Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 152

Mound Villain – Episode 152

People watching the game were saying:

– “Is he going to get 20 strikeouts?”

– “He might even break the record.”

– “17 strikeouts by the 7th inning, he can totally do it.”

– “Let’s go!”

The record for the most strikeouts in a single game is 20.

Until now, only a few pitchers have challenged it, and expectations were high that the record, only held by three people, would be broken.

But the ‘devil’s record’ wasn’t called that for nothing.

Clang-!!

[The batted ball soars high! The center fielder catches the ball almost in place! One out!!]

[He got two strikes. That’s too bad.]

[He did get an out, but in this situation, getting a strikeout would have been ideal.]

[That’s right.]

The first of the six outs was a fly ball to center field.

The second batter grounded out to the shortstop.

Clang-!!

[He hits it! A ground ball straight to the shortstop! He fields it cleanly and throws to first!]

Thud!!

“Out!!”

[The second out is recorded!]

Both outs were routine ground balls.

In an instant, two of the six outs were recorded, but the number of strikeouts was still only 17.

– “Suddenly, the strikeouts disappeared.”

– “Is it going to be tough after all?”

– “He needs to get one in the 8th to have a chance.”

– “It’ll be hard because his velocity has dropped.”

– “It’s hard to say that mid-90s is a drop, but…”

– “Is he running out of steam after all?”

– “It can’t be helped.”

As his pitch count increased, Ha-sung’s velocity decreased.

The ball that was exceeding 100 mph dropped to the mid-90s.

The highest velocity was only 97 mph at best.

In fact, it was debatable whether this was a drop.

It was a similar velocity to other pitchers’ full-power throws.

It was only because it was Ha-sung that people were saying this.

In addition, the batters were getting used to Ha-sung’s pitches.

Naturally, it became easier to hit his pitches as his velocity dropped.

‘Now is not the time to whine.’

Ha-sung on the mound was calm.

He knew that getting frustrated would only hurt him.

‘How much strength do I have left?’

He calmly assessed his condition.

He checked the grip strength remaining in his hand as he held the ball.

He turned his feet and lightly loosened his lower body muscles.

He didn’t move hastily.

‘This is when I need to move more calmly.’

He needed to buy time.

Time to recover his stamina, even a little.

‘There’s no need to be conscious of the record.’

It would be best to achieve the record.

But focusing on it could decrease his condition.

Ha-sung had experienced this many times in his past life, so he tried to keep it out of his mind.

‘What I need to do now is…’

Ha-sung stepped onto the pitcher’s plate.

‘Give it my all on each pitch.’

He steeled his mind and gathered his strength.

* * *

“Hoo…”

After exchanging signs, Ha-sung went into his windup.

[Jung Ha-sung goes into his windup against the third batter.]

He raised his arm to accumulate power, then turned his body with a leg kick.

[He throws the first pitch!]

Whoosh!!

As his body rotated, he transferred all his power to his fingertips.

“Hup!!”

With a brief shout, he released his power.

Swoosh-!!

The ball pierced toward the batter.

Clang!

“Foul!!”

[First pitch is a foul! The velocity is 97 mph!]

[The timing of the bat swing was a little late.]

Ha-sung, who got a strike, immediately threw the second pitch.

Swoosh-!

Thwack!!

“Ball!!”

[Second pitch is a falling splitter! But the batter doesn’t swing.]

[The splitter is a changeup that requires a lot of grip strength. If the grip strength is low, the ball breaks too early, allowing the batter to make an early decision.]

The splitter is a double-edged sword.

If it falls just as the batter’s bat is about to swing, it can induce a swing and a miss.

But if it falls earlier, it becomes a good target because there is less spin.

That’s why Ha-sung discarded the splitter.

‘There’s no need to insist on a pitch that can’t deceive the batter.’

Ha-sung didn’t insist on a particular pitch.

If he stubbornly stuck to one thing, he would drive himself into a corner.

