Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 97

#96. For Fall Baseball

‘They’re amusing fellows.’

Lee Chang-mo smiled involuntarily as he watched the first-year duo, arms around each other’s shoulders, returning to the dugout after successfully touching home plate.

He had been the leadoff hitter at the start of this season.

Due to the lingering effects of a knee injury, solo steals were nearly impossible for him.

However, Lee Chang-mo knew what the team needed from him, so he stepped up as the leadoff without complaint and did his best.

While Lee Chang-mo held his ground at number one, other players grew.

Cho Sung-oh, the most senior player, firmly established himself as a core hitter, and Jang Deok-soo, a perennial backup, quickly seized a spot in the heart of the batting lineup.

An Chi-wook’s improvement was also remarkable. He became a completely different player from the beginning of the season, both offensively and defensively.

As for Han Su-hyeok, there was nothing to say. Lee Chang-mo, who had experienced the Major Leagues, had never seen a player with such overwhelming presence, even there.

Recently, a reporter asked him a question.

A typical question asking, as a Major League veteran, how well he thought Han Su-hyeok would perform if he joined Seattle.

‘At least .300, 20 home runs, or maybe even 30 home runs.’

The next day, the interview was posted online, and some detractors jumped on it, leaving comments calling it ridiculous nationalistic hype.

To be honest, he had understated it a bit. Lee Chang-mo believed that Han Su-hyeok was a player who would perform even better if thrown into the Major Leagues right now, someone he couldn’t dare to evaluate.

Then, Seo Hyeong-joo joined the team and took the leadoff hitter position from him.

It was somewhat what he had hoped for, but the fact that his batting order was pushed back to 6th or 7th was not entirely welcome.

After all, batting in the upper lineup meant being given more offensive opportunities, which directly affected a player’s evaluation and salary.

Nevertheless, Lee Chang-mo strangely didn’t dislike his junior, Seo Hyeong-joo. In fact, he kept catching his eye.

His quick feet and precise hitting reminded him of his own prime before he went to the Major Leagues, and his constant pushing of himself to surpass his peer, Han Su-hyeok, reminded him of his own past efforts to beat the Major Leaguers.

Perhaps that’s why Lee Chang-mo didn’t hesitate to give Seo Hyeong-joo advice whenever he had the chance.

‘Hyeong-joo, your stance seems too wide. An open stance might be harmful to you.’

‘How about holding the bat a little shorter? That’s the best way to mess with the opposing pitcher’s mind.’

‘You don’t always have to run just because you’re on first base. Sometimes, pretending to run can be more tiring for the pitcher than actually running.’

At first, he started doing it because it reminded him of his old self, but he became engrossed in seeing Seo Hyeong-joo absorb everything without missing a thing.

That’s why Lee Chang-mo still throws advice and suggestions, somewhere in between, at Seo Hyeong-joo today.

“Hyeong-joo.”

“Yes, *hyungnim* [older brother or respected senior].”

“Your enthusiasm is good, but be careful when fastballs come in. Even if it’s just your butt or thigh, you could get injured if you get hit by a ball like that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

Next year, or maybe even before this season ends, Seo Hyeong-joo’s skills might surpass his own.

That’s what geniuses are like. Lee Chang-mo, who was once called a genius himself, knows very well that age and seniority mean nothing in the pros.

But Lee Chang-mo has no intention of stopping his nagging for the time being.

Because he knows that’s one of the reasons why he gets paid by this team.

“Oh, right. And Hyeong-joo.”

* * *

Bzzzz

Bzzzz

Bzzzz

Park Jae-cheol, the general manager, took the incessantly ringing smartphone out of his pocket, threw it on the table, and turned his gaze back to the field.

It was obvious without looking. It was Yang Doo-seok, the general manager of Daejeon, sending explosive texts since the last trade.

Saying that living like that would bring divine punishment, that he should change his mind now if he wanted to live in his hometown later, and even asking if he could return Seo Hyeong-joo.

It was bound to be nonsense. Messages like that kept coming whenever Seo Hyeong-joo performed well, like today.

“Hello, I used to be a really big fan.”

“Thank you. Would you like an autograph?”

“Yes? Oh, yes, thank you. Then, could you possibly sign here…….”

Park Jae-cheol signed neatly on the fan’s notepad, took a picture with them, and returned to his seat.

