Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 197

Pitcher Over, Batter Up – 196

After the game, Lee Jung-woo, having finished his interviews, shook off the reporters and immediately joined his parents. The fans, aware that it was his birthday, respected his privacy, unlike usual when they would ask for autographs or photos. Lee Jung-woo quickly embraced his parents with his large frame.

“Let me hug my son just once.”

Perhaps it was because their proud son had shown them firsthand that he was doing well even in this massive stadium. The emotion his parents felt was significant.

“Our son, you’re doing so well. Dad is truly not worried anymore. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown.”

“I grew up fine on my own. You didn’t really help much.”

His father, still seemingly unable to believe the scene unfolding before him, nodded with a flushed face. His mother smiled with slightly teary eyes.

Mark, having subtly stepped back from the family reunion, wore a pleased smile and quietly turned off his phone, which had been buzzing incessantly since the third home run.

It was a moment to put business aside.

“You should have told us in advance.”

“It’s supposed to be a surprise event, what can I do?”

“Yes, it was a real surprise. I never expected even my parents to come.”

“Lee, we should get going soon. The restaurant reservation time is almost up.”

“Restaurant?”

“It’s your birthday, after all. You should have dinner with your parents at a nice place. I made a reservation in advance. A Korean restaurant.”

“Are you two okay with that? If you’re tired…”

“It’s your birthday, and as parents, it’s our duty to treat you to a meal. Let’s go right away. I’m getting a bit hungry.”

“Jung-woo, you must be very hungry after the game. You need to eat well before you sleep to take care of your body.”

The restaurant they headed to, with his parents’ approval, was a Korean restaurant in a traditional Hanok [traditional Korean house] style. According to Mark, it had recently opened and, somewhat incongruously, stood alone amidst the concrete buildings in the city center, not in Koreatown. The tiled-roof house, built with a wooden structure, looked quite decent. The interior was also designed with private rooms rather than open tables, evoking a sense of Korean nostalgia.

“It’s late, but it looks quite busy.”

“It’s all thanks to Lee. Since Lee started playing so well, the sales of Korean restaurants in Atlanta—no, in Georgia—have all skyrocketed. Especially today, after such a special game, there will be many people coming. Haha, I was able to make the reservation easily by using Lee’s name.”

Just like the Korean players in the minor and major leagues, the Korean restaurants were also receiving a significant Lee Jung-woo boost, which made his parents feel a strange sense of pride.

After entering the restaurant and being guided to the reserved room by the staff, a full-course meal, including seaweed soup (a traditional Korean birthday dish), was continuously brought in, as if they had thoroughly researched his birthday.

Eventually, his father, unable to contain his excitement, asked the server for a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] and emptied it cleanly, continuing his emotional high.

“How many days will you be staying?”

“I’m planning to live here. It seems like I can live lavishly here.”

“Are you trying to embarrass your son…”

“I’m just kidding, kidding. I was just joking because our Jung-woo is so popular. I have work, so I’m leaving on the 30th.”

“You should stay a little longer… and if possible, quit your job now—”

“Even if my son is doing well, showing it off would be unsightly. And I’m still going strong. I don’t want to live off my son’s hard work at this age. Forget about the company, maybe a car later—”

“I thought you weren’t going to live off his hard work?”

“A domestic one. Cheap. Okay? I mean, my son is a major leaguer, isn’t a car too much to ask for, not even a house?”

“Haha, I’ll get you a fully loaded foreign car.”

“That’s right, a man should always be generous, but your mother doesn’t understand that.”

Lee Jung-woo, feeling at home in the comfortable atmosphere, laughed and chatted for the first time in a while, enjoying the meal. It was a short but sweet birthday party with the four of them, including Mark.

As Lee Jung-woo was about to leave the restaurant, he was briefly stopped by the owner and staff.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Ah, yes. It was very good.”

“Haha, I’m glad to hear that. We worked hard to prepare it after hearing that Lee made the reservation. Ah, I’m Brian Turner, the owner of this restaurant.”

The owner, who had been waiting for an opportunity, quickly jumped in as they were leaving the room after the meal.

He spoke cautiously, but his face was full of excitement as he watched Lee Jung-woo, his body slightly trembling.

“A Korean restaurant, but the owner is…”

“Tsk, that’s also a form of racism. Well, a white person can run a Korean restaurant too. The taste was good, wasn’t it?”

The plump owner, flustered like a fan meeting a top star, was a bit funny but also gave a sense of reverence.

“If you don’t mind, could I have a handshake…”

“Ah, yes.”

