Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 100

Villain on the Mound – Episode 100

The first practice evaluation game is usually not open to reporters.

But this time, they had no choice.

‘The requests are flooding in. Even if we try to hide it, they’ll find a way to publish an article.’

It’s better to allow access and let them cover it. At least with proper articles, there will be fewer errors.

More than anything, it’s not a loss for the club.

‘It’s a natural promotion, so it’s okay to open it up.’

The interest in Ha-sung wasn’t just high among reporters.

“Oh, it’s starting.”

“It’s Ha-sung!”

“Looks like he’s really transitioning to a starter this year.”

“He seems bigger than last year?”

They sold tickets to tourists and locals who came to watch the spring training camp, allowing them access.

It wasn’t a large number, but it significantly helped the club’s finances.

‘It’s enough to spread the word. If Ha-sung shows a good performance here, it will attract even more people.’

Chris’s gaze turned to Ha-sung on the mound.

‘I thought his detailed ball data would have increased significantly with the muscle gain. It’s a bit disappointing that it didn’t.’

Ha-sung’s bulk-up had everyone’s attention.

Chris was among them.

However, as he measured the detailed data, the results were similar to last year, leaving him with disappointment.

‘There won’t be much strain in the early season, but as time goes on and his stamina drops, the power of his pitches will inevitably decrease.’

The stamina consumption of a starting pitcher is incomparably faster than that of a closer [relief pitcher].

Can he really handle it?

Doubt arose.

“Play ball!”

At that moment, the game started with the umpire’s shout.

* * *

An intra-squad practice game is a game where you don’t feel much pressure.

Of course, that’s the story for players like Ha-sung, who are certain to join the Major League roster.

Players who go back and forth between the minor and major leagues were nervous even in these games.

‘I have to show a good performance in today’s game.’

‘There won’t be another chance. I have to get a hit.’

‘Opportunities don’t come often.’

They are only given limited opportunities.

If they don’t seize the opportunity, they would have to spend another year in the minor leagues.

For those who dream of the Major League, it was a very painful thing.

More than anything, as they get older, their opportunities dwindle.

They suffer from the pressure of having to cling to fewer opportunities.

‘Of all people, why does it have to be Ha-sung…….’

‘Damn it! Starting against Ha-sung is too much, isn’t it?’

‘What kind of cruel twist of fate is this?’

For them, facing Ha-sung was the worst possible scenario.

“Play ball!!”

With the umpire’s shout, the first batter took his stance.

He was playing in Triple-A [the highest level of minor league baseball] and joined the spring training camp for the first time in his life.

So he had high expectations, but his opponent was Ha-sung.

‘Damn it…… Damn it……!’

How should he face the best pitcher in the Major League?

He was just overwhelmed.

At that moment, Ha-sung wound up and threw his first pitch.

“Gasp!”

Whoosh-!

The ball left his hand and flew to the outside.

But it was too far outside for the batter to reach.

Thwack!

“Ball!!”

The umpire’s call was a ball.

The batter, stepping away from the plate, lightly swung his bat and recalled the ball from just now.

‘It feels less powerful than what I saw on TV? Is he just starting the camp and building up his pace?’

He often watched Ha-sung pitch last season.

Ha-sung’s ball, as seen on TV, seemed so powerful that it was impossible to hit.

But in reality, it wasn’t that extreme.

‘Let’s seize the opportunity somehow.’

The batter, Ryan, gained some confidence and returned to the plate.

His eyes no longer held the same fear as before.

Ha-sung noticed Ryan’s change as well. But he didn’t care much.

‘Those guys will risk their lives to impress, but I don’t need to. My priority is to find my balance as much as possible.’

As Ryan expected, Ha-sung was getting into his pace.

To be exact, he was finding his stride.

‘I need to find the optimal stride by gradually increasing it.’

Ha-sung was adapting to his grown body.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung’s appearance in the Athletics’ intra-squad game: 2 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, sluggish performance!]

[The overwhelming performance from last season couldn’t be found in his first appearance!]

[Are the experts’ concerns becoming a reality?]

[Some argue that it’s difficult to attach significance to an intra-squad game.]

Ha-sung’s first appearance didn’t show the power of last year.

The media poured out negative articles as if they had been waiting for it, and anti-fans also sharpened their knives.

-Failed to bulk up, right?

-A pitcher isn’t a bodybuilder, lol [laughing out loud].

-Looks like his pitching was a mess.

-2 innings, 2 runs, what is that, lol.

-Let’s go back to being a closer.

-Even if he goes back to being a closer, it’s impossible since his hardware has changed.

It was just a single game, but they poured out criticism as if that was everything.

Fans also tried to defend him, but the fact that his first game’s performance wasn’t good was a fact, so there was a limit to the defense.

The attacks on Ha-sung were fierce, but he himself didn’t care much.

‘Those guys, 욕하는 거 자체가 인생의 낙인 놈들이니까 [their only joy in life is to criticize others]. 신경 쓰면 나만 손해다 [if I pay attention to them, I’m only hurting myself].’

He had experienced it in his previous life as well.

When he was in a slump, they would rather sharpen their knives and try to stab him.

It wasn’t easy, but it was best to ignore them as much as possible.

“I’m gradually increasing my stride, but I still feel like the power is being dispersed.”

In the first game, Ha-sung tried to find the optimal stride.

In the process, there were also mistakes and proper control was not achieved.

