Villain on the Mound – Episode 197
Ha-seong on the mound looked as composed as ever.
Thwack-!!
“Strike! Batter out!!”
[Jeong Ha-seong strikes out the first batter!]
[In his first exhibition game appearance, he’s showcasing excellent form with a top speed of 100 mph.]
[His pitches seem even more powerful than before.]
[That’s right. He clearly prepared well during training camp.]
Ha-seong’s pitching was as impressive as always.
He effortlessly dispelled the concerns of those who predicted negative effects from his increased muscle mass [bulking up refers to gaining muscle mass, often to increase power].
Thwack-!
“Strike! Batter out!!”
[Jeong Ha-seong finishes the inning with his third strikeout!]
[He continues to display an untouchable presence with his outstanding pitching.]
Ha-seong, having thrown just 12 pitches against three batters, walked off the mound.
The crowd erupted in cheers, thrilled by his dominant performance against three major league hitters without even breaking a sweat.
“Jeong Ha-seong is the best!”
“The Cy Young Award [award given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball] is yours this season!”
“This is exactly the kind of performance I was hoping to see!”
The crowd, starved for baseball action, had their thirst quenched instantly.
* * *
Ha-seong continued his dominance in the second inning, striking out five batters and retiring all three.
The initial worries proved to be unfounded.
Having demonstrated his readiness in a real game, Ha-seong was now prepared for his next challenge.
[Jeong Ha-seong is preparing in the on-deck circle.]
[He’ll be at the plate after the leadoff hitter.]
[The fact that Jeong Ha-seong is batting sixth instead of ninth suggests he’s shown significant hitting potential, right?]
[That’s correct. Chris, the general manager, was initially opposed to Jeong Ha-seong’s two-way play. I expected him to place Jeong lower in the batting order, even if he gave him a chance. This is an unexpected choice.]
[I guess he was impressed by what he saw in the practice games.]
[According to reports, Jeong Ha-seong had 4 hits in 6 at-bats during the two practice games. He displayed tremendous power, including one home run and two extra-base hits.]
[Wow, that’s better than most hitters.]
[He’s proving that his two-way declaration wasn’t just talk.]
Even though it was just a practice game, Ha-seong’s performance was remarkable.
It was enough to change Chris’s mind.
Clack-!!
[He hit it! But it’s a weak hit! The shortstop fields it and throws to first!]
Thud!
“Out!!”
[He’s out! The leadoff hitter is out, and Jeong Ha-seong steps up to the plate with one out and no runners on base!]
The crowd roared as Ha-seong approached the batter’s box.
“It’s Jeong Ha-seong!!”
“Is he really going to bat?!”
“Wow~ I can’t believe I’m seeing this in person!”
“Ha-seong, knock one out of the park!!”
“Let’s just avoid a strikeout!”
The crowd’s enthusiastic support poured down.
All eyes were on Ha-seong, eager to see what he would do.
Unsurprisingly, the number of viewers watching the broadcast skyrocketed.
Even for an exhibition game, the viewership was unbelievably high, breaking all previous records.
“I didn’t expect the numbers to be this high.”
“Two-way play is a perfect recipe for popularity.”
“The fact that Jeong Ha-seong, arguably the best pitcher in the major leagues, declared it has drawn even more public attention.”
Major League Baseball officials, along with broadcasting executives, were fixated on the impressive numbers.
Recently, Major League Baseball had been facing declining popularity as younger audiences drifted away.
There were several factors contributing to the MLB’s slump.
First, the length of the games.
The average game lasted around 3 hours.
This was a significant time commitment for the younger generation, who prefer fast-paced entertainment.
Additionally, the complex rules were a barrier for new fans.
Finally, the lack of transcendent star players was also a concern.
“Star players emerge regularly, but we haven’t seen a true superstar who can shift the entire landscape in a while.”
“That’s right. Jeong Ha-seong seems to be the player who has arrived to change that.”
Jeong Ha-seong, who has already proven himself as an exceptional pitcher.
The fact that he declared his intention to play both positions has captured the attention of even those who weren’t previously interested in baseball.
As a result, this exhibition game was enjoying record-breaking viewership.
“I really hope this two-way play is successful.”
From the perspective of Major League Baseball officials, they had no choice but to root for Ha-seong’s success.
[Jeong Ha-seong steps up to the plate to face starting pitcher Tim Lincecum.]
[The two players who faced off in last year’s World Series as aces will now face each other as pitcher and batter.]
[This is a truly fascinating matchup.]
Tim Lincecum glared at Ha-seong, who stood ready at the plate.
‘You’re going to be both a pitcher and a hitter? How much are you looking down on the major leagues?’
Tim Lincecum was one of the premier pitchers in Major League Baseball.
Despite his average build, he threw fastballs that approached 100 mph.
Furthermore, his distinctive pitching style gave him the star power to be loved by many fans.
As such, he had immense pride in his pitching.
With his own deeply held beliefs, he couldn’t comprehend Ha-seong’s decision to play both ways.
‘It’s hard enough to be just a pitcher. The pitcher’s position is incredibly demanding and complex. And now you’re suddenly going to be a hitter too?’
In his view, Ha-seong’s declaration seemed to belittle the role of pitchers.
It might sound strange, but that’s how Lincecum felt.
‘I’ll crush that declaration right here.’
That’s why his competitive fire was burning intensely.
He was determined to shut Ha-seong down.
