Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 141

Pitchers Done, Batters Up -140

The winners of the MLB 2035 season’s opening games were decided.

Though the times they finished varied, 15 teams celebrated their first win of the season. The start of a season, the magnificent prelude to 162 games. Because it was the opening game heralding that start, attention was focused on the many players who performed well. But after a little time passed, the eyes of all of Major League Baseball were focused on just one player.

[‘Braves’ Fourth Ever Opening Day Shutout’ Mason Looper, Crushes Phillies, a Rival in the Same Division!]

[‘The Mr. Lee Show Begins Again!’ Lee Jung-woo, 3 Hits in 3 At-bats with 1 Home Run in 4 Plate Appearances!]

When the game had just ended, the headlines were dominated by Mason achieving a record.

Lee Jung-woo, who had also delivered a strong performance, was in the spotlight, but he couldn’t help but be overshadowed by the pitcher who achieved an opening day shutout.

However, soon after the post-game MVP interview aired, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

An incredible story, almost too good to be true, came from the mouth of none other than Mason Looper, the star of the opening game.

[‘The Secret of the New Weapon is Lee.’ Is Mason Looper’s Statement True?]

[‘Team’s Instructions for a Star’ Mason’s Interview is Just a Show?]

[‘A True All-Around Player?’ Lee Jung-woo, Coaching in Addition to Hitting and Fielding!]

The reactions were threefold: utter disbelief, suggestions of a conspiracy, and genuine appreciation. The third reaction was mainly from Korean media and pro-Braves fans, but most reactions fell into the first and second categories.

A major league-level starting pitcher had equipped himself with a new weapon, and its effect was outstanding. But the person who taught it to him was only a second-year rookie. Even more surprising was that the rookie wasn’t a pitcher, but a shortstop.

It was such an absurd situation that, despite Mason’s direct statement, no one initially took it seriously.

-Is this a translation error?

-No, I’m an English major. The translation is correct. It’s true.

-No, it’s so absurd that I feel strangely empty.

-The pitch Mason is talking about is that one, right? That weird two-seamer. He’s not talking about something else, is he?

-Yeah, that’s right. He said it himself that it’s a centrifuge [a type of breaking ball]. That’s what Lee Jung-woo calls it.

-Do you believe that? He’s just giving lip service because the reporters are sticking microphones in his face, lol [laughing out loud].

-He did an interview with a local American reporter, you idiot.

-Didn’t they say something like that during the All-Star game last year? That Mason was learning something from Lee Jung-woo.

-I guess this is what he was learning then. Crazy.

In Korea, some even questioned if it was a translation error.

But after a little time passed, and they gradually regained their senses, a belated shock washed over them, and the aftermath soon led to renewed interest in Lee Jung-woo himself. His past was highlighted.

-If you look at the ball, you can tell it’s not just any ordinary level of completion. Mason Looper may have pitched well, but this means the pitch itself is good.

-So, the original owner of that ball is Lee? Is that even possible?

-I already know that he switched from pitcher to batter. Was he good when he was a pitcher too?

-He was good, really good. I’m a Braves heavy fan, so I know. He was really good.

-That’s funny. If he was so good, why would he switch to batter? He would have kept pitching. And this is a minor league record, is this what you call good?

-I’m talking about before the injury. Look closely. How big is the gap between the records.

-Ah…

From a pitching prospect who arrived with a whopping $2.5 million signing bonus, about the same as a first-round draft pick, to a fall due to injury, and then a comeback as a batter. After that, he rose to become one of the league’s top shortstops. It was a story beyond plausible, almost like a movie, so people, especially in the United States, looked at Lee Jung-woo with a slightly renewed gaze.

[‘Human Victory’ The Efforts of Jung-woo Lee to Get Here!]

[‘The Brave’ Not Afraid of New Changes, a Spirit of Challenge Creates a Hero!]

[‘Talking About Lee.’ Interview with Rom, Braves Hitting Coach.]

-This is a human victory.

-Wow, he switched to batter without any background? That’s really Big Ball [a term for impressive or audacious].

-He was a cool guy. I’m a Yankees fan, but I’ll support him from now on! Come when you’re a free agent!

-A man should be able to challenge without fear! I thought he was just living off his talent, but I see him in a new light!

-$2.5 million is about the level of a first-round pick? And then a shoulder injury. It’s amazing that his mind didn’t break down.

