Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 13

The Villain on the Mound – Episode 13

The level of Single-A is quite low.

That’s understandable, as it’s where players fresh out of being drafted or signed gather to gain experience.

Because of this, some treat it more like a casual pursuit.

“Haha! Baseball season is finally back!”

“Hey, didn’t you overdo it during the off-season? Your gut’s really sticking out.”

“Euhaha! I’m playing baseball to get rid of this!”

The jovial man laughed heartily, confidently patting his belly.

For many, being a baseball player isn’t their primary occupation.

They have other jobs and simply play because they love baseball.

‘As expected, Single-A is extremely diverse.’

While some approach it as a hobby, others are fiercely determined.

These were mostly younger players.

‘Those guys are probably only focused on moving up.’

So, they have to stay sharp.

The same went for Ha-sung.

‘I’ve already spent too much time in Single-A. I need to get to Double-A as soon as possible.’

The season had just begun.

But Ha-sung had been in the United States since January, training and preparing.

Above all, he continued to receive support from his parents.

‘I need to get to Triple-A so I don’t have to rely on my parents’ support anymore.’

From Triple-A onward, the salary is decent.

It’s not extravagant, but with careful saving, it’s enough to live on.

‘My first goal is to reach the Major League within this year.’

To do that, he had to demonstrate overwhelming skill.

‘My condition is at its peak. I’m ready to go out there anytime.’

Single-A isn’t just about winning games.

It’s also about identifying promising talent.

As a result, there are frequent player changes, even within a single game.

‘Today’s starter is Riddle.’

Riddle Cooper.

At 22 years old, he was an American left-hander who could throw a fastball at 95 miles per hour.

Considering he was a lefty, that was very impressive.

But.

Thwack!!

“Ball! Base on balls!”

“Another ball.”

“Is that three consecutive walks for this guy?”

“His speed is top-notch, but his control is way too unstable.”

The manager, coach, and even his fellow players shook their heads.

Riddle’s control was that bad.

‘He lacks confidence. Even at this level, there aren’t many guys who can hit if he just challenges them head-on. He’s overthinking it.’

There are many cases like that.

Players who avoid direct confrontations because they’re afraid of getting hit, even though they have a powerful fastball.

You can’t really say anything.

Anyone can be afraid of failure.

‘But that kind of performance doesn’t look good here.’

Was that why?

“Chandler, and Jung. Start warming up.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes.”

The bullpen coach moved quickly.

He realized the starter wouldn’t last long.

As Ha-sung stood on the mound, a catcher sat down to receive his pitches.

‘He’s Asian.’

The one wearing the catcher’s mask was Ga Jin-dong.

He had also passed the tryout and successfully joined the team.

He didn’t have a game to play today, so he decided to work as a bullpen catcher.

In the Major League, there would be a dedicated bullpen catcher, but this is Single-A.

It wasn’t unusual for a player to wear a mask due to a lack of manpower.

“Alright! Throw it anytime!”

Ga Jin-dong shouted confidently.

“Then I won’t hold back…….”

Ha-sung wound up and threw the first ball.

Whoosh-!!

Thwack!!

The ball, which crossed the distance in an instant, slammed into Ga Jin-dong’s mitt.

“Ugh…….”

Ga Jin-dong groaned at the pain.

‘Why does it hurt so much?’

The speed itself wasn’t that high.

It must have been somewhere between 85 and 90 miles per hour.

But the pain was far greater than expected.

“I’m going to keep going.”

“Huh? Wa…… Wait a minute!”

Feeling threatened by Ha-sung’s words, Ga Jin-dong put on another glove.

“Uh…… Anytime!”

Ha-sung chuckled at his voice, which had lost its earlier confidence.

“I won’t refuse.”

“Pl…… Please refuse a little…….”

Whoosh-!!

Thwack!!

The ball slammed into the mitt before Ga Jin-dong could finish speaking.

* * *

Blaze’s starter, Riddle, was creating a crisis for himself.

Thwack-!!

“Ball! Base on balls!”

“Huh! Another ball.”

“No, why does he give up consecutive walks after getting two strikes?”

The laments of the local residents who came to see the Blaze’s game could be heard.

Just because it’s a minor league game doesn’t mean there are no spectators.

In fact, they often have local-friendly promotions, so many people come to the games.

‘I see some familiar faces.’

He had met many people while living in Bakersfield for three months.

Ben, who recommended aroma oils to him, and the children he coached were also in the audience.

‘Looks like they’re not having fun?’

It was obvious the children were bored.

