The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 116
The Evil Empire.
This brutal epithet, once used to describe the New York Yankees in the past, had found a new master in the twenty-first century.
Overwhelming financial power.
An inexhaustible farm system.
And a pursuit of victory so ruthlessly thorough it bordered on cruelty.
The new empire that now dominated Major League Baseball.
In other words, the new Evil Empire was none other than the LA Dodgers.
The man standing before me, Brandon Hills, was the true emperor who moved this colossal empire.
Among the thirty General Managers in Major League Baseball, he was known as the most merciless competitor.
“….”
Perhaps it was that overwhelming presence.
Even Mark, who would normally chatter incessantly, had fallen silent.
Even Casey, who always believed himself to be the best, couldn’t even breathe in this moment.
The very fact that he stood there seemed to alter the density of the air itself.
I slowly extended my hand into that suffocating silence.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Oh Soo-ho.”
Grip.
Two men’s hands clasped together.
Unlike my rough, unrefined hand, Brandon’s was smooth and meticulously maintained.
Yet the grip strength within it was as solid as stone.
Brandon silently regarded me through his glasses with gray eyes.
In that gaze—piercing as an X-ray, seeing straight through to one’s core—I instinctively sensed something.
‘…He’s different.’
He was on an entirely different level from the KBO General Managers I’d met when signing my professional contract back in Korea.
Where those men were merely businessmen running baseball organizations, this man felt like a commander on a battlefield.
Only someone in a position where a single word or gesture could move hundreds of billions of won and overturn a player’s entire life could possess such an aura.
That immense presence bore down upon my entire body.
‘This won’t be easy.’
I swallowed hard.
In truth, before coming here, I had my own plan.
I’d conducted negotiations both in Korea and in the United States.
So I’d made myself a promise.
That this time, I would never let the organization push me around.
If they didn’t offer the conditions I wanted, I was prepared to even flip the table and make my position crystal clear.
But.
‘Is that even possible in front of this man?’
The moment our eyes met, the scenario I’d prepared felt like it was evaporating white-hot from my mind.
I was worried I might not even voice my convictions—that I’d simply sign whatever documents he presented, as if under a spell.
It was in that precise instant that my eyes wavered ever so slightly.
Tap, tap.
Brandon tapped Soo-ho’s shoulder lightly with his free hand.
“Relax. We met for good reasons.”
His cold expression softened, if only for a moment.
The oppressive aura vanished like a predator retracting its claws.
“Kevin, I’ll handle the arrangements and proceed from here.”
“Understood, General Manager.”
Brandon gestured with his chin toward the end of the corridor.
“Come. My office.”
Soo-ho drew a deep breath.
This was the real moment of truth.
He exchanged a brief glance with Mark and Casey, who watched anxiously from behind, then followed Brandon down the hallway.
The very heart of the Dodgers organization.
Click.
The General Manager’s office door opened.
The moment Soo-ho stepped inside, he paused.
Contrary to what he’d expected—something lavish—Brandon’s office was remarkably austere.
One entire wall was dominated by a massive screen displaying dozens of player statistics and graphs intricately interwoven.
Stacks of documents awaiting approval towered on the desk.
This was no ornate throne room for royal audiences.
It was a field commander’s war room—where strategies were forged and victories engineered.
“Sit.”
Brandon settled into the head seat and gestured to the chair across from him.
As Soo-ho carefully took his place, Brandon withdrew a thin file from the drawer and laid it on the desk.
The cover bore Soo-ho’s scouting report.
“I’d offer you coffee, but you and I are both people for whom time is precious, so let’s get straight to business.”
Brandon interlaced his fingers on the desk and leaned forward.
“Soo-ho. Your performance over the past three months has completely defied our projections.”
“….”
“In a positive sense, that is. Especially that home run you hit off Victor Moretti—even our data analysis team couldn’t explain that miracle.”
It was praise.
But Soo-ho couldn’t smile.
Brandon’s gray eyes gleamed like an eagle spotting prey.
“So we’ve decided to reassess your value.”
Whoosh.
Brandon opened the file and slid a sheet of paper toward Soo-ho.
A new contract.
“Read it.”
Soo-ho steadied his trembling hands and picked up the contract.
The moment he read the first line, his eyes widened.
[Contract Type: Major League Baseball 40-Man Roster Guaranteed Contract]
The first thing that caught my eye was the phrase “40-Man Roster.”
‘Ah….’
My heart began to pound violently.
It couldn’t be otherwise.
This meant my entire status was being fundamentally transformed.
Strictly speaking, Major League rosters are divided into three categories.
The “26-Man Active Roster” composed solely of Major Leaguers.
And the “40-Man Expanded Roster”—those players plus those most cherished and protected by the organization.
Until now, I had been merely one of countless Minor League players existing outside the 40-Man roster.
No matter how well I performed, the organization could release me at will.
And I was powerless to stop another team from claiming me through the Rule 5 Draft—a precarious, non-tenured existence.
But the moment I signed this contract, everything changed.
Even if next season began in Double-A.
I would become a “Major Leaguer” assigned to the Minor Leagues.
Not only would my salary and benefits differ, but I would receive protection from the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Most importantly, it meant I had become the top priority call-up list—able to be summoned to the Big Leagues with a single phone call, without any complicated procedures, potentially as soon as tomorrow.
In other words, the Los Angeles Dodgers had just declared it.
This kid is our “family,” so don’t even think about approaching him, other teams.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
[Salary: Split Contract]
1. Upon Major League Promotion: $750,000 (approximately 1 billion won / MLB minimum salary guaranteed)
2. Upon Minor League Demotion: $150,000 (approximately 200 million won)
A split contract.
