Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 99

Today’s game was sure to draw reporters interested in both Lee Jung-woo and Bob Fosse.

Bob Fosse, who had recently delivered a masterful performance.

And Lee Jung-woo, who ultimately triumphed over such a pitcher, achieving an impressive stat line of 4 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 home run, and 1 walk in 5 at-bats.

The contrast between the established star of the old era and the rising star of the new was a compelling narrative.

It was clear from the way the reporter approached Lee Jung-woo, who had been selected as the MVP, for an interview.

Even though they were at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ home stadium, her face beamed with excitement.

‘Her face is beaming.’

The reporter was clearly eager to ask her questions, approaching with visible anticipation.

She didn’t seem aware of how transparent her eagerness was.

Lee Jung-woo found it a bit much, to the point where her enthusiasm felt almost overwhelming.

“Congratulations on hitting for the cycle today, Jung-woo Lee.”

“Thank you.”

“How do you feel about achieving such a decisive victory over Bob Fosse in today’s game?”

Lee Jung-woo almost chuckled at her phrasing, which subtly emphasized the “decisive victory.”

It seemed like she was hoping for him to say something even slightly controversial…

‘No way.’

Lee Jung-woo had no intention of giving them the sound bites they wanted.

As a prominent player, generating some buzz was part of the job.

However, he didn’t want to carelessly say something that would be twisted into a sensational story.

“I feel great. First of all, because the team won. And it’s an honor to share the field with a legend I grew up watching on TV, someone who inspired my baseball dreams.”

“Hmm, I see. You seem very happy today. Did you anticipate having such a great performance today?”

“No, I was nervous the whole time. The Bob Fosse I remember will always be a dominant ace. During the game, I competed against Bob Fosse as an opponent. But now that the game is over, I want to express my respect as a junior player. He is still a great pitcher and an icon of his era.”

“Um… yes, I understand. Then…”

Perhaps dissatisfied with the respectful tone of the interview, the reporter slightly pursed her lips.

She quickly regained her composure and asked the standard, routine questions.

In the end, it was just another typical MVP interview, but the buzz surrounding the game was only just beginning.

No, it exploded immediately after the game ended.

[“Lee Jung-woo’s Legs Power Him to Cycle! Braves Win Thanks to Stellar Performance!”]

[“Lee Jung-woo Leads Team with Cycle! Third Asian Major Leaguer to Achieve the Feat!”]

[“Lee Jung-woo (Braves) Crowned ‘Best Rookie of All Time!’ in the United States”]

[“Jung-woo Lee (21, ATL) Hits for the Cycle Against Arizona Diamondbacks!”]

[“Jung-woo Lee, Where Does His Potential End? Experts Agree, ‘It Was a Flawless Game’…”]

The reporters, who had been poised to publish their articles the moment Lee Jung-woo completed the cycle, unleashed them relentlessly as soon as the game concluded.

Atlanta’s local media and Korean media outlets, eager to celebrate his success, didn’t hesitate to call him the best ever.

They were enthusiastically building him up, seemingly without considering any potential future backlash.

If Lee Jung-woo had delivered a mediocre performance, such hype might have backfired.

But for now, no one dared to criticize him in such an atmosphere. There was no basis for it.

As the excitement grew, an interview was published.

Unlike most articles that focused solely on the victor’s glory,

This one featured Bob Fosse, the loser of the day, and the interview itself had a relaxed and amiable tone.

Ironically, it only added to the existing frenzy.

Because it was a satisfying interview for fans of both Lee Jung-woo and Bob Fosse.

[Bob Fosse, ‘I Applauded the Best Hitter.’ ]

[Full Interview:

‘Why did I applaud at the end? It reminded me of when I was playing Little League. I gave up a home run, and we lost the game. I went home feeling terrible, and my father asked me, ‘Bobby, was the pitch right down the middle?’ I said no. Then my father asked, ‘Bobby, did the ball slip out of your hand?’ Again, I said no. Then my father asked me one last time, ‘Then didn’t you do your best?’ When I said yes to that, my father smiled and said, ‘Then you can smile. Because you did the best you could.’ He told me, in the future, if a great hit like that happens, applaud the hitter. That’s what I thought of in that moment. So I applauded. For the best hitter who hit the best ball.’ ]

[Even though we lost today, you did great, Bob! You’re the best forever!]

