Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 148

Pitcher Done, Batter Up – 147

[‘It’s your turn this time!’ Arthur Hunter singles out Lee!]

[‘Lee, not yet?’ Arthur Hunter repeatedly urges Jungwoo Lee]

[‘MVP Race’ begins in earnest? The competitor Arthur Hunter singled out isn’t Harding, but Lee!]

[‘Why Lee?’ Giants fans enraged by Arthur Hunter’s actions!]

The unnecessary situation created by Arthur Hunter grew a bit larger than expected.

The storytelling involving the league’s biggest superstar and the next-generation player was enough to capture the public’s interest.

Especially with the Giants fans, who had Harding in their grasp, criticizing Arthur Hunter for singling out Lee instead of their rival Harding, and subtly wanting to get involved, the flames grew.

With the addition of the phrase ‘MVP Race,’ which seemed to have someone’s intention behind it, the popularity grew uncontrollably.

“MVP! MVP!”

“It’s crazy again today.”

“Hahaha, anyone would think there’s some kind of incredible record on the line in this game. I’m a little disappointed, you know? It seems like the fans are neglecting me a bit now.”

Despite recording a poor performance of 2 hits, 1 RBI [Run Batted In], and 4 walks in 13 at-bats over the 4-game series against the Cubs, Lee Jungwoo was still met with enthusiastic fans, which made him feel weary. Derek playfully acted as if he was feeling left out.

‘Arthur Hunter is the problem. No, he should just play with Harding as usual, why me….’

Lee Jungwoo, who was blaming Arthur Hunter for causing the situation, soon changed his mind. No, he didn’t even need to change his mind. His resentment was only half-joking, and his face was already filled with unconcealable pride.

It’s Arthur Hunter, no less.

Putting aside what happened before the regression, just considering his achievements, he’s a player who boasts 2 AL MVPs [American League Most Valuable Player awards] and 6 Silver Slugger awards [award for best offensive player at each position]. And that Arthur Hunter singled him out as a kind of competitor.

Whether it was just showmanship or he genuinely thought so, it didn’t matter.

At least, on the surface, it meant that he and Arthur Hunter were on equal footing.

‘If my memory is correct, Arthur Hunter will hit around 55 this season. No, is it 6? It’s impossible to catch up to that. But I need to get somewhat close to really turn this showmanship into reality.’

Lee Jungwoo’s eyes sparked. He had been elevated this much, so to avoid becoming a laughingstock at the end of the season, he had to at least keep up.

And after continuously hearing the fans’ cheesy words, his mindset slightly changed. To be precise, the desire he already had became a bit stronger.

‘30 is definitely possible. 40 will be a battle of stamina. 50 is almost impossible.’

If anyone else had these thoughts, they would be considered crazy. A shortstop talking about hitting 40 or 50 home runs. But Lee Jungwoo sincerely thought it was possible. Just last year, even though he started playing two months later than others, he still recorded 28 home runs.

And he was sure that he was better now than he was then.

That’s why he no longer hid his ambition and purely accepted it.

‘Arthur Hunter is a slugger, prioritizing home runs above all else. So even if he hits 55, if I hit 40, I can make up the difference with rate stats [batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage]. And I’m a shortstop, so there’s a difference in defensive burden. Then… an MVP is definitely possible.’

MVP. Just imagining those three heart-fluttering letters, Lee Jungwoo muttered them with a serious attitude, and as he set a clear goal, his fighting spirit surged. As if it was expressed outwardly, Derek also looked at him differently.

“It would feel good to win the MVP, right?”

“Of course, it would be the greatest honor a baseball player can aim for individually.”

“I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about the fans. They’re already shouting like that now, if I actually bring it in person….”

“Who knows, Truist Park [Atlanta Braves’ home stadium], no, the entire city of Atlanta might explode.”

Lee Jungwoo grinned.

He wanted to see it once.

The sight of an entire city being shaken by just one person.

‘Arthur Hunter… good. Let’s light a fire together.’

He looked at the Miami Marlins players, today’s opponents.

A team always lingering at the bottom of the league, overshadowed by the giants like the Braves, Phillies, and Mets. They were slightly better off than the Nationals, who were completely ruined. But the overall roster itself was much lower than average. The pitchers were the same.

So, for Lee Jungwoo, they were the perfect opponent to shake off his slump from the Cubs series.

