Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 78

#77. NEW Warriors

Two weeks later.

“Alright, today’s the day Sangjin starts. Everyone, keep a close eye on the signals coming from Deoksu, and don’t panic even if the formation changes frequently.”

“Yes, Manager!”

“Good, I have no intention of being satisfied with this third-place ranking. What about you guys?”

“Neither are we!”

“Excellent. I have nothing more to say. Alright, let’s all go out there. Fighting!”

“Fighting!”

May passed, and finally, the first week of June began.

And all the starting players who had been out due to injuries returned.

Back in the second week of May, when Lee Changmo and Choi Minseok collapsed with injuries one after another, everyone thought the Warriors were finished.

However, Seo Hyungju, who was brought in for Jung Taeho for 300 million won and a second-round draft pick, perfectly filled the gap. Furthermore, Cheon Sangjin and Yang Gicheol, who weren’t even in the original plan, secured their spots as starters and closers, making the team even stronger.

Today, as they face their first game in June, the Warriors, who are in third place with a record of 26 wins, 2 draws, and 22 losses, a winning percentage of 0.541, are entering a three-game series against the second-place team, Suwon.

Today’s starter is Senior Cheon Sangjin, whom we can confidently call the strongest of the ten teams’ fourth starters, and who is also second in team jersey sales thanks to his handsome face.

On days when this pitcher is on the mound, the bench actively signals for defensive shifts.

In fact, what determines the success of a shift isn’t so much the defense but how quickly the pitcher’s brain can process information and whether he has the control to throw where he wants.

Currently, Cheon Sangjin is the player on our team who best meets those conditions.

“Suhyuk, how about we increase the sinker rate on outside pitches against left-handed hitters today?”

“That’s a good idea, Senior.”

“Great. Then I’m counting on you again today.”

Senior Cheon Sangjin, who used to spend every night with bloodshot eyes, digging through the SNS [Social Networking Services] of opposing hitters and those around them as his pitching day approached, no longer does that.

That’s because the club hired a staff member within the scouting team to handle that task exclusively.

Director Park Jaecheol believed that this would be quite useful data until our new scouting method became known to the other nine clubs. Well, after it becomes useless, there will be other methods.

With that extra time, Senior Cheon Sangjin turned it right back into video analysis.

He said he could see things that the scouting team couldn’t find.

We couldn’t stop a player who was working so hard, so we decided to let him be, however, with the promise to reduce his smartphone use at night.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Cheon Sangjin!”

“Oppa! Over here!”

Even though this is the Commanders’ home stadium in Suwon, female fans who came wearing jerseys to match Senior Cheon Sangjin’s pitching day are gathered in the front row of the reserved seats, jumping up and down.

Watching that scene enviously, Ahn Chiwook muttered to himself.

“I’m jealous…….”

“You’ll get female fans too if you just play baseball well.”

“Just play baseball well? How well?”

“Considering the difference between Senior Cheon Sangjin’s looks and yours, um… you’d have to hit around .400?”

“…You bastard.”

This would have been the end of the conversation with Ahn Chiwook in the past.

But not anymore. Now there’s one more guy who always jumps in when this happens.

“Wake up. In my opinion, even if you hit .400, you’ll never be like Sangjin. You’re different species, so how can you even compare?”

“Species?”

“Senior Cheon Sangjin is a half-elf, and you’re, well… at best, a Jiri Mountain black bear?”

“…You wanna try me?”

“Whatever.”

Until last month, Ahn Chiwook was the only one among the starters on the team with whom I could talk so comfortably.

Actually, “comfortable” is just my personal opinion, and Ahn Chiwook might think differently.

Um.

Actually, it’s all for his own good.

Anyway, the situation changed a bit with the addition of Seo Hyungju, who was traded over.

They keep flocking around me and chattering non-stop, to the point where I can’t even focus.

When Senior Choi Minseok passed by and said they were like two concubines waiting for the king’s selection, I almost punched him, senior or not.

“You guys are disgusting. Why are you doing this around me? Go fight somewhere else.”

“Fight? With this bear?”

“Tsk, a guy who can only hit .220.”

