The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 47

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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 47
“Excellent! Next, we’ll film the defensive work!”
The shoot progressed at a breakneck pace.
After batting, came the defensive motion filming.
This time, they hit actual fungo balls to capture reaction speed and fielding posture.
Mark, true to his role as First Baseman, moved with surprising fluidity for his size and received the okay sign without issue.
But Soo-ho was different.
“…Wow. No, his defense is fantastic too.”
Director Ben whistled in admiration.
The first step—his reaction the instant the bat made contact with the ball.
The handling as he snatched the ball from the air.
And the transition into the throw that followed—everything flowed as naturally as water.
‘Batting, power potential, and defense too.’
Ben reassessed Soo-ho through the eyes of a former analyst.
In baseball, what scouts value most is the tool.
Simply put, a ‘tool’ is the vessel of innate talent a player possesses.
Skill, on the other hand, is the current ability level contained within that vessel.
Skill can be developed through training, but tools must be inborn.
Yet Soo-ho was already demonstrating three of the core tools the Major League needed most.
Perfect contact mechanics.
Latent power proven by data.
And the solid defense unfolding before his eyes right now.
‘There’s still much to refine, but… he’s definitely a prospect.’
With tools like those in his arsenal.
Once experience accumulated, he would undoubtedly grow explosively, like a bean sprout soaking up water.
“Okay! Cut!”
Ben checked the monitor with a satisfied expression.
“The machine says his body balance and flexibility are so good that even difficult dynamic movements place no strain on his joints. His injury risk is very low.”
“That’s a relief.”
Soo-ho exhaled with relief.
The most important thing for a long career was injury prevention, and he’d passed that test too.
“Then finally, we’ll capture the base-running motion!”
The staff moved busily, laying thick safety mats across the Motion Capture Studio floor.
It was to film the sliding motion.
Rolling on bare ground risked injury, so the precaution was necessary.
“See where it says base over there? Since it’s on the mat, don’t be afraid—just slide boldly.”
That’s when Soo-ho raised his hand.
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“Could I do it on the bare floor instead? I’m wearing compression shorts, so I think it’ll be fine.”
“…What? Without a mattress?”
Ben and the staff members couldn’t believe their ears.
No matter how well-padded the suit was, the ground beneath was nothing but hard concrete with only a thin finishing layer.
“Yes. Please remove it.”
“But why? You could get hurt.”
“Well… I think the data will come out more accurately that way.”
Soo-ho’s eyes were serious.
Sliding on a soft mat and throwing your body toward hard ground are fundamentally different movements.
When psychological fear takes hold, the body instinctively contracts, and muscles stiffen.
Those minute differences create errors in the data.
“We’d certainly prefer it to be realistic… but are you absolutely sure?”
“I’m sure. I want to get accurate data too.”
Soo-ho wanted to see how the machine would analyze his base running.
Especially his head-first slide—his trademark and survival weapon.
He needed to know if this move, which defined him, was truly efficient from a scientific standpoint.
Or if it was reckless self-destruction.
‘If the machine tells me not to do it, I should restrain myself as much as possible.’
Of course, I didn’t blindly trust the machine’s judgment.
Machines aren’t omniscient, and humans can see what machines cannot.
Things like experience, for instance.
‘Taylor trusted me.’
Yet humans possess something—affection—that machines may never comprehend in a lifetime.
That affection sometimes becomes an obstacle to accurate evaluation.
That’s why I needed the machine’s power to judge with complete objectivity here.
So I decided to perform my base running on bare ground.
‘I… truly believe my method is sound.’
But what if I was wrong?
Soo-ho no longer wanted to walk a path based solely on what others told him.
He’d already failed once that way.
“…Understood. If that’s what you want, player.”
At Ben’s signal, the staff removed the mats.
Soo-ho steadied his breathing, eyes fixed on the virtual base marked on the bare ground.
This time, I’d execute it as flawlessly as in a real game.
“Ready… Action!”
The moment the signal dropped, Soo-ho exploded into motion.
Though the Motion Capture Studio was cramped, the explosive power of his first step matched that of an actual ground.
As the virtual base drew near.
‘Now.’
Soo-ho threw himself forward without hesitation.
Lowering his center of gravity as much as possible.
Every movement was meticulously calculated and trained—from the angle of my outstretched arms to minimizing friction against the ground.
Screech!
A harsh, grinding sound echoed through the Motion Capture Studio as my body scraped across the hard floor.
I shot across the ground like an arrow, touched First Base, and came to a stop.
A throbbing pain radiated through my body beneath the tight suit, but I rose to my feet without changing my expression.
It was the same level of pain I’d always felt on the Ground.
“Okay! Cut!”
Ben clapped and shouted.
I caught my breath and walked straight toward the monitor.
Pain was irrelevant.
All that mattered now was the result.
“What do you think?”
Ben stared intently at the monitor, his eyes narrowing with intensity.
“…Remarkable.”
Ben pointed to the graph on the screen.
“Do you see? From the moment you leap until you land and slide, your body height remains nearly parallel to the ground.”