[That Lee kid is disgustingly good. I don’t really like him, but I admit he’s the best hitter today.]

[I’m an Atlanta fan, but sometimes I’m jealous of the Diamondbacks when I see Bob Fosse. A legend like that should be in the starting lineup.]

[I’ll continue to support you, Bob Fosse! If you pitch like you did today, you’ll win another Cy Young Award [Award given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball].]

The game ended on a more heartwarming note than expected, and in the last game of the series, the Diamondbacks won with Ian Field’s 8 innings of scoreless pitching.

Thus, Lee Jung-woo’s first visit to Chase Field came to an end.

####

In Korea, national pride was reaching fever pitch.

Most people thought it had already peaked.

The cycle hit became a new turning point.

National pride, which had already reached what seemed like its limit, surged even higher as Lee Jung-woo played in 3 of the 4 games in the series against the Miami Marlins after the Diamondbacks series.

Even though Lee Jung-woo didn’t achieve a 20-20 season [20 home runs and 20 stolen bases], he performed well during the series.

As a result, various stories began to circulate.

Like the one about Koreans being treated like heroes in Atlanta.

A man had heard these stories.

He wanted to see if they were true.

[I went to see if the Atlanta story is real]

[Arrived in Atlanta. Currently at the airport. I’ll determine whether Lee Jung-woo’s popularity in Atlanta is genuine national pride or just hype. I said I didn’t have a wallet, but I brought some money just in case.]

[ㄴ Wow, you went to America just to do that?]

[ㄴ Take pictures and come back. Let’s see Lee Jung-woo’s face]

[ㄴ I heard Lee Jung-woo is generous with autographs. You might be able to get one]

‘Hoo. I’m finally here!’

The man, Park Myung-sun, put his cell phone away.

Then, he tried to calm his racing heart.

He hadn’t slept well on the plane due to the excitement of visiting a foreign country for the first time and the anticipation of seeing Lee Jung-woo.

But his body felt incredibly energized, as if he had downed an energy drink.

‘Those bastards. I told them to come with me, but they bailed at the last minute? I’m going to get Lee Jung-woo’s autograph and show it off.’

Thirty-one years old.

Instead of Jeju Island [A popular vacation island in South Korea], which everyone else visits, he had gone on school trips to Gyeongju [A historical city in South Korea] for both middle and high school.

In college, he couldn’t even dream of traveling because he was busy studying, and later because he was busy finding a job.

Even after getting a job, such things were a luxury because he was overwhelmed with work.

He had never been on a business trip abroad, so this was his first time on a plane.

‘Haa, my vacation days… I was going to save them all up and use them when the Titans [Fictional baseball team] go to the Korean Series. I can’t help it.’

The reason he spent all his precious vacation days to come to America, a faraway land, and even Atlanta, was baseball.

His only joy in life was baseball. And among all the players, the one who brought him the most joy these days was Lee Jung-woo.

So he bought a ticket.

Park Myung-sun couldn’t resist the impulse that had been growing since the cycle hit.

Even though his friends had initially said they would go with him but then backed out, he had to board the plane alone.

He didn’t regret it.

‘Even seeing Lee Jung-woo once is worth it. I’ve already bought all the tickets. Let’s grab a quick bite, rest a bit, and go straight there.’

If others saw him, they might think it was ridiculous to take his first trip for such a reason.

But he was serious.

‘Is this Korea? What’s with the weather… I’m going to die if I don’t catch a taxi quickly?’

When he came out of the airport, he felt an unexpected sense of familiarity with the humid heat, similar to Korea.

A post he had seen in an online community suddenly came to mind.

‘By the way, I heard that Koreans don’t have to worry about paying for food if they go to Atlanta. Is it true?’

According to that post,

The author claimed to be a Korean student studying in Atlanta.

According to him, now was the best time for Koreans in Atlanta.

There were already many Koreans there, making it a comfortable place, but recently it had become even more welcoming.

So much so that he even said you could eat all day without spending a dime.