“Well, I wonder if you’ll be able to say that in front of me in a month?”

Seo Hyungju, who was struggling with a batting average in the .100s in Daejeon before being practically chased out to the Warriors, has been hitting well for the past two weeks, raising his season batting average to .220.

Ahn Chiwook, who acknowledges Seo Hyungju’s talent if nothing else, couldn’t argue anymore and went back to his seat.

“Just you wait. Watch closely……. I’ll show you properly.”

“Yeah, whatever it is, show it to us quickly. We might all retire waiting for that.”

“…….”

I feel like I’ve seen this dynamic somewhere before… a bear who keeps challenging a cunning fox, even though he gets tricked every day…….

What is it, I feel like I almost remember.

Um.

While I was lost in unnecessary thoughts, the game started.

The grounds were cleared, the umpire signaled the start of the game, and Choi Kyungjae, still looking unwell, was spinning his shoulder with a stiff expression on the mound.

When I first saw him, he had the aura of a national-level pitcher, but now, whenever he meets our team, he strangely looks like a scared country dog.

Anyway, the lineup that Manager Lee Daejun put out today was the new lineup that has been almost fixed since the return of Lee Changmo and Choi Minseok.

1st batter, center fielder Seo Hyungju

2nd batter, 3rd baseman Ahn Chiwook

3rd batter, shortstop Han Suhyuk

4th batter, 1st baseman Jo Sungoh

5th batter, catcher Jang Deoksu

6th batter, right fielder Max Walker

7th batter, 2nd baseman Lee Changmo

8th batter, designated hitter Kim Suhak

9th batter, left fielder Choi Minseok

Starting pitcher Cheon Sangjin

Seo Hyungju, who diligently filled the gaps by moving between outfielder and infielder while Seniors Lee Changmo and Choi Minseok were out due to injuries, seems to be settling in as a center fielder after their return.

Seo Hyungju’s defensive talent, capable of covering second base, shortstop, third base, and even the outfield, was not something that even I could easily overlook.

Changing defensive positions is much harder than you think. It’s not just about changing gloves for infield and outfield.

Basic fielding and throwing, of course, but also changes in formation depending on the situation, and even split-second decision-making.

The fact that Seo Hyungju can cover so many positions is proof of the size of his talent for baseball.

Such a guy in Daejeon…….

Um, come to think of it, Director Park Jaecheol has been holed up in his office for the past two weeks, with his smartphone turned off, suspending all external activities.

He said that he received over 100 curse messages from the Daejeon director, and there were also missed calls from the Falcons owner’s secretariat.

Should we assign him a personal bodyguard?

I don’t think anything will happen in South Korea in 2027, but you never know.

What’s fortunate is that Senior Jung Taeho, who was traded to Daejeon, is also pitching quite well. Of course, that’s only on the condition that it’s a Daejeon home game.

And more than anything, he’s happy to be back in Daejeon.

Okay.

If he’s happy, that’s all that matters.

“Play!”

With the umpire’s call, the game began.

1st batter Seo Hyungju.

The Warriors’ new leadoff hitter, currently batting .219 with an on-base percentage of .302, 2 home runs, 12 RBIs [Runs Batted In], and 5 stolen bases in the first week of June.

Considering that his performance was just over .100 when he was first traded, his stats have improved quite a bit. Of course, his true value isn’t in visible batting averages.

“Ball.”

Choi Kyungjae was startled by his surprise bunt stance on the first pitch, losing his balance and throwing a pitch far outside the zone.

Suwon catcher Jung Daehan seemed to say something to Seo Hyungju, but he pretended not to hear it, putting on a straight face and tapping the dirt on home plate, provoking the catcher.

That’s one of his strengths.

The tenacity, trickery, and diversity at the plate that couldn’t be found among the Warriors’ hitters until now.

When I asked him where he learned to do such things, he confessed that he kept replaying videos of Lee Chanho of the Seoul Fighters, one of the KBO’s [Korean Baseball Organization] best leadoff hitters, and studied how to provoke the opposing battery [pitcher and catcher].

When I asked him what he would do if he got hit, what did he say?

He said he would run to Senior Jang Deoksu without looking back if anyone came at him.

