The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 2

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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 2
It had been seventy-five days since Soo-ho was released from the Baseball Club.
Instead of the 2nd Team Baseball Stadium, I had been drifting between dilapidated batting ranges near the Gosiwon, pouring sweat into every practice session.
Even through those agonizing days of waiting, my eyes remained fixed on a single prize: a visa to the United States.
“Whew, that was brutal.”
After finishing training and returning to my Gosiwon room drenched in sweat, a text message arrived on my phone.
The moment I read its contents, my fist clenched with fierce determination.
“Yes! The visa came through!”
A B-1 visa—a short-term stay permit that would allow me to engage in non-employment activities in the United States.
The message confirmed that the very document I had been desperately waiting for, the one absolutely essential to seize even the faintest opportunity to play baseball in America, had finally been issued.
“At least now I have the qualifications.”
My goal was singular and unwavering.
To sign a contract with a Major League or Minor League Baseball organization.
However, having secured my departure to the United States did not mean I was delusional enough to aim for Major League stardom.
Could a player released from the KBO’s 2nd Team suddenly become a Major Leaguer just by going to America?
I knew better than anyone that such a notion was unrealistic.
My true purpose was to improve my skills.
I simply wanted to learn the hitting mechanics that defined Major League Baseball, to measure the true extent of my talent against the world’s best.
‘A Minor League Baseball contract would be more than enough.’
Some might ask, “You’re really going all the way to America just to learn one mechanical principle?”
But they don’t understand how critical this truly is in baseball.
‘In America, they treat it as paramount.’
Mechanics, in essence, is the method by which power is transferred through the body.
Like the steel reinforcement that holds up a building’s frame.
No matter how brilliant one’s natural talent, if the foundation is unstable, everything eventually crumbles.
A player whose mechanics waver cannot sustain their performance.
Even the slightest twist of the wrist, even the minutest shift in elbow angle, produces entirely different results in baseball.
The reason the greatest Major League players maintain consistent excellence is not simply because they possess superior talent.
‘It’s because they can repeatedly execute the precise mechanics perfectly calibrated to their own bodies with absolute consistency.’
Talent can eventually hit a ceiling, but mechanics—mechanics never betray a player as long as they play the game.
That is why America places such tremendous emphasis on this aspect.
The analysis, research, and conceptual frameworks established there are incomparably more advanced than anywhere else in the world.
So I thought: perhaps in that place, I could find the mechanics that truly fit me.
That was why I decided to go to America.
‘I even studied English so I could understand the content in the analysis videos. I deserve some credit for that.’
Why not?
The effort I poured into survival, grasping at even the thinnest thread of hope, had ultimately kept my dream alive.
In any case, there was only one path forward for me now to secure a Minor League Baseball contract.
‘Participate in a Baseball Tryout. If I remember correctly, the first public tryout was scheduled for two weeks from now, right?’
A public Baseball Tryout.
Until 2015, Major League Baseball held public Baseball Tryouts directly.
But those days were long gone now.
Now, when Baseball Clubs signed players outside of the draft, they discovered them only through internal networks.
In the end, the only realistic option for Soo-ho was to participate in an Independent League Baseball tryout.
He would participate in the Independent League Baseball tryout, but Soo-ho had no intention of actually playing in the Independent League. That was fine.
‘Because Major League Baseball Club scouts also attend Independent League Baseball tryouts, or so I’ve heard. If I catch their eye, I can sign a Minor League Baseball contract.’
Therefore, Soo-ho’s primary goal was to stand out in the eyes of Major League Baseball Club scouts at the Independent League Baseball tryout.
Having prepared a separate resume for this, Soo-ho quickly completed his applications for three tryouts scheduled in August through his phone.
‘Good. The applications are done….’
Now I just needed to prepare to head to the United States!
As soon as Soo-ho was released from the Baseball Club, he had moved into a small Gosiwon room, and now he looked around it.
His personal equipment—a bat and glove—caught his eye.
“So that’s all my luggage.”
Along with a few changes of clothes, that was everything.
“I just need to book a plane ticket. Let me get there as soon as possible.”
I should head over a day early to adjust to the time difference, food, and environment.
Soo-ho accessed an airline’s homepage on his phone and completed the payment for his plane ticket.
* * *
Two more weeks had passed since Soo-ho arrived in the United States.
The day of the tryout. Soo-ho left the Hotel where he had been staying.
“It’s about a 20-minute walk from here to Raimonde Stadium, right?”
Raimonde Stadium was the home stadium of the Oakland Bollers, an independent Baseball Club. It was where Soo-ho’s first tryout would take place.
