Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 61

#60. You Need to Get Hit to Come to Your Senses

‘Hmm, so that’s Han Su-hyeok.’

Ryu Han-gyeol, who took the mound in the top of the first inning, glared at Han Su-hyeok with narrowed eyes.

‘His physique is truly enormous, just as I heard.’

His build is like that of a foreign hitter, but his head is small, and his arms and legs are long and well-proportioned, making him look even bigger to the eye.

‘Sixteen home runs, huh…….’

A monster who hit a whopping sixteen home runs in April alone.

But it doesn’t matter.

Ryu Han-gyeol has faced monsters like him in international competitions before.

Especially among the guys he faced in the WBC [World Baseball Classic], some had hit 50 home runs in a Major League season, and others were doing 30-30 [hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases in a single season] like it was nothing.

Ryu Han-gyeol has fought against such monsters representing his country, and he is about to move to the Big League [Major League Baseball] where those guys are waiting after this season ends.

His gaze turned to somewhere in the middle of the distant stands.

He spotted foreigners holding something in their hands among the crowd.

They are Major League scouts who came to the Daejeon Stadium to see Ryu Han-gyeol.

Was it in his fourth year? When they first started following him, he felt a sense of wonder and excitement, but now it has become just a part of his daily life.

The first digit of his salary and contract money may change depending on what kind of report they write, but Ryu Han-gyeol has held a baseball for too long to get excited about that anymore.

“Han-gyeol, let’s take it easy. The Warriors are on a roll these days.”

“Hyung [older brother/respected friend], I’m Ryu Han-gyeol. I’ll finish today’s game quickly, so don’t worry and just catch the ball well.”

“I know, I know, but…….”

“I’m telling you not to worry. I’ve been doing this for seven years, do you think I’d get worked up just because Major League scouts are here? I won’t, so don’t worry.”

“…Okay. Then I’m counting on you. Let’s go, fighting!”

“I’m telling you to trust me.”

Ryu Han-gyeol sent the catcher back with an indifferent expression.

He is a veteran catcher who has been working with him for seven years since his debut.

He is a good hyung who has helped Ryu Han-gyeol dream of advancing to the Big League.

‘Should I buy him a Rolex when my contract to go to the US is confirmed?’

He has never had a perfect game with that hyung yet, but he should still leave a gift for his best friend who has supported him for seven years until this year.

While Ryu Han-gyeol was thinking about the price of a Rolex in his mind, the umpire’s voice announcing the start of the game flowed out.

“Play ball!”

First batter, Lee Chang-mo.

Before advancing to the Big League, that is, when he was playing in Incheon, he was one of the players who often hit Ryu Han-gyeol’s pitches.

As a second baseman, his defense is top-notch in the league, and he has precise hitting, a good eye, and mobility.

Back then, Lee Chang-mo was quite impressive. He hit well, caught well, and ran well.

Based on the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], he was a player who could have been named as a candidate for the best second baseman of all time.

However, after failing in the Big League and returning to Korea, he completely fell apart.

As of the first week of May, his batting average is hovering around .260, and it is noticeable that his on-base percentage is about 10% higher than that, but as the first batter, his number of stolen bases is 0.

In short, he is a half-baked leadoff hitter who is putting everything on getting on base.

“Strike!”

When facing this type of hitter, it is necessary to be a little more daring than usual.

The four-seam fastball, closely attached to the body on the first pitch, was accurately sucked into the zone.

“Ball.”

I tried to take one ball out of the zone in the same course, but the bat didn’t even flinch.

As expected, no matter what else, his eye for the ball is still the same as in his prime.

Good. Then the next ball.

“Ball.”

The umpire’s hand did not go up for the slider that flowed from the outside of the zone to the inside.

The catcher, Ahn Cheol-yong, looked at the umpire with a look of injustice, but it was no use.

Ryu Han-gyeol, realizing that today’s umpire’s zone was narrow, nodded and prepared for the next ball.

Two balls and one strike, if one more ball misses here, the ball count becomes unfavorable.

