Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 169

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 169

It was Ha-sung’s rampage.

Thwack-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung records his 14th strikeout of the game!]

[I’m speechless.]

[Jung Ha-sung’s pitching doesn’t stop even in the Championship Series!]

[He’s completely dominating the Red Sox lineup, throwing over 100 mph consistently.]

Fourteen strikeouts.

He threw 103 pitches and recorded 24 outs in 8 innings.

More than half of those outs were strikeouts.

Considering the high stakes of the Championship Series, it was an extraordinary feat.

[The Red Sox hitters are even more focused than usual because it’s the Championship Series. But they can’t touch Jung Ha-sung’s pitches.]

In the postseason, every game is crucial.

That’s why the players’ concentration levels significantly impact the outcome.

The players know this well, so they approach the game with even greater focus than usual.

That’s one of the reasons why highlight plays are so common in the postseason.

All the players from both the Red Sox and the Athletics demonstrated that.

Nevertheless, there was one overriding reason for Ha-sung’s dominance.

[Currently, Jung Ha-sung’s focus is overwhelming the Red Sox hitters.]

In the end, it came down to who was more locked into the game.

That difference was the key to what was unfolding.

[It seems like Jung Ha-sung’s role, who even kept his promise, is over for the day.]

[This is enough! Jung Ha-sung has done his part!]

[Jung Ha-sung, who did everything he could as an ace! He comes down from the mound after recording 14 strikeouts and no runs allowed in 8 innings!]

The Athletics held a 3-0 lead.

The momentum had clearly shifted.

At that moment, the camera zoomed in on Adrian Beltre sitting on the Red Sox bench.

His expression, reflecting how thoroughly Ha-sung had outplayed him, was one of utter defeat.

[Beltre, who usually dominates the league, looks dejected after being completely shut down by Jung Ha-sung in today’s game.]

[He seems disappointed that he couldn’t do anything, let alone keep his promise.]

Beltre was experiencing self-disgust that went beyond mere disappointment.

The mental blow from the game was devastating.

Unlike Beltre, the morale of the Athletics team, including Ha-sung, was sky-high.

‘We’ve seized the initiative.’

Looking at the energized players, manager Tony felt confident that they had taken control of the Championship Series.

And that confidence often translates to victory.

Clack-!!

[Well-hit ball! But it flies straight to the center fielder!]

Thud!

[Caught it! The Athletics win the first game of the Championship Series by getting the third out!]

[And Jung Ha-sung becomes the first Korean pitcher to win a Championship Series game!]

Until then, no Korean player had ever won a Championship Series game as a pitcher.

Ha-sung became the first, etching his name in history as a Korean major leaguer.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung becomes the Babe Ruth [legendary baseball player known for both hitting and pitching] of the pitcher’s mound!]

[Keeps his prediction!]

[Strikes out Adrian Beltre, one of the best hitters in the American League!]

[Jung Ha-sung becomes the Muhammad Ali [iconic boxer known for his confidence and skill] of baseball!]

[Jung Ha-sung is proving once again that he is the best pitcher this season!]

After the game, every media outlet published stories about Ha-sung.

This time, not only the United States and Korea but media outlets worldwide were writing about him.

The sensation Ha-sung created was enormous.

[Major League’s Jung Ha-sung pulled off a pre-announced strikeout, reminiscent of Muhammad Ali’s pre-announced knockout.]

[I never thought something like this would happen in baseball.]

[Isn’t his opponent Adrian Beltre, one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball?]

[That’s right. He’s such a great hitter that he gets a hit 3 out of 10 at-bats. To strike out such a hitter three times in a row…]

[And he predicted it himself.]

[What’s even more amazing is that all 16 pitches Jung Ha-sung threw against Beltre were fastballs.]

The fact that Ha-sung’s pre-announced strikeout was achieved with fastballs made it even more impressive.

[Jung Ha-sung struck out Beltre with fastballs ranging from a minimum of 98 mph to a maximum of 104 mph.]

[Was Beltre not in good condition?]

[That’s probably not the case. Beltre had a great performance in the Division Series, hitting 7 hits and 2 home runs in 15 at-bats.]

[Then Jung Ha-sung’s pitching was simply superior. Is that how we should see it?]

[That’s right. Especially when facing Beltre, he threw pitches close to his maximum speed every time.]

[What does that mean?]

[Perhaps he usually controls his pace and only pitches with full force when necessary.]

21 years old in Korean age (20 in US age).

A 20-year-old pitcher controlling his pace and varying his intensity.

It’s easier said than done.

In particular, inexperienced pitchers often struggle with pacing themselves.

They worry about the consequences of throwing with less power and potentially giving up a hit.

Overcoming that fear and varying his pitch speeds demonstrates Ha-sung’s strong self-belief.

[Confidence is the most important thing for a player. But it’s not easy to achieve.]

[Jung Ha-sung has it.]

[That’s right. And after watching the first game of the Championship Series, many experts, including myself, are changing their minds.]

[What do you mean?]

The panelist looked directly at the camera.

[I’ve been calling Jung Ha-sung an excellent player, but I think that description falls short.]

[You mean he’s not an excellent player?]

[The word ‘excellent’ doesn’t do him justice. He has the potential to be a great player. No, he *will* be.]

The evaluation of Ha-sung had reached a new level.

* * *

Vigor, Ha-sung’s agency, was also getting busy.

“Jung Ha-sung is going crazy.”

“The reaction to Jung Ha-sung is explosive worldwide.”

“The impact of the pre-announced strikeout in this Championship Series is even greater than we anticipated.”

