A Genius Pitcher Hides 170 KM - Chapter 222
Only Ranovel
#222. 172km
[A blast at the beginning of the season, the Seattle Mariners lead the American League West with 4 wins and 1 loss!]
[With the addition of Ty Johnson and Han Soo-hyuk, the batting has become noticeably stronger, and the defense has relieved anxiety]
[Han Soo-hyuk, who hit three home runs in three games, now all that remains is whether he will adapt to the big league mound]
[Mariners, who won 2 consecutive wins over Angels, announces Han Soo-hyuk as starter for Game 3]
“Take it easy, buddy, you don’t have to feel pressured. After all, the season has just begun. Um, by the way, I have a question. “Do you think this is a good time?”
The number of people who are strangely attached to me has increased.
A locker room about to make his first major league start, or rather, his second debut as a starter if I were to measure it.
Following center fielder Derek, who has been circling around me for some time now, shortstop Josh Oliver keeps talking to me as if I’m friendly.
In terms of age, they are a few years older than me, but to me they just look like novices.
“You guys, take it easy and step away. “What are you doing to the starting pitcher today?”
“Ryan, that’s not it… … .”
Ryan, who was born and raised here in Seattle and eventually rose to become the Mariners’ ace, was the undisputed leader of the team before Ty Johnson joined the team, and threatened the two guys.
To be honest, I have to say that the relationship between Ryan Tebow and I is still somewhat awkward.
From that guy’s point of view, the memory of being beaten by me at the last WBC would still remain, and there was no need for me to pretend to be friendly to him.
It’s natural for it to be awkward.
If that guy approaches me first, I don’t plan on pushing him away, but I also don’t think I’ll be the first to ask him to become friends.
The choice is ultimately up to Ryan.
“go back. If you have something to say, you can say it later after the game.”
“Okay, okay.”
A pitcher is bound to be sensitive, selfish, and individualistic.
Especially the starting pitcher.
Therefore, the leader in the locker room is usually the hitter.
However, in Seattle, which was full of young players until last season, there was not a single hitter who could take on the position of leader.
Skill, age, personality, legitimacy, responsibility as a leader.
In the end, Ryan, who was unique on the team in all aspects, accepted the role of locker room leader, and most players recognized Ryan’s position.
After sorting out the situation, Ryan gave me a quick glance and returned to his seat.
I guess they were considerate of me as I was making my first debut as a big league pitcher… … .
I appreciate it, but it wasn’t really necessary.
I think I’ve been playing baseball too long to be nervous about something like this.
* * *
“Are you sure you’ve learned how to use the peach comb?”
“of course.”
“Um, but the pitch… 9… “You’re not going to use all of this, are you?”
“Let’s set it up for now. “I have to decide later whether to throw it or not.”
“Hmm… Even though… Okay, I got it for now. “Then let’s get ready.”
Catcher Bruce Matthews, who will be working with me today, looked at me with a skeptical expression.
The black terminal attached to his rack guard is particularly noticeable.
As of 2030, the biggest difference between the Major League and the KBO League will be the pitch.
As the popularity of professional baseball, America’s national sport, continued to decline, the secretariat took out its sword.
They determined that the reasons for the decline in baseball’s popularity were the ever-increasing playing time, static atmosphere, and unsportsmanlike behavior.
There are several regulations and systems introduced to solve these problems, and Peachcom was one of them.
There were two reasons why this ridiculous equipment was introduced on a field where the use of any electronic device was not allowed.
The biggest reason was to prevent sign stealing, which was openly practiced in the big leagues.
We live in an era where cameras installed in every corner of the baseball stadium and AI connected to them track and analyze the movement of players and the ball.
This means that it is not a problem for the home team to steal signs between the catcher and pitcher if they want to.
Of course, unlike the KBO, which fundamentally prohibits sign stealing, sign stealing itself is not against the rules in the Major League. In other words, if a runner on second base steals the catcher’s sign to the best of his ability and passes it on to the batter, that alone is not a violation of the rules.
The problem is that almost all sign stealing in modern baseball is done using electronic devices. And of course, stealing signs using such electronic devices was a clear violation of regulations.
As such rule violations continued, each team in the big leagues had no choice but to make their signs double or triple complicated, and had a negative impact on game time as they had to hand out fake and real signs.
Peachcom was designed to solve all these problems at once.
“I can’t do it. Are you saying your league doesn’t use pitchcom? “I’m anxious, but let’s check one more time.”
“Bruce.”
“hmm?”
“Don’t worry, just go and get ready to catch the ball. “Because I understood it perfectly.”
“Hmm… “This is it.”
To put it simply, Peachcom is a communication system consisting of a terminal worn by a catcher and several receivers that can receive the content transmitted from it as voice.
When the catcher selects and inputs a pitch type and course into the terminal, it is converted into voice and transmitted to the pitcher and defenders wearing the transmitter.
According to the instructions, the pitcher throws the ball and the defender takes a defensive position.
It was a system that was completely protected from sign stealing and could dramatically shorten communication time between catchers, pitchers, and defenders.
“Okay, then let’s just trust it and go. “If there’s a problem, let me know right away.”
The catcher’s face still had a suspicious expression on it.
It’s natural.
I, who had just made my big league debut and was playing in a league without Peachcom, was unsatisfactory.