Three balls are dangerous for this type of hitter who shows tenacity at the plate, even if it’s not another hitter.

In this case, it’s Ryu Han-gyeol’s main weapon, the changeup.

As if telepathically, Ryu Han-gyeol, who decided on the pitch with just one sign with the catcher, powerfully threw the changeup that made him who he is today.

Taak

“Huh?”

* * *

Choi Min-seok, who was watching the match between Lee Chang-mo and Ryu Han-gyeol from the waiting batter’s box, turned around without realizing it.

Rookie Han Su-hyeok, who gave them tips about Ryu Han-gyeol.

He was looking at Ryu Han-gyeol with an indifferent expression, his bat stuck in the ground.

It’s true. It happened as he said.

When the ball count was driven to two balls and one strike, the changeup really came.

Ryu Han-gyeol’s changeup is known to be almost impossible to hit unless you are aiming for it in advance.

It comes out of the exact same form as the fastball, and the movement that seems to stop in the air is also artistic, and above all, the timing of throwing is very unexpected.

But what if you can know the timing of the changeup in advance like now?

It becomes a ball that professional-level hitters can hit as much as they want.

So far, there have been numerous analysis data on Ryu Han-gyeol for seven years, but there has never been an accurate analysis of when he throws the changeup.

The reason is that, unlike other pitches, in the case of the changeup, whether to throw it or not was decided according to Ryu Han-gyeol’s mood at the time, regardless of the bench’s instructions or prior data.

In other words, it’s like a joker that you can use as you please in a card game where everything moves according to the rules?

Anyway, Lee Chang-mo accurately understood the tip that Han Su-hyeok gave him, and accurately hit Ryu Han-gyeol’s changeup, which is called magic ball, and made a hit in front of the left fielder.

Then it’s my turn now.

“Ball.”

Perhaps angry that his main weapon, the changeup, was hit, Ryu Han-gyeol threw a fastball that flew to face height as the first pitch.

A slightly threatening pitch.

I might have gotten angry if it were normal, but now I’m just glad that I can get a ball.

Okay, just one more.

“Strike!”

This time it’s a completely unexpected ball. It was a changeup that flew at a similar eye level as before and fell into the zone.

As expected, he is a pitcher with tremendous courage.

Ryu Han-gyeol is the only one who would use a changeup that could become a batting ball in this way.

Choi Min-seok, who swallowed a hollow laugh, waited for the next ball with a cautious expression.

“Ball.”

Success. I picked out another ball.

I managed to endure the sinker that came into the lowest zone on the outside and then dropped.

I might have followed with the bat if it were normal, but I was able to endure it because I decided to go to a full count no matter what today.

Ball count two balls and one strike.

It’s the same ball count as when he threw a changeup to Lee Chang-mo earlier.

Han Su-hyeok said.

‘As I said, he throws a changeup when he is at a disadvantage against right-handed hitters. The standard for being at a disadvantage varies from time to time.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘In other words… sometimes he may feel disadvantaged even if it’s two strikes and one ball, and conversely, he may not think he’s at a disadvantage even if it’s one strike and three balls.’

‘Ah, you mean to look at the situation more comprehensively?’

‘Yes, comprehensively, such as who the hitter is, where the runners are, and what the out count is.’

I roughly understood what he meant.

Let’s look at the current situation.

From Ryu Han-gyeol’s point of view, he wouldn’t have thought that the leadoff hitter would get a hit in the first inning. If I get on base here, it’s runners on first and second with no outs.

In that situation, Han Su-hyeok enters. A monster who hit a whopping 16 home runs in April.

No matter how good Ryu Han-gyeol is, he wouldn’t want to create such a situation.

Then Ryu Han-gyeol will try to strike me out no matter what.

Ball count one strike and two balls.

A ball count that Ryu Han-gyeol thinks is unsatisfactory, in other words, a ball count that he would feel is disadvantageous.

Then I’ll aim for it.

Swoosh

Taak

The former Magicians hitting coach taught me to take the power out of my shoulders and push the ball between 1st and 2nd base in this situation. But the Warriors’ blonde hitting coach said something completely different.