Anyway, after continuing to provoke Choi Kyungjae, he finally.

Crack!

“Waaaaa!”

“Seo Hyungju! Seo Hyungju! Seo Hyungju!”

“The Warriors’ top hitter! Seo Hyungju!”

He got a clean hit to right field and advanced to first base.

After putting his foot on the base, he handed his protective gear and gloves to the coach and naturally stretched out his finger towards the waiting batter.

At the end of that finger was Ahn Chiwook, who was greatly stimulated by his classmate’s performance.

When I think about it, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batters in the new lineup that Manager Lee Daejun created are all rookies. Of course, even if you include me, this is a lineup that only someone with a very strong heart could attempt.

One thing is certain.

Manager Lee Daejun has a very good sense.

With Seo Hyungju, who came out as the leadoff hitter, on first base after a hit, Ahn Chiwook entered the batter’s box as the 2nd batter.

In fact, many players are being affected by Seo Hyungju’s joining the team.

Senior Choi Minseok, who was pushed from his position as center fielder to left fielder, and Senior Kim Suhak, who lost his defensive position altogether and was pushed to designated hitter, are among them.

In addition, even Senior Lee Changmo seems to be quite nervous because Seo Hyungju can cover the infield defense as well.

But even if you combine all those players, they wouldn’t be able to match Ahn Chiwook.

A classmate rookie who had his name placed far above his since high school.

A friend and rival who has quick feet and accurate hitting, and can even play third base if necessary, so he can push himself to designated hitter at any time.

Actually, I’ve never said it, but I have a vague idea of what Ahn Chiwook feels about me.

He used to shout that he would surpass me during spring camp, but at some point, he started following me around.

Following someone isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but a rookie who’s only in his first year might need a little more stimulation than that.

Well, honestly, it’s too much for him to follow me…….

Anyway, Ahn Chiwook, stimulated by the performance of his classmate Seo Hyungju, is also putting a lot of effort into his hitting.

He has a batting average of .288, an on-base percentage of .342, a slugging percentage of .405, four home runs, and twenty-eight RBIs.

The Warriors’ new third baseman, who once gave Director Park Jaecheol a headache, was slowly finding his place.

Crack!

A strong hit that pulled the ball inside was caught by the Suwon second baseman’s diving catch.

“Out!”

Unfortunately, the batter was out at first base, but it naturally became an advancement hit, with one out and a runner on second base.

The reason why Ahn Chiwook is fixed in the 2nd batting order is precisely that reason.

Due to his hitting mechanism, that kind of 1-2 base hit comes out a lot regardless of left and right pitchers. Therefore, it is very easy to make an advancement hit.

Recently, shifts have been increasing to respond to such hits, so he has started practicing pushing with the hitting coach.

Good. Anyway, the table setter [first few batters in the lineup] composed of rookies has set up a delicious meal in front of me.

Then it’s my turn now.

– With one out and a runner on second base, player Han Suhyuk enters the batter’s box! Ah, player Choi Kyungjae’s complexion doesn’t look too good from the first inning.

– He’s scared.

– Excuse me? What did you just say, commentator…….

– Hmm, I’m sorry. Not that, but he’s intimidated. Well, how much has player Choi Kyungjae been hit hard by player Han Suhyuk? I fully understand that feeling. When I was an active player, I only appeared in about 30 games in the first team before retiring.

– 30 games?

– Yes, I was really bad at baseball… Anyway, there was a batter who hit three consecutive home runs against me in those three times I faced him.

– That sounds terrible. So what happened?

– What would have happened? I trembled so much that I peed my pants whenever I met that batter, and eventually retired, and now I’m sucking up to Han Suhyuk… I’m sorry. I’ve become an expert on the Warriors and am living my life with a microphone.

– Commentator.

– Yes?

– In my opinion, you should treat that batter to a meal.

– Treat him to a meal? Not blow his jaw off?

– Thanks to that person, you found your true calling, didn’t you? In my opinion, you were born to do this job.

– This guy…….

– Ahem, ahem, how will player Han Suhyuk take advantage of the scoring opportunity that came from the first at-bat? This is Suwon Baseball Stadium.