But it’s a useless worry.
In my past life, I was one of the pitchers who benefited the most from Pitchcom.
Peachcom gave wings to me, who enjoyed winning games quickly without giving the batter time to breathe.
In fact, what I regretted most when playing in the KBO was the absence of this pitchcom.
Shuung
Powwow
After the practice pitch is over, check the status of the transmitter and receiver,
“paly!”
The referee gave the signal to start the game, and my second big league pitching debut finally began.
* * *
Bruce Matthews, who has been in charge of the Seattle Mariners’ home team for four years and plays a central role in the lower-order lineup, thought.
‘I’ll have to think about giving up a point or two first.’
Through the video, we were able to fully see how great a pitcher Han Soo-hyuk showed in the last two international competitions and what kind of pitcher he was in the KBO.
However, even among Americans, he was a particularly conservative person and was the type of person who did not believe in anything he did not see with his own eyes.
Han Soo-hyuk, who did not pitch properly in the last spring training, lasted only one inning in the exhibition game.
Of course, it’s not that he didn’t practice pitching.
However, the problem is that he devoted himself to private practice with a personal trainer and a dedicated bullpen catcher to control his ever-changing balance while gaining weight.
In conclusion, Bruce Matthews is the team’s starting catcher, but he rarely receives pitches from pitcher Han Soo-hyuk.
The bullpen catcher, who took charge of Han Soo-hyuk throughout spring training on his behalf, said this.
‘The world will be shocked. Damn it, I was going to do this until this year, but I need to try a little more.’
He was quite old, and whenever he got the chance, he beat up the bullpen catcher and talked about going back to his hometown and opening a bar.
So I didn’t pay much attention to what he said.
I thought it was like a formal greeting for a new pitcher.
I guessed it was like a drunkard’s bragging.
but,
‘Low course four-seam to the body.’
The autograph is delivered to the pitcher through the pitchcom, and the pitcher nods his head after hearing it.
Finally, Han Soo-hyuk started the windup.
At that moment, my body began to tremble without my knowledge.
It was just a preparation posture to throw the ball.
But just from the start of the movement, I felt something.
Han Soo-hyuk radiated an overwhelming sense of intimidation that I had never felt before, and I’m sorry to say this, but I couldn’t even feel it from this team’s ace, Ryan Tebow.
Taat
A white ball was launched from the pitcher’s fingertips.
There was no need to even move the catcher’s mitt.
The ball flew like a bullet toward the lowest course toward his body, which he had initially intended, and went right into the mitt.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
“strike!”
A shiver ran through my whole body.
Aside from being fast, he had crazy control.
All he did was sign and bring the catcher’s mitt to the spot.
It was a ball that didn’t even require moving the mitt, let alone framing.
Bruce looked at the electronic display board with a dumbfounded expression.
The ridiculous number 107 miles was clearly engraved on it.
“Wow!”
“107! 107! crazy! “It’s 107 miles!”
It was the moment when the major league record for highest velocity, which had not been broken for the past 20 years, was broken.
* * *
“172km/h! 172km/! Aaaah! Dear viewers at home, please rejoice with us! Here, Han Soo-hyuk achieved a new world record of 172 km/h, easily exceeding the previous highest speed of 170! Han Soo-hyuk! “Hansuyeeoeoeook!”
The announcer thought as he watched Ko Dong-sik chanting Han Soo-hyuk’s name with white foam at his mouth and his eyes rolling back.
Anyone who sees it will think that Han Soo-hyuk saved the country.
‘hmm.’
When I think about it, I did save my country at the WBC and Olympics.
The announcer nodded without realizing it and accepted Ko Dong-sik’s comment.
“great! As the speed revolution era passed, the number of pitchers who threw 100 mph continued to increase, but it was still difficult to find a pitcher who could surpass the 106 mph, or 170 km/h, barrier. Han Soo-hyuk, who was ranked 2nd in the world’s all-time highest velocity with 170 km/h recorded in the KBO, finally became the world’s fastest pitcher by throwing 172 km/h, well over the 1st place record of 170.3 km/h. .”
“Waaaaaa!”
The announcer thought to himself as he looked at Ko Dong-sik, who was so excited that he couldn’t tell if he was a commentator or an audience member, and he couldn’t possibly communicate in this state.
It was all thanks to Han Soo-hyuk that he was able to prepare such detailed data.
Han Soo-hyuk said in a locker room interview before today’s game.
‘Commissioner, announcer, do you know about the world’s highest arrest record?’
‘Highest restraint? Of course I know. Well, Han Soo-hyuk is in second place at 170 km/h… 1st place is… 170… … .’
‘It’s 170.3 km/h. ‘Recorded in 2010’
‘Oh, yes, that’s right. that’s right. But why all of a sudden?
‘Well, just like that. Suddenly that thought occurred to me. Anyway, just in case, check the record again.’
Now that I think about it, it was a hint given to them.
It was as if he had declared that he would break that record today.
“This is what happened already! 110 miles let’s go!”
The announcer thought while listening to a buzzword that was used at the time when Korea was swept by the coin craze, which is now completely out of fashion.
At first, I had no choice but to start learning baseball in order to broadcast, but now I really feel like I can’t live in baseball, or rather, in a world without Han Soo-hyuk, because it’s no fun.