They couldn’t help but be bored with all the walks being issued.

At that moment, the phone in the bullpen rang.

Ring-ring-ring-!

“Yes, yes. Chandler and Jung are ready. Which one?”

The bullpen coach’s gaze turned to him.

“Jung is good. I understand.”

Click!

The bullpen coach, after hanging up the phone, looked at Ha-sung.

“Jung! You’re going in.”

“Yes.”

His first appearance, which was earlier than expected, was decided.

* * *

It’s just Single-A.

But to pitch in America, not Korea.

‘To think I’m having this experience because I’m living life twice.’

It was something he couldn’t have even dreamed of in his previous life.

‘If I hadn’t been injured, I would have gone straight to the Major League, right?’

Suddenly, that thought crossed his mind.

What would have happened if he had gone straight to the Major League?

Would he have succeeded?

But he quickly shook his head.

‘There’s no such thing as ‘what if’ in baseball.’

There is no IF in baseball.

That’s why he had to give his all in every moment.

“Jung, I’m sorry to put you in a tough situation.”

As the manager said.

With one out, the bases were loaded.

It was a situation where he could give up 2 runs with just one hit.

Well, it didn’t matter.

“It’s okay. There are days like this in baseball.”

“I appreciate you saying that. It’s early in the game, so 1 or 2 runs are manageable. But I hope you can prevent a big inning.”

“I understand.”

Preventing runs.

What harsh words.

‘Since it’s my debut game…….’

The manager walked off, and Ha-sung rubbed rosin on his hands.

‘I have to finish this inning perfectly.’

He had no intention of wasting the opportunity he’d been given.

Ha-sung stood on the mound and looked at Instructor Jameson, who was sitting in the audience.

Jameson was also looking his way, and their eyes met.

Ha-sung smiled briefly and turned his head to look at the catcher.

‘Let’s get this done cleanly.’

“Play ball!”

His debut game began.

* * *

As he lowered his upper body, the catcher gave him a sign.

‘Outside low corner.’

Indicating the location.

‘Fastball.’

Indicating the pitch.

He nodded, raised his upper body, and placed his foot on the pitcher’s plate.

If there’s a runner on base, you have to pitch from the set position [a stationary stance].

But with the bases loaded, it’s different.

Here, it depends on the pitcher’s preference.

Some pitch from the set position, while others use the windup [a more elaborate motion to build momentum].

Ha-sung?

The latter.

Whoosh-!!

He twisted his body while looking straight ahead.

He built up power by coiling his upper body as he kicked.

The most important thing in pitching is the windup and release.

The speed and power are determined by how well you wind up and release that power.

Ha-sung perfectly coiled his body with a slight twist.

And.

Whoong-!!

He continued the stride motion, taking a step with the built-up power.

The length of the stride affects the distance from home plate.

Ha-sung’s stride was excellent.

Even while his lower body was moving, his pelvis remained closed, allowing him to gather all the built-up power.

And the moment his foot hit the ground.

Whack!!

Rotation began with his foot, now a solid base, as the axis, and his legs, pelvis, and upper body opened in succession.

The power that was naturally transmitted to his upper body moved to his arm through his shoulder.

Extending his arm forward as his upper body turned as much as possible, channeling the energy to his fingertips, back, and even his glutes and Achilles tendon.

The moment it formed a diagonal line.

“Heup!!”

Whoosh-!!

He transferred all his strength to the ball with a shout.

Just before the ball left his hand.

He scraped his fingertips across the seams with all his might.

Whoosh-!!

The ball left his hand and rapidly closed the distance to the mitt.

Thwack-!!

The ball slammed into the mitt with a tremendous sound.

The batter didn’t even flinch.

It would be more accurate to say he couldn’t even react.

“St…… Strike!!”

Only after the umpire’s call did the batter hesitate and step back.

It was that impressive of a pitch.

“Ho…… How fast?”

At the manager’s question, the pitching coach hurriedly checked the radar gun.

“99……miles per hour.”

“Crazy…….”

The manager’s gaze turned to the audience.

But after seeing Jameson’s surprised expression, he quickly looked away.

‘If Jameson didn’t know either, it means he didn’t show his full potential during the tryout.’

The tryout was held before the weather turned cold.

At that time, his speed must have been similar to now.

The fact that he didn’t reveal it even then suggests he was holding back.

‘He has showmanship.’

The manager didn’t see that as a negative.

Rather, he saw it as a positive.

Because it meant he had the potential to be a star.

‘A monster has appeared after a long time.’

He had seen many players while managing in the Single-A league.