He could guess the reason, but Park Myung-sun was skeptical.

‘No matter what, even if Lee Jung-woo is doing well, there’s no way it’s that extreme.’

He shook his head, dismissing it as just another one of those exaggerated online posts, and quickly hailed a taxi.

The taxi driver glanced at him, who was stuttering the hotel address in clumsy, textbook English, and immediately started driving.

‘Hoo. I’m going to relax a little. Isn’t this Korea? Did I get on the wrong plane?’

As he enjoyed the cool air conditioning and felt the comfort of modern amenities,

The taxi driver, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up.

“Where are you from?”

“Huh? Oh, ah Korea, I’m from South Korea.”

South Korea.

The moment the words left Park Myung-sun’s mouth, the taxi driver’s face, which had been stern like a hunting dog, transformed into that of a friendly puppy.

At least, that’s how Park Myung-sun perceived it.

“Oh! Korea! Jung-woo Lee’s country. Right?”

“Huh? You know him?”

“Of course I know him! I know everything about Lee. If you’re from Atlanta, you have to know this much.”

The taxi driver, who had been so reserved, began chatting with him cheerfully.

Park Myung-sun, feeling more at ease, responded diligently in slightly more fluent (?) English.

On the other hand, he felt a sense of disbelief.

‘Is Lee Jung-woo really that popular? Is he really a franchise star?’

To be honest, he found it hard to believe.

Even though he admired him, supported him, and had traveled all the way here.

It still felt strange to him that a Korean player could be a franchise star for an American team, so he dismissed it as just national pride.

But at least to the taxi driver in front of him, he might actually be that kind of player.

And the taxi driver delivered the final blow to Park Myung-sun’s skepticism.

“Did you come to support Lee?”

“Yes, I like him so much. I just wanted to see his face once. So I just bought a ticket and came.”

“Of course, he’s a player worth it. Are you going to see the game too?”

The taxi driver’s face hardened. A warning bell rang in Park Myung-sun’s head.

He remembered the posts he had found on various travel websites.

Never pretend to have money or valuables.

‘Is a ticket… valuable? I just bragged that I had a lot of money. I’m screwed. Is he a gangster or something?’

A million thoughts raced through his mind. The taxi driver, who had been lost in thought, finally spoke.

“I can’t possibly take a lot of money from a guest who came from so far away. Pay only half the taxi fare.”

“Yes, really? Can I really pay only half?”

“A man has to keep his word.”

After arriving at the hotel and getting out of the taxi, Park Myung-sun was still in a daze, even after paying only half the fare.

“Cheer hard, hard enough to get caught on camera if possible. That way I can brag about giving a ride to a fan from Korea.”

“Thank you!”

He began to think that the post he had seen in the community might be true.

‘No, no. I just happened to meet a passionate fan. Yeah, there’s no way everyone in Atlanta is like that, right?’

Nevertheless, Park Myung-sun still couldn’t fully believe it and remained somewhat doubtful.

But as time passed, when he finally found Truist Park [Home stadium of the Atlanta Braves].

He could feel it for real.

‘Finally, I’m really going to see Lee Jung-woo’s game!’

Perhaps curious about the man wearing a uniform and the Korean flag, looking up at the huge stadium,

Some people passed by and took pictures.

“Friend, let’s take a picture. You came to support Lee too, right?”

“Yes, yes. Take a picture.”

Since there were many Koreans in Atlanta anyway,

There were quite a few people wearing the Korean flag.

Perhaps it was because he was showing off that he came from the Korean mainland (?) by showing off his country bumpkin look.

Park Myung-sun was soon surrounded by people.

It was then.

“Hey, you came from far away, so you have to be careful.”

“Yes?”

Park Myung-sun turned his head at the sound of someone calling him and was horrified.

Two imposing figures, looking like Vikings who had stepped out of a video game, were looking at him with menacing axes (rubber, cheering tools).

Oh, to be exact, there were three people, including the man who was cowering between them.

‘Huh? The one who asked me to take a picture earlier – but why are they together?’

The man sandwiched between the menacing (?) Vikings was clearly the one who had taken a picture with him just now.

