mound.

The second game of the three-game series against the Raptors held in Changwon.

The Warriors, who seized the initiative in yesterday’s game with Han Su-hyeok’s 7-inning scoreless pitching, were aiming for a winning streak today with their number two starter Choi Maru.

“Play!”

It’s such an obvious thing to say, but the pitcher Choi Maru respects the most is Han Su-hyeok.

In the pitcher Han Su-hyeok VS hitter Han Su-hyeok controversy that shook the baseball world a while ago, Choi Maru raised his hand for pitcher Han Su-hyeok without any hesitation.

He is Choi Maru, an ardent fan and follower who has been watching Han Su-hyeok’s performance since before he joined the professional league, and who is dedicating everything to follow in his footsteps.

After Han Su-hyeok left for America, he watched countless videos of him facing Major League hitters.

Then one day, Choi Maru realized.

Han Su-hyeok, the owner of the world’s highest velocity record who throws balls at 170 km/h or more every game, might actually be a finesse pitcher rather than a fastball pitcher.

No, he definitely was.

The real weapon that pitcher Han Su-hyeok had was not a fast ball, but the control and game management ability to plant the ball where he aimed as if he had measured it with a ruler.

He learned how to use the latest pitching analysis program introduced to the club and put arbitrary data into it.

It was to predict how much power Han Su-hyeok could show when he threw a ball at 160, or even 150 km/h, instead of 170.

The results were surprising.

When all the expected indicators were combined, the conclusion was that even if Han Su-hyeok’s velocity dropped by more than 20 km/h from now, he could still reign as a pitcher who dominates the league.

Choi Maru, who had been trying to increase his velocity by even 1 km/h to catch up with Han Su-hyeok, immediately changed his course at that moment.

Instead of forcibly increasing his velocity, he changed his pitching mechanics to maintain a constant balance, and made every effort to learn Han Su-hyeok’s game management method.

As a result, in the 2031 season, his fourth year since his debut, Choi Maru emerged as the third starter following Im Jun-yeong and Cheon Sang-jin, and after the two older players stepped back, he grew into the Warriors’ domestic ace who would replace them.

Paang

“Strike!”

“Good, Choi Maru! Fighting!”

“Good ball! A little faster!”

Choi Maru, who looked at his velocity of 157 km/h on the scoreboard, nodded with a calm expression.

The highest velocity of 100 miles, 160 km/h, which he once aimed for.

Instead of giving that up, he gained a better weapon.

A powerful four-seam fastball that wriggles powerfully and is sucked in, almost touching the batter’s knees.

He has put in painstaking efforts over the past several years to throw this ball freely, which may seem insignificant to those who do not have a high understanding of baseball.

Choi Maru thought.

Even if it’s not as good as the respected Han Su-hyeok, isn’t it now at a level where he can call himself a pitcher without being ashamed?

He had to spend nearly 10 years for that, but he had no regrets.

Buung

Paang!

“Swing!”

The batter’s bat swung weakly at the 128 km/h changeup that followed the 157 km/h four-seam fastball.

He analyzed and analyzed Han Su-hyeok’s play countless times to find out when, where, and how to throw this ball, which could easily become a batting ball.

That’s why I think I can confidently say.

No matter how hard I try, it’s impossible to catch up with Han Su-hyeok, but at least I think I’ve reached a level where I can sympathize with the ideal type of pitching he pursues.

It took nearly 10 years for that, but I have no regrets.

Paang!

“Strike! Out!”

“Heup!”

Choi Maru, who struck out the first batter with three pitches, unconsciously shouted.

Now I really think I know.

What I have to do now, where I have to go now that I’ve come this far following in Han Su-hyeok’s footsteps.

“Good job, Choi Maru.”

“Su-hyeok hyung [older brother/senior]!”

“Why.”

“I’ve made up my mind. I want to go to America. I want to go to a wider place and compete with the best players in the world.”

Han Su-hyeok didn’t answer those words. He just smiled and patted him on the back.