‘Friend, as the physical and hitting skills of hitters have improved, the defensive skills of fielders have naturally improved as well. A poorly pushed slow hit will only produce a double play.’

‘Then what should I do, coach?’

‘It’s simple. The strongest and fastest swing you can make. Maximize the speed of the batted ball. It’s best if it goes through the infield, and even if it goes towards the fielder, you can hit a ball so hard that it’s difficult to catch.’

‘Ah.’

I felt like the framework I had known was breaking down, but it didn’t matter much.

The characteristic of the Warriors’ coaches and managers, which I experienced directly after the trade, was that they did not pass on the responsibility to the players if things went wrong.

You can trust and follow them.

The attitude of such coaching staff made Choi Min-seok’s shoulders lighter.

The ball he hit strongly but softly passed by the shortstop, and in an instant, it became runners on first and third with no outs.

Choi Min-seok, who advanced to first base, looked at his palm with a slightly dazed expression.

This is the first time in my life that I have accurately hit Ryu Han-gyeol’s changeup, which is called magic ball in the KBO.

What should I do to not forget this feeling today?

Choi Min-seok’s gaze turned to Han Su-hyeok, who was entering the plate in the distance.

* * *

‘What the hell is this.’

Ryu Han-gyeol, who is usually famous for his strong mentality and is known for not batting an eye in most situations, was forcibly suppressing the embarrassment and anger that welled up in his heart.

Runners on first and third with no outs as soon as the game starts.

The number of Big League scouts who came to Daejeon Stadium today is a whopping six.

Of course, they will not evaluate Ryu Han-gyeol based on the results of today’s game.

However, Ryu Han-gyeol, who was secretly expecting a shutout in his heart, was in a very embarrassing game development.

“Han-gyeol. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. More than that, I feel like my ball combination is being read strangely?”

“That’s right. Just in case, let’s change the sign to B-1.”

“Okay.”

Perhaps thinking about the ace’s pride, the catcher didn’t say much and only confirmed the sign change before returning to home plate.

It’s really strange.

Why do those guys seem to be waiting for my changeup?

Ryu Han-gyeol tilted his head a few more times and looked at the next batter with a cautious expression.

Anyway, what’s done is done, and the important thing is to catch the next batter.

Runners on first and third with no outs.

If I can handle that guy Han Su-hyeok well, there’s nothing else after that.

A trio of left-handed hitters and a designated hitter who is close to being a perennial minor leaguer.

‘Good.’

The best thing is to strike out Han Su-hyeok and induce the next batter, Jo Seong-oh, to hit a double play.

If that’s difficult, I think it’s okay to give Han Su-hyeok about one point with a sacrifice fly.

As he organized his thoughts, his mind quickly began to stabilize.

Who am I?

A strong heart who came on as a relief pitcher in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs and bases loaded in the WBC semi-final and struck out the American League MVP.

There’s no need to be scared.

No matter how much that guy is a super rookie, would he be more amazing than that Yankee back then?

Ryu Han-gyeol, who had organized his thoughts, sent a sign to the catcher first and then slowly entered the pitching motion.

Changeup on the first pitch.

It would be good to induce a swing and miss, and it would be even better if a ground ball comes out with a mis-hit.

The changeup, Ryu Han-gyeol’s most reliable main weapon in this situation where he thinks he is absolutely at a disadvantage, was fired towards the catcher’s mitt.

But.

The moment the ball left his fingertips, Ryu Han-gyeol realized that something was wrong.

He realized that Han Su-hyeok, who was standing at the plate, was smiling.

In an instant, he felt like he had become a herbivore standing in front of a beast of prey.

‘Shit!’

Ttaaaaaaaaaaaak!

And soon, a tremendous hitting sound echoed through the Daejeon baseball stadium.

The batted ball hit by the bat flew over Ryu Han-gyeol’s head in an instant.

The bat was launched into the air like a missile from the rookie’s hand who hit that ball.

At that moment, Ryu Han-gyeol unknowingly collapsed on the spot.