Finally, upon shaking hands, he trembled as if electrified, expressing his satisfaction with a bright smile. His parents watched the scene with pleased expressions.

“It’s an honor for Lee to come to our restaurant. Ah, I really enjoyed today’s game. I think it was the most wonderful moment I’ve seen since watching Braves games.”

“Thank you for your support.”

It felt a bit different from what he felt at the stadium. The love of the people in this city for their son extended not only inside the stadium but also outside.

Just the fact that he visited the restaurant made them so happy and excited.

It was a moment where he could feel, until the very end, the status Lee Jung-woo held in Atlanta, which he had felt throughout the day.

“Our Jung-woo won’t go hungry.”

“Not just not hungry, your son can eat three meals a day without carrying his wallet.”

“Yes, there are millions of people like that throughout Atlanta. You can rest assured.”

Mark watched the scene with a proud look. In his view, this scene represented the brand power of the player Lee Jung-woo.

Although it was built with overwhelming skill, fully embracing it requires the charm of a superstar. From that perspective, Lee Jung-woo, who elicited the same reaction as the restaurant owner throughout the city and region, was a player with as much talent for that as he had for being a batter.

“If you enjoyed the meal, could we take a picture with our staff…”

The owner, noticing the staff who had been eyeing the opportunity, cautiously brought up the main point. Lee Jung-woo, accustomed to such requests as every restaurant he visited was filled with his photos and autographs, immediately agreed.

Having already given out so many photos and autographs, it would be a bit strange to refuse now.

“Of course. If you want, I’ll even sign autographs. For all the staff.”

“I’m sorry to bother you on your birthday.”

Even though he apologized, the line of staff running out from the kitchen in the distance seemed endless. After signing autographs and finally taking a group photo, the restaurant owner said with a serious face.

“You’ve given us photos and autographs, how can I dare to receive money from God—no, Lee—”

“Mark, let’s go right away. The meal was delicious. I’ll visit often next time.”

“Huh? Ah, ah. You should.”

“Lee! I absolutely can’t—I’ll refund you right away, please wait a moment—I can’t accept this money—Ah—No!”

As the owner’s voluntary request for a refund, which was also familiar to Lee Jung-woo, continued, his parents’ shoulders straightened to almost a right angle. Only then could they truly realize why Lee Jung-woo was called the most beloved person in Atlanta.

But neither they nor Lee Jung-woo knew.

That it was no longer just about Atlanta.

####

Much ado about nothing.

It was a famous proverb, and one that often held true, as evidenced by numerous cases.

However, the game between the Braves and the Mariners took a slight twist.

It wasn’t a widely publicized feast, but when opened, it was full of things to eat.

21-5. The Braves reached the realm of 20 points in a single game for the first time in 15 years, and the Mariners were inexplicably thrashed at someone else’s party.

The Braves’ offense went wild.

And at the center of it was the main dish of this game, Lee Jung-woo, and the home runs he hit.

For a meal that came out of a not-so-noteworthy feast called Korean Night, the quality was surprisingly good.

[Unprecedented, Untrodden, Lee Jung-woo Writes a New Page in the 150-Year History of Major League Baseball!]

[Jung-woo Lee (ATL), First in the Big Leagues to Achieve a Home Run Cycle (Two-Run, Solo, Three-Run, Grand Slam)!]

[Lee Jung-woo (李貞玗-ATL), Cycling Home Run on Korean Night Against the Seattle Mariners.]

[6 At-Bats, 6 Plate Appearances, 5 Hits, 4 Home Runs, 12 RBIs, Best Hitting to Symbolize the First Half of the 35th Season]

[Lee, Achieves Consecutive 48-49-50-51 Home Runs! Records 23 Home Runs During the First Half!]

[‘Could it be, Really?’ Jung-woo Lee, 30-30 Within Reach in the First Half! The Power of the Home Run Cycle!]

Like the camera flashes that burst out coolly at the moment the grand slam was hit, the articles that had been drafted in advance were also released all at once. Even when Lee Jung-woo was having dinner with his parents and spending the night together at home for the first time in a long time, the articles continued as if they had been waiting.

The extent was so severe that in Korea, most news items were pushed back by a dozen pages and disappeared from people’s interest. Initially, it received attention as Korean Night, but now, the name Lee Jung-woo alone pushed everything else away.

No, not only in Korea, but in countries with high interest in baseball, such as the United States and Japan, sports articles lined up to occupy the article sections of various sites.

[Ongoing Legend. Lee Has Been Writing Legends Since His Debut.]

[The Braves’ 12th Retired Number? Possible with Lee.]

