Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 92

#91. Role Model

This is a story from when I had completely given up pitching due to a shoulder injury, around the time I was establishing myself as the number three hitter for Cleveland.

When I was almost certain to win the season MVP, a reporter asked me if I had any role models.

I wonder what the reporter expected me to say.

Ohtani Shohei, who was the first to prove that it was possible to be a two-way player in modern baseball?

Or Derek Jeter, the eternal captain of the New York Yankees, Ozzie Smith, who was recognized as the best defensive player of all time, or Cal Ripken Jr., the legendary shortstop who set a record of 2,632 consecutive games played?

My answer was, ‘I’ve never thought about anything like that.’

The reason I’m bringing up that memory now is because I received the same question during today’s post-game MVP interview.

“Han Su-hyeok, you’ve been selected as the MVP for today’s game, leading the team to a 12-2 victory with five RBIs, including a home run. Could you say a few words?”

“Actually, I think the MVP should go to Walter Smith, who hit a grand slam in his first at-bat on the Korean stage, and Ryan Stark, who pitched six scoreless innings. I’ll consider that I’m standing here on behalf of those two.”

It wasn’t the first time Han Su-hyeok had given a post-game MVP interview, but today, his answer was unusually humble.

The reporter, who couldn’t help but smile, asked the next question.

“With today’s home run, you’ve recorded twenty-nine home runs by the end of June. It’s a bit early, but fans are already pouring out their support for your challenge to break the new record. Um, I don’t think anyone has asked this question yet. Do you have a role model?”

It seemed like she was expecting the names of legends who had achieved home run records in Korea or the United States.

But I can’t make up a story that doesn’t exist.

Just as I was about to answer that I didn’t have a role model.

I made eye contact with Senior Jo Seong-oh and Senior Lee Man-sik, who were standing far away.

The veteran hitters who have been protecting this team for over 10 years, and the ordinary men who work hard to protect their families after the game.

For a moment, I wondered.

Could I live that kind of life?

Is it possible to live a normal life where you devote your life to what you love and start a family with someone?

Before I knew it, the answer flowed from my mouth.

“I want to be like our team’s Senior Jo Seong-oh and Senior Lee Man-sik.”

“Pardon?”

“My goal is to be like those two.”

“Ah, yes, I understand what you mean. You’re still showing your special affection for the team, Han Su-hyeok. Then, I hope you break the home run record this season. Thank you for the great interview today. Please continue to do your best for the baseball fans.”

The reporter’s expression, which seemed a little embarrassed, returned to normal.

Understanding… Well, could she really understand my answer?

It seems that everyone around me, not just the reporter who asked the question, thinks my answer is just out of respect for my seniors.

But it’s true.

“Hey, Su-hyeok. Thanks. I didn’t know you thought of me that way.”

“Hehe, hyung [older brother/male friend], this guy has some surprisingly admirable qualities.”

“Yeah, anyway, thanks for the kind words.”

Even the people involved think this way.

“I respect you. Seniors, no, hyungs.”

* * *

It feels like the season just started the other day, but the schedule for June is already over.

So far, the Warriors have recorded 38 wins, 3 draws, and 33 losses, ranking 4th, half a game behind the Magicians. The Falcons are still chasing right behind us.

The battle for the mid-to-upper ranks is fierce, except for 1st place Incheon and 2nd place Suwon.

In the meantime, my stats are a batting average of 0.424, an on-base percentage of 0.527, a slugging percentage of 0.977, an OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging] of 1.504, 29 home runs, 55 RBIs [Runs Batted In], and 14 stolen bases.

I didn’t play with the intention of targeting any specific record.

In the beginning, I tried to hit as many long balls as possible, considering the team’s lack of home run hitters, and after Seniors Jo Seong-oh and Jang Deok-su woke up, I tried to bat according to the situation.

I didn’t steal bases with the record in mind either. I just ran to set an example for the pitchers who were trying to avoid me.

Hmm.

But now that the records are piling up like this, I’m starting to get a little greedy.

Especially the home run record that hasn’t been broken for 24 years.

The problem is that no matter how hard I try, it’s difficult to achieve the home run record unless the surrounding circumstances help.

The fact that the speed of adding home runs has decreased significantly as pitchers avoid me and I inevitably start hitting balls in courses that are difficult to hit for long hits is proof of that.

The good thing is that another slugger, Walter, has joined the team, following Seniors Jo Seong-oh and Jang Deok-su.

My home run pace will change depending on how well these three players perform behind me.

Anyway, July is about to begin.