Why was he being held by those giants? He even looked like he had been beaten up a bit.

Park Myung-sun was horrified as they approached, but soon one of the men calmed him down.

“Whoa, whoa, we’re not trying to do anything bad. McIlroy, give it to him quickly.”

“I know, I’m looking for it now. Ah, here it is. Be careful. You seem to trust people too much because you’re still young.”

“My wallet?”

Park Myung-sun sighed.

What the man called McIlroy handed him was clearly his wallet.

‘He took it while taking a picture. That bastard. I almost got screwed. That bastard.’

The return plane ticket was in the hotel room, so that was okay.

It’s okay if I lose some cash.

I can cancel the card too.

What angered him the most was the game ticket in his wallet.

Park Myung-sun couldn’t help but curse at the thought that he almost came all the way here and wouldn’t be able to see the game.

He wanted to punch the pickpocket, but.

It seemed like he had been beaten more severely than he would have hit him.

He carefully restrained his fist, known as a “honey fist.”

“Really, thank you. Maybe I can offer a reward…”

“I didn’t do it to get anything. I just thought you came from far away. I felt sorry for you. I also don’t want these guys to tarnish the Braves’ name.”

“By the way, that’s the Korean flag, right? Did you come from Korea?”

“Sanders, you’re scaring him by doing that. Hey friend. We’re not bad people. I’m just happy to see a Korean. You came to support Lee, right?”

“Yes! Of course.”

“Hahaha. Lee’s fan is like my friend.”

The Vikings were more pleasant than expected.

They took pictures with the Korean flag as the background.

Then, they even guided him to his seat as if they were stadium staff.

Park Myung-sun couldn’t believe their kindness.

But the real experience started from the moment he sat down in his seat.

“Somehow, the route seemed familiar… We have the same seats?”

“We’re usually right next to each other. But I heard the middle seat was sold, so I wondered who it was. It’s our Korean bro? This is very interesting.”

‘What, why are they being like this?’

Park Myung-sun briefly thought he had done something wrong at the sight of the Vikings looking at him with interest.

He wondered if they were angry that he had separated them.

Just as he was about to offer to exchange tickets,

The Vikings moved.

“Okay, now that it’s like this, we have to show you the real taste.”

“Ah, Sanders, you go and get everything. We’ll split the money later.”

‘Get? What? Me? Am I going to get my organs harvested like this? I have to call the staff-‘

Suddenly, they exchanged ominous words with each other.

Soon, the one called Sanders left.

Park Myung-sun trembled like an aspen.

McIlroy wiggled his abundant beard.

Then, he patted him on the shoulder as if he were cute and reassured him.

But his impression was so fierce and the difference in physique was so severe.

It wasn’t really helpful.

Park Myung-sun thought he should just leave, but he hesitated because he would miss the game.

But soon he made a decision.

‘Hoo, is baseball important? Life is important. Let’s distract them and run away.’

The moment Park Myung-sun was about to get up from his seat with tears in his eyes,

The man who had disappeared returned.

“Hehehe, I’ll show you the real taste of Atlanta. This tastes pretty good?”

“Do you drink a little? We drink about one oak barrel each.”

With both hands full of food.

The game tickets had been sold out on the reservation site.

He had bought it at a premium on the internet auction site.

He hadn’t even thought about eating anything at the stadium because he was a little short on money.

Park Myung-sun’s eyes widened at the sight of the delicious snacks.

He soon nodded with a bright smile to the Vikings, no, good friends, shaking the beer.

Then, he picked up his cell phone.

[Currently at Truist Park]

[Come to Atlanta. Come to Atlanta. This is the best. I’m going to feast today. Lee Jung-woo forever! Braves forever! Vikings forever!]

[ㄴ??? What’s a Viking? Did you meet some Viking cosplayers?]

[ㄴ Wow, I heard Atlanta is no joke, it must be true.]

[ㄴ Did the Yankees put a gun to your head and tell you to write this?]

[ㄴ It looks like you got your wallet stolen by the Yankees and you’re uploading this while mentally winning ㅋㅋ]

After posting on the community,

He shouted briefly in his heart.

‘Lee Jung-woo forever.’