The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 99

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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 99
Harry rummaged through a drawer as he asked Soo-ho about his desire to play Shortstop.
“Have you ever played Shortstop before?”
He then pulled a single document from between stacks of papers.
It was the scouting report that had come over when Soo-ho joined the Desert Dogs.
As he read through the paper, Harry muttered softly before Soo-ho could answer.
“Multi-position player, huh…”
Harry’s eyes narrowed.
In truth, he had planned to refuse outright the moment he heard Soo-ho’s request.
An Outfielder moving to the infield, and specifically to Shortstop—the position demanding the most defensive responsibility and skill.
It was madness by any reasonable standard.
But this single sheet of paper gave Harry pause.
More precisely, it was the [L.A. DODGERS] logo stamped at the top of the report.
Soo-ho’s pedigree differed from that of most elite prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
Not a draft pick, but a tryout prospect—the lowest of expectations.
Normally, such a background would be dismissed, but when the organization in question was the Dodgers, everything changed.
What kind of organization were the Dodgers?
They possessed the most perfectly developed farm system among all thirty Major League teams.
Not just players, but scouts, coaches, and analysts—every single person was a monster in their field.
And those meticulous professionals had marked Soo-ho as a multi-position player.
Those demanding bastards had endorsed him.
Whether he currently possessed the talent to play multiple positions or not, at minimum they had recognized the potential itself.
Harry’s gaze dropped to the detailed sections of the report.
[Tryout Defensive Session: Shortstop (Grade A)]
“Interesting.”
Harry let out a brief exclamation.
The record showed that Soo-ho had taken the defensive test as a Shortstop during the tryout, and his score was exceptional.
This was proof that Soo-ho’s words weren’t merely a casual whim.
It meant he already possessed the talent to play Shortstop.
There was an old adage in baseball.
‘Hitting has slumps, but defense does not.’
Hitting fluctuated wildly depending on the pitcher’s condition and luck, but defense was different.
It belonged to the realm of innate sense and athleticism.
The talented ones could catch a ball with their eyes closed, while the talentless would make mistakes even after ten years of instruction.
In other words, if the Dodgers had acknowledged Soo-ho’s defensive talent, there was a high probability it would translate even on the grand stage of the playoffs.
‘This could be interesting.’
The calculator in opportunist Harry’s mind began spinning rapidly.
What if Soo-ho filled the gap at Shortstop?
The infield defense would stabilize, and the pitchers would throw with confidence.
Then the team’s probability of victory would skyrocket.
And if the team were to win the championship because of it?
My value as a championship-winning manager would skyrocket beyond measure.
‘But….’
Harry set the paper down on his desk.
This was nothing more than a hypothetical.
The risk was far too great to simply hand over the Shortstop position with a casual “sure, your report looks good.”
The playoffs are war.
Every team participating in the Arizona Fall League would charge forward with blazing eyes, all vying for the championship title.
A single mistake, one lapse in judgment, would lead directly to elimination.
That’s why certainty was necessary.
Not possibility on paper, but substance.
Harry interlaced his fingers and spoke.
“There’s something I need to clarify first.”
“Yes, sir.”
“When was the last time you played in an actual game at the Shortstop position? Not a test stage like a tryout. I’m talking about an official match.”
It was a question that cut to the heart of the matter.
Practice and real competition were worlds apart, after all.
Soo-ho answered honestly without holding back.
“I played Shortstop consistently in High School. However, the last time I played Shortstop in an actual game was two years ago. In the Korean Professional Baseball Minor League.”
“Huh!”
Harry let out a short, exasperated sigh.
For a baseball player, two years was enough time for mountains to change and then some.
Moreover, the stage itself was different.
Korea and the United States were worlds apart.
‘The quality of the batted balls is completely different.’
American batters’ hit velocity was monstrous.
Infield grounders came flying like bullets, and irregular bounces were severe.
A Center Fielder at least had time to spot where a fly ball would land while it was in the air, but a Shortstop had to react within 0.1 seconds.
And he wanted to go into that brutal arena carrying a two-year gap?
It was practically suicidal.
“But where does this confidence come from?”
Even at Harry’s cold question, Soo-ho remained unshaken.
Rather, he opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting for this.
“That’s why I want to ask for your help. For the remaining week ahead, please let me regain my feel as a Shortstop.”
“….”
Harry fell into contemplation once more.
It was reckless talk, certainly, but strangely he couldn’t bring himself to flatly refuse.
Because the image of Soo-ho that he’d observed so far flashed through his mind.
‘He really never neglects his effort.’
Honestly, in his entire baseball career, he’d never seen anyone as relentlessly dedicated to practice as Soo-ho.
He arrives at the Training Ground before anyone else and leaves the Locker Room last, turning off the lights himself.
I’ve even witnessed a shadow swinging a bat alone in the Dormitory Backyard late at night.
That’s not all.
Usually when morning team training starts, players are stiff and sluggish, their bodies not yet warmed up.
But Soo-ho? What about him?
‘He was always at 100%.’
He moves across the Ground with more vigor than anyone else.
This is proof that he wakes before dawn when others sleep, perfectly warming up his body.
I didn’t need to see it to know.
‘This kid’s actions speak louder than words.’
Harry’s mind raced once more.
‘Let me do the math. If we change the Shortstop position now….’
The Desert Dogs’ current starting Shortstop was a typical offensive-minded player.
His defensive range was narrow and his throws unreliable, but his hitting talent was simply exceptional.
And this wasn’t unique to the Desert Dogs.