Except for the Braves fans who always looked at him fondly, Lee Jung-woo was, to most baseball fans, a very good player, a talent who would lead the big leagues someday. If you were a fan of a team in the same National League, the same Eastern Division, you would add a ‘damn bastard’ to that.

The fact that Lee Jung-woo, with such a bright future, had not walked only a smooth path gave a greater impression than expected. And that impression was much better received in the United States than in Korea.

Adversity – Fall – Recovery. A typical hero story that Americans love, completed after hardship. It was only natural that there was a good reaction.

Especially since Lee Jung-woo had a large and solid physique that suited American machismo, he appealed to them even more.

-Damn, isn’t he a real monster? How long has it been since he switched to batter… He’s crazy, really.

-In other words, he became a major leaguer in two years with no base [experience]? He’s a genius…

On the one hand, because it was such an emotionally stimulating story, some people were even more afraid. It was a story that he had soared so quickly even in such adverse conditions. In particular, fans of National League teams who had to watch him throughout the regular season felt a little more fear than they had felt from Lee Jung-woo until now.

Thus, Mason’s words, fueled by the shutout victory, created an explosive reaction.

Lee Jung-woo’s personal popularity also increased significantly. His awareness also showed a tremendous rise. Even the aftermath was so great that there was even a slightly unexpected reaction.

-#LeeForNextCaptain!

-Lee is the next Captain Braves! #LeeForNextCaptain!

####

“Oh! Our ‘Next Generation Captain’. Did you sleep well again today?”

“Wow~ As expected, a captain is different. The way you drink water is very dignified!”

Before the second game against the Phillies, Lee Jung-woo was teased by some of his teammates.

They were mainly those who were well-versed in internet affairs. They laughed, referring to Lee Jung-woo as the next-generation captain. The reason they were doing this was because of the Braves fans.

If the fans of other teams reacted to Lee Jung-woo’s personal story, Braves fans additionally focused on, no, ‘obsessed’ with, a sense of camaraderie.

Lee Jung-woo, who endured the pain of the past and generously gave to his teammates, was the next-generation captain, the fans shouted. Since there was a reasonable age difference with Derek, he would be perfect as the next captain.

-Leadership that helps teammates. Strong mentality that is not shaken by the pain of the past. Even generosity that gives without reservation. He is perfect as the next captain after the captain. #LeeForNextCaptain!

The remarks that started on one fan’s SNS [Social Networking Service] spread here and there, gaining the sympathy of others, and took over the forum in an instant. Braves fans showed an obsessive reaction as if they were going to tie Lee Jung-woo down this time, and spread it everywhere. Some playful teammates teased Lee Jung-woo with it.

‘Ha, at first, I thought they ate something wrong.’

At first, he didn’t understand what they were talking about. They were suddenly talking about the next-generation captain… Thanks to them kindly showing him their cell phone screens, Lee Jung-woo soon understood the situation.

‘Is everyone’s mental strength weakened because we won the second game smoothly?’

Once he knew the reason, even more annoyance welled up. A slightly malicious thought filled his mind. But right now, Lee Jung-woo was more concerned about Derek, who was smiling contentedly next to him, than the teasing players.

“Hahaha, the next captain. I can hand it over to Lee. Haha.”

‘Captain, your eyes have been strange lately… Are you really going to bring the extension contract yourself?’

In fact, since the end of last year, Derek had often looked at him with strange eyes.

He looked at him with the eyes of a ferocious beast, no, a hunter, and Lee Jung-woo felt like he was saying to himself, ‘You must be a Brave forever.’

But now, the fans themselves were directly giving him the laurel of the next-generation captain. Derek had a very satisfied expression on his face.

“As expected, he’s the next captain. Even his pre-batting is different. This is what a Braves leader should be-”

“Rollins, don’t do that too much, Lee is getting burdened. Haha.”

Lee Jung-woo, who let out a hollow laugh at Derek’s appearance, who was appropriately stopping him as a captain but also laughing openly, tried to concentrate only on preparing for the game as much as possible and deliberately turned his gaze away.

‘By the way, that side is completely a house of mourning. Yesterday, they seemed to be burning their will as much as possible. Today, it’s just dark clouds.’

In contrast to the seriously bright Braves, the faces of the Phillies players preparing for the game were very dark. Self-disgust and frustration, and a little pressure, were appropriately mixed. They even looked a little weak.

Right now, the Phillies were covered in the dark clouds of an opening game shutout loss and a two-game losing streak. They were already shocked enough by the shutout loss. But even Ian Field, the starter for the second game, was held to only 1 point. Their morale plummeted in an instant.

