The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 8

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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 8
Soo-ho set out early the next morning with Mark, heading toward Downtown Los Angeles.
August in Los Angeles was a quintessential summer city, drenched in brilliant sunlight.
The scorching sun shimmered across the Asphalt, radiating waves of heat.
The arid air, devoid of humidity, seared my lungs with each breath I drew.
I followed Mark down the street when he suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the road.
His face contorted with serious deliberation.
“Ugh. How am I supposed to handle this?”
I asked with a puzzled expression.
“What? Is something wrong?”
Mark exhaled a long sigh.
“I’m trying to figure out who would be the best person to teach you…”
Since Mark had committed to helping me, he didn’t want to entrust me to just anyone.
My batting form was far too unconventional.
‘No. Truth is, it’s so problematic that I need a genuine expert to address it properly.’
After much deliberation, Mark proposed three options.
“I’ve narrowed it down to three places.”
Mark explained, counting on his fingers.
“First is our High School. The Coach there has rock-solid fundamentals. He’s perfect for kids who start baseball from a young age. Since you’re starting fresh, it would be ideal for building from the ground up. The cost would probably be the cheapest too. Actually, there wouldn’t be any cost at all.”
But it wasn’t without drawbacks.
“The school environment is laid-back. Plus, American schools don’t have that pushy atmosphere. It’s different from Korea.”
“How would you know what Korea is like?”
“Soo-ho. I’m looking at you right now with my own two eyes—how could I not know? Just kidding. I saw it in dramas.”
Mark continued.
“Second are the most prestigious Private Academies in Los Angeles. They have former Major League coaches and renowned hitting specialists teaching directly. These people have trained countless professional players, so they’d be well-equipped to handle unique cases like yours. The downside is the cost is astronomical. They’re famous for a reason.”
Mark pressed on with his explanation.
“The last one is the Rehabilitation Academy where I trained. They have state-of-the-art equipment and an incredibly advanced data analysis system. They’ll film your swing with high-speed cameras and analyze it with all sorts of sensors to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong.”
Mark sighed.
“But there’s a problem. The academies I mentioned are extremely expensive. Really, beyond imagination.”
I didn’t hesitate.
“Before I decide, Mark—assuming money isn’t an issue, which one would you most recommend?”
“Obviously the Rehabilitation Academy where I trained. I experienced it firsthand, and as a result, here I am now, waiting with you for the Dodgers tryout. But again, the cost is just too high.”
“How much?”
Mark furrowed his brow and folded his fingers.
“Ten thousand dollars a month with an acquaintance’s discount.”
My eyes widened for a moment, but I quickly nodded.
This was a place where grilled pork belly cost fifty thousand won per serving.
“That’s nothing.”
Mark shook his head in disbelief.
“Excuse me. Not one thousand—ten thousand. You really don’t understand how much money that is?”
“I don’t know about that. Let’s just go there.”
“Hey, you. Do you have money?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait, don’t tell me you’re from a wealthy family….”
I let out a hollow laugh.
“Wealthy family? Unfortunately, I’m alone.”
Understanding my meaning, Mark lowered his head.
“I’m… sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Wanting to lighten the suddenly somber mood, I opened my phone, searched for an article, and handed it to Mark.
Mark read the article through a translator, and his eyes widened in shock.
“First round? You were a first round pick?”
“Yeah. It’s nothing to brag about in front of you, though. It’s the KBO, after all.”
“Hey, a first round pick is a first round pick. And is Korean baseball something to dismiss? Of course not! Current Major League players go there too.”
Mark continued, speaking in hushed tones.
“Sure, they go after failing in the Major League, and it’s true that compared to the United States, it’s still considerably lacking….”
Mark’s voice grew louder again.
“Anyway, the Professional Baseball League is the third largest in the world after the United States and Japan, right? Third in the world!”
“That’s true.”
“Now the puzzle finally makes sense.”
“What puzzle?”
