Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 6

#5. Jacob Turner

“Jacob, you have to take care of this by next week. I can’t push it any further.”

“Oh, please, Mary.”

“It’s already beyond what I can handle. I’m sorry.”

In front of the cashier’s window at Seattle Children’s Hospital, a white man with a weary face knelt on the floor, looking utterly defeated.

The man’s name was Jacob Turner.

The reason he, a physical trainer for a minor league team under the Seattle Mariners, was in despair was his only daughter’s mounting medical bills.

A precious daughter suffering from a rare and incurable disease that affects only 9,000 people in the entire United States.

The medical bills for his daughter, whom he had protected with everything he had after losing his wife, weighed heavily on the man’s shoulders.

Since insurance doesn’t fully cover it yet, he needed a whopping $60,000 a year for treatment.

He couldn’t possibly afford it with just his minor league trainer’s salary, so he sold his house, sold his car, and took out every loan he could to survive day by day, but even that had reached its limit.

“…I’m sorry, Jacob. Please make an interim payment by next week so we don’t have to clear Annie’s bed. Well, I’ll be going.”

The cashier gave a sorrowful expression and returned to her seat.

Jacob, overwhelmed with frustration, barely managed to get up and slumped down on a bench in the hallway.

Is this the end of everything?

How should he explain it to his daughter? Should he tell her that they have to go home because they don’t have money? Was it right to tell her the truth, that everything was over?

As Jacob’s mind was filled with despair, his smartphone in his pocket vibrated. It was an unfamiliar number.

“…I don’t know who it is, but I’m not in a position to take a call right now.”

– Jacob, it’s me. Daniel, from the scouting team, Daniel Mitchell.

“Daniel…? Why are you calling? What’s going on?”

– Never mind that, where are you now? You haven’t left Seattle, have you?

“No, I’m nearby. But, whatever it is, can’t we talk about it later?”

– No, you’ll regret it if you do. Stop complaining and rush to the club office right now. Hurry.

“……”

Daniel was a scout in charge of the Far East region of Asia for the Mariners, whom he knew through various matters.

But why was this person suddenly looking for him?

Jacob, who was about to call back and say he couldn’t go, changed his mind and headed to the office.

He was desperate, hoping that he might find some side job.

And that decision changed Jacob and his daughter’s lives.

* * *

“Mr. Han, please remember what we discussed today.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“You really promised? I trust that you will contact us first when you advance to the Major League in the future.”

“Have you only lived being deceived? I’m telling you, I will.”

Daniel Mitchell sensed an opportunity when the promising Korean player, whom he thought he would never see again after the contract fell through, suddenly contacted him and asked to meet someone.

Perhaps this could be a link between himself and the brilliant talent in the future.

He had failed to bring him to the United States right away, but that monster would surely devastate the Korean baseball world in a few years and then come to the United States.

Daniel had not yet given up on Soo-hyuk.

What Han Soo-hyuk asked of Daniel was a meeting with Jacob, a minor league trainer.

It wasn’t difficult.

They had some acquaintance anyway, and even if they didn’t, he was willing to do anything to maintain his relationship with Han Soo-hyuk.

“He’ll be here soon. How about another cup of coffee…?”

“Yes, um… Seattle’s winter is definitely cold. I’ve felt it before.”

“…Didn’t you say this was your first time in the United States? Since you say it’s cold, I’ll turn up the heating a bit more.”

Daniel tilted his head, raising the heater temperature. He felt a strange sense of déjà vu in Han Soo-hyuk’s muttering to himself.

But that thought didn’t last long. The moment he handed Han Soo-hyuk a second cup of coffee, the person he was waiting for arrived.

“Daniel?”

“Oh, Jacob. Come in. Aren’t you cold? Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“No, I don’t need coffee, but why did you call me? Is there something to do?”

“Something to do? Well, I don’t know, but I think it would be better to ask this person here?”

“What?”

At Daniel’s words, Jacob’s gaze turned to Han Soo-hyuk.

He had a look of complete bewilderment. *Who the hell is this guy?* That’s exactly the look he had.

Before he fell into further confusion, Han Soo-hyuk took the initiative to shake his hand.

“Jacob, nice to meet you. My name is Han Soo-hyuk. You can just call me Han.”

“…Okay, Han. I don’t know who you are, but I’m a little busy, so let’s get straight to the point.”

“Oh, Jacob. You don’t know Mr. Han? Han Soo-hyuk from South Korea, really?”

“Han Soo-hyuk… Han Soo-hyuk… Ah, yes, I remember. That player who was said to be the next Ohtani [Shohei Ohtani, a famous Japanese baseball player]… But I heard the contract with us fell through, what brings you here?”

“Yes, I’m about to tell you that. Daniel, I’m sorry, but could you excuse us for a moment?”

“Oh, of course. Mr. Han. I can excuse myself not just for a moment, but forever for you. How about… should I just make a room for you here?”

*Why is this guy overreacting so much?*

Han Soo-hyuk sent Daniel, who was putting on airs with his ridiculous remarks, out and sat face to face with Jacob.

He looked exhausted and despondent, as if he had come straight from the hospital.

The continuous nursing and endless medical bills were cruelly crushing the man named Jacob’s life.

“Jacob.”

“Damn it, I don’t know what’s going on, but why are you wasting so much time? I told you, I’m busy.”

Jacob’s tone was rough and urgent, as if he was thinking of his daughter lying in the hospital.

*Yes, this is who he was.*

He would get furious even if the players disobeyed his instructions just a little, and thanks to that, he caused trouble here and there, but he always said what he had to say.

Han Soo-hyuk threw the main point directly at him, who was looking at him with bloodshot eyes.

“Okay. I’ll make a simple offer. I need you.”

“What? You need me? For what?”

