Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 119

Mound Villain – Episode 119

It was something no one had expected.

[Jung Ha-sung Surpasses Walter Johnson’s Record!]

[Making a Big Splash in His First Season After Transitioning to a Starter!]

[Where Are Jung Ha-sung’s Limits?]

[Jung Ha-sung Etches His Name in History! Also Secures His 3rd Win of the Season!]

[Where Will Mr. Zero Jung Ha-sung’s Journey End?]

Numerous articles poured out.

Ha-sung’s news was covered extensively not only in Korea but also in the United States and Japan.

Japan, in particular, even organized a special program to report on Jung Ha-sung.

[Korean player Jung Ha-sung has broken Major League legend Walter Johnson’s record of 55.2 scoreless innings.]

[Amazing.]

[Unbelievable stats.]

[It’s already May, and his ERA is 0.]

[Really?]

[How is that even possible?]

ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per game] was one of the old stats.

However, it was still the easiest stat to explain to the public, so the media often covered it.

Korean broadcasts also naturally gave significant attention to Ha-sung.

[Jung Ha-sung is recording unbelievable stats. He has started in all 6 games so far and continues his scoreless pitching streak for 56 innings.]

[He has surpassed the record of Walter Johnson, one of the first four [original inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame] and regarded as the best right-hander in Major League history!]

[We are so proud to have such a player from Korea!]

[It’s not just about that record. He is currently leading the Major League with double-digit strikeouts in 6 consecutive games.]

[A Korean player leading the Major League in strikeouts! I can’t believe it!]

[On top of that, his average fastball velocity is 100 mph, which is also the top record in the Major League!]

The panelists listed the records in which Ha-sung was leading.

Just talking about those records was enough to fill a 30-minute program, as he was in the top ranks in almost every category.

These stats were naturally a hot topic in the United States as well.

[Do you know what ‘The End’ Jung Ha-sung has been called by fans recently?]

[I heard he’s called Mr. Zero or Perfect Pitcher.]

[Oh, you know it well. But recently, another name has been added to the list.]

[What is it?]

[It’s Record Collector. It’s a nickname given because he collects records.]

[Haha! That’s a really funny nickname. But I don’t think there’s a more fitting nickname than that.]

[That’s right. Jung Ha-sung is challenging history right now. I wonder what records he will collect!]

The increase in nicknames meant that public attention was focused on him that much more.

This attention soon led to merchandise sales.

“We don’t have much of Jung Ha-sung’s jersey left in stock.”

“Didn’t we request more quantity?”

“We can’t keep up with the outgoing volume.”

“What?”

“Fans are looking for his uniform every day. Moreover, his uniform is being bought from all over the United States, as well as Korea and Japan through online sales, so we’re running out of stock.”

“Huh…….”

Chris wore a dumbfounded expression.

Recently, the hottest star for the Athletics was Giambi.

He was a player who represented the Athletics in the 2000s.

But even he had never had such a shortage of uniforms. No, no star in history had ever experienced this.

‘Once you buy a uniform, you don’t need to buy it again. But the fact that we’re running out of stock means that duplicate purchases are being made?’

Whatever the reason, it was an unusual occurrence.

“What should we do?”

“First, secure as much quantity as possible and urge them to hurry. And let’s plan and sell products related to Ha-sung.”

“Will that be enough?”

“There’s nothing else we can do right now.”

Planning is not an easy task.

However, they couldn’t just sit idly by.

Chris’s alternative was the right answer in the current situation.

“Understood.”

“Now, let’s move quickly!”

“Yes!”

As Ha-sung’s popularity increased, the club’s front office also became busy.

They released products related to him and prepared events.

Marketing naturally centered around Ha-sung, and they naturally began to associate it with Korea.

Ha-sung was very popular in the United States, but not as much as in Korea, where he was revered as a national hero.

There was another place that was as busy as the club.

[It’s been a while, Jung Ha-sung.]

“It has.”

Ha-sung, who received the call, wore a somewhat surprised expression.

He didn’t expect this person to contact him directly.

“Ibrahim, how are you doing?”

[Of course. Thanks to you, I’m very busy.]

Ibrahim.

He was the head of Vigor’s New York branch.

He was also the person who led the contract related to Ha-sung.

“Haha, is that a good thing?”

[My body is a bit tired, but I’m used to this much, so it’s okay.]

“Your body may be tired, but your voice is strangely upbeat?”

Ha-sung had a variety of experiences.

Therefore, he could roughly tell what state the other person was in through the conversation.

Ibrahim let out an awkward laugh as if he had been caught off guard.

[Haha, I really don’t think you’re 20 years old.]

“I’m 21 years old in Korean age [Koreans count age differently, adding one year at birth and another on January 1st].”

[Even so, I don’t think there will be much change.]

“That’s true. But I don’t think you called because you’re busy to talk about this.”

[That’s right. To get straight to the point, the headquarters has ordered us to prepare a limited edition.]

“The first one did well.”

[You really are quick-witted. All the products have already been sold, and fans are flooding the branches and even the headquarters with inquiries.]

Ha-sung’s limited edition released by Vigor was already sold out.

Despite being produced as uniforms, all the products were sold out, and people were lining up on eBay to buy them at a premium.

[Do you know how much the limited edition is currently priced on eBay?]