Normally, he would have grabbed the fan and chatted for a long time, but unfortunately, he didn’t have time for that today.

The All-Star break was pushed back due to the WBC [World Baseball Classic], but it would normally be the end of the first half of the season.

He had to pull himself together from now on and clearly identify the team’s shortcomings.

The KBO’s [Korean Baseball Organization] trade deadline is usually July 31st, but fortunately, this year, all schedules were pushed back due to the WBC, and the trade deadline was also postponed to August 20th, after the All-Star break.

While the nation’s attention was focused on the WBC, general managers of each team, including Park Jae-cheol, had to run around to fill the team’s shortcomings.

“Hello.”

“Nice to meet you. Would you like an autograph?”

Park Jae-cheol, who signed for a spectator who approached awkwardly, was now back in perfect work mode.

Unlike the latest stadiums where you can look down at the field from the president’s office, the general manager’s office, and the VIP lounge, you have to mingle with the spectators to watch the game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Park Jae-cheol, who was seated in the press box located in a small space behind home plate, took out a notebook with a serious expression.

‘First, looking at the hitters…….’

The team’s composition has changed a lot compared to the beginning of the season.

If he had focused on building the team for the long term until now, he would now have to focus on shorter-term goals.

If the team maintains its pace, it will advance to fall baseball [playoffs] for the first time in six years.

1st place Rangers, 2nd place Commanders, 3rd place Warriors, 4th place Magicians, 5th place Falcons, 6th place Raptors, 7th place Jaguars.

With the Rangers’ dominance in the lead and the poor performance of the 8th, 9th, and 10th place teams, the difference between 2nd and 7th place was not very large. In other words, it was a season with an incredibly fierce mid-tier battle.

All seven teams have not given up hope for fall baseball.

To break through that competition and advance to fall baseball, and to challenge the dream of winning, the ultimate goal of fall baseball, the team’s strength must be maximized.

‘It was dangerous last time…….’

The problems of Lee Chang-mo and Choi Min-seok’s injuries, Jang Deok-soo’s exhaustion as the starting catcher, and the replacement of foreign hitters allowed Park Jae-cheol to gain a lot of experience as a novice general manager.

Frankly, it was fortunate that it ended there.

Many experts have said in unison that the reason the Warriors are holding on to third place is thanks to the fact that there have been almost no injuries, which is almost a miracle.

Park Jae-cheol knows that miracles don’t last. That a terrible darkness may come after this.

Fortunately, he received full authority over trades from CEO Park Seong-hoon, along with a considerable amount of trade money.

Now all the responsibility has passed to him.

‘First baseman is Cho Sung-oh, backup is Yong Ji-hoon…….’

The backup catcher Yong Ji-hoon, who was once called the first baseman wearing a catcher’s mask, quit being a useless backup catcher after Walter joined the team and is now all-in on first base defense training.

Fortunately, Yong Ji-hoon’s hitting is pretty good. Of course, it’s not comparable to Cho Sung-oh, but it seems that he will be able to back up the thirty-five-year-old veteran, whose stamina will decline in the second half of the season.

Park Jae-cheol wrote this next to the words ‘first baseman’.

-Low need for trade. Check if outfielder Kang Jin-seok can be converted to first base.

The moment he wrote those words, Cho Sung-oh, who was batting third today, hit a great right-field hit and went to first base.

“Yes!”

Park Jae-cheol, who clenched his fist without realizing it, slightly bowed his head to the surrounding spectators who were looking at him, and returned to what he was doing.

‘Second baseman is…….’

The Warriors’ undisputed starting second baseman is currently Lee Chang-mo, but as you can see from the knee injury he suffered at the beginning of the season, he is a player who could get injured at any time. Fortunately, Yoo In-cheol, who joined this year, can play both second base and shortstop, but his hitting is terrible.

Park Jae-cheol thought about something for a moment and wrote something next to the second baseman.

-Busan and Daegu are the top targets with spare infielders. A player to back up while Yoo In-cheol’s hitting improves is urgently needed.

Thwack!

The moment he finished writing the last word, a huge cracking sound was heard from the bat of foreign player Walter Smith, who was batting fourth today.

“Oh! Oh!”

Park Jae-cheol, who jumped up from his seat without realizing it, widened his eyes and followed the direction of the batted ball.

The ball, which had soared blackly, gradually drew a downward curve and flew towards the left fielder.

“No!”