“I want to hire you as my personal trainer. Let’s go to Korea together.”

“Huh…”

Jacob let out a groan instead of answering, staring at Han Soo-hyuk as if he was dumbfounded.

Then, he asked back in a voice with a very slight hope.

“…What are the conditions?”

“First of all, I’ll give you the same annual salary you’re getting now.”

“Fuck! I just wasted my time. Look, why would I go to that faraway country for the same salary?”

It was a natural reaction. Before his head was dyed with anger any further, Han Soo-hyuk hurriedly continued.

“Instead, I will be responsible for all of your daughter’s hospital bills during the contract period. You know about Korea’s medical technology, right? I can’t say it’s better than the United States, but I can’t say it’s worse either.”

“What? What does that even mean…”

“Just help me for two years, Jacob.”

Han Soo-hyuk didn’t know before.

In his arrogant and fearless rookie days, he didn’t know anything.

What kind of heart this man had when he gave him advice.

How much burden a minor league trainer with an annual salary of only tens of thousands of dollars had when he tried to interfere with the pitching form of the club’s top prospect.

Such a grateful person was looking at him with a face like a half-corpse.

“Why… why me? Why me, who is just a minor league coach?”

“Because you’re the best.”

Han Soo-hyuk needed Jacob now.

The only person who warned him about his pitching form when everyone else turned away from him in his previous life.

The person who tried to fix him, even risking his own position.

And the person who believed in and supported pitcher Han Soo-hyuk until the end, even when everyone else gave up on him.

“Jacob, please invest your time in me.”

“……”

And Jacob’s daughter needed him.

“Let’s go. To Korea.”

In two years, health insurance would be applied to the treatment of Jacob’s daughter’s rare disease in both the United States and Korea.

Han Soo-hyuk still remembered the sad tears that this strong man shed a long time ago.

He couldn’t forget Jacob’s appearance as he wailed that he could have saved his daughter if the insurance coverage had been a little faster.

Now he is my man.

For the next two years, maybe longer, I will protect the child’s life.

For this man who did not spare advice and encouragement to the arrogant rookie who lived with the taste of being the only one who was good in the world.

* * *

“No, so who is this person?”

“My personal trainer. Say hello. This is our team’s owner, Park Seong-hoon, and this is Jacob Turner.”

“Hey, nice to meet you.”

“He, hey, no, I understand that, but why go all the way to the United States to get a full-time trainer…”

“I did it because I needed it, so just think of it that way, *hyung* [Korean term for older brother or close male friend]. I’m sorry, but when I’m looking for a house, please find Jacob’s house next to it as well. A two-year lease for now. I’ll take care of that with my own money too.”

“Well, that’s not difficult… I saw an apartment near Jamsil earlier, and there was a nice house. Let’s sign the contract there. Then.”

“Okay, I don’t care, so let’s go there. By the way, Jacob, how’s Annie’s hospital? Do you like it?”

“Thank you, friend. It’s excellent. It’s even better than in the United States.”

“Okay. Then shall we start working now?”

Everything was processed in an instant. It was the power of money.

Packing up Jacob’s house and transferring his daughter to a domestic hospital proceeded in an instant.

Jacob was very satisfied with the facilities and medical staff of the hospital, which is one of the best in Korea in the field of pediatric rare diseases, and the kind lady who would be in charge of nursing.

Han Soo-hyuk hoped that he and his daughter would be in less pain, even a little, in this life.

He didn’t know how the two fathers and daughters would end up, but he hoped their future was full of happiness.

Having secured the best personal trainer, Han Soo-hyuk began to build his body in earnest.

“Is this a private training center? The facilities are good.”

“Yes, I took over a failing baseball classroom. Now, Jacob. I’ll tell you my requirements from now on.”

“Good.”

“Have you checked all of my pitching videos?”

“Of course. I’ve checked the game videos from middle school until recently. You’re an amazing pitcher.”

“Is that all?”

“And a ticking time bomb too.”

*He’s definitely an unusual person. To see through the core of the problem at once.*

“I saw it well. From now on, we need to create a stable pitching form that can maintain the optimal balance without dropping the speed.”

“It’s not easy. It seems like your growth plates haven’t closed yet.”

“Of course. It’s not easy, so I went all the way to the United States to bring you here, right?”

“Hmm.”

Jacob was lost in thought, calculating something with his fingers. Han Soo-hyuk waited quietly for him.

And finally, Jacob, who had finished thinking about something, opened his mouth.

“At least a year, maybe longer.”

“That’s long.”

“If your goal is simply to record good results in Korean baseball, it’s possible right away. You can choose a stable pitching form instead of dropping the speed a bit and slowly adapt to it.”

“That’s right.”

“But from what I see… I don’t think your goal is that much.”

“You saw it well. If I’m going to start pitching, I should throw around 107 miles.”

“Heh heh, yeah. Pitchers are originally a crazy species, but you seem to be even more so among them. I wonder if there’s another human being who would do this to hire a trainer.”

“I don’t think the person who came to Korea thanks to that crazy guy should be saying that.”

“Anyway, good. The goal is 107 miles, and the best pitching form that can prevent injuries. I’ll make it for you. But pitching is prohibited for a year. Are you okay with that?”

“Okay. I’ll only play as a batter for the next year.”

“Okay. You take care of how the club allows the position issue, and I’ll start working right away from today.”

When Han Soo-hyuk first set foot in the Major League, he was an arrogant and cocky rookie.

He didn’t try to listen to the advice of the coach or anyone else.

But now, given the opportunity for a new life, he is taking his first steps with the help of others.

Perhaps this is the most appropriate start for this life, in which he has decided to go with others.

Hmm.

Anyway, the time has come to go to the club to sign the contract.

Shall we move once?

* * *