[Lee Jung-woo (李貞玗), Shows the Power of an Asian in the Heart of North American Baseball!]

There were also many articles with embarrassing titles that talked about the distant future, such as retired numbers and legends. Even though Lee Jung-woo had at least ten years left until his retirement, some people were already predicting how many votes he would get in the Hall of Fame after his retirement.

They were reactions that felt very excessive, yet perhaps natural.

Because he was worth it.

The first record in Major League Baseball history. Expanding beyond that, it was a faint, unknown realm that had never appeared even in the minors and could only be speculated to have appeared once in an era where records were uncertain.

Perhaps the best performance a ‘batter’ could show in a single game.

The praise for the player who achieved it was enough to temporarily set aside even the game reviews of the Braves, who scored an overwhelming 20 points, and the Mariners, who were so miserably thrashed.

-I already knew you were a really cool guy…

-I heard Lee did a home run cycle…

-It’s probably the most shocking thing in modern baseball. Who still sees that guy as a rookie…

Not only the reporters who were always looking for issues, but also many players, regardless of whether they were current or former, gave their impressions of this. In particular, Arthur Hunter, who often talked about Lee Jung-woo on SNS [Social Networking Services], showed a genuinely surprised look, unlike usual, and personally showed how absurd this record was.

In addition, past legends, especially players who had been with the Braves, did not spare their praise as they had done so far and subtly encouraged the Braves’ decision, leading to the fans’ praise(?).

In the meantime, the fans once again savored the grace of their parents and left exclamations rather than admiration.

-I will withdraw my support for Lee in the future.

-From today, I will break away from the support relationship, and Lee and I will become one. Consider any attack on Lee as an attack on me. Understand that.

-No, Lee is one with the Braves, not someone like you. We are also part of the Braves. Therefore, if you attack Lee, it is the same as attacking all the Braves.

-That’s right. That’s accurate.

-Lee is definitely the god of baseball.

-In the future, if Lee’s parents throw the first pitch, shut up and just watch without complaining.

-I admit it. Let’s just keep inviting them to throw the first pitch in the future. If it’s a night game, let’s make it Korean Night unconditionally. Then we will win every year, and Lee will hit 100 home runs every year.

-Come to think of it, Lee’s parents came to help their son hit more home runs.

-It’s a bit much to keep calling them. Let’s only invite them when necessary.

-How much is 적당히 (jeokdanghi – appropriately)?

-…Whenever we play at home during the postseason, we unconditionally invite them to throw the first pitch?

-Yes, that’s very 적당히 (jeokdanghi – appropriate).

Even people who had been feeling a subtle displeasure because they thought Lee Jung-woo was being treated too excessively no longer said anything and silently shoved the 괴식 (goeshik – monstrous food) that Lee had officially recognized into their mouths.

In various fan communities, those who had been expressing complaints lined up to confess their sins as if they were 갅으하듯 (gaegeu hadeut – begging).

It was at a level where they could not shut their mouths, but rather sew their lips shut. Korean Night, which had started with such a subtle reaction and contradictory appearance, came to an end. And its aftermath continued even after the game was over.

####

After the game against the Mariners ended. After his parents returned to Korea, and after June, which had also been full of talk, came to an end, the home run cycle continued to be talked about.

Sports channels replayed the highlights whenever they had a chance. There were even special broadcasts.

“Korea Daily, New York Times, Yomiuri Shimbun, all kinds of newspapers and broadcasting stations. They’re all just requesting interviews from all over the world. They say they’ll adjust the time unconditionally. Skip it again? Especially Japan is completely crazy.”

In the meantime, of course, the gestures towards Lee Jung-woo continued incessantly. Even newspaper companies that would be known by name alone formed coverage teams and sent them to the United States.

Mark even had to open a new cell phone to exchange business contacts, receiving a crazy phone bomb [deluge of calls].

Interview requests had been going on since his debut, but this time the scale was different.

Beyond just Korea, even famous newspapers in the United States and Japan were directly requesting it.

Especially in Japan, after Lee Jung-woo entered the orbit in earnest, there were no comparable players among their own batters.

Even Iwakuma Takeshi, whom they had trusted without a doubt, began to be thoroughly 털기 (teolda – defeated) by Lee Jung-woo to the point where he was almost a human 상성 (sangseong – chemistry/nemesis). They subtly changed the 논조 (nonjo – tone/tenor) and steadily spread the idea that Lee Jung-woo’s performance was a triumph for Asians, showing a bigger reaction than expected to this incident.

The degree of interest in achieving the first record in history was quite high. It was a 탈 아시아적인 (tal asiah jeogin – de-Asianized) event that even the great major leaguers, such as whites, blacks, and Hispanics, could not do, and that they liked so much.