Originally, the All-Star break would have been scheduled around the second week of July, but this year the schedule is a little different.

Because of the WBC [World Baseball Classic].

This is how the first half of the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] schedule will proceed this year.

The regular season games will continue until the end of July, and then there will be a day off on August 1st, and the All-Star Game will be held the next day on the 2nd.

And then the 20-day WBC break.

Players who are not selected for the national team can take a break during those 20 days, but players who are named on the list, including me, must board a plane to the United States the day after the All-Star Game.

Because they have to participate in the WBC, which will be held from August 7th to 19th.

Frankly, it’s a very unfavorable schedule for teams other than the American team.

At least 10 days before the game starts, no, they should arrive at the site about 15 days in advance and start adaptation training, but that period is only 5 days.

I don’t know. I don’t know how that short adaptation period will affect our team.

Hmm.

Come to think of it, I haven’t talked about being selected for the national team.

Two Warriors players were selected for the final roster of this WBC national team.

One is obviously me, and the other one is…….

“Su-hyeok, do you think I can do well on the national team?”

“Of course, senior.”

Senior Jang Deok-su, who has never even thought about being on the national team in his life, is the main character.

In fact, there were many stories.

A total of four Warriors players were included in the preliminary roster for the national team in May.

Senior Jo Seong-oh, the first baseman who belatedly had his hitting potential explode, Senior Jang Deok-su, who was named due to his position as a catcher, Senior Lee Chang-mo, the second baseman who showed stable defense this season, and me.

At one time, Seniors Cheon Sang-jin and Yang Gi-cheol were rumored to be on the list, but the period in which they showed something was too short to join this WBC.

And the final roster was announced. The only Warriors player named there was me.

It’s a little disappointing, but everyone accepted the result. But…….

-Incheon Rangers’ Son Young-jin, who was named to the final WBC national team roster, was dropped from the national team due to a wrist injury.

-KBO convenes an emergency meeting, replacing Son Young-jin with Seoul Warriors’ Jang Deok-su.

The very next day after the final roster was announced, Incheon’s Son Young-jin, who had been playing as the national team’s number 1 and 2 catcher with Jeong Dae-han, was injured in his wrist and dropped from the national team.

Fortunately, at the point where the final roster could be replaced, the KBO struggled between Daejeon Falcons’ veteran Ahn Cheol-yong and Senior Jang Deok-su, and eventually sided with Senior Jang Deok-su.

Above all, the fact that he recorded even indicators in all areas of defense played a big role.

Of course, Senior Jang Deok-su’s role will be extremely limited as there is a starting catcher, Jeong Dae-han. Perhaps his main task will be to help the pitchers with their bullpen pitching, and perhaps he will wear a mask in games against weak teams such as China.

Nevertheless, I believe that joining this national team will be of great help to the growth of Jang Deok-su as a player.

However, one thing I’m worried about is…….

‘I hope he doesn’t beat someone up and get kicked out even in America, right?’

When I told Seong-hoon hyung [older brother/male friend] that, he told me to mind my own business.

I think there’s a deep misunderstanding about me.

* * *

July began with four teams, the Magicians, Warriors, Falcons, and Raptors, fiercely competing in the mid-tier, and the Fighters, Jaguars, Buffaloes, and Titans struggling in the bottom tier.

However, that didn’t mean that 1st place Incheon and 2nd place Suwon were completely comfortable.

Because they were putting all their strength into every game, worrying about the mid-tier teams that were chasing them whenever they tried to widen the gap, they were having difficulty distributing their stamina.

In particular, in Incheon, where the starting catcher was out due to injury, there were rumors about a catcher trade. If there was a usable item right away, it would be Titan’s veteran Koo Jae-hyun… I can’t believe that old man.

Anyway, our goal before the first half ends is to regain 3rd place and completely solidify our position. Only then will we be able to aim for a higher position in the second half.

The first opponent we met in July was the Daejeon Falcons.

Both Busan and Daejeon, strangely, our schedule with those teams is concentrated in the first half.

That’s how the 3-game series against Daejeon began.

The Falcons, who harbored resentment towards us due to the last trade, rushed at us with all their might, but we won both the first and second games.

And in the following third game, Jeong Tae-ho and Senior Cheon Sang-jin started as the starting pitchers for both teams.

Colleagues who once wore the same uniform.

We were about to challenge for a sweep against Jeong Tae-ho, who becomes invincible when he stands on the Daejeon mound.

“Okay, here’s today’s lineup. Everyone, check it out.”

“Yes, manager.”

“Walter, how are you feeling? I heard you had a cold.”

