The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 239

239. Korean Series (4)

“Oh, it’s much better than what I saw in the videos?”

It had been about two years since their last encounter. Well, strictly speaking, it wasn’t quite a meeting yet. Alexander McDowell was looking at Choi Su-won, but Choi Su-won was looking at the pitcher on the mound, not the audience behind him.

Alexander McDowell turned around and took a selfie, making sure Choi Su-won, bat in hand at the plate, was visible over his shoulder. He immediately uploaded the photo to his social media. The video would be edited into a highlight reel later.

Follower count: 3.2 million.

“Sigh… It’s not growing at all. Seriously.”

Despite being an All-Star and Rookie of the Year in his debut season, a candidate for MVP, second in the league for home runs, and even taking classes on how to attract attention on social media, this was all he had to show for it.

Was it a limitation of baseball as a sport?

Maybe it was.

But that’s why Alexander McDowell believed that everything he was doing was even more necessary.

Just focus on playing baseball?

The most talked-about sports star of the 21st century was Floyd Mayweather Jr. Perhaps he was the most talked-about athlete in the history of boxing. Of course, many people criticized him, even boxing fans.

He wasn’t even a heavyweight, traditionally the most popular division, but he ended up making the welterweight division the most popular. Of course, it wasn’t just his efforts; there were stories of other great fighters involved. But the fact that all of this was emphasized and attracted so much attention was undoubtedly due to Mayweather.

Baseball is America’s National Pastime. It’s the only sport that legally has broad exemptions from antitrust laws.

Why is that?

Alexander McDowell didn’t know. His father didn’t know that baseball was America’s national sport, and neither did his grandfather. It was probably something his great-grandfather would have known.

So why is baseball’s popularity in this state now?

Of course, baseball is still the No. 2 sport in North America. Especially with the recent success of the WBC [World Baseball Classic], it’s solidifying its position as No. 2.

But if you look at it globally?

NFL, NBA.

Even MLS [Major League Soccer] stars are more popular than baseball stars. Alexander McDowell, who boasts one of the top ten follower counts among MLB [Major League Baseball] players, only has 3.2 million followers. In an era where pop stars’ pet dogs have over 10 million followers, it’s a pathetic number.

It was a rambling thought, but Alexander McDowell’s goal was clear.

The revival of baseball.

He wanted to give baseball something more than what Floyd Mayweather had given to the declining sport of boxing.

In his opinion, becoming a player who simply made a name for himself in history was easy. Well, honestly, it wouldn’t be easy for the average person, but he was Alexander McDowell.

And Alexander McDowell had a hunch the moment he saw Choi Su-won at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup [World Baseball Softball Confederation Under-18 Baseball World Cup].

‘Swan, you’re my Pac-Man [reference to Manny Pacquiao, a famous boxer].’

The time when baseball’s popularity rebounded the most wasn’t when Barry Bonds was setting home run records. It was when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were competing for home runs.

Also, Floyd Mayweather’s start was Oscar De La Hoya, but the reason he was able to rise so high was because of his rivalry with Manny Pacquiao, the great champion who conquered eight weight classes.

Alexander McDowell, representing the United States, and Choi Su-won, representing Asia. And if a Latino player pops up somewhere, that alone covers half the world.

“So, Swan, hurry up and put a period on it and come over.”

#rival #Bestfriend #74HRhitter #swan-choi #baseball #KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]

***

Jo Chang-hyuk was an ace. And at the same time, he had a strong ego befitting that title.

“Excuse me? Manager. What did you just say?”

“No, Chang-hyuk. Don’t get excited…”

“Manager!! I’m Jo Chang-hyuk!! The Braves’ ace, Jo Chang-hyuk!! The Jo Chang-hyuk who’s going to the major leagues next year!!”

“Yeah, I know. I know. But, you saw Choi Su-won against Lim Gwang-hyung in the last league game, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Honestly, if Lim Gwang-hyung had only walked Choi Su-won in that game, the Phoenix wouldn’t be playing the Wild Card game, we would. And if that had happened, we might not be here right now, Phoenix might be.”

It was a meaningless assumption.

Giving a walk to Choi Su-won, who was on a home run record streak, especially at the Marines’ home stadium in Sajik, would have been asking for a riot.

But as Braves manager Park Yu-sung said, if Choi Su-won had been walked in every at-bat that day, the Phoenix would have earned a direct ticket to the semi-playoffs instead of the Wild Card game.

“But I’m not Gwang-hyung.”

“I know, I know that. Chang-hyuk, but this is a short-term game. I’m not saying I don’t trust you.”

To be honest, manager Park Yu-sung didn’t think there was a big difference in skill between Jo Chang-hyuk and Lim Gwang-hyung this season. They were both getting owned by Choi Su-won. But there was no reason to bring that up now and stir up trouble.

‘I’m really doing this because I’m desperate. Ugh, if I were still playing, I would have… Ace or not, if the manager tells you to do something, you just do it! Baseball has gotten so much better. So much better.’