Vigor had anticipated the potential impact of the pre-announced strikeout to some extent.

They had prepared for the possible consequences, both positive and negative.

Ha-sung’s success exceeded their expectations.

The actual global impact was far greater than Vigor had initially predicted.

“I think we underestimated Jung Ha-sung.”

“What should we do?”

“Mobilize all our resources to prepare marketing campaigns for Jung Ha-sung. Start marketing him as the primary focus as soon as the postseason ends.”

“How much priority should we give it?”

Vigor represents numerous high-profile athletes.

Each of them is a leading figure in their respective sport.

They are all actively involved in marketing campaigns.

Adjusting the level of emphasis was Vigor’s responsibility.

Until now, soccer star Lionel Messi and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., among others, had been the faces of Vigor’s marketing efforts.

But now it was time for a shift.

“Make Jung Ha-sung the top priority. And expedite the production of his merchandise.”

“Understood!”

Vigor’s marketing strategy was undergoing a significant change.

* * *

With Ha-sung’s dominant performance, the Athletics gained significant momentum.

[Championship Series Game 2 between the Athletics and the Red Sox! The game is neck and neck through the 5th inning.]

[If the first game was Jung Ha-sung’s one-man show, the second game showcases strong pitching and hitting from both teams.]

It was a well-balanced game.

The score was tied 3-3, neither pitching staff faltered significantly, and both offenses showed flashes of brilliance.

With the game so evenly matched, the outcome would hinge on pitching changes.

‘Today’s game will ultimately depend on how the bullpens perform.’

Ha-sung, watching from the dugout, was analyzing the flow of the game.

‘I was planning to be doing this kind of analysis after I retired in Korea.’

Turning his head slightly, he saw the pitching coach talking to Tony.

They were discussing when to replace the starting pitcher and who to bring in next.

Originally, that was a role he had envisioned for himself.

But after the club’s management changed, his connections within the organization faded.

In Korea, it was difficult to advance without connections, leaving Ha-sung feeling isolated.

‘But it doesn’t matter anymore.’

Ha-sung thought back to the recent articles about him.

Media outlets around the world were praising him.

They were portraying him as a player poised to change the landscape of Major League Baseball.

‘If I generate this much buzz, I can expect lucrative opportunities even after this season ends.’

Fame ultimately translates to financial rewards.

Companies eager to leverage his popularity and image will seek him out.

‘This will alleviate my financial worries for the foreseeable future.’

The more famous you become, the more expenses you incur.

Maintaining that lifestyle requires a substantial income.

Until he secures a long-term contract, he’ll need to rely on advertising revenue.

To that end, Ha-sung was constantly working to increase his marketability.

‘I’ll be busy even after this postseason ends.’

Ha-sung was already planning his next steps while watching the game unfold.

* * *

[The Oakland Athletics have put themselves in a favorable position by winning Game 2 as well.]

[I get the sense that the other players are pushing themselves harder because ace Jung Ha-sung secured the first game.]

[Now the series shifts to Boston. What are your predictions for the upcoming games?]

[The Athletics, having won two games, have cleared a major hurdle. I’d say they have a significant advantage.]

[But the Red Sox are returning home, so I doubt they’ll simply roll over.]

[Of course, that’s true. But at this point, the Athletics appear to be in a very strong position.]

Most experts agreed.

The Oakland Athletics held a distinct advantage.

The reason for this prediction was that the Athletics only needed to win two more games out of a possible five to win the Championship Series.

[Will the Athletics continue their dominance and advance to the World Series? Or will the Red Sox mount a comeback? Stay tuned for Game 3 of the Championship Series!]

After Game 2, the two teams traveled to Fenway Park, the Red Sox’s home stadium.

The next three games would be played there, and if the series remained undecided, they would return to Oakland.

However, if Oakland could win just two of the next five games, the Championship Series would be theirs.

That’s why many experts were predicting an Athletics victory.

-Won’t the series be decided in Boston?

-Ha-sung is pitching in the 4th game anyway, right?

-If that guy’s on the mound, the game’s over if you score just one point. The Athletics will have already won 3 games.

-I agree.

-No matter how hard Boston fights, it’s impossible with Ha-sung.

-If they lose the 3rd game, the series is practically over.

-lol, the 4th game hasn’t even started yet. How can these predictions be made?

-That’s how dominant Ha-sung is.

-True.

Even the fans were predicting that the Athletics would win the 4th game, with Ha-sung pitching.

That’s the kind of impact Ha-sung was having.

But the Red Sox didn’t seem willing to go down without a fight.

Clack-!!

[He hits it!!]

Game 3 between the Athletics and the Red Sox.

With the bases loaded and no outs in the 4th inning, Beltre connected with a powerful swing.

[A huge hit!! This ball is heading towards the Green Monster [the tall left-field wall at Fenway Park] of Fenway Park!!]

At Fenway Park, there’s a saying that the Green Monster devours batted balls.

Unlike other stadiums, it has a towering fence that stands 37 feet (11.2 meters) high.

In other stadiums, balls that would easily clear the fence are often stopped by this imposing wall.

However, Beltre’s batted ball was not denied by the Green Monster.

[It’s gone!! Beltre’s grand slam clears the Green Monster!!]

[The home run that Red Sox fans have been waiting for explodes at the most crucial moment!]

[The Championship Series is not over yet!!]

Game 3.

The Red Sox secured a valuable victory with an overwhelming score of 10-4.

And in the 4th game, Ha-sung was scheduled to take the mound at Fenway Park, the Red Sox’s sacred ground.