Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 107

The Villain on the Mound – Episode 107

The job of a YouTuber held great promise for the future.

As a new form of culture, it transcended a simple job and evolved into a significant social phenomenon.

When new songs were released, singers turned to YouTube instead of television, and movie promotions were frequently conducted through YouTube as well.

Even established celebrities created channels as a means of self-promotion.

The challenge was that it took time for a YouTube channel to gain traction.

Therefore, Ha-seong planned to film videos and initially upload them to other social media platforms, later migrating the videos to YouTube once his channel became more established.

“Filming this is no joke.”

The first video he filmed showcased his Rolex watches.

He visited a store and purchased two models, and the filming process left him feeling utterly drained.

“I should hire someone to film for me later.”

It wasn’t a major issue at the moment since he wasn’t filming frequently, but it could potentially become a problem down the line.

“Shall we go film the next video?”

Ha-seong drove directly to the stadium.

* * *

Upon arriving at the stadium, Ha-seong was delayed by the assembled reporters and fans.

‘This is amazing…….’

He sighed as he observed the fans, whose numbers had increased significantly.

Today, he had no choice but to enter the stadium without fully engaging with all the fans.

He realized the extent of his rising popularity.

“Yo! Perfect Guy!”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah. You pitched a perfect game, so you’re the Perfect Guy. Hahaha!”

Just as a club employee was about to walk by with a hearty laugh, Ha-seong stopped him.

“Hey, can you help me out?”

“Huh? With what?”

“Do you enjoy taking pictures?”

“Ah, I sometimes go out to take pictures. Huh? Is that a DSLR [digital single-lens reflex camera]?”

“That’s right. All you have to do is switch this to video mode and film me. Here’s your compensation.”

Ha-seong produced a hundred-dollar bill and handed it to the club employee.

“Okay! I’ll do my best to film you.”

“Thanks.”

Ha-seong gave him the camera and entered the clubhouse.

“Hey-! Trevor!”

“Huh?”

“Here’s a gift.”

He retrieved a case from his bag and handed it to Trevor.

“Ooh-!”

“What is it?”

“Is that a Rolex?!”

The surrounding teammates gathered, and he quickly became the center of attention.

When Trevor opened the case, a luxurious watch was revealed.

“That’s amazing!”

“You got it in just one day?”

“Ha-seong! Is it okay for me to accept this?”

“Of course. It’s a reward for helping achieve the record. Although, my contribution was bigger, of course.”

“Puhaha!”

“Man! Shouldn’t you have left out that last part?”

Jack, standing next to him, playfully tapped Ha-seong on the back.

“Oh, right, Jack.”

“Yeah?”

“This is for you.”

“What? One for me too? Why?”

“If you hadn’t made that diving catch, the perfect game would have been ruined. That defense was crucial.”

Jack’s eyes widened as he accepted the watch, which was the same model as Trevor’s.

“Is it okay for me to accept this?”

“Of course. Keep making plays like that in the future.”

“Ooh-!”

“Jack scored big time!”

“If I make a great play next time, are you going to buy me one?”

“Of course!”

“Hahaha! I guess I need to focus even more when this guy is trying to achieve a record?”

“That’s right!”

The atmosphere in the clubhouse became jovial.

It was immediately after achieving the remarkable feat of winning the opening game and pitching a perfect game.

The upbeat atmosphere of the clubhouse was captured on the DSLR and saved as a video.

* * *

The Athletics continued their winning streak by securing the second game as well.

After confirming the team’s victory, Ha-seong returned home and reviewed the video.

“Oho~ It’s filmed pretty well?”

The video turned out better than he had anticipated.

While the Rolex store video he had filmed was shaky and out of focus, the clubhouse video was filmed quite well.

“Should I just leave it to this guy next time too?”

He didn’t know the employee’s name, but it wasn’t a big deal.

He could find him again if he went to the stadium.

“I’ll compile the videos and upload them to my blog in Korea, but where should I upload them in the US?”

Ha-seong pondered which platform to upload the video to.

* * *

The interest in Ha-seong did not diminish quickly.

This was understandable, as he had pitched the 19th perfect game in Major League history at the young age of 20.

However, there was an organization that felt awkward about this situation.

It was the KBO [Korea Baseball Organization].

“Commissioner! Can Jung Ha-seong join the Asian Games?”

“It’s still under discussion.”

This comment, made by a member of the Technical Analysis Committee after the perfect game, caused a significant uproar.

-What’s wrong with the KBO guys?

-What’s there to discuss about a pitcher who threw a perfect game in Major League Baseball?

-Do these guys still think they’re superior to everyone else?

-Are they still spouting nonsense because they’re a bunch of old fogeys?

-If they can’t get Ha-seong to join this Asian Games either, isn’t that proof of their incompetence?

-I agree.

-Decide to include Jung Ha-seong right now!!

The fans reacted strongly to the committee member’s statement.

Since it was the year of the Asian Games, fans were eager for him to participate.

It wasn’t just about winning a gold medal at the Asian Games; they believed it was impossible to exclude Korea’s best star player.

In response to these fan reactions, the KBO convened an emergency meeting.

“Why did you make such unnecessary remarks to the reporters…….”

The committee member who had spoken to the reporters faced criticism from the outset of the meeting.

After a brief commotion, the meeting commenced.

“Jung Ha-seong, how do we get him to join?”

“We have to get him to join.”

“If it’s this much of an issue, it will significantly boost the sales of the national team’s uniforms.”

“The broadcasting rights will also be sold at a premium.”

The Technical Committee’s focus was on profits.

This was unavoidable.

No teams could compete against the Korean national team in the Asian Games.

Japan and Taiwan sent their corporate teams, which couldn’t be considered true national teams.

