Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 4

#3. Warriors’ First Round Pick

– Good evening, we have 958 rookie players with us today, all waiting to be called by the 10 professional baseball teams. Welcome to the 2027 KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] Rookie Draft! I’m announcer Lee Seung-woo, here to broadcast today’s event, and beside me is baseball journalist Hwang Jun-ho.

– Glad to be here.

– Journalist Hwang, the players, their families, and team officials are all here, filling the audience seats. You’ve just come from the field; what’s the atmosphere like?

– Yes, the atmosphere is largely one of relief that the Warriors haven’t been disbanded. If a professional team folds, a significant number of players could lose their jobs. It’s a fortunate outcome for the entire baseball community.

– I see. Well, let’s get into the details of this year’s draft. What would you say is the biggest characteristic of the 2027 draft?

– First, the full draft system, which has been in place for the past five years, will continue this year. This means that regardless of regional ties, each team will continue to make their picks in reverse order of their performance from the previous year, targeting all eligible high school graduates nationwide.

– I see. Are there any other notable features?

– Hmm… Another characteristic of this year’s draft is that the draft application system that was in place until last year has been abolished. Now, anyone who is registered with the Korea Baseball Softball Association [governing body for baseball and softball in South Korea] and is expected to graduate from high school or university is eligible to be drafted.

– Thank you for that information. So, the first pick this year will be… the Seoul Warriors, the team that finished last the previous year.

– Yes. The Seoul Warriors, who finished last season in last place, will have the first pick. The Daejeon Falcons, who finished 9th, will have the second pick, the Busan Titans will have the third pick… and so on.

– Thank you. Speaking of the Warriors… things look a bit unusual today, don’t they? Unlike other teams where the scouting teams are out in full force, the Warriors’ table only has the team owner, CEO Park Seong-hoon, and scout Gong Seung-chan.

– Yes, I asked them briefly earlier, and they said that the internal system hasn’t yet been fully established since the team was sold. I don’t know the exact reason.

– I see. By the way, who do you think is the biggest name in this year’s draft?

– There’s no need to even ask, is there?

– Haha, that player. Clearly exists, but can’t be picked… like a mythical creature…

– Yes, anyone who knows even a little bit about baseball wouldn’t argue with that. It’s impossible not to know Han Su-hyeok from Seoul Yongcheon High School, who has completely dominated the high school baseball scene for the past three years.

– It’s a shame. I personally wanted to see Han Su-hyeok play in Korea… but his entry into the Seattle Mariners is almost certain, right?

– That’s right. The contract hasn’t been finalized yet, but even if things fall through with Seattle, there are plenty of other American teams lining up behind them.

– As an aside, I personally saw Han Su-hyeok play in the recent tournament.

– Amazing, isn’t he?

– Yes, I never imagined that a Korean player, especially a high school student, could throw 165 km/h [approximately 102.5 mph]. On top of that, perfect defense as a shortstop, and three consecutive home runs that went out of the park. He’s just a super high school-level player; there’s nothing else to say.

– That’s right. That’s why American teams are lining up to wait, isn’t it? I wish Han Su-hyeok was a little worse than he is now… That’s what the Seoul Warriors, who have the first pick, must be thinking.

– Haha, but there’s nothing they can do about it. I hope Han Su-hyeok shows a great performance in the United States, and I will cheer him on.

The fans’ feelings were no different.

The 2027 KBO Rookie Draft being broadcast on YouTube was filled with regret about Han Su-hyeok and ridicule towards the Warriors.

– Damn, why did he have to be so good… Couldn’t he have just been moderate? ㅠㅠ

﹂I heard they’re bringing him straight to the majors from Seattle without going through the minor leagues.

﹂Probably will happen. His fastball is over 160 km/h with control, and that’s game over, even if his breaking balls aren’t great.

﹂Seeing people talk about the second Ohtani [Shohei Ohtani, a famous Japanese baseball player who plays in MLB]… Seattle will openly push him.

﹂Ah, why did Han Su-hyeok have to come out in the year that the Warriors have the first pick? It just hurts my heart.

﹂We were last place last year anyway, and we’ll be last place this year too.

﹂lololol

﹂Putting Han Su-hyeok aside, who do you think they’ll pick in the first round? What’s our weakest position?

﹂Ignoring positions, it’s just Seo Hyeong-ju. Han Su-hyeok is such an irregularity, but Seo Hyeong-ju is good enough to be the Warriors’ starting second baseman next year.

