Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 160

Pitcher done, batter up – Episode 159

Called shot home run.

A performance so rare, there’s active debate about whether it even existed.

There was the story of Babe Ruth doing it for a young fan. And there was film of him making a similar gesture at the plate in one game. But even that was a bit ambiguous, so the truth wasn’t certain. Either way, it was one of the most mythical stories in Major League Baseball, befitting a legendary home run king.

That legend was recreated directly and perfectly more than a century later.

The reaction was, needless to say, explosive.

[‘Second Babe?’ Lee Delivers Humiliating Called Shot Home Run to Phillies!]

-Humiliating isn’t the word… Philadelphia is in real trouble, right?

-If I were the mayor, I’d have all the cops out. Or call in the National Guard.

-Only the Phillies, those losers, would get something like this.

[Is Philadelphia in Riot Mode? ‘Lee is a Player Who Doesn’t Respect the Other Team!’]

-Respect? That’s a joke. Anyone who watched the broadcast knows you can’t associate the word ‘respect’ with the Phillies.

-They were shouting they’d burn him alive. If he respected the other team after hearing that, he wouldn’t be a baseball player, he’d be a human rights activist.

[‘Arrogant Oriental Rookie Ignoring 150 Years of Major League Tradition!’]

-Again with the ‘Oriental,’ again with the ‘arrogant rookie.’ How are the insults against Lee always the same?

-Let’s be honest, if Lee were white, would the reaction be like this? It just looks like they’re jealous.

-150 years of tradition? Yeah, tradition is important. But if you suppress everything to protect that tradition, who’s going to watch the league?

In reality, the game’s result was secondary. The Phillies suffered another crushing defeat to the Braves.

But at least this time, they weren’t being ridiculed for the ‘loss.’ There was something even more worthy of ridicule than the game’s outcome.

Things like trash cans being smashed or set on fire happened one after another all over Philadelphia. Police officers densely filled the area around the stadium.

For the Phillies, there was no greater humiliation. They had been completely dominated by a single batter, to the point of providing a scene that would be remembered forever.

[‘The Greatest Performance Ever, to Be Remembered Even After the Earth is Destroyed’ Jungwoo Lee is Walking the Path of a Legend!]

-He was already a legend before that. At least in Atlanta.

-When Lee pointed his bat over the fence, I’ll be honest, I think I peed a little. When he actually hit it, almost hitting that damn bell, I was soaked. Luckily, I spilled my beer on purpose so no one else noticed.

-So, someone else had the same experience as me. I changed my underwear.

-I thought the ball was going to be so strong, it would make the ‘P’ fall off.

-The Phillies fans seemed to think the same thing. As soon as the ball hit and fell, they all ran away? lololol [laughing out loud]

Like a team that had given up a perfect game to a pitcher. A scene that would be replayed again and again, even after 10, 20, or 50 years. The fans couldn’t accept the fact that the Phillies were the victims of it.

Of course, most people weren’t thinking on such a high level and were simply expressing pure anger at the immediate humiliation.

[‘My Eyes Are Always Accurate.’ ‘Lee is a Really Cool Guy’ Arthur Hunter Lavishes Praise on Lee! Netizens React by Saying, ‘Birds of a Feather Flock Together’…]

-He seriously seems to like Lee more than he likes me.

-I don’t know what he sees in Lee, but it’s nice to see.

-It warms my heart to see the league’s best two players bonding with each other.

In fact, as expected, opinions were extremely divided, even among those who weren’t Phillies fans.

Some people felt anger that an Asian player, a rookie who had barely started his second year, had recreated a performance that was like a legend or mythic hero to Americans, like Babe Ruth’s trademark.

But far more people were simply marveling at the reincarnation of the legend that had unfolded before their eyes.

There was also the argument that disrespecting the Phillies wasn’t entirely unjustified, or at least that they deserved what happened to them.

-Are the guys who say Lee is wrong still thinking that after hearing this? (field.mp3)

-I knew they were crazy to begin with. But they’re even crazier than I thought.

-Wow, isn’t this just a death threat? It’s a good thing Lee didn’t hit anyone with the ball.

Especially in the midst of the home crowd’s severe cursing, which was so loud it could be heard clearly on the broadcast, it was a cathartic blow that not only crushed the noses of the Philly fans, one of the most famous ‘villains’ in Major League Baseball, but completely pulverized them.

Moreover, the emotion was even greater because it was a home run that ‘almost’ hit the Liberty Bell-shaped neon sign, their symbol, and properly hit the stadium name below it.