Jo Chang-hyuk’s status in the team was too great to simply suppress him with the manager’s authority. Moreover, he was leaving for the major leagues next year, so the manager’s authority didn’t work well, and above all, his performance, which depended on his mood, was too much of an unstable factor.

“Sigh, I understand. Since you’re saying this, Manager…”

“Yeah, you thought well. Just close your eyes and walk Choi Su-won. The Marines are nothing. If you do that, you’ll win the Korean Series MVP [Most Valuable Player award] before you leave for America. You’ll have the title of the first ace to lead the Braves to victory. You know that Korean fans’ support is important even if you go to America, right?”

“Of course, I know that. But, Manager… Just give me one chance.”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, I have pride as an ace, so it’s not good to just walk him from the first at-bat.”

“No, it’s okay. No one will think that way. That Andrew in the majors? That monster with an average speed of 97 miles per hour. He’s going to avoid a head-on match with Choi Su-won.”

“But Choi Su-won has been resting for three weeks. I don’t know what his batting sense will be like. So please, just let me compete in the first at-bat. If I feel like it’s not going well, I’ll back off immediately. If I don’t build up the bases, it’s 1 point in the worst case.”

“…”

“Manager. I’ll check him out in the first at-bat, and if it doesn’t seem right, I’ll walk him. Of course, that won’t happen, but I’ll even give up a bases-loaded walk. Honestly, I’d be too embarrassed to just run away without knowing what condition he’s in.”

Manager Park Yu-sung couldn’t help but agree. There was more to lose than to gain by pushing it any further.

“Okay, if that’s what you think, there’s no need to talk any longer. Let’s really win. Honestly, I get dizzy just thinking about running the team without you after next year. This year is the peak of our team’s strength for at least 5 years, no, 10 years. So please, please give us a championship before you go to America. Okay?”

“Yes!! I understand.”

Kang Ra-on and Lee Jung-hoon were struck out. He kept his promise not to build up the bases in front of Choi Su-won.

‘Damn it, he’s unnecessarily persistent.’

Unlike Kang Ra-on, who he easily took care of, it took him quite a bit of effort to deal with Lee Jung-hoon. He was going to take it easy and catch him, but he had to throw the ball almost at full strength. He wanted to start the match without showing Choi Su-won a single good ball.

-Tap tap

He touched the rosin bag twice and took a deep breath.

He’s going to the big leagues at the end of this year, but that’s why his match with Choi Su-won won’t be the last. Even if you ignore the rumors, Choi Su-won will definitely come to the majors.

‘He’s so lucky.’

7 years as a pro.

2 years in the military.

Unlike himself, who is finally challenging the United States through posting [transfer system] after playing in Korea for 9 years, Choi Su-won is advancing to the major leagues in just one year. He’s so jealous.

‘So please, give this senior a chance to win the last match.’

He never took Choi Su-won lightly.

A strong ego doesn’t easily acknowledge others, but that’s why it doesn’t belittle those it can’t help but acknowledge.

Full power.

Jo Chang-hyuk’s fastball left his hand.

159.1km/h.

It was a very fast ball.

***

‘What the?’

Even I think this is an animal-like reflex.

I narrowly avoided a ridiculously fast fastball coming straight at me.

-Boom!!!

159.1km/h.

If I hadn’t dodged it and it had hit me in the head, I would have been out of the series and worried about the aftereffects.

Dilton in the dugout forgot that he was the starter today and got up from his seat and rolled up his sleeves. I guess I should throw down my bat and run out there, right? If I let this go, they’ll look down on me.

Okay, I’ve decided.

Just as I was about to throw down my bat.

[Oh…]

Jo Chang-hyuk on the mound took off his hat.

So, considering what he usually does, he took off his hat instead of taking off his glove and getting into a fighting stance.

And his head moved slightly.

Sigh… It wasn’t enough to use the onomatopoeia ‘bow’, and it wasn’t quite enough to say ‘nod’.

‘Hey, it wasn’t intentional. Sorry.’

That’s exactly the feeling.

Dilton put the sleeves he had rolled up back in place. Honestly, it was worth getting hit because a pitcher with bad control threw an inside pitch, but it’s rare for a senior in Korean baseball to apologize to a junior for throwing a bad pitch.

Above all, it was Jo Chang-hyuk, who was involved in school violence, who was apologizing. Wouldn’t that be surprising not only for the fans watching the game but also for the commentators?

Okay, good.

I picked up the helmet that had fallen to the ground because I was in a hurry to dodge the ball.

And waited for his second ball at the plate again.

I had a feeling.

I couldn’t be sure, but I had a feeling that Jo Chang-hyuk, or rather, because it was Jo Chang-hyuk, he would do this.

High inside course.

Similarly, a fast ball.

This time, it was a really good ball that didn’t miss.

-Clang!!!

The ball went over the fence.