Among them were players who are now dominating the Major League.

That’s why he could recognize Ha-sung’s potential.

In the meantime.

Ha-sung threw the second pitch.

Whoosh-!!

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

This time the batter reacted.

But the batted ball went foul, landing outside the third base line.

“What was the speed this time?”

“It’s 94 miles per hour. Did he reduce it by 5 miles?”

“The first pitch missed the catcher’s target. So he must have reduced his speed.”

“Does that mean his control isn’t fully developed yet?”

“That’s right.”

After seeing the second pitch, the manager was even more impressed.

‘Most guys who throw fastballs are obsessed with it. So they rely solely on that, regardless of their control.’

A fastball is definitely a powerful weapon.

But if it’s not controlled, it’s useless.

Even so, they can’t give it up because fastballs have a certain allure.

The younger they are, the more they are captivated by this allure and can’t escape.

‘He’s only 19 years old, how can he have that kind of mindset?’

It was like watching a veteran pitcher.

Whoosh-!!

Thwack!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

Three-pitch strikeout.

He easily dispatched his first opponent in his debut game.

But Ha-sung didn’t celebrate.

Instead, he focused even more and prepared for the next batter.

‘His focus is excellent too.’

All of these aspects were pleasing.

It was reassuring just to have such a pitcher on the mound.

Ha-sung checked the reactions of the manager and Jameson and waited for the next batter.

‘If I throw with all my might, my control will suffer.’

At the same time, he coldly assessed his abilities.

‘Now that I’ve definitely caught their attention, I need to control the batter while maintaining solid control.’

There were two outs, but the bases were still loaded.

The next batter stepped up to the plate.

He took a batting stance as far back as possible in the batter’s box.

‘Since the speed is high, he’s planning to track the ball as long as possible and then swing.’

The batter’s intentions were obvious.

‘Inside fastball.’

The catcher signaled for that pitch.

Ha-sung nodded and stepped onto the pitcher’s plate.

‘It’s a little risky to throw a four-seam fastball [a type of fastball] again.’

The three pitches he threw earlier were all fastballs.

What if he throws another fastball?

There was a high chance the batter, who was waiting, would connect.

Because he saw the ball’s trajectory, even though it was next to him.

‘Shall we try a little trick?’

Ha-sung made a decision and went into his windup.

“Hoo……!”

And threw the first pitch.

Whoosh-!!

Clang!!

The batted ball flew far with a crisp sound.

You could tell from the sound that it was well-hit.

But the ball gradually curved to the side and soon landed outside the third base line.

“Foul!!”

“Tch!”

The batter clicked his tongue, seemingly disappointed with the umpire’s call.

Ha-sung smiled and rubbed rosin on his hands.

And threw the second pitch in succession.

Whoosh-!!

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

This time, the batted ball didn’t fly to the outside.

The batted ball, which came off the bat, was declared a foul as it landed outside the third base line on the infield side.

Two strikes in an instant.

‘Shall we go with a changeup [a slow pitch designed to disrupt the batter’s timing]?’

Here, the catcher widened the range of options.

But Ha-sung shook his head and held up one finger.

‘Let’s go head-to-head.’

‘Okay.’

Ha-sung’s condition was good.

There was no need to ignore his opinion.

The catcher nodded and held out his mitt, and Ha-sung went into a windup.

‘With this…….’

He threw the ball, rotating his lower and upper body in succession with a stride.

‘It’s over!!’

Whoosh-!!

The ball left his hand and flew quickly.

The batter swung his bat with all his might to match the speed of the ball.

But before his bat could even complete half a swing.

Thwack-!!

The ball slammed into the mitt.

And.

Whoong!!

The bat weakly cut through the air.

At the same time, the umpire’s hand went up.

“Strike! Batter out!!”

Two consecutive three-pitch strikeouts.

The manager, who was watching the scene, asked the coach.

“The pitches he just threw…… what was the speed?”

“Ah…… well, 91 miles per hour, 94 miles per hour, and…….”

“And?”

“It’s 98 miles per hour.”

The last pitch was clearly a fastball thrown with everything he had.

Even so, he made the batter swing.

It was because of the two pitches he threw before.

‘He threw two strikes earlier. He also matched the timing similarly. So the batter had no choice but to feel confident.’

But the last ball came in the high 90s with all his might.

If he matched the timing with the previous pitches, he would have been late.

‘Perfect control of pace.’

There was no other way to explain it.

How could a 19-year-old rookie show such control of pace?

But one thing was certain.

‘The emergence of a monster.’

A new monster has appeared.