Having experienced it firsthand, Ha-sung broke away from obsession, even though he hadn’t learned it from anyone.

‘It’s better to keep it simple in times like these.’

There was no need to increase the number of pitches or damage his body by throwing unnecessary pitches.

Simply.

He needed to throw the most effective pitch.

[Jung Ha-sung throws the third pitch!]

Swoosh-!!

The ball flew toward the outside of the batter.

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[Foul! The velocity of this pitch is 98 mph! The velocity has increased a little from before!]

The pitch was a simple four-seam fastball.

But the change in velocity caused the batter to miss the timing.

Ha-sung felt good about his current feeling.

‘I need to throw it before I forget this feeling.’

Ha-sung began to pick up the tempo.

Thwack-!

“Ball!!”

[Fourth pitch is a ball! But the velocity rises to 99 mph!]

[Jung Ha-sung is starting to regain his strength at the end!]

Ha-sung’s velocity started to increase.

Was it because he started to exert strength by focusing on just one fastball, abandoning 잡념 [japnyum – distracting thoughts]?

Many theories were exchanged, but Ha-sung didn’t think that far.

He maintained it because the current pace felt good.

With only that thought in mind, he threw the fifth pitch.

“Hup!!”

Swoosh-!!

[He threw the fifth pitch!]

The ball flew to the batter’s thigh.

The batter swung as if he had been waiting, but this time the ball didn’t drop and passed over the bat.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung records his 18th strikeout in the 8th inning!!]

[The spark for a new record has not been extinguished!]

Ha-sung, who recorded his 18th strikeout, returned to the dugout.

* * *

Ha-sung, sitting on the bench, let out a rough breath.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

It was harder than he thought.

He felt like the muscles all over his body were screaming.

‘It’s definitely tough.’

Ha-sung’s pitching style was to squeeze his whole body and concentrate his strength.

He could maintain this style because his body was strong.

If Ha-sung’s body was weak, he wouldn’t have been able to keep up with his pitching style.

‘It’s definitely worth the money I spent.’

Ha-sung was investing a significant portion of his earnings in training and diet.

Even in his previous life, it was well known that diet was the most important thing in shaping the body.

The effect was now being revealed.

In particular, he knew that his ability to exert tremendous power when his stamina was low was the result of rigorous training.

‘Still, I need to rest a bit.’

But now he needed rest.

His stamina had been rapidly depleted from pitching at full power from the second half of the game.

Stamina depleted in this way cannot be recovered quickly.

Even for Ha-sung.

‘It would be best if the offense is long…’

It shouldn’t be too long either.

He hoped that just the right amount of offense would unfold so that his stamina would recover.

As if knowing Ha-sung’s heart?

Clang-!!

“Foul!!”

[Foul! Jack is making consecutive fouls with good eyes!]

His teammates were buying Ha-sung time.

Even if they couldn’t get a hit, they stubbornly hung on.

Thanks to that, Ha-sung was able to buy time to recover his stamina.

“Hoo…”

He took a deep breath and focused on sending oxygen as deep into his body as possible.

* * *

Score 1 to 0.

A score that could be tied or reversed with one mistake.

But manager Tony sent Ha-sung back to the mound.

[Normally, the closer would be brought in! But with a new record at stake, manager Tony puts Jung Ha-sung back on the mound!]

[It’s a natural choice since there’s a new record at stake.]

[Whether Jung Ha-sung can add two more strikeouts! He faces the first batter!]

Applying rosin [a sticky substance used by pitchers to improve their grip] to his hand, Ha-sung checked his condition.

‘I was able to rest a bit, so my stamina has recovered somewhat.’

Thanks to his teammates buying him time, Ha-sung’s stamina had recovered.

Standing on the mound again, Ha-sung lightly clenched his fist.

‘I’m going all out.’

There was no need to save strength.

Now, his job was to overwhelm the opponent with all his might.

“Play ball!”

[The last defense of the regulation inning begins!]