“No, I keep feeling like I’m being disrespectful, but I’m sorry. When I first saw you, I nearly collapsed holding my head. You were just that terrible. I mean, if you showed your swing to any random kid on the street right now, they’d laugh at you and wonder how you could swing like that. I would’ve just walked past.”
Mark became serious.
“But you produced results at the Independent League Tryout, and eventually got tested by the Dodgers. I finally feel like I understand the secret that made it possible. First round pick. You have overwhelming talent just like the geniuses. Of course, your actual results were good too.”
Mark also said that as a KBO first round pick, I could certainly attract the attention of Major League organizations.
“I appreciate you looking at it that way. But I still failed in the Minor League.”
“But it’s not over yet, is it? You’re still challenging yourself. So you haven’t failed yet. Anyway….”
Mark stared at a part of the article with wide eyes.
“One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand… how much is this? 550 million? 550 million Korean won is roughly 400,000 dollars here? Wow. You got a lot. Of course, compared to American first round picks, it’s a disappointing amount.”
American first round picks sometimes received more than twenty times what I did.
“Now I understand why you said you’d cover all my lodging and food expenses. You still have money left over?”
“Yeah. A decent amount.”
In truth, most of it remained, but I had no desire to boast about money anywhere.
Above all, it wasn’t money worth bragging about to anyone.
The reason I showed the article was because it seemed better than showing my bank balance.
This was partly to train at a better facility, but it was also for Mark’s sake.
If I said I wanted to go to a nice facility without any money, it might have seemed reckless.
Moreover, I really liked Mark.
He tried to help me sincerely without looking at my background or anything else.
I thought this much was worth opening up about.
People in Korea had learned from news articles how much I received as a signing bonus.
‘And the moment I fail this test… there are no more opportunities for me.’
Mark still had chances ahead of him given his youth, but this was my last opportunity.
Even if it might not be the last, I had to treat it as such.
Only by believing there was no way back could I move forward with unwavering focus.
So if I could only survive this test.
‘I don’t care if I have to expose everything.’
That’s how desperate I was.
Of course, Mark had mentioned this aspect as well.
“Then you’re paying for my academy fees too?”
“Well, that’s a bit…”
“I’m joking. I’m not shameless enough for that. Especially since I still have some time left on my enrollment. Anyway.”
Mark’s expression turned serious as he continued.
“Don’t go bragging about money anywhere! America is a scary place. If someone finds out you have money, you could suddenly get kidnapped at night, you know?”
“Really?”
“Well, it’s not quite that bad in this part of Downtown. Just be careful. It’s different from Korea.”
“But Mark.”
“Huh?”
“Your voice was way louder than mine…”
Oops. Mark covered his mouth with both hands.
“S-sorry. Damn it, I was born with this loud voice… Anyway, let me take advantage of your kindness too, okay? Let’s go to the Rehabilitation Academy where I trained. It’ll be good for both of us.”
The coaches there might lack the polish of other expensive academies!
The place Mark had attended himself.
He insisted that the coaches here could give me far more attention than some random academy I didn’t know.
“Sure, I appreciate it. And if there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me.”
Mark grinned and took the lead.
“Save that kind of stuff for when you’re happy with the facilities and coaches, okay?”
I let out a quiet laugh as well.
‘He really is a good kid.’
* * *
Mark and I headed to the Rehabilitation Academy where he had trained.
Located in the LA Outskirts, it looked like an ordinary building from the outside.
But stepping inside revealed a spacious, immaculate indoor training facility.
Young athletes glistening with sweat could be seen throughout the space filled with cutting-edge equipment, even at this early hour.
Mark walked forward with familiarity and approached a male Coach.
The Coach’s face lit up with a bright smile upon seeing Mark.
“Mark! Welcome back! What brings you here? Don’t tell me you failed the tryout?”
Mark shrugged at the Coach’s playful remark.
“Come on, sir. How could someone like me fail?”
“Someone like you?”
The Coach’s eyes narrowed.