Therefore, the Braves fans ignored the backlash and were busy praising Lee Jungwoo.

The fans of Lee Jungwoo himself, not just the Braves, showed a similar reaction.

[‘Lee Will Already Remain a Legend’ Experts, Former Players, Unanimously Praise Him.]

-That’s right. After showing this kind of performance. No matter what Lee shows in the future, he will be remembered forever.

-If Lee becomes a real ‘Legend’ in the future, it will be another legend. If he fails, that will be memorable in its own way. Either way, he will never be forgotten.

-One thing is certain, even if he retires right now, a statue of him will be built in a corner of Atlanta. Lee is already a god in Atlanta!

The fans were certain.

With this one moment, the name Lee Jungwoo would be remembered forever.

In particular, Braves fans bombarded the Braves front office with phone calls as soon as the game ended, or rather, right after the home run was hit.

The conditions they set were simple: an immediate contract extension with Lee Jungwoo, with a contract period of at least 12 years. Also, a statue of Lee Jungwoo should be erected inside or near Truist Park.

While the front office frowned at the workload that came with Lee Jungwoo’s home run, there were also people who smiled.

[‘Jungwoo Lee Effect?’ Wilson (Sports Equipment Company) Achieves New Daily Sales Record?]

[‘Wilson Sits on a Pile of Money in a Few Hours.’ Internet Site Server Down for 2 Minutes Due to Traffic Overload…]

The first to benefit was Wilson, the manufacturer of the bat Lee Jungwoo currently uses. Until after 12 o’clock after the game ended, people flocked to it to the point of achieving a new daily sales record in just a few hours.

Not only on the internet, but also in several stores that were still open due to the time difference, people were pouring in.

In particular, the response was so great that the higher-ups ordered additional production of the products Lee Jungwoo used.

Starting with that bat, the sales of various equipment caught on camera, such as baseball shoes and gloves, also jumped in an instant, causing a huge ripple effect. The media referred to it as the Lee Jungwoo effect.

In addition, direct calls flooded Lee Jungwoo’s agency office and Mark himself, with people wanting to sign contracts. Conversely, large agencies appeared, proposing acquisitions.

They thought that they had discovered Lee Jungwoo and raised him properly. Although the scale is small, they thought that they had considerable potential.

Of course, the large agencies simply wanted to acquire him just by looking at Lee Jungwoo.

In this way, public opinion was explosive, and business began to boom. But it didn’t end there.

Not only the reaction, but Lee Jungwoo himself was also harassed by people.

Even his Braves teammates continued to bombard Lee Jungwoo with questions, almost trapping him, even after the game ended.

“What the hell did you eat to grow up like that?”

“My mother’s share is 80%, and the rest is probably full of beef and chicken.”

“Do you take any supplements? If you do, let me know. I’ll take one too.”

“You use Wilson bats, right? Should I get one too? Do they have a model made of hard maple? Something around 750g.”

“How would I know that-”

“Lee, who did you say your hitting trainer was? Was it Robin? If you have a business card, give me one, or even a phone number.”

“Is that friend a personal trainer? Or is he affiliated with an agency? If he’s a personal trainer, can I train with you next year too?”

The teammates were trying to figure out everything about Lee Jungwoo and imitate as much as they could.

Not only young players or players with unstable positions, but also several veterans and solid starters did so. Even Joey subtly asked about the hitting trainer. Lee could realize what crazy things he had done.

‘First time since Babe Ruth. Well, there’s no title more valuable than this in baseball. Still, at this point… it’s worth doing crazy things.’

That’s how the aftermath of the called shot home run was shaking up the baseball world.

####

“Did you put on your protective gear?”

“Just in case, if you think they’re coming close, turn your body no matter what. It’s much better to get hit on the back than on the front, no matter where you get hit.”

“Why did you do such a thing… No, it was fun thanks to you, good job. Just think of it as giving you some tips.”

The day after the storm swept through, and was still sweeping through.

People flocked to Lee Jungwoo as he went to the game, groping here and there on his body.

In particular, the hitting coach had a more serious expression than ever before and tightened the protective gear more tightly than usual.

Not satisfied with that, he tapped the helmet several times with his hand to see if it was strong enough.

It was a ridiculous sight, but at least at this moment, the Braves were more serious than ever. It was a situation where Lee Jungwoo could die today.

“I was prepared to get hit anyway, so I’ve prepared properly. So don’t worry too much.”

“If a headshot comes out, we’ll all run out right away, so if the atmosphere seems strange, step back right away.”