‘The opponent is manageable, and my condition isn’t bad either. Let’s satisfy the fans today.’

####

Seeing Lee Jungwoo, who came out as the 2nd batter again today, the fans cheered with an intensity that was incomparable to the warm-up. They had seen a slightly disappointing performance in the last series, so they had no doubt that he would make up for it all at once this time.

[The 4-game series between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins begins.]

[There are quite a lot of spectators in the stadium today. Haha, it looks almost full on the screen.]

[In fact, the Atlanta Braves always have a lot of spectators. However, the scenery has changed a bit since Lee Jungwoo’s debut.]

[Yes, the Braves fans, who were originally a bit static, or gentlemanly in a good way, have recently become as passionate as the Phillies fans.]

The Korean commentators shrugged their shoulders. Seeing a Korean player being loved this much is always a pleasant thing. Especially now that most Korean major leaguers are backups or can’t even make the 25-man roster and can’t even play in games, the feeling of seeing someone being treated as a franchise star beyond a regular is a bit more special.

And besides such mental richness, there was also material support.

‘First of all, the local dispatch for the All-Star game has been confirmed, and if things go well, local broadcasting will be possible before or after that. Please be aware in advance.’

The words the PD [Producer Director] said before the broadcast lingered in his ears. And America lingered too. The commentator, who was wearing a pleased smile, refocused on the broadcast as the caster nudged his side.

[Lee Jungwoo is positioned as the 2nd batter again today.]

[Since the effect is quite significant, it seems like the current lineup is fixed.]

[Yes, it’s not just that Lee Jungwoo’s batting is excellent. He’s also a great runner, so the subsequent hitters can score more smoothly.]

It was always the Lee Jungwoo praise that started the Korean broadcast. It was almost a one-pattern thing, and there were quite a few viewers who expressed boredom or dissatisfaction. Especially when Lee Jungwoo didn’t perform well enough to match it, like in the last series, the viewers’ bulletin board became chaotic.

But even so, it was still the most effective method.

Core fans may have various reasons for watching the broadcast besides Lee Jungwoo. But the majority of viewers, the light fans, were ultimately focused on ‘how great and well Lee Jungwoo is.’

[Yes, the game begins with the Marlins’ first attack. Harry Stewart is on the mound.]

[Stewart seems to show the strength of the Braves’ starting lineup this season.]

[Why is that?]

[Because he’s a symbol of the 6-man rotation. If he was a slightly lacking player, they would normally rotate with 5 starters. But with Harry Stewart doing well, a rotation has been created that can reliably guarantee the 1st starter 5 days of rest.]

As the PD appropriately cut off the excessive praise, the commentators, who shifted the topic to the starting pitcher, earnestly hoped in their hearts. They hoped that Lee Jungwoo would do well again today. In fact, they were never worried about his defense because he always did well. They just hoped that he would show the powerful home run that people were so eagerly waiting for this series.

And as the game began, they felt good.

Because Lee Jungwoo stood out as they had initially hoped.

[Whenever I see Lee Jungwoo, I think he plays defense wonderfully.]

[His defensive plays, centered on his unique reflexes, are truly beautiful. Locally, he’s being compared to legends of the past, not current players.]

Lee Jungwoo, who instantly caught the batted ball that the pitcher had given up and single-handedly recorded three out counts, was a good start in itself. As the top of the 1st inning quickly ended and the change of offense and defense began, the commentators started their engines in earnest.

Including his recent performance, they mentioned all the advantages, such as the praise for his batting form and bat speed, which were now ingrained in the viewers’ ears, and tried to raise the atmosphere as much as possible. And they were confident.

They weren’t saying anything wrong, were they? It was a bit excessive, but.

[Yes, now the change of offense and defense is over. It’s the Braves’ attack.]

[The Braves’ upper batting order is really good enough to compete with the entire league.]

[The Pittsburgh Pirates were famous for their powerful lineup and had good results, but with Harding going to the Giants, the Braves are now considered stronger.]

Since everyone already knew that Lee Jungwoo was at the center of such a powerful lineup, they didn’t bother to mention it. The commentators, who opened with that, once again wished for Lee Jungwoo’s good hitting and also cheered for leadoff Derek. The more he got on base, the greater the chance of scoring.

[Ah! He hit it!]

[A hit that goes straight through the left-center! Derek Hunt! He’s really on a roll!]