Mark scratched the back of his head.
“W-well, yes. Haha. I mean, how could it be otherwise? I received a testing proposal from the Dodgers! It’s in two weeks!”
At Mark’s words, the Coach’s expression brightened instantly.
He grasped Mark’s shoulders and shook them.
“That’s what I’m talking about! You’ve gotten a great opportunity because you trained under me! Congratulations, Mark!”
“Well… it seemed like you were about to back away if I’d failed…?”
The Coach chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
“Haha! You’re quite the jokester.”
The Coach shared in Mark’s joy with praise, then noticed Soo-ho standing beside them.
“But who’s this young man?”
Mark grinned widely and introduced Soo-ho to the Coach.
“This is my friend Oh Soo-ho. He’ll be training here with me for two weeks. He’s also gotten a Dodgers testing opportunity.”
“Oh, so he’s in the same boat as you?”
Interest flickered in the Coach’s eyes.
He immediately extended his hand to Soo-ho.
“Nice to meet you. I’m John Williams. Just call me John Coach.”
Soo-ho shook the hand he offered.
“Hello, I’m Oh Soo-ho.”
After the brief greeting, John looked Soo-ho up and down.
His gaze was sharp, yet simultaneously warm.
“Good. What do you want? What kind of help are you looking for?”
Soo-ho didn’t hesitate.
“I want to correct my batting form.”
“Correct it, you say.”
John’s expression became subtly complex for a moment.
When a baseball player wanted correction, it usually meant the problem was serious.
“Alright. But before you join the Academy, let me assess your skill first. Grab a bat and step into the Batter’s Box.”
At John’s instruction, Soo-ho nodded.
As Soo-ho picked up a bat and headed toward the Batter’s Box, Mark whispered to John.
“Coach, don’t be too shocked. This guy… he’s a genius.”
In truth, Mark didn’t actually think Soo-ho was a genius.
Rather, he’d rank among the most talentless of all.
Because by American standards, Soo-ho was essentially without fundamentals.
Yet Mark had brought him here.
And he hoped Soo-ho would make significant progress over these two weeks.
No—he was certain that nowhere else could unlock his potential to its fullest.
‘Perhaps my judgment is shallow.’
After all, he hadn’t experienced other places.
‘But the Coach will definitely transform Soo-ho. Only, for that to happen, the Coach has to take a liking to him.’
Mark worried whether Soo-ho could truly ignite John Coach’s passion.
John Coach brimmed with enthusiasm, but only for players he genuinely wanted to teach.
He doubted it would be easy with Soo-ho, who lacked even the fundamentals.
‘Even if the coach doesn’t become motivated, that’s fine.’
He was prepared to gaslight the coach himself if necessary, ensuring Soo-ho could learn here.
Besides, Mark had now discovered that Soo-ho was a KBO first-round draft pick.
‘The KBO may have failed with him, but the coach can pull it off! Let’s go with that angle.’
That’s when Soo-ho’s first swing began.
The pitch came flying.
Whoosh!
Crack!
Soo-ho replicated the exact form he’d displayed during the tryout.
Mark quickly gauged John Coach’s reaction.
“Coach… you see that, right? That’s genius, isn’t it?”
“Quiet.”
John pointed forward instead of answering.
There stood a state-of-the-art system analyzing Soo-ho’s swing.
After the at-bat ended, all the data—swing speed, launch angle, bat path—printed out onto an A4 sheet.
Holding that paper, John Coach’s expression grew serious.
Mark thought it was over, but then something unexpected happened.
John’s eyes suddenly transformed.
Like someone who’d discovered a pearl buried in sand.
John approached Mark and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
“Where did you find such a treasure?”
“I… what do you mean, Coach?”
“The chance to develop a raw talent falls to me first! This is pure luck!”
Ah, so that’s what it was?
Phew. What a relief. Truly a relief. Mark exhaled deeply.
A coach’s eye really is different from a player’s.
So this was genuinely fortunate.

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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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