The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 65

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

Chapter 65
Two weeks had already passed since the Arizona Fall League began.
AFL. Arizona Fall League.
Every October through November, all thirty Major League Baseball clubs dispatch their top prospects to this stage to evaluate their abilities.
Some called this place the military academy for prospects, while others dubbed it the battlefield of stars.
This league, which ran for only six weeks total, placed far greater emphasis on individual player showcases than on wins and losses.
A place teeming with monsters from Double-A, Triple-A, and even those who had briefly graced Major League rosters.
Which made it a brutally harsh jungle for rookies fresh out of Low-A to introduce themselves.
Yet this year’s Arizona Fall League protagonist was not those flashy upper-level prospects.
An upset.
At its center were three rookies who had come from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Low-A affiliate.
First, Soo-ho’s statistics looked like this.
[Oh Soo-ho (CF)]
Batting Average (AVG): .325
Home Runs (HR): 1
On-Base Percentage (OBP): .440
Slugging Percentage (SLG): .518
OPS: .958
Next came Casey’s statistics.
[Casey Meyer (3B)]
Batting Average (AVG): .385
Home Runs (HR): 5
Runs Batted In (RBI): 18
OPS: 1.201
Finally, Mark’s statistics.
[Mark Williams (1B) – Cleanup Hitter]
Batting Average (AVG): .340
Home Runs (HR): 7 (League Leader)
Slugging Percentage (SLG): .710
The three of them were literally dominating the league.
It was a record that seemed impossible for players who had skipped even High-A ball.
Staff members initially found this anomalous phenomenon intriguing, calling it a rookie rebellion.
But after two weeks, they were forced to acknowledge that the cause of this phenomenon stemmed from a single person.
It was Soo-ho.
He was not merely a batter who hit well.
He was nothing short of a disaster for pitchers.
Once he stepped into the batter’s box, he had the ability to work counts, routinely fouling off seven or eight pitches.
And when he finally reached base via walk or hit, that’s when the pitcher’s nightmare truly began.
With his 80-grade speed, he would tear up the bases and utterly destroy the pitcher’s mental state.
By the time the pitcher had sweated through trying to account for Soo-ho’s legs, they faced a venomous genius in Casey and a raw power monster in Mark waiting in the wings.
There was no conceivable way a pitcher already stripped of his very soul could stand against them.
Soo-ho set the table, and once the pitcher’s strength was depleted, the two who followed feasted on the scraps.
This simple yet devastating mechanism was laying waste to the Arizona Fall League.
Of course….
Compared to the overwhelming dominance of the first week, the second week showed signs of slowing.
The opposing players had stopped dismissing them as mere Low-A prospects.
They now approached each game treating them as equals.
But regardless, Soo-ho and his companions remained exceptional.
No—they were the hottest topic in the entire Arizona Fall League.
Thanks to this, local scouts and commentators began calling these fearsome Low-A prospects by a new name.
-The Hounds
Soo-ho, the vanguard who never released his grip once he sank his teeth in.
And the two beasts guarding his flank.
In their wake, only the screams of pitchers remained.
Immediately after the final game of week two, in the Locker Room.
Soo-ho, Casey, and Mark had just finished showering and were gathering their belongings to leave.
That was when it happened.
Someone hesitantly stepped into their path.
“Um, uh….”
Mark turned his head toward the voice.
The moment he identified the source, his brow furrowed sharply.
It was Liam Henricks.
The towering batter who stood a full head taller than them.
But the intimidating presence he’d radiated on the first day was nowhere to be found.
His shoulders were hunched like a herbivore standing before an enraged predator.
Mark responded curtly.
“What.”
A cold reception.
The old Liam would have glared daggers—or grabbed him by the collar—but circumstances had changed.
Soo-ho and his companions’ performance had been too exceptional.
In baseball, the player with superior stats was ultimately the predator.
Objectively speaking, Liam’s numbers weren’t poor.
Batting average: .282
Home runs: 4
OPS: .895
These were respectable credentials by any standard.
Especially considering his opponents were Double-A and Triple-A caliber pitchers, his performance was more than solid.
But baseball is relative.
The problem was that the three batters ahead of him were performing at a monstrous, almost inhuman level.
Liam squeezed his eyes shut.
My pride was wounded, but I had to accept reality.
His lips trembled slightly, a stark contrast to his rough, intimidating face.
“W-would you like to grab a meal together?”
Mark let out a hollow laugh, scoffing audibly.
“A meal? Are we really the type to eat together?”
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
If he’d approached me warmly from the start, it might be different.
But at first, he’d dismissed me as just another Asian rookie.
Now that I’m performing well, he’s suddenly wagging his tail?
This was exactly the type of person I despised most.