“Looking at the Phillies, it’s refreshing, but if you get injured, it’s meaningless, so be careful no matter what.”

A beanball [a pitch intentionally thrown at the batter], it will definitely come out.

If you grab someone who knows a little bit about baseball and ask them, everyone, a hundred out of a hundred, a thousand out of a thousand, would say the same thing. After the called shot home run the day before, Philadelphia was virtually in a riot, with baseball fans sweeping across the city and expressing their anger.

Even near the hotel where the Braves players were staying, there was a crowd of angry people breathing heavily. They were afraid of the police, who were also heavily deployed, so they couldn’t do anything.

So, the Phillies needed at least their own punishment. To avoid escalating the situation further, a beanball was ultimately the best option.

‘If I get hit once and it’s over, it’s actually a win for me. I’ve gotten enough out of it. Still… I’m a little worried.’

So, with the hit confirmed, the Braves prepared carefully to avoid injury as much as possible. Lee Jungwoo, who had been held by people before the game, couldn’t hide his tension this time.

Lee Jungwoo, who went to the game fully prepared, soon went up to his first at-bat. Unlike the day before, there were fewer voices cursing him than he thought.

It may be because they were exhausted. Rather, the atmosphere itself was solemn.

Like watching a gloomy execution.

‘They’re not really going to throw at my head, are they?’

Worries began to creep into Lee Jungwoo’s mind in the cold atmosphere, and he emptied his mind as he looked at the pitcher’s expression, which seemed to be determined.

‘Throw it as you please. I’ll gladly take it. Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve been beanballed by the Phillies.’

This was the second beanball.

The only time was in the Rockies game last year, when he was hit for daring to do a bat flip [celebratory gesture of tossing the bat] and even admire the hit as a rookie.

Even then, he was only hit in the butt and bruised. The pitcher also threw it moderately, but now it seemed like he was going to get hit properly.

Lee Jungwoo, who was determined to face it with the thought of getting a painful shot, clenched his teeth tightly. The pitcher, who was glaring at him, threw the ball for his teammate who had been hit by Lee Jungwoo the day before.

A ball thrown with all his might. It was definitely a full-force throw. The problem was that it was a mistake, perhaps because he was too emotional.

‘This is…’

It would have been easier if it had gone to my head.

Then I could have just dodged it and started a bench-clearing brawl [a fight involving players from both teams].

The problem was that it was a very good mistake, so it was too good for the batter to hit. Slightly high in the middle. Not too high, but a course that would easily go over the fence if pulled straight, a very pleasant course for the batter.

During the very short time it took for the ball to fly from the mound to home plate, Lee Jungwoo stared blankly at the ball and thought. It’s a beanball timing, but can I hit the ball? If I hit it here, will bullets really fly? Should I just wait and get hit by the next ball?

‘Yeah, I’ll get hit by the next ball-‘

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.

To avoid escalating the situation, Lee Jungwoo tried to wait.

But it was already too late.

While he was hesitating, his body, honed by countless practices and efforts, took the right movement as a batter, ignoring the command of his head, in order not to miss the best situation.

“Huh?”

Bang-

A loud hitting sound rang out at an unexpected timing.

Perhaps because they didn’t expect Lee Jungwoo to swing his bat, all the eyes watching the situation shook.

The Phillies fans, who were preparing to cheer when he was hit by the beanball, froze in the absurd situation.

Derek, who had gone out to first base first and was gesturing to him not to worry, froze with his hand gestures and body movements.

No, everything in Citizens Bank Park froze as if time had stopped.

Only the batted ball sent by Lee Jungwoo’s instinct flew out unhindered.

When it finally went over the fence, Lee Jungwoo regretted his arms and talent for the first time.

“I didn’t mean to. My bat went out without me knowing. Really. You’re a batter, so you know? If the ball is too good, your body moves on its own. This is one of those cases. Do you understand?”

“Y- You-”

“No, why did you make a mistake- It’s not my fault, it’s your pitcher’s fault-”

“You son of a bitch!”

Lee Jungwoo hurriedly waved his hands and defended himself. He was really wronged this time. He didn’t really intend to this time. Lee Jungwoo even made a somewhat absurd excuse, pointing to the tightly fastened protective gear, saying that he was going to get hit no matter what.

The catcher’s eyes had already turned over [become enraged].

A straight [straight fastball] that stretches out like a powerful fastball thrown by a good pitcher.

It was a moment when the topic explosion was confirmed again today, following the previous day.