Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 192

The Mound’s Villain – 192

When Ha-sung debuted in the Major League, he caused quite a stir because of his physique, which was unlike that of other Asian players.

Experts predicted that with dedicated training, he could develop an even more impressive physique within three years.

However, Ha-sung defied those expectations and returned with a noticeably improved physique in just one year.

This physical growth allowed him to dominate the Major League with a level of pitching that surpassed his previous performance.

People stopped focusing on his physique and started marveling at his abilities.

‘I didn’t think he could improve any further…’

‘How can he come back with a better body than he had a year ago?’

‘Such a change in just a few months?’

The reporters who saw Ha-sung standing before them could hardly believe their eyes.

Ha-sung definitely appeared to have a more developed physique than he did just a few months prior.

In particular, the muscles in his arms and shoulders, including his forearms, were visibly more defined.

‘All the muscles needed for batting have developed.’

‘Is he really planning on doing both pitching and batting?’

‘But wouldn’t that bulk affect his pitching?’

Ha-sung’s increased muscle mass was undeniably impressive.

However, the reporters, many of whom were seasoned baseball experts, felt it might be excessive.

As pitching mechanics evolved, the importance of flexibility was increasingly emphasized.

Excessive muscle development can lead to a decrease in flexibility.

Therefore, they felt uneasy about Ha-sung’s increased bulk.

One reporter directly voiced this concern to Ha-sung.

“Your muscles are bigger than last year. Is that for batting?”

“That’s right. My goal is to become a slugger [a powerful hitter]. I tried to bulk up to achieve a more powerful swing.”

“Judging by what I see, you’ve certainly succeeded in bulking up. But even if you’ve gained power, your flexibility must have decreased. Is that going to be a problem for your pitching?”

The eyes of the other reporters lit up.

The reporter who asked the question they all wanted to ask was now their hero.

Perhaps sensing the collective anticipation, he pressed further.

“It’s good to build muscle for batting, but if it negatively impacts your pitching, isn’t that a problem? In Korea, there’s a saying that too much is as bad as too little.”

“That’s right.”

“Accurate.”

“If you build that much muscle, your flexibility will inevitably decrease.”

“It can’t help but affect his pitching.”

Other reporters chimed in, their gazes fixed on Ha-sung.

They looked like hyenas circling their prey.

They all wanted the same thing.

They wanted Ha-sung to admit that his bulk was affecting his pitching.

‘Did my dedication to YouTube offend their pride?’

Ha-sung had been consistently refusing interviews with the press.

As a result, the details of his training camp remained a complete secret.

Naturally, reporters periodically requested interviews with Ha-sung.

However, Ha-sung turned them all down, choosing instead to release videos on YouTube.

Even without that, the growing popularity of YouTube was becoming a threat to traditional reporters.

‘As YouTube grows, more and more people are looking for information there.’

‘And he’s only posting related information on his own channel, not through our media outlets…’

‘What an arrogant guy.’

From the reporters’ perspective, Ha-sung was a thorn in their side.

In fact, other celebrities were starting to emulate Ha-sung’s approach.

There were instances where they refused media coverage and instead opened their own YouTube channels to announce major news.

As a result, reporters and broadcasters felt a growing sense of crisis.

But Ha-sung was too prominent a figure to openly criticize.

They couldn’t voice their complaints directly.

However, official press conferences were a different story.

They could pressure Ha-sung through carefully worded questions.

Ha-sung looked at the reporter who asked the question and began to speak.

“Is this déjà vu?”

“Pardon?”

“I think there was someone who called himself an expert who said the same thing last year.”

“Ah….”

Ha-sung’s words immediately brought one person to the reporters’ minds.

When Ha-sung transitioned from being a closer [a relief pitcher who specializes in finishing games] to a starting pitcher, he returned after successfully bulking up in just a few months.

Many people were skeptical of his increased muscle mass, and some experts offered sharp criticisms.

One of them was a veteran of the Korean baseball scene.

But his criticism proved to be completely unfounded.

Ha-sung had the best season of his career, and those who criticized him became the laughingstock of the public.

Now, as a new season began, people were once again criticizing Ha-sung.

“I set a new Major League record as a closer. Of course, I wanted to try something new, so I attempted the challenge. But all that came out was criticism.”

Ha-sung’s voice began to rise.

“And last year, I left a record in Major League history. The desire for a new challenge soared again, and I embarked on a new challenge. But again, criticism poured out.”

Ha-sung’s gaze intensified as he looked at the reporters.

His eyes showed clear hostility.

“You’re saying that my increased muscle mass will cause problems with my pitching? You asked the same question last year, so ask something else.”

“But excessive bulk affects muscle flexibility…”

“I’ve fully compensated for those aspects by working with experts.”

“How can we be sure of that?”

“I’ll show you in a real game. You’ll see how much I’ve improved. And when that time comes, you’ll regret the questions you asked today.”

Ha-sung glared at him and continued.

“And try to come up with better questions. How can you bring up the same concerns as a year ago?”

At his words, the reporter was left speechless.

Ha-sung’s words had hit their mark.

Pushing past the reporters, Ha-sung smirked as he felt their gazes on his back.