When Soo-ho arrived at the Stadium, his eyes widened.
“Wow. There are so many people.”
There appeared to be well over a hundred of them.
The Independent League Baseball had a vastly different player pool compared to Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball.
Most were players who had experienced disappointment or were in rehabilitation from injuries.
Or they were players who had failed to blossom in amateur baseball, gathering here with their last hope.
Soo-ho set aside his surprise and headed to the registration desk first.
“Um….”
The woman at the registration desk stopped writing something and looked up at Soo-ho, asking a question.
“Yes? What can I help you with?”
“I applied for the Baseball Tryout.”
The woman blinked slowly. It was as if she couldn’t believe it, but Soo-ho didn’t find her gaze particularly unpleasant.
‘I’m Asian, after all. And also….’
Looking at the physiques of the surrounding players, I could understand the woman’s sentiment.
The broad shoulders and thick forearms of the other players were so imposing that they obscured the view even while seated.
‘What have they all been eating and sleeping on to get so big?’
Soo-ho was 183cm tall and weighed 73kg. His physique was perhaps closer to that of a model than a baseball player.
Meanwhile, the other players participating in the tryout were taller than him and weighed 10 to as much as 30kg or more.
The woman quickly composed herself and asked.
“Your name?”
“Oh Soo-ho.”
“Soo-ho. Soo-ho… Ah, here it is. The entry fee is 120 dollars. Just pay and head inside.”
Oh Soo-ho retrieved his wallet, handed over the money, and entered the Stadium.
He then made his way to the bleachers where the fewest spectators had gathered and took a seat.
‘When will this start?’
Oh Soo-ho glanced back at the registration desk he’d just passed.
‘There are still plenty of people registering.’
At least fifty more appeared to be in line. It seemed there would be at least 150 or more participants today.
‘It’ll take a bit longer before things get underway.’
But he couldn’t afford to waste this crucial time idly.
No. He couldn’t allow that.
‘I should relax my nerves and gather some information while I’m at it.’
Oh Soo-ho fixed his gaze on a man seated diagonally to his right. Even while sitting, the Black man was quite imposing in build.
Oh Soo-ho quietly moved behind him and gave his shoulder a gentle tap.
“Hey there.”
The Black man slowly turned around.
“Oh. Hey? I’m Mark. By the way, are you Japanese?”
The Black man called Mark greeted Oh Soo-ho warmly.
Since arriving in the United States, Oh Soo-ho had noticed one thing—people here treated strangers as if they were old friends.
“No. I’m Korean.”
“Oh. Korea. I know it well! Kimchi grilled in pork belly fat isn’t spicy and tastes amazing. What’s your name?”
Oh Soo-ho found his mouth falling open involuntarily.
To hear a Black man speak of kimchi grilled in pork belly fat as delicious.
‘You really do learn something new every day.’
Oh Soo-ho was only in his early twenties, after all.
“I’m Soo-ho. Oh Soo-ho.”
“Oh! Soo-ho? That’s a nice name.”
“How… how can you tell a name is nice?”
“If it’s easy to say, it’s a good name, right? Don’t you think? Anyway, your English is pretty good. Have you lived in the United States long?”
Oh Soo-ho shook his head.
“This is my first time in the United States.”
“First time? Then you lived in another English-speaking country?”
“No. This is my first time leaving Korea.”
Mark furrowed his brow.
“But your English is really good. Where did you learn it?”
“I taught myself.”
“You must be a good student. Anyway, you’re here for the Baseball Tryout today?”
Oh Soo-ho nodded.
Mark examined Soo-ho’s frame from every angle, his brow furrowing deeply.
“You can actually play baseball with that body? One tap and you’d probably snap in half…”
Soo-ho opened his mouth to respond, then stopped.
Because honestly, if Mark gave him even a light tap, he probably would break. Mark’s physique was that imposing.
“Looks can be deceiving. I’m actually pretty good at baseball. Besides, baseball isn’t played with your body size, is it?”
I’m good at baseball. Well, not really, but what I needed right now was confidence.
“That may be true, but aren’t you way too thin? Even that legendary Mookie Betts was 5’10”. He weighed at least 180 pounds, right?”
Mookie Betts. Mark spoke of him as a legendary player.
Even he, compared to other baseball players, had a relatively small frame at 178 centimeters and 81 kilograms.
But Mark seemed to be saying that Soo-ho was even leaner than that.
“I can always build up my body.”
“That’s the problem though! Even in the Independent League tryout, there are guys throwing 93 miles per hour, you know?”