Actually, everyone would hate this type of person.
Liam’s face flushed crimson like a beet.
He cried out urgently, as if he couldn’t back down now.
“L-let’s eat steak! There’s this incredibly famous place in Arizona called Butcher’s Block. Let’s go there. I’ll pay!”
In that instant, my eyes widened.
Butcher’s Block.
It was the most prestigious steakhouse, revered as a holy ground among players.
The taste was heavenly, but the price was hellish—something I could never afford on a Low-A salary.
‘He’s offering to pay?’
For meat? Free?
My pupils wavered.
A fierce internal struggle between pride and appetite.
But the outcome was already decided.
“…Let me ask them first.”
I turned sharply and approached Soo-ho and Casey.
My voice was low, but I couldn’t hide my excitement.
“You heard that?”
Soo-ho answered on behalf of everyone.
“Yeah.”
“What do you think?”
“Mark, you want to go, right?”
“W-well, not really?”
“Come on. You totally want to. Your lips are curling up.”
“I-I mean…”
If it were any other restaurant, it might be different.
But Butcher’s Block was a place every player praised unanimously.
I glanced sideways at Liam and hesitated.
“Wouldn’t it look like I have no backbone? I just went off on him pretty hard.”
“So what. That’s not necessarily true. Getting a free meal is winning. Let’s go.”
“Really? You guys are okay with it?”
When Soo-ho nodded, color bloomed across Mark’s face.
“Then I’ll go tell him!”
As Mark rushed off to Liam with excitement, Soo-ho adjusted his gym bag and fell into thought.
‘Liam’s intentions are transparent.’
He probably wanted to ride the coattails of our success and scrape together whatever crumbs he could.
Or perhaps he wanted to clear the air and find some psychological stability.
‘He extended his hand with ulterior motives, but there’s no reason to refuse.’
I calculated it coldly.
Liam might score zero points for character, but as a baseball player, he had qualities worth learning from.
Especially his work ethic deserved recognition.
He was the first to show up at the Weight Training Facility even when others rested, and he demonstrated the diligence to take a hundred practice swings after games.
In fact, I’d secretly mimicked the hip-stretching routine Liam performed like clockwork.
When I tried it, it definitely helped stabilize my lower body.
‘If someone has even one thing worth learning, it’s better to keep the relationship smooth.’
But the biggest reason lay elsewhere.
‘It’s better not to have enemies.’
Liam was ultimately part of the same Dodgers organization.
‘Who knows—someday he might become a teammate in the same Dugout.’
If we made enemies, that awkward tension would eventually eat away at our own conditioning.
Rather than waste energy on pointless emotions, getting a free steak and maintaining a business partnership was a hundred times more beneficial.
I chuckled softly and looked at Casey.
Casey’s expression was one of annoyance, but his eyes showed no real displeasure.
I wrapped my arm around his shoulder.
“Let’s go. If it’s expensive meat, we should eat our fill.”
* * *
Shortly after, our group arrived at Butcher’s Block, located Downtown.
The moment we opened the restaurant door, the air itself felt different.
A subtle oak-smoke aroma, luxurious leather sofas, and the precise movements of waiters dressed in formal vests.
It was a world entirely different from the five-dollar hamburger restaurants or the Baseball Club cafeteria we usually frequented.
“Wow….”
Mark’s mouth fell open.
When he unfolded the menu, his pupils trembled.
The cheapest steak started at eighty dollars.
This place was forbidden territory—a realm minor leaguers, especially Low-A players struggling with meager salaries, could never dare approach.
Mark asked carefully.
“You’re really buying for all of us?”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t hold back—eat as much as you want. It’s no big deal buying dinner for my juniors.”
Liam laughed heartily and waved his hand.
But I caught the faint tremor at the tips of his fingers.
“Really?”
Mark’s eyes blazed with sudden intensity.
He decided to take the invitation at face value—no need to be modest.
He raised his hand sharply toward the Waiter.
“We’ll have your largest dry-aged T-bone steaks. Two of the 3-kilogram cuts. Too much? Look at us—we’ve got the build for it. And add one Tomahawk steak as well. Medium-rare, please.”
The order didn’t stop there.
“For sides, lobster mac and cheese, truffle fries, and grilled asparagus. And a Caesar salad—but load it up with bacon.”
“….”
Liam’s pupils trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
His lips were clenched so tightly that one more ounce of pressure would draw blood.
Yet he desperately forced the corners of his mouth upward.
His facial muscles convulsed, but somehow he managed a smile.
“Ha, haha. Right. You eat as much as you weigh? That’s impressive.”
Watching that grotesque smile, I became certain.
‘Exactly. There’s definitely something behind this.’
This wasn’t simple kindness.
