Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 195

Pitcher Done, Batter Up – 194

“What the hell? How did that go over?”

“He did that a lot last year. Wasn’t it just with curveballs? He just cleared a fastball?”

“Lee Jung-woo should seriously retire and become a golfer. That drive shot was insane.”

Even someone who doesn’t know baseball would realize something was wrong, and the viewers were thrown into chaos by the absurd home run.

Everyone knew he was strong, but to barely hit a ball that was clearly a ball, completely a ball, perfectly a ball, with the end of his bat and send it over the fence was subtly shocking.

“If he hits even those, what are pitchers supposed to do? They openly walk him, and he hits a home run, lol [laughing out loud].”

“If you’re going to walk him, just intentionally walk him. If you play it halfway, you’ll get hit with a home run.”

“The pitcher’s mentality must be shattered. He gave up his pride and walked him, but the result is a home run.”

And the pitcher who was the victim of that absurd home run seemed to be seriously out of his mind, as many had expected.

He not only stared blankly ahead like someone whose heart had been broken, but he also gave up walk after walk to the subsequent batters.

No matter how good a major leaguer you are, the impact of a home run hit at an unexpected moment is unimaginable.

Especially since he had already given up a home run in the previous at-bat, the sense of deprivation felt by the pitcher who had given up two home runs to the same player was also significant.

“Looks like he won’t be out in the 4th. He’s icing his shoulder.”

“It’s pitcher protection. 5 runs in 3 innings, 3 of which were home runs. If they leave him in there, he’ll get trauma.”

“He probably already has trauma. From the pitcher’s perspective, it’s lucky it’s interleague play, lol.”

“One thing is for sure, that pitcher will never come to the National League, even if he becomes a free agent or gets traded.”

“You junior league punks, now you know how hard it is for real league pitchers. This is the National League. Fake league punks.”

Barely making it through 3 innings, the starting pitcher was caught on camera slumped in the dugout like a criminal, which inspired a strange sense of pride along with sympathy.

Lee Jung-woo had knocked out a major league pitcher in just two at-bats.

So, in the bottom of the 4th inning, after the pitcher was replaced, people discussed a new topic of interest during the brief lull caused by practice pitches—or rather, a topic they already knew about but never expected to see challenged today.

“Wow, Lee Jung-woo has already hit 49 home runs. Just one more and he’ll have 50. He’s insane.”

“? What are you talking about? Isn’t it 21?”

“Not just this season, but his career total.”

“Wow… already 49? For a guy who debuted last June? He’s really crazy. At this rate, won’t he hit 500 by the time he retires?”

“His current pace is insane, and his career is short, so it’s hard to predict, but it’s possible.”

“If a shortstop hits 500 career home runs, is he a guaranteed Hall of Famer?”

“First ballot + 90% of the vote is guaranteed. Not just for a shortstop, but for anyone.”

“If you hit 500 home runs, you should go to the Hall of Fame even if your career batting average is in the .100s, lol.”

“Arthur Hunter hits over 50 home runs in a season, so what’s the big deal about 49 career home runs? Why the fuss?”

“A 22-year-old in his second year is about to hit 50 home runs in June. That’s a huge deal.”

Thanks to his consistently incredible home run pace since his debut, Lee Jung-woo, a rookie in just his second year, had already accumulated a number of home runs that was hard to believe, and he was already on the verge of his 50th career home run.

Realizing this, even the people who were happy with the multi-home run started to get a little greedy.

“I hope he hits it today if possible. Like a birthday present to himself.”

####

“That’s it!”

“Nice, nice! That’s enough!”

[Lee Jung-woo hits another powerful long hit in his third at-bat! Second baseman Rollins scores! First baseman Derrick stops at third! A one-RBI [Run Batted In] double! In the bottom of the 4th, the score is now 6-0! The Braves continue to lead!]

[If it had been a little higher, it would have been a home run in three consecutive at-bats. It’s a little disappointing. But it definitely shows that he’s on fire today.]

[Yes, 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs and 2 home runs. Lee Jung-woo is destroying the Mariners.]

In the bottom of the 4th, Lee Jung-woo went up to bat for the third time and showed off his improved skills by adding another hit and RBI. People were happy, but on the other hand, they were a little disappointed.

Because it was a hit that hit almost the very end of the top of the fence, it could have been the third home run as expected if it had been a little better. But Lee Jung-woo wasn’t that disappointed. He already knew from the moment he hit it that it wouldn’t go over. And there were too many opportunities for him to be disappointed that it wasn’t a home run…

‘At this rate, I think I’ll keep getting at-bats. I can probably hit one more.’

He had too many opportunities coming his way. Including the RBI he just recorded, the score was now 6-0, a 6-point lead in the bottom of the 4th. Thanks to that big score, other batters were starting to catch fire, so the batting order would keep circulating.

‘The starting pitcher blew up too quickly. If that happens, the pitchers behind him are basically coming along for free. It won’t just end like this.’

He didn’t expect the starting pitcher to be replaced after pitching only 3 innings, so even if the Mariners were proud of their quick pitching changes, the bullpen was likely not ready. The Braves would keep getting their turn.

Even if the Mariners failed to make a comeback or tie the score and the top of the 9th ended, Lee Jung-woo believed that he would get two more at-bats.

‘If they really compete with me in one of those two or three times, I can hit one more.’

That’s why Lee Jung-woo didn’t dwell on just one at-bat. If the current momentum continued, he would still have plenty of at-bats in this game. And even if he didn’t add another home run, it was already a very successful game.

So Lee Jung-woo just tried to maintain his current feeling and soon the opportunity came. A little earlier than expected.