It was natural.

The lower body was one of the most important parts of pitching.

If the pillars are not properly set up to build the legs, the upper plate will inevitably become unstable.

In pitching, the lower body was like a pillar.

If the pillar doesn’t support properly, the upper body shakes and you can’t maintain balance.

“I thought I could just increase my stride as much as I grew taller. But that’s not the case.”

At first, he thought simply.

He thought that if he increased his stride as much as his lower body had grown, he would return to his previous state.

But the result was 꽝 [a bust].

“The dispersion of power is secondary, and even my control has started to waver.”

Since his lower body was unstable, the release point also wavered, and he couldn’t get a good grip.

In order to correct these problems, he eventually had to find a suitable stride.

“There’s no need to be impatient. I know the solution, so I can adapt slowly.”

Feeling impatient is because you don’t know the reason.

But Ha-sung knew the reason and also knew how to solve it.

There was no reason to feel impatient at all.

* * *

Ha-sung’s first appearance made not only the public but also the club officials scratch their heads.

“Does anyone know why there’s a problem with Ha-sung’s pitching?”

At Chris’s question, Tony, the coach on the coaching staff, opened his mouth.

“It seemed like he was trying to find something on his own since it’s still early in the season.”

“Finding something?”

“Yes. His body has also grown, and after checking with the team doctor, he said he also measured his height.”

Chris stared at Tony without saying a word.

It meant to continue the story.

“Ted seems to be better at explaining than I am.”

“Ted, what do you think?”

“I have the same thought as Tony. If it’s data that Ha-sung has learned, there seems to be a problem with the stride.”

“Stride?”

“Yes. Because he’s taller, the way he takes his stride has to change. It seems like Ha-sung is in the process of finding that.”

“So, that’s why he’s getting hit by Triple-A players?”

Ted nodded at Chris’s words.

“In fact, I think we should praise him for doing such a test in the intra-squad game itself. It means that Ha-sung knows his position accurately.”

“That’s right.”

“Ha-sung is a player who will not be excluded from the roster. Since he’s going to go until the opening, there’s no reason to go all out in spring camp. He just needs to prepare according to his own routine.”

The coaches understood what Ha-sung was doing.

“Rather, we should praise him for having his own routine even at a young age.”

And they were trying to make Chris, the general manager, understand it.

Chris is also a former player, but he has been away from the field for a long time.

Inevitably, he had a closer perspective to the manager.

That’s why he was looking at what was right in front of him, but the coaches were looking at what Ha-sung was doing and why.

“I see. Then let’s keep an eye on it for the time being. Then let’s move on to the next agenda. About Ryan…….”

The camp was progressing smoothly.

Everything was going smoothly, except for the media and anti-fans who were making noise.

* * *

Ha-sung also focused on finding his stride in bullpen pitching.

Thwack-!

Thwack-!

Of course, since his mind was focused elsewhere, his control and velocity were bound to drop.

But the coaches didn’t care much and just watched what Ha-sung was doing.

‘Hmm, changing it little by little doesn’t feel right.’

Ha-sung focused on finding his own stride while testing each one.

‘Should I increase it a bit more?’

Until now, he had been conservatively widening the distance.

Since his height had increased by 3cm, he thought he could just increase it by that much.

But when he reduced and increased the distance based on that, he couldn’t get a proper pitch at all.

‘Let’s maximize my stride while increasing my concentration even more.’

If he increased his concentration, he could feel his body movements more clearly.

“Hoo…….”

Ha-sung took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

Then, in an instant, the surroundings were dyed in darkness, and only the catcher’s mitt came into view.

‘I’m used to it now.’

At first, he was embarrassed by this phenomenon.

But now he was completely used to it.

This was also an achievement he had gained since coming to camp.

‘Let’s focus more on the movement of the lower body.’

Ha-sung further increased his concentration there.

When he kicked in that state, he could feel all the movements of his muscles.

He was surprised by the detailed sensation that was incomparable to before.

But Ha-sung tried not to lose his concentration.

‘The stride is longer than before.’

He gained momentum by collapsing his body forward.

And the moment his body leaned forward, he stretched out his legs.

‘A little more……!’

The stride was a little longer than before.

콰직!! [Sound of something being forcefully planted]

The spikes were embedded in the mound and firmly fixed.

At that moment, Ha-sung released all his power along with the rotation of his lower body.

Whoosh!!

The released power that started with the rotation went up his legs, passed through his pelvis, and continued to his upper body.

‘Fix it more firmly!’

Ha-sung placed more weight on stability by firmly fixing his lower body until the last moment.

This time, his lower body did not shake, and the transmission of power was perfectly connected to his fingertips.

He concentrated the gathered power on his fingertips and released it in an instant.

“Gasp!!”

쐐애애애액-!! [Sound of a fast ball cutting through the air]

The ball that left his hand flew at a fierce speed.

The catcher stretched out his mitt to catch the ball.

However, the ball did not enter the mitt and grazed the top, hitting the head protector as it was.

빠각!! [Sound of something cracking]

“컥!!” [Sound of someone gasping]

The players around him approached the catcher, who fell backwards with a groan.

Ha-sung also walked to him and checked his condition.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh…… uh. I’m sorry. I missed it because the ball didn’t drop as much as I thought.”

A smile spread across Ha-sung’s face at the words of Miguel, the bullpen catcher.

“Really? It didn’t drop as much?”

Found it.