﹂Sigh… Mariners fans must be happy. Take Han Su-hyeok and live well. Damn it!

Han Su-hyeok, a world-class prospect who is ranked among the top in the world, beyond just Korea.

Knowing that they can’t pick him even though they have the first round pick, Seoul Warriors fans began to look at other rookie players with a bitter heart.

But there was no one. Except for second baseman Seo Hyeong-ju, there were no immediate impact players; it was an unusually weak rookie draft this year.

The problem is that there is a publicly known rumor about Seo Hyeong-ju in this industry.

If he gets picked by the Warriors, he would rather go to college. Rumors that Seo Hyeong-ju said that spread widely among the teams.

If that happens, the Warriors could end up wasting one of their picks.

Caught between a rock and a hard place.

Whether they knew that fact or not, the atmosphere at the Warriors’ table, where only owner Park Seong-hoon and scout Gong Seung-chan were sitting, was just quiet.

Their appearance, with only two of them present and even their expressions calm, was like enlightened monks who had transcended everything.

‘What are they thinking? Have they just given up?’

That thought came to everyone’s mind when the draft finally began in earnest.

The host, who had quite an impressive way of speaking, lightened the atmosphere in the venue with a light joke and soon announced the start of the event.

“Now, let’s begin the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft. The order is the reverse order of last season’s standings. First round, Seoul Warriors, are you ready?”

“Ready.”

“Okay, please make your pick.”

Chief Gong Seung-chan, with a flushed face, picked up the microphone and slowly stood up.

Everyone’s eyes turned to him.

But then, a commotion was heard from the back of the draft hall.

“Oh, it’s Han Su-hyeok.”

“Oh, really? Why is he here…”

“Did he just come to watch? Oh, he’s here to support his high school friends.”

“Oh, that’s right. There are quite a few of his friends here.”

“Wow… look at his face and proportions. He could just do something like modeling instead of baseball.”

“I should get his autograph when it’s over. It’ll be hard to see him again once he goes to the States.”

The event was temporarily delayed due to the sudden appearance of Han Su-hyeok.

As people expected, Han Su-hyeok approached the table where his high school friends were, shook hands, and quietly sat down in an empty seat. He seemed to have really come to support them.

The host, who had been staring blankly at Han Su-hyeok, regained his composure and said to Chief Gong Seung-chan.

“There was a slight disturbance. Let’s continue. Seoul Warriors, please make your first round pick.”

The venue became quiet again. Everyone’s eyes turned back to Chief Gong Seung-chan.

And the world turned upside down.

“Seoul Warriors will make their pick. Pitcher Han Su-hyeok from Seoul Yongcheon High School!”

“What?”

“Why?”

“Who did he say?”

“Han Su-hyeok? Did he say Han Su-hyeong?”

“He said Han Su-hyeok. Han Su-hyeok from Yongcheon High School.”

“Is there another Han Su-hyeok there?”

“No, look over there!”

When his name was called, Han Su-hyeok, who was sitting with his friends, jumped up from his seat and greeted the people.

Only then did everyone realize.

It’s real. No matter what they did, the Warriors succeeded in reeling in Han Su-hyeok.

“Crazy!”

“Is it real?”

“Hey, isn’t he going to America?”

“No, if this happens, the draft rankings will all be pushed back.”

“There’s no intro video for Han Su-hyeok? What should we do?”

There was chaos everywhere.

Officials from the nine teams stared alternately at Han Su-hyeok and the Warriors’ table with dumbfounded expressions, and KBO officials were flustered that there was no intro video to introduce the drafted player.

It couldn’t be helped.

Didn’t the Warriors’ general manager say himself not long ago that he had contacted Han Su-hyeok but gave up because his desire to go to the United States was too strong?

The KBO, which had been in confusion due to the abolition of the draft application system that had been in place until last year, had not even made an introductory video for Han Su-hyeok.

But what is this? Why is Han Su-hyeok in Korea, or rather, on the worst team, the Warriors?

The flustered host looked towards the side where the executives were sitting.

But they were just as helpless. In the end, the host, with his eyes tightly closed, approached Han Su-hyeok and handed him the microphone.

“Han Su-hyeok, I’m sorry. It seems difficult to play the intro video due to technical difficulties. Could you introduce yourself and say hello to the baseball fans?”

Even if he was just a rookie who had just graduated from high school, Han Su-hyeok was a player on a different level.

He is a player who is said to be able to easily be a 5th starter if he were thrown into the major leagues right now, and would immediately reign as an ace in Korean baseball.