####

Bottom of the 5th.

Lee Jung-woo walked out of the dugout for his fourth at-bat with the same expression and appearance as before. The Mariners players on the field sighed or just chewed their gum like crazy when they saw him.

[Yes, our Lee Jung-woo is coming up to bat for the fourth time in the bottom of the 5th with runners on first and third. The score is already… 9-0. It’s seriously lopsided.]

[The Braves are steadily scoring points. At this point, one of the main points will be how many points they will score by the end.]

[That’s right.]

The score difference was so severe that the commentators laughed in vain. It was almost like they were scoring more than 2 points every inning. Of course, the Mariners’ pitchers were being replaced left and right. In that situation, the Braves seized another opportunity and passed it on to the most dangerous hitter, so it must have felt like the world was really unfair from the opponent’s point of view.

The fans were just happy.

“Let’s gooooo!”

“It’s a three-run homer this time!”

Since the few visiting fans had already left, Truist Park was filled with only the voices of the Braves fans.

‘It’s already my fourth at-bat. Are they going to score about 20 points by the end?’

Lee Jung-woo, who chuckled to himself as he went up, looked pitifully at the catcher, who looked at least 10 years, no, 20 years older than he did at the start of the game.

After this game, he would probably be the one who got the most criticism, along with the manager and pitching coach.

Lee Jung-woo, who briefly glanced at the catcher’s face, which was full of shadows as if foreshadowing the future, turned his head back to the mound. There was a pitcher there who looked relatively fresher than his other teammates.

‘They’re somehow patching it up with the bullpen. It’s already the fourth pitcher…’

Even if a team has a strong bullpen, it’s not a good sign to have four pitchers change by the 5th inning. But Lee Jung-woo seemed to want to add to that burden, so he just took his batting stance as usual.

‘It’s a pity for the opposing team, but I have to do what I have to do.’

The pitcher and the surrounding Mariners players glared at Lee Jung-woo with the thought that he was a terrible guy, but it didn’t really work.

The pitcher, who had been a little shaken by giving up two hits earlier, seemed to have regained his composure and exchanged signs with the catcher with a cheerful face.

A very serious face. The battery [pitcher and catcher] carefully considered and made a choice, making the most of the given time.

‘Oh, a changeup on the first pitch?’

The first pitch was full of all sorts of thoughts and worries. A slow changeup came slowly into the strike zone. One strike was up, but Lee Jung-woo was rather pleased.

‘So they’re going to compete. They’re not going to walk me.’

Relieved, Lee Jung-woo still looked at the pitcher, who was taking a long time, with serious eyes.

The Mariners’ battery threw the ball again near the end of the pitch clock. It was also a changeup.

Changeups in a row.

He never expected them to throw such a bold pitch against him, especially since they had already sent two runners to the base behind him, so his timing was completely thrown off.

“Strike!”

Lee Jung-woo, who swung awkwardly, put aside his embarrassment and simply admired.

‘That’s bold. Off-speed pitches in a row…’

When two strikes were called, the spectators frowned slightly, as if they hadn’t considered this possibility. What they wanted was Lee Jung-woo’s home run, or at least a timely hit, not a strike.

Even in the midst of that confusion, the pitcher and catcher seriously pondered and exchanged opinions like a study club before an exam.

‘Fastball? Breaking ball? Or another off-speed pitch?’

Lee Jung-woo also thought about it for a moment, but soon shook his head. If he tried to play a mind game when he was already losing, he wouldn’t get anything out of it.

And as of today, even if he didn’t have to use his head, the pitcher and catcher poured out their respective skills and experience and threw the ball.

[3rd pitch, thrown-]

‘Oh, lucky.’

Because he could hit it hard with just a wild swing.

First pitch changeup. Second pitch changeup. Third pitch also a changeup. It was truly a bold pitch. A stroke of genius that stabbed the opponent’s weakness to death. If it were Lee Jung-woo at any other time, he would have given up a strikeout and applauded the opposing pitcher.

Unfortunately, the timing was bad for the two batteries to pull out that deadly ball combination.

So the result of the battle full of guts and psychological warfare was just.

[Lee Jung-wooooooooooooo!]

It was his third home run of the game. The announcer, who had already strained his voice from shouting twice before, overworked his voice again and shouted his name. The commentator also tore his vocal cords in response.

[He got it right! Right field fence! Right field fence! A three-run home run over the right field fence!]

[Lee Jung-woo’s three-run home run, his third of the game, his 22nd of the season, and his 50th career home run! The score is now 12-0! The Mariners are completely sinking!]

50th career home run.

Lee Jung-woo, who reached it much earlier than others, watched the ball for a moment with a relieved and refreshed expression, but soon frowned at the sudden thought that came to his mind.

‘Wait, the home runs I’ve recorded so far-’

“If you’re done watching, why don’t you just get out of here.”

“Ah, sorry. But I didn’t do a bat flip, so please be understanding.”

Lee Jung-woo, who quickly got off home plate at the catcher’s irritated words, continued the thoughts he had earlier while running the bases.

‘The first at-bat was a two-run homer. The second at-bat was a solo home run. The third was a hit, so exclude that, and this one is a three-run homer, so…’

The moment he got there, lightning struck his head, and not only Lee Jung-woo, but also the cheering spectators and some of his fellow players, who had also sensed something strange, uttered the same words in their heads.

“One grand slam… and it’s a home run cycle?”

All eyes were on Lee Jung-woo at the words Rollins, who had come home first to greet him, suddenly blurted out. MLB [Major League Baseball], KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball], etc. Except for one time in the minor leagues, a record that has never been allowed in professional baseball was now just around the corner.