The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 78

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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 78
A deluge of camera flashes descended like a waterfall.
Dozens of reporters swarmed toward me like sharks that had caught the scent of blood.
“Oh Soo-ho! Did you hear Liam’s interview just now?”
“Is it true you predicted all of Victor Moretti’s pitches?”
“What do you think about being called a prophet!”
Questions flew at me like arrows, striking home.
I was momentarily bewildered.
What on earth was happening?
Why were reporters suddenly swarming me like this?
I hadn’t even heard Liam’s interview in the first place.
More than anything, this kind of attention was a first in my life.
But even amid the chaos, I found clues in the questions the reporters were throwing at me.
‘Ah. Liam passed the spotlight to me….’
In that moment, something swelled in my chest.
Gratitude came first.
Honestly, Liam could have monopolized the attention.
‘After all, Liam and I aren’t exactly inseparable.’
Our relationship was purely business.
But the fact that he redirected the focus to me meant that Liam’s character was far better than his first impression suggested.
‘I didn’t see that coming.’
I wasn’t a god, and I couldn’t possibly see through all of Liam’s complex inner workings.
My goal was simple and singular.
Bring down the heavyweight Victor Moretti.
And in doing so, draw some attention to myself.
Getting selected for the All-Star Game was my top priority.
But now.
‘If the situation is like this….’
The stage had grown far larger than I’d anticipated.
Yet one thing was certain.
I was closer to All-Star selection than anyone else.
‘So I need to give this interview my absolute best.’
This is the United States.
A place where a single interview comment can send a player’s value skyrocketing.
So what’s the best approach?
‘Is there really anything to think about?’
There was no need to overpackage myself.
Showing myself as I truly am carries far more authenticity.
‘Lies always come to light eventually.’
There was no reason to live in anxiety, trembling at the thought of being exposed.
And when I brought down Victor, wasn’t that also my true self?
If my strength alone wasn’t enough, I could win together with my team.
That result was now drawing all this attention.
With my resolve firmly set, I bowed deeply at the waist.
A Korean-style ninety-degree bow.
“Thank you for taking an interest in someone as lacking as myself.”
The murmuring quieted somewhat at my polite and composed demeanor.
I lifted my head and fixed my gaze on the microphone.
“Liam passed the ball to me. Well… to be honest, I don’t think it was just because I performed well. I believe we won because all of us performed well together. Baseball is ultimately a team sport, after all.”
It was a textbook answer, but what the reporters really wanted came after that.
“So is it true about the prediction? Did you know Victor would collapse?”
I didn’t dodge the reporter’s persistent question.
“Yes. I predicted it.”
“Ohhh…!”
“How was that possible? Data analysis, or intuition?”
I spoke calmly.
“It was thanks to our position.”
“Your position?”
“Yes. Victor Moretti is an aspiring Major Leaguer whom everyone watches. Meanwhile, aside from Liam, my teammates and I are Minor Leaguers who have only just left Low-A.”
My voice gained strength.
“For the weak to defeat the strong, a direct confrontation offers little chance of victory. So we had to dig into our opponent’s habits, mentality, and even the smallest cracks.”
“…”
“Victor was truly an exceptional pitcher. He was the strongest opponent I’ve ever faced. Conversely, if I were in his position, I wouldn’t have bothered analyzing weaklings like us. But we, on the other hand, were desperate. I believe that difference created the outcome.”
It was an honest confession.
But this statement actually worked to my greater advantage.
I’m still a Minor Leaguer.
Until I reach the Major League—that stage of dreams—I can only ever be a challenger and the underdog.
So from now on, I would never be intimidated by the strong, and I would become a player who topples giants through thorough analysis and strategy.
A so-called giant killer.
Through this interview, I had firmly established my identity.
* * *
The telephone in Kevin’s office at the Los Angeles Dodgers Farm Director’s desk was literally on fire.
“Hello? Yes? Who is this? Ah, the Kansas City Royals? Yes. Yes.”
Click. The moment he hung up the receiver, the bell rang again.
“Hello? Who is this? The Pittsburgh Pirates? Ah, yes.”
Click.
Brrring!
“Hello? Yes. You’re calling about Soo-ho, correct? Yes, I’m aware. What are your terms?… I’ll think about it.”
Kevin pressed his forehead with one hand and released a deep sigh.
He’d lost count of how many calls had come through already.
No, to be precise, it was twenty-nine calls.