The left fielder, who was running backwards towards the fence with all his might, stretched out his hand towards the ball, which looked like it would be caught.

Thud

The ball hit the top of the fence and bounced back into the field, rolling along the foul line.

“Wow!”

The left fielder, half out of his mind from the loud cheers of the crowd, looked around for the whereabouts of the disappeared ball, while Cho Sung-oh, who was on first base, tried his best to run the bases, eventually succeeding in rounding second base, then third base, and finally home.

Walter Smith, who hit a one-RBI double that almost became a home run, stood on second base with a solemn expression and slightly raised one hand to the crowd.

He’s a good player.

He was worried about his injury history until the end, but the hospital test results and his performance in the actual game showed no problems at all.

The score was tied 3-3.

He noticed Min Ye-rin, who was excited and dancing strangely on the cheering platform in the distance, but Park Jae-cheol simply ignored it and picked up his pen again. After seeing Walter’s performance just now, he finally made up his mind.

-Catcher Jang Deok-soo, backup Walter Smith… Concerns about a long-term contract for a foreign player.

Now Park Jae-cheol’s attention turned to the third baseman. There was no need to worry about this. Park Jae-cheol’s pen moved without hesitation.

-Third baseman An Chi-wook, backup trade needed

Perhaps the biggest weakness of this team is the third baseman. How else could a first-year rookie, who had been making mistakes every day at the beginning of the season, continue to play as a starter without being replaced?

Fortunately, even though the rookie sometimes underperformed or made errors, he had never been seriously injured. But Park Jae-cheol knew better than anyone that it was just luck.

Like second base, a backup player is desperately needed for third base. Or, if they are multi-talented resources who can play both positions, that would be even better.

Thwack!

While Park Jae-cheol was racking his brain to find a team to stab in the back again, An Chi-wook’s batted ball flew powerfully between first and second base.

But it was caught by the Suwon first baseman’s amazing defense and resulted in an out. Meanwhile, Walter Smith, who was on second base, advanced to third base.

The score was tied 3-3, one out, third base, a chance to reverse the score was created, and Jang Deok-soo stepped up to the plate.

‘Shortstop is… Shortstop is…….’

Park Jae-cheol’s pen, which had been writing down first baseman, second baseman, and third baseman without hesitation, stopped there.

Han Su-hyeok, who has been playing as the starting shortstop in all games except for the four games he missed due to suspension.

Thinking about the games that guy missed, he suddenly felt goosebumps all over his body, and his hands and feet went limp.

Realizing that it was a problem with no answer, Park Jae-cheol gave up on thinking about the shortstop for now.

As he has done so far, he can just put Yoo In-cheol in if necessary, but no matter who he brings in, it is impossible to fill Han Su-hyeok’s vacancy.

All he can do is pray that nothing happens to him, manage him thoroughly so that he doesn’t get injured, and keep a close eye on him so that no bench-clearing brawls break out.

‘God…….’

Park Jae-cheol, who was not a devout believer, unconsciously called out the name of God in his heart and began to seriously consider ways to reinforce the third base backup on the infield and ways to feed experience to Yoo In-cheol, the infield backup player.

At that moment.

Thwack!

Jang Deok-soo, who was batting sixth, swung the ball thrown by the opposing pitcher with all his might.

The batted ball, which was a little different from Walter’s batted ball earlier, flew powerfully towards the outfield in a way that the expression ‘clothesline’ really suited.

Thud

The Suwon left fielder jumped and barely caught the ball that flew like a clothesline and looked like it would hit the fence.

A sigh of slight disappointment erupted from the stands, and Walter, who confirmed the scene, tagged up and came home.

The score was reversed to 4-3, and Park Jae-cheol’s mood, which had been gloomy when starter Lee Young-joo gave up three points at the start of the first inning, became as if he was flying in the sky.

“General Manager Park Jae-cheol, I’m sorry, but… Could you possibly take a picture with my child?”

“A picture? Oh, of course. Give him to me. Hey, kid. Hmm, you’re not a kid? Okay, how old are you? Eight years old? Okay, I made a mistake. That’s old enough to take responsibility for your own life. I apologize for calling you a kid. Come to think of it, which team are you a fan of? What? Busan? Hmm… Boy, it may sound funny for me to say this, but you should think carefully about choosing a team to support. If you make the wrong choice, you may end up regretting it until you die. So, what I’m saying is…….”