The other Arizona Fall League clubs were the same.
And so were the current Major League Baseball Teams.
It was a trend across the entire sport.
‘It’s the era of the big offensive game.’
No matter how good your defense, if you can’t hit, you’re on the bench.
Even if that position is Shortstop.
Even if it’s the most defensively demanding position.
‘But conversely, even if defense has some holes, if your bat explodes, you’re a starter.’
If a player excelled in both areas, that would be ideal, but such players were extremely rare even in the Major League.
Especially among Shortstops.
That’s why most promising Shortstops who come to the Arizona Fall League stake their lives on hitting rather than defense.
As a result, games with high scores but self-destruction through errors pour in.
‘But what if Soo-ho plays Shortstop?’
An A-grade defensive talent recognized by the Dodgers.
Add Soo-ho’s unique wide defensive range and instincts to that.
At least his defensive ability would improve dramatically from where it is now.
There’s nothing to lose—except for one fatal side effect.
“Now that you’ve experienced playing Shortstop, you’ll understand—if you take that position, hitting will become harder than it is now.”
Harry tapped his desk and fixed his gaze on Soo-ho’s eyes.
Could he maintain his current hitting form while performing the physically exhausting defense of a Shortstop?
This was a gamble that could be a minus for Soo-ho himself.
And naturally, for the Desert Dogs as well.
If the vanguard couldn’t perform at his best, the answer was obvious, wasn’t it?
“Yes. It would be impossible to show the kind of hitting performance I’m showing now.”
Soo-ho’s answer was clear.
I didn’t deny that playing shortstop would take a toll on my hitting performance.
“And yet you still want to play shortstop?”
I nodded without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because of the playoff stage. And… because I’m grateful for my elevated status.”
Harry’s brow furrowed slightly at the word grateful.
It wasn’t mere flattery to appease the manager.
My eyes held genuine sincerity.
I understood something fundamental.
My rapid growth had been possible only because Harry believed in me and entrusted me with the crucial role of leadoff hitter.
The most at-bats, the most scrutiny.
This was pure gratitude for being given that thorny path to walk.
I continued speaking.
“Playoffs are different from regular season games. Even if my status hadn’t risen, no team would overlook me in their approach.”
Playoffs are a battle of analysis.
Even if the opposition considered me a Low-A player.
They would dissect my weaknesses like under a microscope and probe relentlessly.
But now with the All-Star MVP title attached to my name, the intensity of their scrutiny would be beyond imagination.
“So essentially, since I can’t perform at 100% at the plate, I’ll contribute on defense instead. Is that it?”
I nodded at Harry’s summary.
“Exactly. Of course, I’ll do my best at the plate as well. But given the nature of this stage, I’ve determined that playing shortstop is the better choice for the team to win even one more game.”
Even if I get one fewer hit, if I erase three of the opponent’s hits, our chances of winning increase.
It was an answer born from meticulous calculation.
….
Harry barely managed to suppress the corners of his mouth from rising involuntarily.
He had to tighten his grip on the hand supporting his chin to maintain his composure.
‘He’s the real deal.’
Looking back at everything I’d observed about Soo-ho.
Let me assess this coldly and objectively.
Is his baseball skill overwhelmingly superior?
No. Of course, he achieved excellent results in the Arizona Fall League and even won the All-Star MVP.
But in terms of pure skill alone, he couldn’t compare to absolute monsters like Victor Moretti.
He wasn’t ready to be called up to the Major League just yet.
But.
‘His intelligence is remarkably high.’
Baseball isn’t played with the body alone.
It must be played with the mind.
Soo-ho instinctively grasped the very essence of baseball.
‘It’s been that way from the beginning.’
If he couldn’t shine on his own, he didn’t hesitate to lay down a bunt or create scoring opportunities by leveraging his teammates.
And he reached the pinnacle of that approach in his first confrontation with Victor.
‘How did the others perform?’
They came up swinging wildly, eyes blazing with the ambition to take down a heavyweight like Victor, only to strike out and trudge back to the dugout.
But Soo-ho was different.
He methodically dissected the psychology, exploited the weaknesses, and ultimately broke through.
Always a thinking player, that one.
He understood his place, read the situation, and executed the optimal strategy to win.
‘And now he’s stepping up to shake things on defense.’
A peculiar sense of anticipation bloomed in Harry’s chest.
If this clever fox became the commander of the infield…
What would become of the Desert Dogs?
He was curious. Unbearably so.
Above all else.
‘If this works… my value rises.’
Of course, it was Soo-ho’s proposal.
But it was he himself—no one else—who had accepted these conditions, wasn’t it?
The ball was always in his court.
So whether this would prove beneficial or not…
He reconsidered Soo-ho’s track record throughout the Arizona Fall League.
The gains he’d reaped whenever he’d put Soo-ho forward…
‘Honestly, I haven’t tallied the final numbers yet, so I can’t be precise.’
But one undeniable fact remained: his standing had risen far higher than when he first took over as Manager of the Desert Dogs.
He’d become a coach who developed three Low-A prospects into competitive players in the Arizona Fall League.
So.
There was no reason to refuse the request of this fortunate soul who had only ever brought him gains.
“Fine. Starting today, you train as Shortstop. But if I assess you and decide it’s not working, don’t even dream of playing Shortstop. However!”
Harry continued.
“If I see potential, I won’t spare my support.”
Soo-ho clenched his fist tightly.
‘As expected…’
His instincts had been right.
He’d received a definitive answer: if potential emerged, the path to growth would open before him.

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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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