‘I guess I can’t be friendly with the media in this life.’

Don’t be hostile to the media.

This was a saying that was passed down as an undeniable truth in various fields, including the baseball world and the entertainment industry.

The power of the press was that strong, and the public generally believed the articles they published.

But Ha-sung didn’t particularly care.

‘In the end, I just need to show them what I can do in a real game.’

Only his skills would demonstrate how much he had improved.

And how hard he had worked.

* * *

With Ha-sung’s return, spring camp began in earnest.

There were no major changes to the Athletics’ player lineup this season.

‘The owner’s investment is just so-so, so there’s almost no way to reinforce the players.’

The stingy owner, combined with Ha-sung’s increased value, naturally meant that the Athletics were likely to be passive in their investments.

But public interest was higher than ever.

“All the tickets released for spring camp have been sold out.”

“And Jung Ha-sung’s uniform sales are through the roof.”

“Season tickets for the pennant race, as well as most game tickets, are being sold out.”

The Athletics were by no means a traditionally popular team.

With the issue of relocating the home base continuing this year, there were concerns that fans could turn their backs if things went poorly.

But there was one player who quelled these concerns almost single-handedly.

“Public interest in Jung Ha-sung is hotter than ever.”

“The season hasn’t even started yet. With this level of interest, it’s surpassing the 2001 season.”

In 2001, the world watched the home run competition between Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, generating tremendous interest in Major League Baseball.

Interest in Ha-sung was now comparable to that peak.

“It means that public interest in his pitching and batting is high, regardless of whether he succeeds.”

“I think that’s the right way to look at it.”

“It’s likely to fail, but from a marketing perspective, it’s a huge success.”

Even within the team, expectations for Ha-sung’s pitching and batting weren’t particularly high.

He wasn’t originally a player who showed exceptional talent in both areas.

Moreover, Ha-sung had only engaged in intermittent batting practice since his professional debut.

It would be surprising if Ha-sung successfully transitioned into both pitching and batting.

But from a marketing perspective, it was already a resounding success.

Public interest was so high that predictions were already circulating that the Athletics would surpass last year’s sales figures.

“What is Jung Ha-sung doing?”

“Since joining the camp, he has been combining his own training with team training according to the schedule.”

“What about the tests?”

“He hasn’t started batting practice yet, so that aspect is still unknown, but he passed all the basic physical fitness tests. He has prepared well, with some areas even improved from last year.”

“He’s definitely a true professional.”

Occasionally, rookies who have a successful season neglect their preparation in the following season.

This sometimes happened to players who succeeded in securing lucrative free agency contracts.

Ha-sung wasn’t a free agent, but he could have become complacent in preparing for the season, given his high salary.

But he had arrived perfectly prepared.

“How is he doing on the pitching side?”

“We haven’t done a simulation pitching session yet, so I can’t say for sure, but there were no major problems when he was just throwing.”

“Monitor Jung Ha-sung closely for the time being. He is still the center of the team this season.”

“Understood.”

Ha-sung was no longer a rookie.

He was the center of the team and its most important player.

Keeping a close eye on him was the team’s top priority.

* * *

Ha-sung, having joined the camp, slowly began to build up his condition.

Although the people around him cast worried glances, he never rushed.

‘If I rush to prove myself to them, I might falter. Right now, the top priority is to prepare slowly at my own pace.’

Ha-sung focused on improving his physical condition while methodically preparing, just as he had done the previous year.

After a week at the camp, he was ready to take the mound.

“Today’s pitching is just to check your condition, so don’t overdo it and throw lightly.”

Ha-sung nodded at the manager, Tony, and stepped onto the mound.

To watch him, not only the general manager but also the other players stopped their training.

“Hoo….”

Ha-sung felt a slight tension on the mound, where he hadn’t stood in quite some time.

But this tension didn’t stiffen his body.

Instead, he felt a sense of comfort.

‘This kind of tension is what reminds me that I’m alive.’

This feeling was the biggest driving force behind his love for baseball.

Ha-sung smiled at the feeling of tension and kicked at the dirt on the mound.

Then he stepped onto the pitcher’s plate and assumed his pitching stance.

“Throw it anytime!!”

The catcher positioned in the catcher’s box was Trevor.

He had been selected as the starting catcher again this season, making him Ha-sung’s natural partner.

He had become the Athletics’ reliable backstop, and his salary had increased significantly, solidifying his position in the Major League.

Perhaps because he had prepared as diligently as his increased salary demanded, he appeared at the camp with a more muscular physique than the previous year.

If it hadn’t been for Ha-sung, he would have been quite a hot topic himself.

‘Thanks to his bigger size, he’s an easier target.’

From a pitcher’s perspective, it was beneficial that the catcher’s body had grown.

It made it easier to aim and throw.

Ha-sung looked at him and began his windup.

Swish-!!

Ha-sung, lifting his leg high, twisted his body and gathered power.

Then he rotated his upper and lower body, releasing the accumulated power in an instant.

“Heup-!!”

The ball, thrown with a shout, instantly crossed the space.

Whoosh-!!

Thwack!!