Only Korea, with its military exemption at stake, formed a national team with professional players, creating a clear disparity in skill.

Some criticized this aspect, but regardless, winning a gold medal was not a difficult task.

However, Kim Tae-hyun disapproved of this approach.

And he didn’t hesitate to voice his opinion.

“Isn’t this excessive?”

“Huh?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This is a forum to select the national team players who will represent the country. But you’re discussing profits and related matters instead of the players themselves.”

Some committee members displayed discomfort.

Just as Kim Tae-hyun was about to strongly argue his point, Chairman Park Sang-won interjected.

“Committee member Kim, why so serious?”

“Yes?”

“It’s just the Asian Games. We can win a gold medal even if we only send our junior players. There’s no need to be so serious.”

Kim Tae-hyun was speechless at the chairman’s words.

They weren’t taking the national team seriously.

“Don’t act like you’re the only one who cares about the country. Who here hasn’t worn the Taegeuk [Korean flag] mark in their prime?”

In the end, he was forced to remain silent.

Satisfied with the situation, Park Sang-won spoke.

“Select a few staff members and send them to the United States. Contact the local reporters, take photos, and publish prominent articles.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Um…… but what if Jung Ha-seong refuses again?”

Ha-seong had previously declined to participate in the WBC [World Baseball Classic] as well.

Given that precedent, he might decline again.

But Chairman Park laughed and said.

“Is that likely? The WBC doesn’t offer military exemption, so there was no reason to go, but the Asian Games guarantees military exemption one hundred percent.”

“That’s right.”

“Why would someone who hasn’t served in the military refuse? He should be contacting us and begging us to include him.”

“Haha! That’s right! My thinking was short-sighted!”

“Yes. So just make sure to cultivate the reporters effectively.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Well, let’s conclude today’s meeting here and go play some golf. Playing golf is so enjoyable these days.”

Park Sang-won’s aides chimed in as he mimed a golf swing.

“That’s right.”

“If I had known it would be this fun, I would have swung a driver instead of a bat.”

“Haha! That’s right!”

Kim Tae-hyun despaired as he watched them leave the conference room in a friendly manner.

‘The association is corrupt…….’

There was nothing he could do in an association that was rotten to the core.

* * *

The Athletics won the opening series against the Seattle Mariners with a series record of 2 to 1.

And they traveled to Baltimore to face their second opponent, the Baltimore Orioles.

Ha-seong’s popularity was evident there as well.

“Jung Ha-seong! Jung Ha-seong!!”

“Please sign!”

“Jung!! Please sign!”

Requests for autographs poured in from every direction.

Ha-seong’s popularity was immense, with large crowds gathering.

Ha-seong was scheduled to pitch in the second game against the Orioles.

It was a perfect schedule, allowing him to pitch on the fifth day after four days of rest.

Ha-seong, upon arriving at the stadium, assessed his physical condition while pitching in the bullpen.

Thwack-!

Thwack!!

Each time he threw the ball, a loud sound reverberated in the bullpen.

Chris clicked his tongue as he observed the scene.

‘I was slightly concerned about this appearance. If he’s this good, it was an unnecessary worry.’

Looking at past instances, pitchers often experience fatigue after pitching a perfect game or a no-hitter.

They don’t feel the fatigue due to excessive adrenaline secretion while achieving the record, but more fatigue accumulates in their body than usual.

In many cases, issues arise in subsequent appearances because they don’t adequately recover from that fatigue.

But Ha-seong showed no signs of this.

‘Well, he only threw about 100 pitches.’

He had thrown a similar or smaller number of pitches than the average number of pitches thrown by other pitchers in a game.

It wasn’t enough pitches to cause significant fatigue.

‘I’ll know in tomorrow’s game.’

Whether Jung Ha-seong is suitable as a starting pitcher.

* * *

The Athletics lost the first game against the Orioles with a score of 3 to 0.

The pitching wasn’t poor, but they lost the first game because the batting lineup failed to score.

The Athletics, who dropped to second place in the division with 2 wins and 2 losses, put Ha-seong on the mound in the second game against the Orioles.

[Jung Ha-seong, the 19th perfect game achiever in Major League history, is on the mound!]

[Expectations are high for what kind of pitching Jung Ha-seong, who achieved a perfect game in the previous game that no one could have imagined, will display today.]

[What are the key points to watch in today’s game?]

[First of all, the key is whether Jung Ha-seong has fully recovered his stamina.]

While the commentator stated the obvious, Ha-seong, on the mound, continued his practice pitches.

Thwack-!!

Thwack!!

A tremendous sound echoed each time the ball hit the mitt.

The Orioles players shook their heads as they watched.

“His ball is no joke?”

“It looks better than the ball I saw last year.”

“But he pitched a perfect game in his previous appearance. His stamina can’t be fully recovered.”

“Right?”

The Orioles hitters assumed that Ha-seong’s condition wouldn’t be normal.

And that was a reasonable assumption.

[Orioles’ number one hitter, Matt Wieters, steps up to the plate.]

[I’m curious to see if Jung Ha-seong has fully recovered his stamina.]

[What kind of ball will he throw? Jung Ha-seong exchanges signs and winds up!!]

Ha-seong, gathering strength with a windup, threw his first pitch.

“Gasp!!”

Whoosh-!!

[He threw it!!]

The ball left his hand and crossed the space in an instant, hitting the mitt.

Thwack-!!

“Strike!!”

The batter was frozen, and the umpire raised his hand without hesitation.

[A 102-mile fastball that pierces the inside on the first pitch!! Strike one!!]

[It seems that Jung Ha-seong’s physical condition is perfect.]

Ha-seong’s second game has begun.