Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 131

Mound Villain – Episode 131

The batted ball shot off the bat and slammed directly into the fence.

[The batted ball hits the fence! The runner on first rounds second and heads to third! The batter pulls into first base!]

[Brandt gets on base with two strikes!]

[That was a textbook swing!]

[He was sitting on the fastball!]

[The Athletics capitalize, putting runners on first and third! The rally continues with the top of the order coming up!]

Brandt had just hit a single.

More importantly, the lead runner advanced to third, immediately putting a runner in scoring position.

Brandt was buzzing with adrenaline, the satisfying sting still tingling in his hands.

‘I got lucky……’

This hit might just keep him in the major leagues a little longer.

And he owed it all to one person.

Ha-sung’s advice had been the key.

‘What is that guy?’

Standing on first, Brandt glanced at Ha-sung on the bench.

What kind of insight did he possess to give such pinpoint advice?

And how could that advice be so accurate?

He was full of questions.

But one thing was clear.

‘I got that hit because of him.’

He owed his success in that at-bat entirely to Ha-sung.

* * *

In the 6th inning, the Athletics finally broke the scoreless tie.

[The Athletics’ offense explodes again! They score 3 runs in the top of the 6th, chasing the starting pitcher, Jerad Weaver, from the game.]

[Brandt Gentry’s hit was the catalyst.]

[Absolutely. Jerad seemed to unravel after that, and the top of the order took full advantage.]

It was a domino effect.

All those strikeouts had driven up his pitch count.

Jerad had already thrown close to 80 pitches by the end of the 5th.

In that situation, getting tagged by a backup player was a huge blow to his confidence.

Plus, with runners on first and third…

From the batters’ perspective, it was the perfect time to attack a rattled pitcher.

‘Everything lined up perfectly.’

Ha-sung, now on the mound, checked the scoreboard.

The shutout was over.

[Jung Ha-sung enters the game with a 3-run lead. If he pitches like he usually does, protecting this lead shouldn’t be a problem!]

[But they can’t get complacent. They’re facing a tough Angels team on a hot streak, and the momentum of the game is volatile.]

[That’s right. Momentum is a huge factor in baseball. And right now, the Angels have it.]

Ha-sung knew it all too well.

‘This is when you have to dominate. If you get tentative, you’re just asking to get hit.’

Ha-sung dusted his hand with rosin and stepped onto the rubber [the pitcher’s plate].

[Jung Ha-sung takes the mound!]

He leaned in and exchanged signs with the catcher, Trevor.

‘Should I feel him out with the first pitch?’

Trevor was playing it safe.

Normally, he’d call for a fastball, knowing Ha-sung’s tendencies.

But the atmosphere was different now.

His cautious instincts were kicking in.

‘No. I’m going to blow it by him.’

Ha-sung shook off Trevor’s sign.

You couldn’t be an ace if you shied away from these moments.

He needed to assert his dominance.

Trevor sighed and nodded at Ha-sung’s insistence.

‘Okay. Four-seam it is. Location……’

Ha-sung nodded as Trevor signaled the location.

[Jung Ha-sung gets the sign and begins his windup.]

At the same time, Trevor adjusted his position, setting up closer to the plate.

[He delivers the first pitch!]

Ha-sung unleashed his power, rotating his body and striding towards the plate as he fired the ball.

Whoosh-!!

The ball blazed across the plate, cutting inside on the batter.

Pow-!

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! That fastball had so much heat, it made the batter jump back!]

[When a 101-mile-per-hour fastball comes that close, even the toughest hitters will instinctively bail out.]

[That aggressive first pitch is classic Jung Ha-sung.]

He had seized the initiative.

[Jung Ha-sung throws the second pitch!]

“Gasp!!”

Whoosh-!!

The batter swung hard, trying to connect with the blazing fastball.

But the ball dipped sharply, eluding the bat and nestling into Trevor’s mitt.

Thwack!