[Air Resistance: Minimized] [Deceleration Rate: 0.8% (Very Low)]
“Normally, a head-first slide causes a sharp drop in speed due to impact upon landing. But you… it’s as if you’re gliding across ice with almost no deceleration.”
Ben shook his head in admiration.
“It looks dangerous, but the data shows no problems. You’re also distributing the impact on your joints remarkably well.”
I exhaled a long breath of relief.
The machine had proven it.
My baseball was sound.
My way of survival was not wrong.
It was not reckless self-destruction.
Ben chuckled at my reaction.
“But honestly, to the viewer it does look dangerous.”
His tone suggested he knew I’d come here to test my abilities.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, caught.
“I apologize.”
“No need. There’s no reason to apologize. It’s a win-win for both of us. Besides, we got perfect motion capture today, so we benefited greatly. In any case, thank you for your hard work. Go ahead and change out of the suit.”
* * *
All the filming was complete.
Mark and I removed our sweat-soaked suits and changed back into our regular clothes.
My body was exhausted, but my spirits soared.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
Ben approached us directly and handed each of us a thick envelope.
The promised payment. One thousand dollars.
“Thanks to you, I think we’ll cut several months off our development timeline. Please accept this as a token of my appreciation.”
“Thank you.”
Mark took the envelope, his grin spreading from ear to ear.
With this money, I could easily send Jenny on her school trip right away.
And I could cover utilities and living expenses too.
That’s when a man who had been watching from the corner with his arms crossed throughout the shoot approached us.
He wore a refined suit with a badge bearing a famous sports brand logo pinned to his chest.
“Do you have a moment to spare?”
The man handed over his business card.
[Rawlings Western Division Marketing Manager].
Rawlings was a traditional American baseball equipment company.
The manufacturer of the official Major League Baseball.
And the most widely used glove brand among Major League players.
“Watching the two of you, I could see how perfectly our equipment fits you. That sliding especially… it was art.”
The man pointed to the equipment bag placed on the bench.
“These are samples I brought for today’s shoot—please take them with you. It’s too much trouble to bring them back to the company, and I think it would be an honor for the equipment to be used by both of you.”
“Really?”
Mark’s eyes widened in surprise.
Batting gloves, protective gear, arm sleeves—all premium equipment.
But my gaze was fixed on the gloves placed in the corner.
“Are those gloves included as well?”
At my question, the manager smiled and nodded.
“Yes. I’d be grateful if you’d use all of them.”
The reason this man wanted to give us equipment was straightforward.
The total value of these items alone was far more than a thousand dollars.
It could easily approach ten thousand dollars.
This wasn’t mere goodwill—it was a calculated investment.
In fact, this kind of thing happens often in the Minor League.
From a brand’s perspective, they can’t know which of tens of thousands of players will strike it big.
So they plant seeds early with promising prospects who show potential.
But this time was different.
The manager possessed not possibility, but certainty.
‘These are truly exceptional prospects. Especially that Asian player… a five-tool player.’
He was like a unicorn in the Baseball World right now.
A unicorn symbolizes rarity.
Players who satisfied all five tools were extremely rare.
But the motion capture data just proved it.
I possessed every perfect talent baseball demanded.
‘There’s no way a prospect with that kind of potential could fail to succeed.’
Of course, the Minor League is a place full of variables.
Monsters disappear due to injuries, mental struggles, and adaptation issues all the time.
‘Still, I need to plant goodwill while his market value is still low.’
When I eventually became a Major League player.
The hope that they might sign a contract with Rawlings based on today’s connection.
This was the cheapest and most certain lobbying toward a future superstar.
I rifled through the gloves and my expression grew wistful.
The Team Manager looked puzzled and asked.
“Huh? Is something wrong? These gloves are from our premium line, so I can guarantee the quality.”
“Oh, I know. They look really great. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about equipment for a while. But… do you happen to have a junior size?”
“Could it be… you have a younger sibling?”
“Yes.”
I answered without hesitation.
Mark’s younger brother.
Tommy’s torn glove had been weighing on my mind.
“Don’t worry. I have junior samples in my car trunk too. This works out perfectly. Let me grab one for you right now.”
“Oh! Thank you so much!”
As the man stepped away, Mark approached with a pleased expression and tapped my shoulder.
“Hey. Why are you looking after my brother? You’re making me look bad.”
I chuckled and replied.
“He’s my brother now too.”
Mark was at a loss for words.
Something heavy resonated deep in his chest.
A friend who genuinely cared for his family, his brother.
Where could he find a more reliable partner than this?
Shortly after, the man returned carrying a box containing a premium junior glove.
As I accepted it with care, I felt a sense of fulfillment.
‘I gained so much today.’
I got to try cutting-edge technology.
I provided reference materials when it was time to move forward.
I earned money.
And now I was receiving expensive equipment while being lobbied by a Sports Company.
In the past, I couldn’t have dreamed of accomplishing so many different things in a single day.
‘I feel really good… it must be because my perspective has changed.’
The days of staring at the ground and enduring were over.
My simple wish to just play baseball for a long time had faded away.
Now I had lifted my head.
And then I saw it—the highest point of this ecosystem.
The Major League was what I desired.

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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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