Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 400

#399. Someone’s Last

Before Han Su-hyeok announced his return to the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], experts predicted the Warriors’ winning percentage would hover around .530, barely placing them in the mid-tier, with uncertain playoff prospects.

However,

[Seoul Warriors clinch the regular season title with a dominant 101 wins, 5 ties, and 38 losses, boasting a .726 winning percentage after an 18-game winning streak to close the season!]

[Seoul Warriors shatter KBO and even Major League Baseball (2001 Seattle Mariners, .716) records, achieving the highest winning percentage in the modern era of baseball!]

[Seoul Warriors, the first KBO team to surpass 100 wins, a retrospective on their remarkable journey over the past year!]

[A formidable starting rotation, from ace Han Su-hyeok to fifth starter Im Jun-yeong, complemented by seven hitters with double-digit home runs – the Seoul Warriors, a team for the ages!]

[Baseball analysts comment: “The Warriors, initially projected to win around 50% of their games, surged to over 70% with Han Su-hyeok’s arrival. What, then, is Han Su-hyeok’s true value? Modern baseball metrics simply can’t quantify it.”]

As one analyst noted, Han Su-hyeok’s impact on the Warriors’ success transcended conventional metrics like WAR [Wins Above Replacement] or similar statistics.

The Warriors’ transformation from a middling team to a championship contender upon his arrival, culminating in a historic winning percentage, served as undeniable proof.

The entire five-man starting rotation, spearheaded by Han Su-hyeok and anchored by Im Jun-yeong, each recorded double-digit wins and an ERA [Earned Run Average] below 3.00, fortifying the pitching staff. Furthermore, all starting-caliber hitters, save for two rookies, blasted double-digit home runs.

The Warriors, boasting a team ERA of 3.15 and a team batting average of .319, utterly dominated their competition.

[Han Su-hyeok eclipses 80 home runs in his first season back in the KBO… A miraculous feat amidst relentless scrutiny from opposing pitchers!]

[Han Su-hyeok, a monster among monsters, tops combined career leaderboards across Korea and the US in four major batting categories, including a final season batting average of .467, on-base percentage of .625, slugging percentage of 1.110, and 81 home runs!]

[Major League Baseball fans and experts remark: “While there’s a clear disparity between the Korean and American professional leagues, Han Su-hyeok is an anomaly. This year, he reached his peak. He’d be a top performer even in MLB.”]

[Unbeaten pitcher Han Su-hyeok amasses 21 wins and 0 losses, with a minuscule 0.32 ERA, becoming the linchpin of the Warriors’ record-breaking season!]

[Veteran teammate Im Jun-yeong raves: “Even during Su-hyeok’s time in the States, I followed his pitching via video. I can confidently say Han Su-hyeok was the best this season. Surprisingly, he seems to be still improving.”]

As many anticipated, Han Su-hyeok, having conquered Major League Baseball, proceeded to utterly dominate the KBO.

He posted the highest batting statistics in league history, despite facing intentional walks and pitchers who clearly tried to avoid pitching to him.

Above all, his crowning achievement was ushering in the era of 81 home runs, a milestone previously unimaginable.

“The postseason is about to begin! What’s your goal?”

“Our team’s immediate goal is to reach the Korean Series [KBO’s championship series]. What happens after that is up to the baseball gods.”

The remaining four teams vying for the 2040 season’s playoffs – the Busan Titans, Suwon Commanders, Seoul Magicians, and the Daejeon Falcons, who narrowly secured the final spot by defeating Incheon – echoed the same sentiment.

Realistically, their primary objective was to advance to the Korean Series; beyond that, their fate rested with the baseball gods, or, more accurately, with Han Su-hyeok.

With the top-seeded Seoul Warriors already guaranteed a spot in the Korean Series, the remaining teams braced for a fierce battle.

The first contest was the Wild Card game, pitting the Falcons, who miraculously made the playoffs as the fifth seed, against the Magicians, who were disappointed with their fourth-place finish.

The Magicians needed only one win or a tie to advance to the準-playoffs [Semi-playoffs], while the Falcons had to win two consecutive games to pull off an upset.

The Wild Card game concluded far more decisively than anticipated.

“Han-gyeol hyung [older brother/close male friend] is crying.”

“Wow, that hyung never shed a tear as a player. Being a coach must feel different.”

“That hyung’s luck is… why the Falcons? I heard they had a major falling out with the manager and head coach last month over foreign player usage.”