“Swing! Strike two!!”

[The batter swings and misses the second pitch changeup!]

[After that 101-mph fastball, he throws an 89-mph changeup. No wonder the batter couldn’t hit it.]

[Jung Ha-sung gets ahead in the count with two strikes!]

Ha-sung tried to bait the batter with a slider on the third pitch.

Thwack!

“Ball!!”

[The third pitch slider breaks away! But the batter holds up at the last second!]

[Good eye, but the batter made the right decision.]

[The count is one ball and two strikes!]

If the batter wasn’t going to chase the slider, he had only one option left.

“Hoo…….”

[Jung Ha-sung gets the sign and goes into his windup.]

Ha-sung exhaled, winding up and lifting his leg high.

He channeled all his power into the pitch, striding towards the plate and unleashing the ball with everything he had.

“Gasp!!”

Whoosh-!

The ball exploded from Ha-sung’s hand, hurtling towards the center of the strike zone.

‘I’ve got him!’

The batter’s swing confirmed it.

He was determined to make contact this time.

But then…

Swoosh!!

The ball suddenly changed direction, veering out of the strike zone.

‘Damn it!’

Seeing the ball dart away, the batter desperately reached out, trying to make contact.

But the ball swerved even further.

Whoosh!!

[The batter swings and misses!!]

Normally, that would have been the end of the play.

[Oh! Trevor, the catcher! He missed the ball!]

[It’s a strikeout, but the catcher’s error gives the batter another chance!]

The batter sprinted towards first base.

Fortunately, Trevor reacted quickly, snatching up the ball and firing it to first.

Thwack!

“Out!!”

[Fortunately, Trevor recovers quickly! The first out is recorded.]

Ha-sung, who had jogged towards home plate, picked up Trevor’s helmet and handed it to him.

Trevor apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. My slider had too much movement. It’s not your fault.”

“Haha…….”

“Just catch it next time.”

“Okay.”

Trevor was grateful for Ha-sung’s understanding.

‘Damn, he’s looking out for me even now.’

Trevor, behind his mask, got back into his crouch.

‘I need to work harder, so I can catch his pitches.’

Ha-sung was improving every day.

His slider alone had evolved so much since the beginning of the season.

He didn’t know how he did it, but Ha-sung was constantly developing.

‘I have to keep up with him.’

“Play ball!”

The game continued.

* * *

[Major League Jung Ha-sung earns his 11th win of the season, extending the team’s winning streak to 8 games.]

[The Oakland Athletics are on an 8-game winning streak, their longest of the season.]

[The Oakland Athletics surge, climbing to second place in the Western Division!]

[Jung Ha-sung racks up 17 strikeouts, maintaining his lead with 228 strikeouts this season!]

Ha-sung’s performance and the Athletics’ winning streak created a media frenzy.

-Are we going to recreate 2002?! [Referring to the Athletics’ record-breaking 20-game winning streak in 2002, famously depicted in the movie “Moneyball”]

-What? The Korea-Japan World Cup? [Referring to the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan]

-You idiot! I’m talking about the Athletics’ 20-game winning streak!

-By the way, is Jung Ha-sung’s strikeout total for real?

-I know.

-He’s already at 228 at the end of July, a new record is definitely within reach.

-Is that even possible?

-How can a Korean player challenge the major league strikeout record?

-What is the KBO [Korea Baseball Organization] doing not picking this guy for the national team?

Chairman Kim’s face twisted at the netizens’ comments about the national team.

“Damn it! What do you want me to do when the guy refuses!”

A man opened the door and entered.

“What do you mean, what to do? Go and persuade him!”

“C-Chairman! Persuade him… You don’t mean I have to go to America in person?”

“Yes. Go right now and persuade him!”

“But, Chairman…….”

“But? Are you questioning me?”

“That’s not it… It just doesn’t seem right to go all the way to America to persuade a guy who’s only in his second year…”

“You’re saying your pride is hurt.”