Literally, a contract structure where salary is divided into two branches depending on the player’s status.
For each day registered on the Major League roster, I would receive the Big League salary ($750,000) calculated on a daily basis.
And when playing in the Minor Leagues, the Minor League salary ($150,000) would apply for that period.
For rookie-level players without a secured starting position, this is a standard contract.
But the weight I felt was anything but standard.
‘A floor of $150,000….’
The reason this contract was a jackpot lay precisely in the Minor League salary.
Even if I lost out in competition and remained in the Minor Leagues the entire season, I was guaranteed a minimum of $150,000 (approximately 200 million won).
This was six times the $26,000 salary I had been receiving until yesterday.
In other words, the worst-case scenario.
Even as a Minor Leaguer, I had already ascended to the ranks of those earning nine-figure salaries.
And if I made it to the Major Leagues, $750,000—over 1 billion won in Korean currency.
‘I’m happy….’
A thrill coursed through my entire body.
It couldn’t be otherwise, considering this was my first contract with the Dodgers.
It was on an entirely different scale from the non-guaranteed, lowball contract that Farm Director Kevin had offered back then.
Above all, the fact that I was guaranteed such a substantial salary—not just a signing bonus.
‘My talent….’
Here in the United States.
And the Los Angeles Dodgers, currently hailed as the strongest team, were acknowledging it.
‘Is this really happening?’
Could my status truly elevate this dramatically in just three months?
Of course, it wasn’t unrealistic.
Superstars with brilliant futures were already receiving such treatment.
But Soo-ho had been a failure.
Different from them in every conceivable way.
Yet because I hadn’t given up, this was the result that came back to me.
It was only natural that I couldn’t face this reality directly.
As Soo-ho stared at the documents with a dazed expression, Brandon spoke softly.
“So, how is it? Do you think we can finally have a real conversation now?”
Soo-ho lifted his head and looked at Brandon.
This wasn’t merely a ‘good contract’.
It was the finest treatment that could be offered to a rookie who hadn’t even debuted in the Major League yet.
In other words, it was definitive proof that the Los Angeles Dodgers had classified me as a player they would absolutely use in the Major League someday.
Then Brandon adjusted his glasses and continued.
“You’ve probably already heard from our Scout Paul, but there are additional conditions beyond this.”
Brandon’s finger tapped the bottom of the contract.
“Next season, your starting point will be Double-A. And the Spring Training in February—you’ll be joining the Major League camp, not the Minor Camp.”
Soo-ho nodded slowly.
It was information I already knew.
After being selected as an All-Star in the Arizona Fall League, it was a privilege I’d earned.
But.
When the General Manager spoke it directly, the weight felt different.
When a Scout or Farm Director conveyed such news, it felt like a reward.
But when it came from the General Manager’s mouth—the one who held hiring authority—it sounded like a confirmed plan.
It wasn’t simply offering an opportunity.
-Your spot is reserved. Come and fill it.
It was a powerful message.
Because it was proof that the Los Angeles Dodgers had thoroughly classified me as a premium asset.
“And turn to the next page.”
At Brandon’s words, Soo-ho turned the contract over.
Among the dense text, bold letters reading “Incentive Bonus” caught my eye.
Soo-ho’s eyes widened.
This included not only the equipment support that Mark had received before.
[1. Housing and Transportation Support]
-Single occupancy hotel room guaranteed by the club during away games.
-Business class seat upgrades provided for all air travel.
-Additional monthly housing stipend of $3,000.
[2. Other Support]
-Team-assigned interpreter provided as needed.
-Specialized nutritional meal plans provided separately.
-Personal coaching staff assigned.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Minor League Baseball was synonymous with hardship and deprivation.
On road games, I’d be crammed into cramped motel rooms with two or three other large men, all of us squeezed together.
I’d endure ten-hour bus rides that left my back screaming in agony.
That accumulated fatigue ruined conditioning more times than I could count.
Yet the club was guaranteeing me perfect rest.
While others suffered through snoring, I could sleep peacefully alone.
While cramped in narrow buses, I could stretch my legs comfortably during travel.
“Does it suit you?”
Brandon leaned back in his chair and asked.
I blinked slowly.
Does it suit me?
I was so overjoyed that mere satisfaction couldn’t describe it.
“…I’m truly grateful. I’ll do my absolute best going forward. No—I’ll excel and become a Major League player for certain.”
Rather than simply doing my best, I now had to excel.
I’d given my all before, but without results, my future remained uncertain.
Did my answer please Brandon?
He extended a pen toward me.
“You’ve reviewed all the terms, it seems. Now only one thing remains.”
He pointed to the signature line.
I took the pen and signed without hesitation.
Hadn’t I said earlier that I’d speak up if there were any necessary conditions?
As that thought circled back, embarrassment washed over me.
The treatment offered far exceeded anything I’d imagined.
Once I finished signing the contract, Brandon spread his arms wide in welcome.
“Welcome to the Dodgers. You’re free to go now.”
As I stood from my seat, Brandon continued.
“Ah, about the final clause under Other Support.”
It seemed to refer to the personal coaching staff assignment.
“We’ll discuss that separately, not with me. They’ll be waiting outside.”
I bowed respectfully.
The growth I needed most.
The club seemed to understand this perfectly.
On this matter, I wouldn’t hold back—I’d make my voice heard.
I stepped out of the General Manager’s Office with a noticeably lighter stride.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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