The Warriors players, having wrapped up their training, gathered in the clubhouse to watch the game.

The camera focused on the Falcons’ dugout after their crushing 15-3 defeat in the first Wild Card game. Rookie coach Ryu Han-gyeol was visibly distraught, reduced to tears as his team suffered a lopsided loss.

“Once internal strife takes root in a club, it’s all over. Our general manager Park – no, President Park – was exceptional at nipping that in the bud, even if he wasn’t great at anything else.”

“True, considering their talent, Daejeon and Busan shouldn’t be struggling like that. It’s a tough situation. What do you think, Chi-wook?”

In the insular world of Korean baseball, where fewer than 80 high school teams exist, everyone is connected through one or two degrees of separation.

Inevitably, cliques form, united by school ties and regional affiliations, engaging in power struggles for their own gain.

The Warriors were not immune to this phenomenon.

Over the past decade, several instances of such cliques emerged within the Warriors organization.

This trend intensified after Han Su-hyeok’s departure for the United States and the subsequent departure of foreign coaches who had been central to the team.

President Park Jae-cheol put an end to it.

A bloodless purge ensued. Regardless of a coach’s talent or salary, any hint of internal politicking resulted in immediate termination.

Talent, performance, and character.

Those were the only criteria for survival within the Warriors organization.

Thanks to President Park Jae-cheol’s efforts, the Warriors maintained a healthy corporate culture and continued their success.

[Seoul Magicians VS Suwon Commanders 준-Playoff Game 1, Magicians secure a dramatic 3-1 victory by a single point!]

[Magicians, fresh off their Wild Card victory, dominate the Commanders in 준-Playoff Game 2… Just one win away from an upset!]

[Commanders’ starting pitchers 1, 2, and 3 completely falter… Eliminated from the playoffs after a disheartening three-game sweep!]

Despite being overshadowed by the Warriors and finishing fourth in the regular season standings, the Magicians, who initially aimed for the championship, were a formidable opponent.

The third-seeded Suwon Commanders collapsed, offering little resistance in a three-game losing streak.

Roberto Gomez and Marcus Lopez, the Magicians’ foreign starters, delivered stellar performances, while Oh Dong-cheol, known as an “iron wall” to other players (though less so against Han Su-hyeok), flawlessly closed out the games.

[Seoul Magicians and Busan Titans to face off in the 2040 season’s Playoff, a clash of KBO’s most popular teams!]

[Titans aim to reach the Korean Series for the first time in 41 years; Magicians are the defending champions!]

[The Magicians’ momentum, fueled by their Wild Card and 준-Playoff victories, versus the rested Titans’ starting pitchers!]

[Magicians manager Kim Seong-soo: “We started the playoffs from a slightly lower seed than we hoped for, but we are a strong team. We will defeat Busan and advance to the Korean Series to challenge the Warriors.” – Determination]

[Busan Titans’ pitching and hitting ace Park Jang-yeol: “I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time. The thought of facing the god of baseball in the Korean Series makes my heart race. The Magicians? They’re just an obstacle we need to overcome to reach the next stage.” – SNS [Social Networking Service] account deactivated due to protests from Magicians fans]

The playoff stage was ignited by the bold pronouncements of a certain baseball player who deeply admires Han Su-hyeok.

The defending champion Magicians and the Titans, eager to seize their first Korean Series appearance in 41 years, were set for a head-to-head clash.

And,

[Game-winning home run and shutout in Playoff Game 1… Park Jang-yeol’s perfect day!]

[Game 1 MVP Park Jang-yeol: “Today’s game has given me the confidence to continue as a two-way player. Some may call it reckless, but I will continue to challenge myself.”]

[Manager Kim Seong-soo bows his head after a crushing 4-0 defeat: “We will regroup and prepare for Game 2.”]

[No miracle occurred. The Busan Titans swept Games 2 and 3 after Game 1, securing their first Korean Series berth in 41 years!]

[Crowds throng the city, Busan Seagulls [Busan’s baseball team mascot] are everywhere… Busan is in the midst of a celebration!]

[Busan Mayor Oh Gyu-won: “We will organize a car parade for the baseball team that created this miracle.” – Baseball fans react: A car parade for just reaching the Korean Series, not even winning the championship?]

[Riding a three-game winning streak, the Busan Titans are no longer intimidated by Han Su-hyeok. Their goal is to win the Korean Series!]