“I’m all better, boss. Sorry for making you worry.”

“Good, that’s a relief. Then that’s all.”

There was continued talk about managing Senior Jang Deok-su’s stamina, and Senior Yong Ji-hoon wore a catcher’s mask for one or two games as a backup.

And the conclusion was that we shouldn’t let Yong Ji-hoon be the catcher if possible.

Today was the day Senior Jang Deok-su was playing as a designated hitter, and Walter Smith, our team’s new foreign player, was wearing the catcher’s mask in his place.

This was the lineup written by Manager Lee Dae-jun.

1st batter center fielder Seo Hyeong-ju

2nd batter third baseman Ahn Chi-wook

3rd batter shortstop Han Su-hyeok

4th batter first baseman Jo Seong-oh

5th batter designated hitter Jang Deok-su

6th batter catcher Walter Smith

7th batter second baseman Lee Chang-mo

8th batter left fielder Kim Su-hak

9th batter right fielder Choi Min-seok

Pitcher Cheon Sang-jin

Walter, who had been playing as the 5th batter in the recent games, was placed one spot behind at 6th as he wore the catcher’s mask.

Instead, Senior Jang Deok-su, who will be playing as a designated hitter today, moved up to 5th.

They have similar parts, such as a large build and long hitting ability, but in fact, those two are completely different types of hitters.

In the case of Senior Jang Deok-su, he produces a lot of liner-like hits with a soft swing that doesn’t match his huge build. He is trying to increase the number of home runs by training to increase the launch angle of the ball recently, but that is the basis anyway.

On the other hand, Walter is a typical slugger who lifts the ball that comes into the zone he has set with an upper swing to create a huge hit. That’s why he sometimes strikes out at chances, but he’s better than Senior Jang Deok-su in terms of instilling fear in the opposing pitcher.

Anyway, the fact that left-handed hitter Senior Jo Seong-oh, who is recording a 30% batting average and 10 home runs right behind me, and then two right-handed hitters are lined up in a row will put a lot of pressure on the opposing pitcher.

Hmm.

But there’s one thing I haven’t checked.

“Walter.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Weren’t you originally a switch hitter?”

“What?”

Walter looked at me with a surprised expression.

It’s natural. Almost no one knows that he has been secretly practicing switch hitting in the minor leagues. He must have tested it in practice games, so it wouldn’t have been recorded in the official record.

“How did you know…….”

I left Walter, who was stunned, and headed to the ground. Well, it’s not an important issue right now.

There’s no need to make his head more complicated when it’s already complicated with his first catcher appearance.

I’ll check what he can show from the left side later.

“Su-hyeok, please do well today too.”

“Yes, senior.”

“You were going to call me hyung [older brother/male friend] too.”

“Oh, that’s right, Sang-jin hyung.”

“Yes. It sounds much better. By the way, it’s pretty cool today.”

“Yes, it is. Really.”

Senior Cheon Sang-jin, who is scheduled to start today, slowly began to warm up by circling the ground.

Senior Cheon Sang-jin, who joined the first team for the first time this season, and is being asked to pitch more often and for more innings than the other team’s 4th starters due to the team’s circumstances, was already putting a strain on various parts of his body.

Seeing him warming up to pitch with his body not completely perfect, I was reminded of my conversation with Jacob a few days ago.

‘Jacob, I think we need to move a little earlier than I thought.’

‘What?’

‘Two-way player.’

‘Damn… How many times have I told you? Your body is not complete yet. No, you’re still a kid who hasn’t even finished growing up. Don’t rush. No way.’

‘Jacob.’

‘My answer is the same no matter how many times you ask. You don’t have to go far. Are you saying that you still have that thought even after seeing that Japanese friend who last challenged to be a two-way player retire due to a ridiculous injury?’

‘I’ll be different.’

‘What’s different? No matter how great you are, there is a limit to the human body. Do as I say. Never rush and take some more time…….’

‘I have Jacob, don’t I? I trust you.’

‘Ha… You’re such a crazy kid.’

‘Hehe, sometimes there are moments when you have to do something even though you know it’s impossible. Then Jacob, please prepare.’

A nameless pitcher who stayed in the second team and worried about his future is now silently circling the ground with the fans’ wishes and the team’s fate on his shoulders.

From that man’s reliable back, I could think of the words ‘dedication’, ‘effort’, and ‘indomitable spirit’.

When I get on the mound sometime later, what words will people think of from my back?

A pleasant evening breeze blows from somewhere.

Entrusting my body to that wind, I start preparing for today’s game again.