Ha-sung exchanged signs with Trevor.

‘How much strength has returned? Let’s go aggressive.’

Other pitchers would have approached cautiously.

The game also had a new record and a shutout at stake.

Approaching carefully was the right choice with a one-point lead.

But the ace Ha-sung was on the mound right now.

There was no reason to do that.

And that was the right answer.

‘I liked it.’

Ha-sung nodded and went into his windup.

[Jung Ha-sung, windup!]

Whoosh-!

Following the leg kick, he took a stride and rotated his body.

[He throws the first pitch!!]

Swoosh-!!

The ball flew with fierce speed.

The batter’s bat started to move at the ball digging into his body.

Thwack-!!

“Strike!!”

The ball passed through the zone first.

[First pitch pierces the zone! The umpire’s hand went up without hesitation! The velocity is 100 mph!!]

[Jung Ha-sung’s power is coming out again.]

He throws a 100 mph ball again in the 9th inning.

It was unbelievable, but Ha-sung had done it.

And he showed that again today.

Ha-sung, who had regained his stamina, threw the ball without hesitation.

Swoosh-!

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[Second pitch is a foul! Two strikes!!]

Swoosh!

Thwack!

“Ball!!”

[Third pitch is a ball!! It becomes one ball and two strikes!]

Ha-sung, who had gained a favorable count, sent a sign directly before throwing the fourth pitch.

Trevor nodded immediately.

[Jung Ha-sung, who exchanged signs, throws the fourth pitch!]

With the windup, Ha-sung gathered all his strength and threw the fourth pitch.

“Hup!!”

Swoosh-!!

The ball accurately hit the batter’s outside low corner.

Thwack-!

The ball was lodged in the mitt with a tremendous sound.

A precarious course.

People’s eyes were focused on the umpire.

The umpire stretched out his fist.

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung records his 19th strikeout of the game!!]

It was the moment Ha-sung recorded his 19th strikeout.

* * *

Bud Selig [former Commissioner of Baseball] was still sitting in the VIP room.

“The next schedule is being pushed back. Now…”

“I’ll just watch this inning and leave.”

At Bud Selig’s words, his subordinate sighed inwardly.

Bud Selig, the commissioner whose schedule was set in minutes, was watching an entire game.

Problems were bound to arise with subsequent schedules.

And it was all their job to deal with it.

[Clang-!!]

[A mis-hit ball! The right fielder runs forward and catches it!]

The second out was recorded.

Bud Selig was lost in thought as he watched the game.

‘There’s one chance left.’

Only one chance left.

It was questionable whether Ha-sung could seize that opportunity.

[Thwack-!]

[Strike!!]

[101 mph is 찍혔습니다 [jjikhyeotseumnida – recorded] on the scoreboard.]

[Jung Ha-sung’s power is dazzling.]

Bud Selig did not take his eyes off the TV.

‘If he’s a superstar, he’ll catch it here.’

Superstars are players who lead the league.

They don’t miss opportunities when they come.

‘If he catches it…’

[Clang!!]

[Foul!!]

[Second pitch is a foul! Jung Ha-sung gains a favorable count with two strikes!]

Bud Selig looked at his hand.

He was clenching his fist.

His fist was full of sweat.

He was getting nervous just watching.

[He throws the third pitch!!]

In that situation, Ha-sung threw the third pitch.

[Swoosh-!!]

The ball pierced toward the batter.

[Thwack!!]

[Strike! Batter out!!]

[Strikeout!! Jung Ha-sung records his 20th strikeout!! Sets a new major league record and ties the existing record!!]

At the same time as those words, Bud Selig got up from his seat.

His entourage hurriedly followed him.

Bud Selig, who was walking ahead, said to his entourage.

“Call a meeting.”

“A meeting?”

“Yes. And contact the players’ union too. Tell them I want to see them.”

“Ah, yes. But what’s the reason…?”

“Tell them it’s to revise the regulations related to drug use.”

Bud Selig made a decision.