The hand of the host handing over the microphone was trembling slightly.

“Of course.”

I gave a light smile to the host and turned to face the camera, taking the microphone.

At that moment, the chat window exploded.

﹂Cough! It’s real! It’s really Han Su-hyeok! Not Hang Su-hyeok, Han Su-hyeong, Han Seu-hyeok, but Han Su-hyeok!

﹂I thought the Warriors’ idiots just picked him without consulting the player, but that’s not it. Han Su-hyeok is smiling!

﹂Looks like he’s really coming. Why? Why? Why is he abandoning the Americans who came with bundles of money?

﹂I thought we’d be lucky if we got Seo Hyeong-ju, but Han Su-hyeok is coming?

﹂Wow, I just realized something.

﹂What is it?

﹂Who is the CEO of Iconic Partners, which acquired the Warriors?

﹂Park Seong-hoon

﹂What was Park Seong-hoon’s previous job?

﹂Han Su-hyeok’s agent? Ah, was this a big picture plan?

﹂Did he acquire the Warriors on the condition of bringing Han Su-hyeok? Did he see that angle there? Wow! Crazy

﹂I’m sorry. I’m the crazy one who said some unknown person acquired the Warriors.

﹂Han Su-hyeok is acceptable. What Korean company can bring Han Su-hyeok?

﹂(Lotte Giants fan) Hey, this is cheating for him to play in the KBO

﹂(Lotte Giants fan) That’s right. We can’t even hit 147 km/h, let alone 167 km/h… Hey, let’s all live together

﹂By the way, look at his face. He’s really handsome. He’s going to have a line of simps following him around

﹂lol, the Warriors’ shopping mall is down right now. They’re probably trying to get Han Su-hyeok’s uniform marked

﹂Wow! Wow! I really didn’t expect this. Why is he here?

﹂If this happens, there’s no problem with letting go of the FA [Free Agent] overpaid trio. Let’s send them out and give all that money to our Su-hyeok

﹂Those people are also the heads of respectable families. Let’s not be too harsh.

﹂Damn it, they have to be terribly bad for us to put up with it. Those heads of families will be able to live well even if they go to other teams, so please leave the Warriors. I’m afraid they’ll try to be a *kkondae* [꼰대, Korean slang for a condescending older person] to our Su-hyeok

Whatever the reaction of the baseball fans, everyone’s eyes in the venue were on me.

It’s a familiar sight.

When I first became a Cy Young winner in the United States [award given to the best pitchers in MLB], and when I won the MVP [Most Valuable Player award] after switching to a hitter, the expressions on people’s faces were exactly the same as they are now.

I was happy and moved enough at that time. But I guarantee it wasn’t as much as it is now.

Even the title of best pitcher in the United States, and the award given to the best hitter in the American League, didn’t make me as happy as this moment.

Just being able to wear this team’s uniform made me the happiest person in the world.

Giving up the major leagues and being happy to be drafted by the worst team in Korean baseball.

Some may say it’s crazy, but I don’t care. The criteria for happiness are different for everyone.

That’s why I could say with conviction.

“Thank you. I am baseball player Han Su-hyeok, drafted by the Seoul Warriors.”

“Oh…”

The expressions on people’s faces seemed to show that they were finally realizing it.

They were really starting to believe it.

That I had given up on the United States and decided to stay in Korea, and that I would be wearing the Warriors uniform.

“Han Su-hyeok, are you really giving up the major leagues and playing in Korea? What’s the reason?”

I gave a bright smile to the reporters who were holding out the microphone with dumbfounded expressions.

“It was my dream since I was a child. Today is the day that dream came true.”

“Didn’t you say that you had never considered any other path other than going to the major leagues?”

“Did I? That’s not possible. It was just one of many options.”

I wonder if my intentions were properly conveyed; the reporters began to flash their cameras instead of asking additional questions.

It was a moment I had imagined dozens, hundreds of times, but my heart started pounding without me realizing it. My whole body is filled with the rising excitement.

“Han Su-hyeok, one more question! Please say a word about your goals and determination for next season!”

Perhaps that’s why, without realizing it, the sincerity in my heart popped out in response to the reporter’s question.

“I don’t know how you will think of my words. You may think it’s a ridiculous story. But my goal is to win the championship. I’m going to work hard until my body breaks, until the Warriors win the championship.”

The moment I said those words, I felt something that had been stuck like a stone in the depths of my heart disappear cleanly.

Damn it.

Why didn’t I know that happiness was so easy and close?

* * *