All twenty-nine Major League Baseball clubs except the Los Angeles Dodgers had called.
The content of each call was identical.
Trade inquiries about Oh Soo-ho. The terms were extraordinary.
Some even offered to send established Major Leaguers immediately in exchange for Soo-ho.
On the surface it seemed like a losing proposition, but anyone versed in baseball’s mechanics would understand the logic behind such a trade.
The so-called Small Market Teams.
Starved for capital, they sold off their expensive veteran stars and instead brought in promising prospects on the verge of breakthrough to rebuild their rosters.
In other words, they were attempting to rebuild. A kind of tanking strategy.
In their eyes, Soo-ho appeared as the most valuable lottery ticket they could scratch right now.
Of course, the timing posed no issues.
It was October.
The postseason was in full swing.
Most people assume that once the trade deadline passes in late July, all transactions cease.
But that applies only to Major League rosters and postseason eligibility.
Minor League players not included on the 40-Man Roster are the exception.
They need not go through waivers, nor does postseason eligibility apply to them.
In other words, as long as both clubs agree, inquiries and negotiations can happen at any time.
Moreover, even if no immediate player swap occurred, there was active movement to claim players in advance as future considerations.
Kevin buried himself deep into the back of his chair, utterly exhausted.
The leather seat creaked beneath his weight.
“Phew… what in the world is happening?”
A hollow laugh escaped him.
Even if he was the Farm Director.
Even if he had authority over Minor League personnel moves, this was beyond the pale.
‘Twenty-nine clubs interested at once. That’s a first.’
It was the thrashing of hyenas desperate to snatch him before his price climbed higher, before the Los Angeles Dodgers fully grasped his true worth.
“But for inquiries to suddenly flood in like this…”
Kevin chuckled softly.
‘Looks like he caused another incident.’
A memory from just a month ago surfaced.
Low-A Manager Taylor had spoken with passionate intensity, spittle flying.
That Soo-ho should be sent to the Arizona Fall League, even if it meant adding extra roster spots.
‘Back then I scoffed, wondering what Low-A had to do with the Arizona Fall League.’
But seeing how things were unfolding now, it seemed like a brilliant decision.
‘Still, what exactly did he do…’
Curiosity welled up inside him.
The field reports hadn’t come in yet.
But the fact that twenty-nine clubs moved simultaneously was clear evidence that something monumental had occurred.
Kevin dialed a familiar number on his phone.
His eyes and ears on the ground in Arizona.
Scout Paul, to be precise.
“Hello?”
-Yes, yes. Scout Paul here.
“You know why I’m calling, don’t you?”
-I’m not sure?
“Don’t play games with me.”
-No matter how busy you are, you should at least pay attention. Have you read the LA Times article yet? Let’s talk after you do.
Kevin pulled up the LA Times homepage on his browser.
He found the article about Soo-ho without difficulty.
He didn’t even need to scroll.
The largest, most sensational headline dominated the entire page.
[AFL Shock: Low-A Rookie Topples Giant Victor Moretti. At the Center of It All: The Oracle Oh Soo-ho.]
Kevin’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Who was Victor Moretti?
A monster who threw 102 miles per hour.
A top prospect confirmed to enter the Major League starting rotation next year.
And now a Low-A player had brought him down?
“…I’ve seen the article now.”
-I can tell you only read the headline and the first line of the content.
“You know the details better than I do anyway, don’t you?”
-That’s true.
“So what’s going on? What’s this ‘oracle’ business about?”
-Exactly what it sounds like. That guy has an incredibly high Baseball IQ. Honestly, if it weren’t for his lack of experience, he’d be ready for the Major Leagues right now. He reads the pitcher’s psychology and controls the flow of the game. Today’s game was a perfect example.
“Come on. It can’t be that good.”
Kevin tried to downplay it.
It was too generous an assessment for an Asian player who had just stepped onto the American stage.
-Honestly, it’s not quite that level yet. There are still some technical issues with his hitting that need work—power and technique. But on the flip side, if we address just this aspect, his potential is limitless.
“….”
-Anyway, here’s what matters: he was the primary architect behind Victor Moretti’s downfall. And every other organization has caught the scent.
Kevin pressed his forehead.
Now he understood why the office phones had been ringing off the hook.
By demolishing Victor Moretti—a clear measuring stick of talent—the verification was complete.
“Ugh… What do I do?”
-Why are you asking me, a scout? The personnel decisions are your call as Farm Director.