He couldn’t answer.

From Chairman Kim’s perspective, it was infuriating.

He was a seasoned veteran with over 20 years in the professional baseball world.

His influence was so great that only the most senior figures dared to treat him lightly.

The idea of personally going to Ha-sung, who was only in his second year, was unthinkable.

“I see. You value your pride more than the association.”

“T-That’s…….”

“Okay. Then I’ll have to find someone else. Someone who cares more about the association than you do.”

Chairman Kim panicked as he saw the chairman rise from his seat.

“I-I’m sorry! I’ll fly to America right away!”

“Really?”

“Yes! I will somehow get Jung Ha-sung to join!”

“I’ll trust you just this once.”

“Yes!”

The chairman left the room, leaving Chairman Kim bowing deeply.

Left alone, Chairman Kim clenched his fist, gritting his teeth.

“Damn bastard…….”

His anger was directed at Ha-sung.

The problem was, he didn’t have any leverage over Ha-sung.

The idea of a polite request was out of the question.

Ha-sung was already a thorn in his side.

He couldn’t possibly approach him respectfully.

Chairman Kim didn’t have the creativity to come up with a brilliant plan.

In the end, he was left with only one option.

“There’s nothing you can’t do in Korea if you have connections!”

He had only one path to choose.

“Hey! It’s me. That Jung Ha-sung, you know. Can’t you get me in touch with his parents somehow?”

* * *

Ha-sung, fresh off his 11th win, took a day off and headed to the stadium.

A player was waiting for him.

“Brandt. What can I do for you?”

The player was Brandt Gentry.

“I wanted to thank you. I got that opportunity because of you.”

“You’re welcome. But advice is just advice. You made it happen because you put in the work.”

“My effort…….”

“Yes. Hard work always pays off in the end. Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Brandt expressed his gratitude.

Sensing his sincerity, Ha-sung offered some more advice.

“Trust yourself a little more. My advice was just a trigger, but you made that hit because you have the skill.”

“Okay. I’ll try to trust myself more.”

“And when you swing, try leading with your elbow, like you’re throwing the bat head out.”

“Elbow?”

“Yes. That way, the bat will whip through the zone, and you’ll get more power.”

Ha-sung was describing a swing technique that would become popular later in the game.

As this swing became more common, major league baseball entered an era of offensive dominance.

The batters’ swing mechanics evolved, forcing pitchers to adapt as well.

“How do you know all this?”

“I just overheard it.”

Just then…

Woo-oong-!

“I need to take this.”

“Okay. Thanks again for the advice.”

Ha-sung nodded to Brandt and pulled out his phone.

His eyes widened when he saw the number.

‘Why is my uncle calling?’

It was his uncle.

Putting his doubts aside, Ha-sung answered the phone.

“Hello.”

[Oh! Ha-sung, it’s your uncle.]

“Yes, why are you calling so late?”

[Why? I just wanted to hear your voice! I’ve been watching your games! You’re doing great.]

“Thank you. But I need to train now. Can I call you later?”

[Hey! I’m your uncle, calling after all this time, and you’re being so cold!]

“I have a schedule to keep.”

[Ahem! I understand. I’ll get straight to the point. I heard you’re not going to play for the national team this time?]

What was he talking about?

[It’s an honor to represent your country! You should jump at the chance!]

“I’ll handle that myself. If that’s all, I’m going to hang up.”

[Hey! This isn’t just your decision! It’s about our family’s honor! This is something the whole family needs to decide! So listen to your uncle!]

“No…….”

[A high-ranking official from the KBO will be visiting you in a few days. Tell them you’ll join the team! I’m hanging up now!]

Ha-sung stared at the phone in disbelief.

But only for a moment.

He understood what was happening.

‘The KBO can’t pressure me directly, so they’re going after my family.’

The corners of Ha-sung’s mouth twisted into a grim smile.

“So you want to play dirty, huh?”