The Seoul Magicians’ quest for a second consecutive championship came to an abrupt end.

They suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the well-prepared Busan Titans, ending their playoff run.

News of manager Kim Seong-soo’s dismissal surfaced after the game, but baseball fans were focused elsewhere.

[Seoul Warriors and Busan Titans confirmed for the Korean Series, a showdown between KBO’s two most popular clubs!]

[Korean Series to be played in a best-of-seven format. Can the Titans overcome the Warriors’ formidable starting rotation of Han Su-hyeok, Choi Ma-ru, Jose Carlos, and Cheon Sang-jin?]

[Warriors manager Jo Seong-oh: “Im Jun-yeong will serve as a setup man or long reliever in this series. I’m glad the veteran’s final games before retirement will be in the Korean Series. Our goal? It goes without saying – the championship!]

[Han Su-hyeok, aiming for another championship in his first year back in the KBO: “Busan is a good team, no doubt. But our Warriors are a perfect team. With this lineup, we could even compete with Major League Baseball teams. I’m serious.”]

[Warriors fans cheer at Han Su-hyeok’s championship declaration: “We are already champions!]

[Busan Titans owner promises generous incentives to the entire team if they win the championship. Han Su-hyeok responds: “We will provide the highest incentives in history to the entire team and front office, regardless of the Korean Series result.”]

[Skill versus skill, capital versus capital, popularity versus popularity – the 2040 Korean Series opens with a fierce battle!]

“Fierce battle? Honestly, is this even a contest?”

“Right, the outcome is obvious. I just hope there are a lot of home runs.”

“Hehe, it feels a bit strange coming to the Korean Series after so many years?”

“You’ll be seeing it every year from now on.”

The area surrounding Warriors Field, the venue for the first game of the Korean Series, was teeming with fans.

They craved more than just a championship.

They wanted a groundbreaking performance and an overwhelming victory.

The Warriors, hailed as the greatest team in KBO history, were poised to deliver.

Bang!

– Ah, ah! Here it comes! Another one! Han Su-hyeok follows Derek Fleming with a back-to-back home run! The Warriors take a two-run lead in the bottom of the first!

– Park Jang-yeol’s pitch was excellent, but the hitters are just too good. Frankly, it’s unfair. It’s unfair for those players to be in the KBO.

– Park Jang-yeol shouts encouragement to his teammates after giving up the home run. Ah, that’s great to see. The game isn’t over yet. They can still come back.

– Really? Even with Han Su-hyeok pitching?

– Um…….

Park Jang-yeol, who pitched a shutout in the first playoff game, started Game 1 of the Korean Series, surpassing the foreign pitchers, and faced the Warriors with everything he had.

A showdown with Han Su-hyeok, the player he admired most, ignited a fire within Park Jang-yeol.

But,

Bang!

– Ah, he does it again! Another consecutive home run from Han Su-hyeok!

– A head-on battle is admirable, but… Park Jang-yeol, it’s a shame. He’s up against a monster.

– Park Jang-yeol’s eyes are red… ah, the coach is finally coming to the mound.

Han Su-hyeok’s dominance was undeniable.

Park Jang-yeol, choosing to challenge Han Su-hyeok directly instead of issuing an intentional walk, charged at him with all his might.

And was brutally crushed.

Three consecutive home runs and five RBIs.

Meanwhile, Han Su-hyeok on the mound completely shut down the Titans’ lineup.

[2040 season KBO Korean Series Game 1: Han Su-hyeok’s perfect victory in the two-way player showdown!]

[3 home runs, 5 RBIs, 9 scoreless innings for Han Su-hyeok VS 4 hitless at-bats, 5 innings and 5 runs allowed for Park Jang-yeol… The individual battle directly impacts the game’s outcome!]

[Game 1 MVP Han Su-hyeok: “Park Jang-yeol is a talented junior and a great player. I expect him to continue to grow in the future.”]

[Busan Titans’ Park Jang-yeol, the losing pitcher: “It’s disappointing, but I admit defeat. Han Su-hyeok was a great player, as expected. I learned a lot and want to learn more in the future.”]

The moment Game 1 ended with the Warriors’ overwhelming victory, even the most optimistic Busan fans recognized the reality.

The Warriors’ dominance was too great.

The players, united behind Han Su-hyeok, showcased their skills and exerted immense pressure on the Titans.