“Japan? Don’t they hate me since the Asian Games?”

“They hate you. Still. But they also like you. It’s a bit subtle. The favorability rating is ambiguous, but the attention is the highest, should I say?”

Of course, those who hated him still hated him, due to the interview at the Asian Games, where he openly provoked to bring out the 승부 (seungbu – match/competition) of the Japanese national team. The idea that Lee Jung-woo was ignoring Japanese baseball was quite widespread.

However, conversely, there were also many people who felt 호감 (hogam – favor/goodwill) for the way he had said those words and eventually produced the results himself. Lee Jung-woo’s popularity among Japanese baseball fans was almost exactly 반반 (banban – half and half).

“I don’t even do interviews with Korea, so if I do interviews with Japan, I’ll get 욕 (yok – curse/criticism) for no reason. It’s better not to do it at all fairly.”

Even in the midst of that, Lee Jung-woo, who rejected the request with these words, frustrating the dreams of sports reporters from all over the world, was a bit different in the next story.

“And I’m almost done talking to Nike. All I have to do is sign. Maybe it’s because they’re so eager, but when I 튕기다 (twinggida – resist/play hard to get), they raised the amount even more. $60 million for a 5-year contract. $12 million per year. In addition, there’s various equipment support and 광고 (gwanggoh – advertisement) shooting.”

“Huh, isn’t that almost the level of doing FA [Free Agency] before others?”

“Not at all. Assuming you keep 찍다 (jjikda – achieve/maintain) these grades as they are, if you do FA, it’ll be at least at Harding’s level. And not only Nike, but also a game company contacted me. You know baseball games? The ones that are released every year. They said they want you as the 표지모델 (pyojimodel – cover model) for the next series. Should I try to contact them?”

As Mark had expected, the power of the home run cycle went beyond just popularity or recognition and led directly to business.

Nike had already been talking about it in advance, and it was just that the amount had increased. Other places were also properly biting [showing interest].

“If it’s a cover model, are you talking about the Korean version? That came last year too, but I 까다 (kkada – reject/turn down) it because the 단가 (dangga – price/unit cost) didn’t match?”

The first start was a baseball game cover model proposal from a famous game company. Lee Jung-woo was lukewarm because the Korean version had been proposed last year as well. Mark shook his head.

“Not Korea, but the United States, an official model proposal. This time. The 단가 (dangga – price/unit cost) is also 확실하다 (hwaksilhada – certain/definite) and 대우 (daeu – treatment/terms) is good.”

“That’s what only Harding and Hunter kept doing? There was no talk until now. But suddenly to me?”

“It’s not 갑자기 (gapjagi – suddenly). Look at what you’ve done now. Home run cycle. 23 home runs in the first half. 20-20. Perfect 수비율 (subiyul – fielding percentage). Overwhelming grades. And….”

“Popularity.”

표지모델 (pyojimodel – cover model).

It was too heavy to dismiss as just a game. It meant that he was the most popular player in Major League Baseball right now.

Occasionally, when a player with a huge vote rate in the Hall of Fame vote came out, that player would take the cover.

In the case of the series released this year, Harding and Hunter, who had both won the MVP, took the cover together.

But the fact that this proposal came even though the season was only about to end in the first half meant that, unlike Nike, which turned its attention to Lee Jung-woo to check Adidas, which had recruited Hunter, it was different.

It meant that Lee Jung-woo was now a symbol of the Big League, enough to attract attention, surpassing those so-called players.

“Aren’t you too surprised? It’s just the beginning. Now everyone is really 인정 (injeong – acknowledge/recognize) it. At this moment, not Hunter or Harding, but Lee, you are the hottest player in Major League Baseball, in the baseball world. And…”

The record that no one had ever achieved. The record that only Lee Jung-woo had was gradually raising his class as well. Literally, the home run cycle was a record only for Lee Jung-woo alone.

Mark couldn’t help but smile.

Even at this moment, the newly opened cell phone continues to ring. I don’t know how they found out the number.

Everyone wanted Lee Jung-woo. Literally everyone. Even in places related to baseball, or even in places that were not related at all.

He had achieved it. The player Lee Jung-woo eventually made even the 광고계 (gwanggo gye – advertising world), which could not help but be 까다롭다 (kkadaropda – fastidious/picky), 넙죽 엎드리다 (neopjuk eopdeurida – bow down/yield). Only with skill.

“He really 깨닫다 (kkaedatta – realize/understand) it. Not just an amazing rookie, but an ongoing legend.”