He was making a bone-deep investment. I couldn’t miss it.
Moments later.
With a sizzle, the Dining Table overflowed with meat.
Overwhelmed by the visual spectacle and aroma, Mark had already lost his composure, wielding his fork and knife like a dancer.
But what surprised me more was Casey.
The guy who usually wolfed down meals as if eating was a waste of time.
Now he was inhaling meat at a speed I’d never witnessed before.
His plate emptied nearly as fast as Mark’s.
‘It must taste incredible.’
Come to think of it, remembering what we’d been eating, this wasn’t strange at all.
Mornings meant taking turns cooking, but we’d been cutting corners.
Lunch was provided by the club, but after two weeks of the same menu, I was already getting tired of it.
‘The menu never changes.’
And dinner….
We’d eat out sometimes, but never at a place this upscale.
I cut a piece of steak and placed it in my mouth.
The moment I chewed, rich juices enveloped my tongue.
The exterior was seared to a crisp, while the interior melted like jelly.
Smoke-tinged notes and the umami of pure beef exploded across my palate like fireworks.
‘Wow. This is genuinely delicious.’
I instantly understood why players called this place sacred ground.
‘Money really does make a difference.’
I had one more reason to succeed.
The meal ended like a storm.
The Dining Table was left with nothing but bones and empty plates.
Liam accepted the bill, and his eyes widened in shock.
His expression soon turned half-tearful. Twelve hundred dollars including tip—roughly one point six million won.
It was an exorbitant amount for a single meal.
More than half a Low-A player’s monthly salary had just vanished.
Yet Liam extended his card with trembling hands and forced a smile through it all.
“L-let’s come back and eat here again next time!”
“…!”
Mark’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
He’d deliberately ordered only the most expensive items, planning to teach him a lesson, and now he wanted to treat him again?
Was this man actually an angel?
“Really?”
“Huh? Y-yes. Of c-course.”
You’re stammering quite badly.
“B-but… could you maybe order a bit less next time?”
Liam’s earnest plea.
Mark looked away sheepishly, finally feeling guilty.
Honestly, he’d ordered way too much even for someone ordering a lot.
“Yes. I’ll exercise more restraint next time.”
The group finished paying and left the restaurant.
That’s when Liam approached Soo-ho hesitantly.
“W-we’re friends now, right? You forgive me?”
The reason he’d specifically come to Soo-ho for confirmation was simple.
Anyone with a functioning brain could see it.
The reason Casey and Mark produced such phenomenal numbers was because of Soo-ho.
The plays Soo-ho displayed on the ground awakened and led the other two.
In other words, Soo-ho was the leader of this fearsome trio.
To join the line, you had to secure the leader.
Liam had instinctively read the flow of power.
Soo-ho chuckled at that desperate gaze.
The steak had been worth its price.
“Yes. Let’s get along well.”
“Y-yeah. Thanks.”
Liam exhaled a sigh of relief.
With this, I had gained another reliable patron and an unproblematic teammate.
“See you tomorrow then.”
Liam left with a goofy grin plastered across his face.
Once his figure completely disappeared from view, silence settled among the remaining three.
Mark was the first to speak.
He contentedly patted his protruding belly and murmured.
“Come to think of it… wasn’t that guy actually a good person?”
The satisfaction I’d felt while cutting into the steak had clearly numbed my reason.
It was a simplicity and naiveté that belied his size—or perhaps matched it perfectly.
But Casey’s reaction to those words was ice-cold.
“Sigh. Idiot.”
“What? Who are you calling an idiot?”
Mark bristled and frowned, but Casey snorted and clicked his tongue.
“Can’t you see it? Why he’s being so generous to us.”
“I… I don’t know?”
Mark blinked and asked again.
Casey shook his head as if exasperated.
Then he turned his gaze toward me and asked.
“What do you think?”
“I think there’s something behind it. But honestly, I’m not sure what exactly.”
I answered honestly.
Mark’s expression turned serious in an instant.
When Casey had said it, Mark thought he was just picking a fight for no reason.
But if I said so, it was different.
Mark would believe anything I said, even if I told him the moon was made of cheese.
“So… that’s what it was? He had an ulterior motive?”
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
I shrugged.
There had to be a reason why Liam suddenly changed his attitude.
But I couldn’t quite guess what that specific reason was.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked Casey.
“Do you know why Liam’s acting like that?”
“Yeah.”
Casey answered curtly, twisting his lips into a smile.
That smile carried his characteristic arrogance—as if to say, you idiots don’t even know this?
“What is it?”
“Well… it’s obvious. Because of the Fall Stars Game next week…”
Casey, who had paused for effect, drove home his point with confident eyes.
“That’s why.”

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