Conversely, the Titans players were too inexperienced to contend with the Warriors, who boasted the most championship titles in KBO history.

[Warriors’ formidable second and third starting pitchers, Choi Ma-ru and Jose Carlos, defeat the Titans, securing a three-game lead in the Korean Series!]

[Titans’ lineup completely shut down, failing to score a single run through three games. Experts comment: “We anticipated this to some extent, but the result is too harsh. I feel for the Titans players.”]

[Sajik Baseball Stadium falls silent after Game 3 of the Korean Series. Busan citizens gather outside: “I’m angry. I’m so angry I could cry. It was like watching adults play against elementary school students.”]

[The final game of the Korean Series to determine the 2040 season champion: Warriors’ Cheon Sang-jin versus Busan Titans’ Lee Gyu-min in the starting match!]

“Su-hyeok, I’m counting on you again today.”

“Don’t worry, hyung [older brother/close male friend]. Just pitch comfortably.”

“I feel so reassured. I think a shutout is possible.”

“Even better.”

Cheon Sang-jin, who predicted a shutout before the game, faced the Titans hitters with unwavering determination.

However, the Titans hitters, previously stifled by tension and pressure, finally found their rhythm in the final game.

A fierce hitting battle ensued until the bottom of the seventh inning, when, with the score tied at 6-6, starter Cheon Sang-jin was relieved.

And, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Im Jun-yeong took the mound.

[Pitcher change: Cheon Sang-jin out, Im Jun-yeong in!]

“Hyung, you worked hard.”

“Don’t talk like it’s over. If we lose today, I’ll have to pitch again.”

“Is that so? Haha. That wouldn’t be bad either.”

The two veteran pitchers exchanged jokes as they switched places on the mound.

Im Jun-yeong, set to retire and begin coaching training after a remarkable 25-year career, bowed his head on the mound, prompting a standing ovation from the Busan fans filling Sajik Baseball Stadium.

“Im Jun-yeong, man! You worked hard! You really worked hard!”

“You should have played for our team at least once!”

“We’ll miss you a lot!”

Regardless of team affiliation, Im Jun-yeong was a beloved and respected figure among all KBO players and fans.

In his youth, he was a rising star who carried the Warriors through their dark years, an ace who ushered in the Incheon Rangers’ golden age, and later, an ace among aces who returned to his original team and built a historic dynasty.

Im Jun-yeong’s final pitch, from a player who holds nearly every pitching-related career record, was about to begin.

Paang

“Strike!”

Paang

“Strike! Out!”

Perhaps it was a miracle.

Im Jun-yeong, whose fastball had barely reached 135 km/h [approximately 84 mph] recently, effortlessly threw the ball over 140 km/h [approximately 87 mph].

People realized.

That this veteran pitcher had been conserving his energy all along.

That he had always been protecting his shoulder, which had been bothering him, and preparing for his next appearance.

And that now, with no need to hold back, he was giving it his all.

Boom

“Swing! Out!”

The 44-year-old veteran pitcher, having unleashed his self-imposed limits, dominated the Titans hitters.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Titans’ vaunted second, third, and fourth hitters were retired with strikeouts and ground balls.

And in the top of the ninth inning that followed,

With the score tied at 6-6 and two outs with the bases loaded, Han Su-hyeok stepped into the batter’s box.

[Second batter, center fielder Han Su-hyeok]

“Wooaaaaaaaa!”

“Let’s go! Let’s finish this quickly and take the trophy back to Seoul!”

“Han Su-hyeok! The best baseball player in the world!”

Instead of the rattled closing pitcher, a foreign pitcher who was scheduled to start the next game took the mound.

It was Busan’s last resort. There was no time to consider the future, as everything would be decided with this one at-bat. They hoped that the foreign player, whom they had signed this season for $2 million, could overcome this crisis.

But,

Deudeudeuk

The Titans catcher, preparing to receive the pitch, felt goosebumps all over his body.

He sensed an immense concentration emanating from Han Su-hyeok, a presence that was always intimidating and whose mere silhouette instilled fear.

Han Su-hyeok’s desire to honor his retiring senior was palpable.

And,

Taaaaaaang!

It was over with a deafening crack unlike anything heard before.

The veteran pitcher, who had flawlessly pitched two innings in the eighth and ninth, wept as he held the Korean Series championship trophy aloft, while his jubilant teammates carried him around the field, roaring with joy.

The Warriors’ 2040 season ended in triumph.