“Sigh. Alright, I understand. Let me rephrase the question then. What’s your take? What’s the plan going forward?”
-First, here’s what’s important: send him to the All-Star Game. I think you have the authority to make that recommendation as Farm Director.
“The All-Star Game… I can certainly make a recommendation.”
The Fall Stars Game—the AFL’s All-Star showcase.
Being selected for that meant recognition as a top prospect representing the league.
But Kevin tilted his head in confusion.
“What about his stats? Are they worth recommending?”
Scout Paul rattled off the numbers as if he’d been waiting for the question.
-Batting average .342. On-base percentage .450. Slugging percentage .510. OPS 0.962. He’s already stolen twelve bases.
“…What?”
Kevin doubted his own ears.
“Wait, contact hitter. That guy was a contact hitter, right? Why are these numbers like this? An OPS over 0.9?”
Contact hitters typically had high batting averages but low slugging percentages, making it difficult to exceed an OPS of 0.8.
But 0.9 in the mid-range?
This meant he was absolutely dominating the league.
-That’s exactly why I’m telling you to pay attention….
“You know as well as I do. I manage every single player in the Dodgers Minor League, not just this guy! That’s why I wanted to wait and see the results first.”
Kevin felt wronged.
There were hundreds of players in the current Dodgers Minor League.
Who could have predicted that a Low-A player would achieve such explosive growth in such a short time?
Usually, prospects had to be buried for years before they broke through.
But Soo-ho was absorbing experience like a sponge, evolving in real time.
-Well, I understand. In any case, I think it would be best to designate him as a player of interest starting today and check the reports daily.
“I suppose that’s necessary. But the problem is right now.”
Kevin scratched his head as if it were a headache.
“You understand, but starting tomorrow I’ll have to keep receiving calls from the other twenty-nine teams! I can only refuse for a day or two before my work comes to a standstill.”
A day or two was manageable.
But calls would likely come all year long.
-Well. You know the one sure way to kill their interest, don’t you?
“…There’s a way like that? You don’t mean….”
Kevin’s eyes sparkled, then immediately furrowed.
But Scout Paul’s voice through the receiver remained calm.
-That’s exactly what I mean.
Kevin’s face filled with shock.
There was only one method Scout Paul was suggesting.
To prevent other teams from ever touching him.
For the organization to declare that this player was their core asset.
To place him on the 40-Man Roster.
“No! What team in the world puts a Low-A player on the 40-Man Roster?”
Kevin practically screamed.
It was insane.
The 40-Man Roster was the Major League call-up waiting list.
Putting a Low-A rookie on it?
It was an unprecedented gamble, not just a bold move.
-Of course, I’m not saying to put him on the 40-Man Roster right away. After the All-Star Game. Or after the Arizona Fall League. Or you could wait until next Spring Training to see him in person, and then add him to the 40-Man Roster without any issues.
“…You want to send him all the way to Spring Training?”
-If you don’t like it, just release him to another club. Then you’ll have a longer life. Maybe even for the rest of your life?
“You’ve been getting a lot of criticism?”
-As expected, you’re quick to pick up on things. By the way, I have one more piece of information worth noting regarding the 40-Man Roster. Casey and Mark. You know them, right?
“Of course. They’re in Low-A with us. Casey especially—he’s a top-tier prospect I’ve been keeping a close eye on.”
-Yes. Would you like to see their stats?
“Hold on.”
The moment Kevin checked their statistics, his jaw dropped as if it might fall clean off.
“W-what is this? Their stats are better than Soo-ho’s? No, wait. Why are Low-A players hitting doubles and triples left and right? Something feels off. Wouldn’t it be better to lock these two into the 40-Man Roster instead?”
-Strange, right? But that’s the reality. And the most important thing is that their stats were only possible because of Soo-ho. I’ll send you the detailed report right now. Then, I’ll hang up?
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The call ended just like that.
Shortly after, a fax arrived.
It was the report Scout Paul had sent.
Kevin didn’t bother reading through it meticulously.
It was far too lengthy.
The opening was so striking.
There was no need to read the rest.
And the content read like this.
[Game Changer]
An evaluation given only to superstars in the Major Leagues.
Kevin stared at it, his jaw slowly dropping in disbelief.
‘Does this even make sense?’
Yet this was reality.
When dormant talent buried deep within meets the desperation of a final chance, it destroys all human logic.

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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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