Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 187

Mound Villain – Episode 187

For a two-way player, stamina is paramount.

“There are several types of two-way players. The most common type only bats when they aren’t pitching, essentially excluding the designated hitter role.”

Occasionally, some pitchers possess a natural talent for hitting.

Zack Greinke was a perfect example.

He was primarily a pitcher, but he was also exceptionally gifted at hitting.

So much so that he would occasionally step up to the plate as a pinch hitter.

However, this couldn’t be considered a true two-way player.

“What I want is to play as a fielder after pitching as a starting pitcher.”

In the future, Shohei Ohtani would sometimes play as an outfielder while also being a pitcher.

But even he couldn’t solve this problem perfectly.

He often played as a starting pitcher and designated hitter.

“Ohtani Shohei’s biggest challenge was his stamina.”

A starting pitcher’s role demands tremendous energy.

It takes a significant amount of time to recover the energy expended.

That’s why even in Major League Baseball, they are given a 4-day rest period.

The routine of 4 days of rest and pitching on the 5th day was a system that perfectly suited Major League Baseball.

“Playing another position in between is nearly impossible.”

Fans, experts, and even players in the field deemed it impossible.

But Shohei Ohtani was the player who made the impossible possible.

Although not flawlessly, he defied conventional wisdom and brought a new wave to Major League Baseball.

“To achieve that, you need rigorous training. You have to build stamina through intense training and enhance your recovery ability.”

The key was accelerating the body’s recovery process.

Ha-sung’s stamina was already exceptional, so that wasn’t the primary concern.

From this point, he needed to create a state where energy could be stored in the body through even more intense training.

To quickly replenish the energy consumed, something new was required.

“On top of that, you have to develop a new hitting mechanism.”

Ha-sung had a natural aptitude for hitting as a pitcher.

He already possessed great power, giving him the potential to hit home runs.

But hitting was more than just raw power.

It was essential to properly develop the hitting mechanism from the ground up.

“In that regard, Tony Geier’s help is essential.”

Tony Geier is a trainer who began to make a name for himself in the 2020s.

Originally majoring in sports science, he’s credited with pioneering a new era in hitting mechanics by incorporating his unique philosophy.

Of course, this is a story of the distant future.

When he first emerged, people ridiculed him, calling him a quack or a fraud.

However, as players who had received his guidance began to appear in Major League Baseball one after another, the perception changed.

“George Muron, a rookie who hit 60 home runs in ’24, was a prime example.”

George Muron.

He was the top prospect in the LA Dodgers farm system, and in 2024, he debuted and caused a sensation by recording 60 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

After that, Muron established himself as a top-tier player in Major League Baseball.

In 2030, he signed a long-term contract for $500 million, the highest amount in history, marking a new era in Major League Baseball.

“Tony Geier’s stock skyrocketed thanks to George Muron’s performance. But his hitting theory was already complete.”

Tony Geier made this statement in an interview with a prominent media outlet after achieving fame.

(In fact, my theory was completed in the 2010s. But the clubs didn’t understand it and it had to be buried. So, I had no choice but to find Muron, who was a promising player, and help him grow to prove my theory.)

Major League Baseball clubs are surprisingly conservative.

They’ve been adopting advanced technologies since the mid-2010s, but they preferred to employ individuals who were already recognized within Major League Baseball.

Consequently, they often excluded outsiders.

Of course, this has evolved, but it hasn’t changed completely yet.

“It would be perfect if we could bring Geier in at this time.”

Just then…

Buzz-!

Ha-sung, seeing his smartphone ring, checked Isabel’s number and answered the call.

“Hello.”

[Ha-sung, it’s me. I’m calling to let you know that we’ve scheduled a meeting with Tony Geier for today.]

“Really?”

[Yes. I discussed the general details over the phone and received a positive response, so I’m currently on my way to LA.]

Isabel, who had been staying in Oakland, had returned to New York for business.

For her to travel back to LA was quite a demanding undertaking.

That meant she was actively working on Ha-sung’s behalf.

“We have to get him.”

[Of course. I will definitely recruit him and add him to Ha-sung’s team. And there’s one more thing to tell you.]

“Is it about Hamels?”

[Yes. I’ve arranged to have dinner with the Governor of California. I’ll bring it up at the meeting, so don’t worry too much.]

Oakland was a city in California.

The mayor’s power was significant, but the influence of the governor, who oversees all of California, was undoubtedly greater.

Ha-sung hadn’t yet established a relationship with the governor.

She secured a dinner appointment with the governor only three days after returning to New York.

It was a testament to her extensive connections.

“Thank you.”

[You’re welcome. Ha-sung, don’t worry too much and focus on preparing for next season!]

“Yes.”

Ha-sung hung up the phone and checked the date.

It was already December.

The city lights seemed even more radiant as Christmas approached.

“It’s another solo Christmas this year.”

Since the regression…

Ha-sung had spent most of his Christmases alone.

He was constantly busy, prioritizing his future over leisure.

Consequently, he couldn’t dedicate time to events like Christmas.

But now that he had some spare time, the event called Christmas caught his attention.

Of course, it was a problem that could be easily dismissed if you didn’t dwell on it.

However, with time to spare and the ability to observe his surroundings, he suddenly felt a sense of loneliness.