150 kilometers. Soo-ho wasn’t particularly surprised.
Because there were already quite a few players in Korea throwing 150 kilometers.
Of course, they were rarer in the 2nd Team Baseball, but that didn’t mean he’d never faced them.
Moreover, back in his amateur high school days, Soo-ho had faced numerous players throwing over 150 kilometers.
But before Soo-ho could answer, Mark continued speaking.
“Soo-ho. Do you even know how fast 93 miles is?”
I do. But what I need right now is information.
To gather information, it was often better to go along with what the other person was saying.
“Nope. No clue. Mark, do you know?”
“Of course I do. Because I’m American. I graduated from high school here, and 93-mile fastballs are easy to see.”
“Can you handle 93-mile pitches well?”
Mark’s pupils wavered for a moment. But then he thumped his left chest with his fist.
“Ha. No problem at all. I was the best hitter in my high school. You know the High School Invitational, the best high school tournament in America? Huh? What did I do there?”
“Tell me. I’m listening.”
“I got hits! I hit home runs! I did it all!”
“But then why…”
“Ah… why am I here? Because of an injury. I got injured during my senior season.”
The atmosphere grew somber for a moment.
Soo-ho hastily raised his thumb, eager to break free from the heavy mood.
“You could have given up, but you’re really amazing. You didn’t abandon your dream and kept running toward it.”
Mark scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
“Aw, come on! But you’re right. The doctor said there’s absolutely no problem with me playing baseball again. And I’m still young, so I want to achieve my dream quickly.”
“How old are you, Mark?”
“Twenty.”
“R-really?”
“Huh? Why? How old are you, Soo-ho?”
“I’m twenty-four…”
Mark’s eyes widened with a flash of realization.
“That… that many? You look like a middle schooler at best, maybe a high schooler…”
“I’m sorry for having so many…”
I offered a bitter smile, but my eyes remained unwavering.
To me, twenty-four was not a reason to give up, but the moment to burn my final flame.
‘Twenty-four is not old at all.’
At twenty-four, I was still evaluated as having plenty of growth potential as a prospect.
Of course, Major League clubs viewed this age as a kind of Maginot Line.
For young players in their late teens or early twenties, even with technical flaws, they would invest in long-term development based on potential.
But at twenty-four, they judged that my growth curve was already somewhat fixed.
Especially in the American system, players are managed meticulously from right after high school graduation.
The approach is to establish fundamentals and mechanics at an early age, then gradually elevate performance.
So for a foreign player coming to America at twenty-four…
‘They do think habits are ingrained and technical changes are difficult.’
In the end, clubs could only expect immediate results from a twenty-four-year-old player.
If I couldn’t prove myself through performance within one or two years, the club would quickly lose interest.
That was exactly what Mark was worried about.
I was well aware of this reality too.
I chose to come to America to seize this last opportunity where I had no choice but to prove my abilities quickly.
“Damn it. Why did I say such things before the Baseball Tryout…”
Mark was genuinely sorry.
But I simply smiled.
“It’s fine. I told you, right? I’m good at baseball. I’ll show you for sure today, so keep your eyes wide open and watch.”
Could a player who was merely struggling in the KBO 2nd Team Baseball Club say such things? Wasn’t this baseless confidence?
Moreover, I had been released from the team due to batting issues.
Yet I was confident.
‘I’ve seen 150 km fastballs plenty of times even in the 2nd Team Baseball Club.’
Even at the amateur high school level.
During high school, I had participated in Korea’s premier amateur tournament.
There were truly excellent pitchers there.
And.
‘I’ve hit countless home runs against pitches like that.’
Today would be no different.
I was confident I could get a hit off a 150 km fastball.
‘Because this isn’t Korea.’
The moment I was released, I no longer needed to worry about the batting coach’s gaze that had constrained me.
And I hadn’t just wasted the two and a half months waiting for my visa.
For the Baseball Tryout where results mattered most, I had poured everything into returning to my high school days when I was at my best.
The batting that had allowed me to sign with a professional team—and I had succeeded.
Now, let me review what Mark had said so far.
‘He’s talking about 150 km like it’s some incredible pitch.’
Of course, 150 kilometers was undoubtedly an impressive fastball.
Yet the way it was presented here suggested it represented the pinnacle of what this place had to offer.
Which meant this stage itself…
‘…was far beneath the level of the KBO 2nd Team Baseball Stadium.’
If I could simply display my true abilities, I would be more than capable of catching the attention of every scout gathered here.

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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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