“I don’t know.”

[It’s over $10,000. The selling price was $200, so it’s increased by 50 times.]

Considering that only 2-3 months had passed since the limited edition was released, it was a huge increase.

It showed how much public interest Ha-sung had.

“So you’re saying you’re going to release an additional limited edition. But releasing it too early will devalue the existing product.”

[Of course, the uniform is the end of it. This time, we’re thinking of spikes [baseball shoes].]

Ha-sung pondered.

Spikes are definitely one of the items that symbolize baseball.

But how much will it actually be used in everyday life?

To put it bluntly, it’s not used at all.

Unlike regular shoes, spikes are hard and, above all, have studs on the bottom.

In a baseball field, the studs, which are used to prevent slipping on grass and dirt, were useful.

However, it was so uncomfortable that it could not be used in normal situations.

“Accessibility will be low. How about going with running shoes instead?”

[We’d prefer that, but would you be okay with it?]

“Is there a problem?”

[No. Still, Jung Ha-sung is a player who represents the Major League, so I thought it would be better to go with spikes.]

That’s what most people thought.

Ibrahim was the head of a large corporation’s branch, but he was bound by common sense.

“Baseball is already a global sport. It’s not like I can do anything more to promote it.”

Ha-sung told the truth.

He would have to work with Vigor on various projects in the future.

But if these kinds of conversations took place without understanding his intentions, it would only be a waste of time.

“Above all, wouldn’t running shoes sell better?”

There was a brief silence.

[Haha! Of course, that’s right. Understood. Then we’ll prepare running shoes and send you the plans for the third edition soon.]

“Yes.”

Ha-sung smiled after hanging up the phone.

“The public’s attention is definitely focused on me as I run towards new records.”

Surpassing the big name Walter Johnson was effective.

Surpassing his name, which anyone who plays baseball would know, became a huge issue.

“But it’s still a one-time thing.”

To others, Ha-sung was already a superstar.

But he himself was not satisfied.

“First of all, I need to have at least tens of billions of won [equivalent to millions of US dollars] in assets.”

In his previous life, Ha-sung received an annual salary of billions of won.

However, after retirement, all that was left in his hands was only tens of millions of won.

‘The higher the salary, the higher the taxes. If income stops after retirement, most of the saved money will have to be spent on taxes.’

In his previous life, Ha-sung received the highest non-FA [Free Agent] salary.

The amount was a whopping 700 million won.

However, the taxes Ha-sung paid the following year amounted to 300 million won.

He tried to save taxes in various ways, but high-income earners were specially managed by the financial authorities, so he had to keep thorough books.

‘Thanks to that, there were almost no ways to deduct taxes. In the end, unless I hit the jackpot with FA and get a lump sum of money, I couldn’t guarantee my life after retirement.’

It’s a story that many seniors have told.

Even if you receive billions of won at once with FA, you have to make a good plan.

If you use it indiscriminately, your life after retirement will be very miserable.

‘Even the chicken restaurant that I barely set up with the remaining money without even getting FA was always empty.’

He didn’t want to experience that again.

“The current income is not bad, but considering taxes, I should expect it to be cut in half anyway. On top of that, to earn a stable income even in old age, I need to raise my name value even more.”

Raising name value is not a one- or two-season flash in the pan.

“To raise name value, I have to perform well every season. In addition, I have to show star quality.”

What fans want from him now was clear.

“Record Collector.”

He didn’t know who came up with it, but it was a childish nickname.

But Ha-sung liked it.

“Anyone can easily understand it. Above all, it’s a nickname that makes it easy to imagine me as a player.”

Above all, he could accurately know what the fans wanted.

“What fans want is for me to collect Major League records.”

The first step was consecutive scoreless innings, one of the records left in Major League history.

“It’s Orel Hershiser’s 59 innings.”

Ha-sung’s eyes lit up.

* * *

The Athletics’ batting lineup began to come alive.

Clang!!

[He hit it! Davis records a hit in today’s game as well!!]

At the center of it was Davis.

[With this hit, Davis has recorded consecutive hits in the last 3 games! His batting pace has been good recently.]

[That’s right. I used to feel like his body was heavy, but recently his swing has been light.]

Davis’s batting improvement created several synergies.

The biggest part was that Arnold could no longer be walked [intentionally walked, given a free pass to first base].

7th inning.

The effect was clearly revealed as Arnold stepped into the plate again.

Clang-!!

[Ah-! This is big!!]

[It’s over!]

As he faced Arnold, his swing began to explode again.

The Oakland fans stood up all at once at his swing that easily crossed the right fence.

“Hahaha! That’s so refreshing!”

“How long has it been since I saw a home run like that?!”

“Arnold! You bastard! I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!!”

Arnold’s home run immediately relieved the Oakland fans’ pent-up frustration.

Ha-sung smiled as he watched the scene.

‘I think I can get some wins now?’

Arnold and Davis.

If these two start to come alive, other lineups will gradually start to find their batting senses.

‘The flow is changing.’

The starting point of all this was Ha-sung’s good pitching.

As the ace stood firm on the mound without wavering, the players began to wake up one by one.

[Oakland wins with an explosive lineup! I hope the same batting will come out in Jung Ha-sung’s appearance in two days!!]

Two days later.

Ha-sung takes the mound to collect new records.