Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 39

#38. Home Showdown

I don’t particularly enjoy stealing bases, but I do quite like the play itself.

Unlike other plays, stealing allows you to maintain a consistent level of quality regardless of your physical condition or any slump you might be in.

That’s why Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest leadoff hitters of all time, was able to win the stolen base title at the age of 39.

A significant portion of stolen base success depends on experience, not just physical ability.

The opposing battery’s [pitcher and catcher] ball distribution based on the game situation, the bench’s signals, defensive formations, the current pitcher’s psychological state, the condition of the ground, the pressure emanating from the stands, and so on.

After playing baseball for a long time like I have, you naturally develop an eye for reading those things.

When I’m on base and looking at the back of the opposing pitcher’s head, their psychological state is naturally conveyed to me.

That’s why sometimes stealing feels too easy.

Especially with a body that reacts even before I’ve finished thinking.

Whoosh.

The pitcher, half-stunned by the unexpected steal, barely regained his senses and threw the second pitch to Max.

It’s obvious what’s coming. This time, it’ll be a two-seamer aimed at the body.

Thwack!

“Safe!”

Just as I expected.

It’s obvious what kind of ball that pitcher would throw in this situation.

Max took a big swing at the two-seamer coming inside, and Magicians catcher Park Su-gil threw with all his might, but I was already at third base.

The Magicians catcher glared at me, so I snorted once.

“Wow…”

“Han Su-hyeok is really…”

“Why is he so fast when he runs so casually?”

“Why didn’t he go to the Major League?”

“He said he wanted to make the Warriors champions.”

“Was that real… crazy, I would definitely go to the Major League if I were him.”

Low exclamations erupted from the Warriors dugout.

Watching the scene from the on-deck circle, Ahn Chi-wook unconsciously bit his lower lip.

Whenever he sees such a performance, he feels all the strength drain from his body.

Not only does he have unbelievable power hitting, but also the mobility to steal second and third base in an instant.

No matter how much he tries not to be conscious of it and go his own way, he feels insignificant when he sees the performance of his fellow rookie.

‘Tch.’

Yeah, I’m just an ordinary person who can’t catch up with that monster’s abilities.

I admit it. Han Su-hyeok is a monster that I can’t dare to challenge.

But just one thing. I want to get as many hits as that guy.

Maybe not right now, but someday.

Clang!

“Out!”

While Ahn Chi-wook was thinking that, Max Walker’s hit flew straight to the left fielder.

Because the distance was short, Han Su-hyeok, who was on third base, gave up tagging up and sighed deeply.

Today, the captain, senior Jo Seong-oh, is out of the lineup due to mild muscle pain. I have to take responsibility for this situation somehow.

Okay, let’s think about complicated things later. What I have to do now is bring that guy home.

Ahn Chi-wook, with his mind clear for the first time in a while, stepped into the batter’s box.

“Hey, aren’t you going to say hello? Anyway, this guy and that guy have no manners.”

The Magicians’ veteran catcher, feeling a sense of crisis or simply in a bad mood, frowned and started a fight.

As Han Su-hyeok taught him, he ignored it without answering.

The monstrous rookie told him.

“The only people you need to be kind to while playing baseball are the fans and your teammates. If anyone bothers you, he’ll beat them up for you, so don’t be scared.”

What a funny guy. We’re both rookies, what nonsense is he talking about.

He could hear the catcher muttering something behind him, but he pretended not to hear it.

Instead, he focused all his attention on the opposing pitcher.

‘A two-seamer close to 150 km/h [kilometers per hour], a changeup, a slider… he mainly throws sliders when he’s trying for a strikeout.’

He’s faced him a few times today, but he reviews the opposing pitcher’s characteristics once again.

Yeah, right now, the pitcher will try to strike me out to protect the 1-0 lead. If an outfield fly or an infield ground ball comes out here, the fast-footed Han Su-hyeok will charge home.

The only ball a left-handed pitcher will throw to a left-handed batter in this situation is one.

A slider that flows out of the zone.

“Strike!”

“Ball!”

“Strike!”

“Ball!”

He calmly waited for the ball that went in and out of the zone along the border line.

Two balls, two strikes.

It’s a showdown.

The opposing pitcher slowly began his pitch. Han Su-hyeok, on third base, moved nimbly as if he would run home at any moment, harassing the pitcher.

Whoosh!

At that moment, the ball that popped out of the opposing pitcher’s hand came into Ahn Chi-wook’s view.