Phillies didn’t even show emotions like anger, and Lee Jung-woo somehow foresaw the result before the start.

‘Well, it looks like we’ll win this game smoothly too… I can aim for more. Looking at their faces, they won’t calm down easily. If we lose again today and lose until tomorrow, getting swept, it will last quite a while.’

Lee Jung-woo didn’t want to miss the opportunity to knock down one of the biggest rivals in the same division in advance. And Alan O’Donnell, the starting pitcher for today’s game, also seemed to be thinking the same thing, and he was in pretty good condition.

‘Come to think of it, it must be hell from their point of view. Mason-Ian-Alan. Mountain after mountain, no, it’s just a mountain range unfolding in front of them… It must be frustrating.’

They had already been completely defeated in the opening game. The next game was also crushed. They had already been miserably defeated by the opponent’s ace ‘s’ [aces]. And a tricky pitcher is coming up again.

It was truly a hellish situation. Lee Jung-woo admired the much stronger starting lineup than last year, but he secretly expressed his condolences to the Phillies. He himself was working hard to actively participate in their tragedy.

####

The game went as expected.

Unlike the previous day, when they at least showed some motivation, the Phillies only showed a lifeless appearance throughout the third game, like people who had already given up on the game. They managed to score in the bottom of the 5th inning, avoiding a shutout loss this time as well, following the second game, but that was all.

“Out!”

Three batters struck out. Three batters who hit the ball off-center were all handled with ground balls to the infield.

“Did they put honey on their gloves or something…”

“Damn, shouldn’t we investigate that?”

“What are you trying to investigate? The glove?”

“No, well, maybe there are springs in his shoes…”

“Don’t talk nonsense, get ready for defense.”

The Phillies players, who made a futile expression at the quickly ended attack, said things that didn’t make sense, but they soon shut their mouths, perhaps because they themselves were embarrassed.

Sighs flowed here and there in the Phillies dugout. The Phillies fielders who went out for the defensive change fixed their eyes on the ground with their heads down. Perhaps because of the shame of being shut down for three games, they couldn’t easily lift their heads.

As Lee Jung-woo thought, the chemistry between Alan O’Donnell and the Braves was the best.

To be precise, when the Braves’ center line, the Lee Jung-woo-Derek line, and his natural ground ball induction ability overlapped, the Phillies were blocked without even getting on base except for the lucky punch-like home run. Even the game yesterday, where they were held to the same 1 point, but at least managed a hit, was better.

As that overlapped, the Phillies’ atmosphere, which had hit rock bottom, fell into the abyss.

“Wow~ That’s why a good shortstop is important. Lee, did you put some kind of adhesive on your glove?”

“That can’t be.”

“If you think you’re going to get caught, run to me instead, I’ll switch gloves for you.”

Lee Jung-woo, who smiled at Alan O’Donnell, who nonchalantly ignored the opposing team and even made such jokes, quickly grabbed his bat as soon as he returned to the dugout. His movements in preparation were very light. Lee Jung-woo had already filled his role in defense, but he wasn’t satisfied with just that.

[Lee! Lee! His bat doesn’t rest today either! Additional RBI single!]

Lee Jung-woo nimbly swung his bat today, leading the Phillies’ tragedy.

Although he didn’t add a home run, unlike the relatively quiet second game, he showed why he was called the Phillies’ nemesis by scoring 2 RBIs [Runs Batted In] up to the 6th inning with 3 at-bats, 1 hit, and 1 run.

[Ah, fair! Runner scores! Batter to second base! Jung-woo Lee adds a 1 RBI double, effectively sealing the game today!]

In the end, he added more RBIs in the last at-bat in the 8th inning, continuing the good hitting sense he had been showing since the middle of the exhibition game. Although there was no home run, the audience responded with generous cheers to Lee Jung-woo, who showed a refreshing hit of 3 hits, just like in the first game.

“Lee! Please extend your contract!”

“Please play for the Braves for another 20 years!”

“You’re unconditionally the captain! When Captain retires, you have to be the new Captain Braves!”

Although he was overshadowed by starting pitcher Alan O’Donnell, who showed effective and efficient pitching with 7 innings, 1 run, and 81 pitches, and didn’t become the MVP today either, Lee Jung-woo was talked about by people both online and offline today as well.

Lee Jung-woo himself didn’t really like it this time either.

‘At this rate, I’m really going to get hooked [committed to the team].’