The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 210

210. New Record (6)

“Seriously, Suwon is unbelievable. He just hit another 3 home runs. This is it. He’s really going to shatter the 56 home run record.”

“Well, I was a bit uneasy too. Breaking the 56 home run record in 133 games by extending it to 144 games [the total number of games in a KBO season].”

“But Suwon also pitches as a starter, so the actual number of games he’s played as a hitter is fewer. It’s ridiculous to argue based on the total number of games.”

“Hey, is anything *not* ridiculous in this world? When you climb to a high position, criticism comes with the territory. To become the GOAT [Greatest Of All Time], you have to clear all those nitpicks. Look at Messi. Everything got sorted out when he finally lifted the World Cup. Suwon just needs to hit 57 home runs before 133 games, and it’ll all be resolved.”

“Yeah, but… honestly, he hit those home runs today because Phoenix was the opponent, and they stupidly went head-to-head. We don’t know about the remaining games. And there are only 14 games left until 133 games, so I wonder if it’s even possible.”

“Didn’t you just say Suwon is unbelievable, and now you don’t believe it? He’s breaking all sorts of KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] records with no-hitters and perfect games. I think he’ll definitely hit 57 home runs within 133 games. And won’t it get easier from now on?”

“Easier? Why?”

“Well, think about it. He’s been running so hard towards the home run record, would they really walk him here? I’m not kidding, someone might set the stadium on fire. Something similar happened when someone walked a batter challenging the home run record back in the 8th inning, I think.”

“Oh, really? But seeing it like this, 56 home runs in 133 games is an amazing record. It seemed a bit small because they hit over 60 in Japan or the Majors [Major League Baseball in the US]… If Suwon hits his 56th in 133 games, wouldn’t he easily hit over 60 if he played 11 more games?”

“Well, mathematically, yes. But more games mean a tighter schedule and a longer season. Of course, our Suwon will hit well regardless.”

Before today’s game, with 26 games remaining, he needed 10 more home runs to break the record.

Aside from the nonsensical talk in some media and online communities about needing an asterisk if he doesn’t break the record in 133 games, he needed to hit an average of more than 0.5 home runs per game. The fans were worried about whether he could pull that off, especially at the end of the season. But Suwon dispelled those worries by hitting 3 home runs in one game.

***

After the game.

The MVP [Most Valuable Player] interview followed.

Of course, I was the star, hitting 3 home runs and recording 4 RBIs [Runs Batted In] and 3 runs out of the team’s 4 points.

“Today, you hit a whopping 3 home runs, reaching the 50 home run mark for the season. Congratulations, Choi Suwon. First of all, you seem to be particularly strong against Lim Gwanghyung. But Lim Gwanghyung is not an easy opponent, considering his career and performance this season. Do you have any special secret?”

“First of all, as someone who stands on the field as both a hitter and a pitcher, I think Lim Gwanghyung is a really great pitcher. Our styles are different, but if my career as a pitcher could follow in Lim Gwanghyung’s footsteps, that alone would be a great success. The reason why Lim Gwanghyung seems to give up more home runs to me is just because there aren’t many pitchers who challenge me head-on.”

The interview continued.

It wasn’t a very deep interview. It was only a few minutes long. If I had to answer all the questions, it would be difficult for the interviewer to ask follow-up questions. Besides, the questions were generally not great. I wanted to finish it quickly.

And then Jjoyu appeared.

Holding a bucket full of cold Pocari Sweat [a popular sports drink in South Korea].

The interview ended a bit shorter and faster than usual.

***

“Hey… if you’re going to do it, use water. Why bother with Pocari? It’s sticky.”

It was the Gatorade shower that sometimes happens during MVP interviews.

It often happens in the Majors, and they’re lenient even if it splashes on the announcer, but Korea is a bit strict, so the team usually tells us not to do it.

“I told you in advance, I tried to stop him. Jjoyu got excited and went overboard on his own.”

“Suwon, is this going to be a problem?”

“What? You mean almost splashing the announcer? I blocked it with my body.”

“Yeah, but… these days, even if you’re helping, touching a woman’s body without consent can be a problem.”

Thanks to that, that stupid Jjoyu couldn’t even spray the Pocari properly, so about 2/3 went to me, and the remaining 1/3 went towards the announcer. I guess it’s a mistake that could happen, but from the perspective of the people watching, and especially the announcer who came out dressed nicely, it’s enough to be unpleasant.

“Well… from my experience, that’s only a problem when you look like Jjoyu. In the case of Hamin or Suwon here, and someone like me, women actually like it.”

“… Senior Jeonghun. I admit you’re handsome, but comparing yourself to Hamin or Suwon is a bit…”

“What, you punk?”

“No, honestly, you look handsome because you hang out with us, but if you hang out with Hamin or Suwon… wait a minute. Is that why you’ve been taking me around these days?”