As if playing a game, he could see the trajectory that the ball would draw in the future.

Ahn Chi-wook took a breath, put his elbow close to his body, gave it an impact, and started a strong and fast, simple swing without any unnecessary movements.

The trajectory of that beautiful swing, which even Han Su-hyeok once envied, met the ball.

Clang!

He definitely hit the ball with the bat, but he felt nothing.

The cheers of the crowd were so loud that his ears were ringing. The Magicians catcher muttered something again, but he couldn’t hear anything.

Where did it go? Did I even hit it? But why can’t I see the hit?

That’s when Han Su-hyeok, who was standing on third base, slowly came to home plate and shouted loudly.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you going to first base?”

“Huh?”

“Why is the guy who hit a go-ahead home run standing there? Hurry up and run.”

“A home run? Me?”

Ahn Chi-wook, dumbfounded by Han Su-hyeok’s words, hurriedly started running towards first base.

The Magicians’ first baseman glared at him unpleasantly, but he couldn’t see properly as if there was a film over his eyes.

Still, he somehow stepped on second base, then third base again, and headed for home plate. And he succeeded in stepping on the base, wiping away the tears flowing down his face.

“Ahn Chi-wook! You bastard, come here!”

“A rookie hitting a game-winning home run here! Hey! Everyone who’s worse than him today gets extra batting practice!”

“Good job! Good job!”

The teammates in the dugout ran out and surrounded Ahn Chi-wook. Han Su-hyeok was standing one step behind them, looking at him with a satisfied expression.

What an unpleasant guy. Even though he’s a fellow rookie, he sometimes looks at him like a naive younger brother.

But well, he knows that more than half of today’s home run is thanks to that guy.

“Woah!”

“Ahn Chi-wook! Ahn Chi-wook! Ahn Chi-wook!”

The moment the number 2 was displayed on the scoreboard, a cheer erupted from the stands that seemed to explode.

Yeah, if I go step by step like this, I’ll be able to catch up to that monster’s heels someday.

No, maybe that guy can contribute even a little bit to the Warriors’ championship, which he so desperately wants.

That would be enough. I think I could be satisfied.

“Kkuaaa!”

Ahn Chi-wook roared, as if vomiting out something that had been stuck in his chest.

The veteran players, with expressions that seemed to understand his feelings, discreetly turned their heads away.

Ahn Chi-wook, who joined as a 9th round draft pick and was selected as the starting third baseman, was moving forward step by step.

* * *

“Fuck!”

The foreign pitcher, who was taken out after giving up a game-changing two-run home run to Ahn Chi-wook, trashed the dugout.

Looking at the scene with a bitter expression, Manager Joo Seok-do gave instructions to the hitting coach.

“It’s an all-out war. Have all the players in good condition ready to go.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Although they conceded a blow to an unexpected hitter, it’s still the bottom of the 7th inning with only a one-point difference.

Considering the Warriors’ bullpen, which is the weakest in the league, there are still opportunities left.

Moreover, isn’t the Magicians’ batting lineup considered the best in the league? Players who could immediately start on other teams are lined up as pinch hitters.

And Manager Joo Seok-do’s thoughts were somewhat correct.

In the top of the 8th inning, Warriors’ closer Hong Young-sik gave up two consecutive walks.

Followed by a double steal. Jang Deok-soo was caught off guard and couldn’t react at all, and in an instant, a no-out situation with runners on second and third base was created.

A sacrifice fly would tie the game, and a single hit could even lead to a comeback.

The Magicians’ cheering section was heating up. But the next moment.

“Out!”

“Out!”

“Out!”

Han Su-hyeok jumped towards a line drive flying over the shortstop’s head.

It was an incredible leaping catch, reminiscent of a basketball player.

The runners on second and third base, who thought it would definitely go out to the outfield, were unable to return to their bases and were called out. A huge boo was poured out on the third base runner who hastily shifted his body’s center of gravity in that situation.

“…This is really crazy.”

A triple play. A rare sight rarely seen in professional baseball unfolded.

The opposing team’s rookie shortstop, who created that absurd scene, was heading to the dugout with an expression as if it was nothing.

“Heo…”

Manager Joo Seok-do, who had been focusing his attention on that rookie shortstop throughout yesterday and today’s game, noticed something strange.

Han Su-hyeok is strange. That’s not something a rookie can do.

It’s not about the play itself. I’ve often seen guys who were born monsters regardless of age.