And as Derek reached 2nd base with a hit that fell in front of the left fielder on the 5th pitch, the anticipation grew even stronger. If he could at least hit a sacrifice fly, there would be endless things to add to it.

[Yes, he’s finally entering. 2nd batter Lee Jungwoo!]

From Lee Jungwoo walking from the waiting batter’s box, the decibel level of the entire stadium rose even higher.

The cheering was so loud that it filled the entire audio, and not only that, but the actions of the entire ground made Lee Jungwoo stand out.

The pitcher wiping the sweat from his forehead. The catcher glaring warily. The outfielders retreating slightly and the infielders chewing their lips nervously. All the eyes in Truist Park were focused on Lee Jungwoo alone. And Lee Jungwoo entered the batter’s box, calmly accepting such gazes with the same indifferent face as usual.

Tension filled Truist Park, where the warm sunlight was shining.

The pitcher wiped away cold sweat once again at Lee Jungwoo, who seemed to fill the home plate with pressure just by entering the batter’s box.

The most dangerous hitter in the Braves right now. Since he had a bit of a slump in the last series, his danger level had actually increased. He might try to regain his tarnished pride today.

[The Marlins battery [pitcher and catcher] is showing a very cautious approach. It’s taking a bit of time. The pitch clock is tightening.]

The battery, unable to narrow the differences in their opinions and repeatedly misreading the signs, finally ended the discussion with the pitcher nodding at the catcher’s strong request.

Fortunately, the pitcher’s pitching motion itself was fast, so the first pitch, which barely touched the pitch clock, flew in. The commentators, who saw the fastball that boldly pierced almost the center, admired the pitcher’s, no, the catcher’s guts.

[That’s bold. It’s not easy to throw such a dangerous course with such a hitter in front of you.]

[Especially since Lee Jungwoo is not a player who tends to watch the first pitch. He really threw a good one.]

Based on the count they had taken first, the Marlins battery literally unleashed all sorts of ingenious moves. Barely touching or slightly sticking out, the strikes and balls were split. The commentators’ expectations, which had been high when Lee Jungwoo entered the batter’s box, soon turned into anxiety as the pitcher suddenly showed god-given control as if he was riding a knife.

They had praised him so much, if he struck out.

Probably not a very pleasant reaction would come back.

[6th pitch – he cuts it.]

[It seems like he’s catching the timing.]

Even stopping their chattering mouths, the commentator, who watched the game seriously, had sweat all over his hands. It wasn’t just because of anxiety, but the game itself was quite thrilling. And seeing Lee Jungwoo, who finally cut the 7th pitch as well, the commentator took a big breath that he had been holding back.

[The count remains unchanged at two and two.]

[Both the hitter and pitcher are maintaining extreme concentration.]

Lee Jungwoo briefly stepped out of the batter’s box. As he fiddled with his bat once, the tension that had hung over the stadium lessened. He tapped the ground with the end of his bat, then nodded and entered the batter’s box.

The home fans were enthusiastic about the famous routine that anyone who was a fan of Lee Jungwoo or had seen his game even a little would know.

[Now it’s the crucial moment.]

[Yes, the pitcher has nothing good to drag on any longer, and the hitter has caught the feel.]

At the same time as the caster swallowed his saliva, the pitcher moved flexibly and stretched out his arm. Unlike the cautious pitching earlier, the pitch was made in an instant. The ball thrown with his left hand flew straight.

It seemed like slow motion.
The trajectory of the ball flying. The course of the ball, the sweat that the pitcher shed. And the bat stretching out. All of those things.

[He hit itttttt!]

A coolly pulled swing.

Lee Jungwoo, who watched the ball until the end and hit the changeup without being fooled, threw the bat over his shoulder. It didn’t fly to the mound, the stands, or the opponent’s dugout, as the fans had expected(?).

Anyway, no one cared about such things as long as the ball went over.

[He pulled it properly. It hit the sweet spot. If it gets caught in that swing, it’s strange if it doesn’t go over!]

The spectators were going crazy. They went wild once more at the action taken by Lee Jungwoo, who had finished his baserunning leisurely. Like the famous recruitment poster of the United States during World War I, Lee Jungwoo pointed his index finger straight at the camera.

The atmosphere heated up as Lee Jungwoo, who had remained silent to Arthur Hunter’s nomination, took an unexpected performance.