‘Well, it’s going to be difficult to meet someone who understands my situation right now.’

Ha-sung was realistic.

As in his previous life, it wasn’t easy for baseball players to find partners.

Firstly, being a celebrity posed a challenge.

It wasn’t easy to find someone who would understand the demands of playing games every day.

‘When senior players or juniors get married, their partners usually understand that they are baseball players from the beginning.’

His colleagues in his previous life also struggled to find partners.

Of course, they eventually met the right people.

Seeing that gave him hope that a relationship might be possible somewhere down the line.

“Tsk, what’s with the sentimentality.”

Ha-sung turned and poured whiskey into his glass.

“Right now, I need to focus on preparing for next season rather than worrying about that.”

It was going to be the most crucial season since the regression.

There was no time to feel lonely.

Just then…

Buzz-!

His smartphone rang.

It wasn’t a phone call, but a text message.

A smile appeared on Ha-sung’s lips as he read the message.

[Oppa! It’s Eun-ha. It’s snowing in Korea right now, so it’s a white Christmas! I don’t know what it’s like in the US, but I hope you have a happy Christmas too!]

Ha-sung felt his heart warm as he saw Eun-ha’s text message.

The feeling of loneliness vanished as he realized that there were people who were thinking of him, even from afar.

“Let’s cheer up.”

Ha-sung clenched his fist, filled with renewed motivation.

* * *

As the new year began, welcome news arrived.

[California Governor Sheffield is drawing attention by emphasizing the problems with paparazzi at a press conference and announcing that he will crack down on their illegal activities.]

[Oakland police announced that they recently arrested Hamels, a notorious paparazzi.]

With the California governor’s remarks, Hamels was apprehended.

The media attributed the swift arrest to the governor’s strong stance.

As Isabel had promised, the paparazzi problem was effectively resolved.

Hamels was arrested, and the paparazzi surrounding Ha-sung disappeared.

Of course, they hadn’t vanished completely.

Some still took pictures from a distance, but at least all the malicious individuals like Hamels were gone.

‘I’m constantly amazed by Isabel’s abilities.’

How long had it been since she told me, and how could she accomplish this so quickly?

It occurred to him that Isabel might possess even more remarkable talents than he realized.

In any case, Ha-sung, now free from the constant scrutiny of cameras, began to prepare for the upcoming season in earnest.

The first step was to meet with his team.

Ha-sung scheduled a meeting and gathered the members of the so-called Team Ha-sung.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Raymond, Sam, Barton, and even Leonard.

The four men gladly rejoined his camp at Ha-sung’s invitation.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ha-sung! I saw your performance!”

“Keu! Your performance this season was truly outstanding!”

“You’ve lost a lot of muscle mass. You need to manage your diet strictly.”

The four men greeted him in their own unique ways.

It had been a year, but they hadn’t changed.

Leonard, in particular, was already adjusting his glasses and worrying about what food to prepare for Ha-sung.

Ha-sung felt reassured as he looked at them.

‘With them by my side, my plan will succeed.’

He had faith in their unwavering dedication.

He believed that together, they could create a body capable of handling both pitching and hitting.

Before that, he needed to inform them of his intentions.

“I’m planning to prepare for next season even more intensely than last year.”

“You have to.”

“You have to do that to maintain your position now.”

“It’s not just about maintaining my position. I’m aiming higher.”

“Higher?”

Ha-sung nodded at Leonard’s question.

“I’m considering challenging myself as a two-way player.”

“What?”

“What are you talking about?”

“A two-way player?”
The four men were surprised and questioned him.

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. I’m thinking of challenging myself as both a pitcher and a hitter next season.”

“That’s impossible for the human body.”

“Of course, I know you have exceptional athletic abilities, but in that case, you’ll be playing in games before your body fully recovers, which could lead to accumulated fatigue.”

“That’s right. I’m against it too.”

The three men voiced their opposition one after another.

Ha-sung looked at them and then turned his gaze to Leonard, who remained silent.

“Dr. Leonard, what do you think?”

“Um…”

Leonard pondered for a moment before speaking.

“I don’t know much about hitting mechanics, so I can’t guarantee how successful you’ll be as a hitter.”

The three men nodded as negative comments came first.

But Leonard’s words didn’t end there.

“But Ha-sung, considering your recovery ability, playing in games every day won’t be a significant problem.”

“What?”

“Ha-sung’s recovery ability is beyond the level of ordinary people, let alone elite athletes. The reason why Ha-sung was able to pitch consistently until the end of this season is because of his extraordinary recovery ability.”

Ha-sung nodded in agreement with Leonard’s assessment.

“I agree. He clearly played a full season, but he didn’t experience any physical problems. This is highly unusual.”

“But…”

“It’s true that negative thoughts come to mind first because it’s a path that no one has ever taken. But I want to try it. I want to try it and give up even if others object.”

The three men who had initially opposed him nodded at his determination to try and potentially fail.

“That’s a good approach.”

“The young man speaks with conviction.”

“I’ll do my best to support you.”

Ha-sung smiled at his team members’ responses.

Then his smartphone rang.

Ha-sung checked the number and answered the call.

“Yes, Isabel.”

[Ha-sung! I’ve recruited Geier!]

With the addition of Tony Geier…

Camp preparation was complete.