“……”

Even though I blocked it with my body, some of it splashed on the announcer’s clothes, but unlike Gatorade, Pocari is close to a transparent color, so it wasn’t very noticeable. Besides, her expression didn’t seem too bad.

“Anyway, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. The image of blocking it was so good that it’ll be good publicity. Besides, Dahye seemed to give Suwon her number afterwards? That means the story’s over.”

***

The pouring water and the man blocking it.

It was an even better picture because they were both good-looking.

“Why are these articles constantly trending when it’s the day Suwon hit his 50th home run? Is this manipulation?”

“Everyone knows Suwon *oppa* [term of endearment used by younger women to address older men] is good at baseball. And people are always more interested in the dating rumors of the lead actors in a drama that got 30% viewership than the drama itself. You know that.”

“Yeah, but it’s a dating rumor. Besides, what kind of dating rumor is this?”

“It’s not a dating rumor, but it looks good. By the way, Jeon Dahye seems to have gone all out too? Look. This is a video of her usual interviews, but she put a lot of effort into it today. Suwon *oppa* definitely has a good mask [good looks].”

Lee Sehee compared several photos she found on the internet and showed them to Park Eunji. It’s noticeable that she put a lot of effort into her clothes and makeup.

“Suwon won’t even care.”

“Oh my, look at this *unnie* [term of endearment used by younger women to address older women]? You’re going to be in big trouble. Men don’t know what’s changed in women’s makeup, but they know if they’re pretty or not. I think this woman is definitely flirting with *oppa*. ‘Oh, thank you. I could have been in trouble because it was sponsored clothes, but you saved me. I’ll treat you to a meal as a reward.'”

“It’s the end of the season. The home run record is just around the corner. The league championship is at stake. He’ll be too busy to even think about that, so Suwon won’t go out to meet that woman.”

“Suwon *oppa* will eat, no matter how busy he is. What if that woman matches her schedule to his and goes out to eat with him?”

Park Eunji’s eyes scanned Jeon Dahye in the screen again.

“No, no matter what, that woman is not Suwon’s style. Besides, she’s too old. Twenty-five is almost an *ajumma* [aunt/older woman, sometimes used derogatorily].”

“*Unnie*, you really don’t know men. Men always like women in their mid-twenties. So they like older women when they’re young, then women their age as they get older. And they like younger women when they get old. I think Suwon *oppa* is a bit interested, seeing how he threw himself to block her instead of just getting wet.”

Honestly, I thought it was nonsense.

But listening to Lee Sehee, I started to think it made sense. That’s right. Why did he go so overboard to block her instead of just letting her get wet?

Thinking that way, I didn’t like any of the comments.

Good-looking men and women.

Good-looking and pretty people hang out together.

What kind of nonsense is this?

What’s so pretty about that woman? She’s tall, has long arms and legs, a small head, and cute eyes, nose, and mouth, but…

“Sehee, I’ll be right back, I need to make a call.”

Lee Sehee looked at Park Eunji and smiled strangely.

‘You’re so honest but not honest, *unnie*.’

***

Did he hit a multi-homerun?

Calls and messages were pouring in from everywhere.

I have a game tomorrow, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to adjust my condition if I answered all these calls, so I just turned off my phone.

From experience, it’ll quiet down in a day or two anyway.

Series Game 2.

“Hey, take it easy. You guys are already 4 games ahead. There aren’t many games left, and you’ve almost secured the championship.”

“It’s not for the team that’s going to be in last place to say, right? Don’t you remember?”

“Haha… that wasn’t my intention…”

Phoenix was desperate.

It wasn’t as much as the Marines aiming for their first regular season championship since their founding, but Phoenix hadn’t been to the post-season since 2018, so it was their first post-season challenge in 10 years. In fact, that 2018 was also their first post-season appearance in 11 years, so some said that Phoenix would have to wait for a decade for them to go to the fall baseball [post-season baseball].

And so, in the 5th inning.

[Ah, Phoenix!! They’re walking Choi Suwon here!]

-Woooooooo!!!

The stadium was filled with overwhelming boos.

[The atmosphere here is unusual. Sajik has been consistently sold out this season, but there haven’t been people paying extra for tickets on Wednesdays. They’re all here to see Choi Suwon’s home runs. Look at those people in the outfield with their butterfly nets. But they’re walking him like this.]

[Phoenix!! They have to win the game. If they do this and lose the game, that’s really…]

[Haha, that’s terrible just to imagine.]

In the second game, Phoenix walked me and lost 6:4.

I didn’t add a home run in that game.

But it was better that way.

Game 3.

Thanks to the Phoenix dugout being beaten up from everywhere outside the game, they couldn’t walk me, and I responded with a home run.

There are 12 games left.

Six steps away from the KBO home run record.