It’s more about the attitude.

He doesn’t even change his expression after making such an amazing play. He clearly seems happy, but at the same time, he gives off a nonchalant feeling. It’s as if it’s really no big deal.

‘What the hell is that *saekki* [a Korean slang term, roughly equivalent to “bastard” or “jerk”]…’

Such an aura, reminiscent of a top veteran nearing retirement, emanates from Han Su-hyeok.

Is that why?

Even though I’ve been in this professional baseball scene for decades, my heart strangely shrinks whenever I see that guy.

“Hoo…”

Manager Joo Seok-do took a deep breath and barely calmed himself down.

Let’s calm down.

Even though we suffered such an absurd play, the game is not over yet.

We can’t lose two consecutive games in the Jamsil [stadium in Seoul] rivalry.

“You *saekki-deul-a* [plural form of *saekki*]! Don’t make that kind of face. It’s not over yet! Anyone who gives up in advance will be sent down to Icheon [location of the minor league team]! Heads up!”

He encouraged the players in a loud voice. The Magicians’ players, awakened by the manager’s shout, rekindled their fighting spirit.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, fortunately, they were able to finish the defense before the batting order reached Han Su-hyeok.

The Magicians’ bullpen pitcher, who caught the second batter Choi Min-seok, came down from the mound with a pale face, and Han Su-hyeok, who was in the waiting batter’s box, stepped back with a regretful expression.

It’s like a male lion retreating after missing its prey.

Barely calming his dizzying head, he prepared a pinch hitter.

“Hong Cheol, go out as a pinch hitter!”

“Yes! Manager!”

Choi Jung-soo, who took over as the Warriors’ closer after Han Jin-woo’s transfer.

His fastball is good and his changeup angle is decent, but everyone in the world knows that he’s weak against left-handed hitters.

And in the Magicians’ dugout, left-handed hitters are lined up, ready to go at any moment.

Ttaak!

Ttaak!

After a full-count battle, Choi Jung-soo struck out the first batter, but then was hit with consecutive hits by Magicians’ catcher Park Su-gil and Song Ki-tae.

This time, Warriors’ manager Lee Dae-jun’s face turned red. He hurriedly prepared the next bullpen pitcher, but for now, Choi Jung-soo has to hold on for this inning.

And the next moment.

Ttaak!

The Magicians’ ninth batter hit an amazing ball that flew like a bullet past the first baseman.

I thought it would be a walk-off hit. The Warriors’ fans’ expressions were filled with despair.

But then, Jo Sung-oh, a veteran who has been protecting this team’s infield for over 10 years, saved the team from the crisis.

The Warriors’ captain, who was out of the lineup due to a minor injury, was put in as a defensive replacement starting this inning.

Taat!

“Out!”

Jo Sung-oh caught a line drive that was completely *ppajyeo-naganeun* [meaning “getting past” or “slipping through”] past the first base with a diving catch.

He failed to catch the runner as well because he completely lost his balance, but blocking it itself was an amazing play.

If that had *ppajyeotdeoramyeon* [meaning “slipped through”], it could have been a comeback situation.

The Magicians’ fans sighed at the sight.

The Warriors’ fans gave a crazy applause to the captain’s struggle that has supported their cheering team.

But the crisis is not over yet.

With two outs and runners on first and second base.

The Magicians took out their last card.

“Time! Pinch hitter!”

They took out the second batter, who had been struggling yesterday and today, and instead sent out veteran Go Cheol-hwan as a pinch hitter, who had been adjusting his batting feel in the minor leagues due to an injury.

Warriors’ closer Choi Jung-soo’s face turned white.

The memory of being hit with a grand slam by Go Cheol-hwan last season came to mind.

And that ominous premonition eventually came true.

Ttaaak!

The ball hit by Go Cheol-hwan flew like a bullet between first and second base and went out to the outfield. It was such a fast ball that the infielders couldn’t even move.

Second base runner Park Su-gil turned third base and started running towards home. Following behind him, first base runner Song Ki-tae also started sprinting.

“Heu-hap!”

Right fielder Max Walker caught the ball and threw it towards home with a shout.

It’s a home showdown.

Runner Park Su-gil is running towards home plate with all his might.

There, Jang Deok-soo, with a stern expression, was firmly fixing his steel-like body, preparing for the home showdown.

The 25,000 spectators filling Jamsil Baseball Stadium fixed their eyes on him, even stopping their breathing.

* * *