[Tim Lincecum exchanges signs with Buster Posey, the catcher, and gets into his pitching stance. Jeong Ha-seong also prepares by taking his batting stance.]
[Jeong Ha-seong’s batting form is textbook perfect. He’s relaxed and balanced, a stance that allows him to generate power.]
[How will this showdown unfold? Tim Lincecum begins his windup!]
Lincecum unleashed the first pitch with his signature dynamic motion.
“Hiss!!”
Whoosh-!!
The ball flew from his hand, accurately hitting the outside low corner of the strike zone.
Ha-seong stepped into the pitch and swung the bat with force.
Whoosh-!!
The bat connected with the ball in a flash.
Clack!!
[He hit it!! A well-struck ball!!]
The ball soared through the air, landing just outside the foul line.
“Foul!!”
[Ah~ it’s a foul! Too bad!]
[That was a powerfully hit ball. It’s a shame it went foul.]
[It curved out at the last moment, right?]
[Yes. It seems the ball spun as he hit the outside pitch.]
[Still, Jeong Ha-seong’s power is undeniable. He’s hitting home run-caliber balls from the very first pitch.]
[That’s right. I heard he increased his power through bulking up. His power is definitely impressive.]
The first-pitch foul ball sent a shiver down Lincecum’s spine.
‘If that had been a little further inside, it would have been gone.’
It was a better hit than most hitters could manage.
Not only was his technique solid, but his swing was fearless.
Like someone who had complete confidence in his hitting ability.
‘This type of hitter isn’t easy to face.’
Buster Posey couldn’t help but be impressed as he watched Ha-seong’s at-bat up close.
‘His bat speed is faster than most hitters. Plus, his swing path was locked onto the ball’s location from the start.’
Bat speed is crucial for hitting.
If the swing is too slow, it’s difficult to hit fastballs effectively.
Above all, his aim was exceptional.
He swung with conviction, as if he knew exactly where the ball was going and what type of pitch it would be.
‘We need to be careful here.’
Buster Posey instinctively realized that Ha-seong possessed unusual batting skills.
If they recklessly challenged him, there was a good chance he’d hit one out.
‘Let’s test his reaction with a slider first.’
Posey continued to call the pitches as cautiously as possible.
But Lincecum shook his head.
‘I have no intention of backing down. He’s not a professional hitter. I’m going to challenge him directly.’
‘That’s risky. We should prioritize assessing his reaction first.’
‘I’m facing him head-on.’
He signaled again, but Lincecum remained firm.
At that moment, Posey understood that this wasn’t just a typical pitcher-batter matchup.
Lincecum wasn’t seeing Ha-seong as a batter, but as a fellow pitcher.
‘If I keep calling for different pitches in this situation, I’ll be hurting his pride.’
Lincecum was a player with immense pride.
It was obvious what would happen if that pride was wounded.
‘It’s dangerous, but it’s still just an exhibition game. There’s no need to avoid a challenge while damaging the ace’s pride.’
Ultimately, the fact that it was an exhibition game influenced Posey’s decision.
Exhibition games, unlike the regular season, don’t carry much weight in terms of results.
That’s why Posey readily nodded at Lincecum’s decision.
‘I’ll definitely get him out.’
Lincecum, having received Posey’s sign, began his windup.
And he threw the ball with everything he had.
“Hiss!!”
Whoosh-!!
[He throws the second pitch!]
Lincecum’s ball darted towards Ha-seong’s body.
The fastball from Lincecum, a right-handed pitcher, followed a crossfire trajectory, cutting sharply across the plate.
Ha-seong took an open stance, started his swing, and then stopped abruptly.
Thwack-!!
“Ball!!”
[It’s a ball! Jeong Ha-seong! He lays off the close pitch with incredible discipline!]
[That was excellent judgment. It was a pitch that missed by about half a ball. He recognizes it.]
[It seems that Jeong Ha-seong possesses not only great hitting ability but also exceptional plate discipline.]
It wasn’t easy to lay off a pitch that close to the strike zone.
But Ha-seong did it.
It was hard to explain it solely with good eyesight.
In reality, Ha-seong wasn’t relying on his eyes alone.
‘Considering Lincecum’s personality, he won’t try to avoid me with a breaking ball.’
Ha-seong was predicting the type of pitch he would throw, taking Lincecum’s personality into account.
And he remembered that the first pitch was an outside low strike and anticipated the next one.
‘Throwing a crossfire towards the body against a left-handed hitter is Lincecum’s signature move. But today’s umpire is calling a tight strike zone on inside pitches.’
He was even aware of the umpire’s tendencies.
This was possible because Ha-seong was a seasoned veteran who had played the game for many years.
But others didn’t know that.
That’s why it appeared that Ha-seong had simply recognized the ball with excellent vision.
‘With a one-ball, one-strike count, Lincecum’s best option is a deceptive pitch. But he’ll choose to challenge me head-on again.’
Ha-seong took his batting stance, anticipating the next pitch.
‘If it were me, I’d throw a high fastball to induce a swing and a miss.’
Ha-seong tightened his grip on the bat as he watched Lincecum wind up.
“Hiss-!!”
[He throws the third pitch!!]
The ball flew from Lincecum’s hand with incredible speed.
The pitch was a high fastball, aimed close to the body.
As expected, Ha-seong’s bat whipped around with tremendous force at the incoming fastball.
Clack-!!
[He hit it!!]
Making solid contact, the ball rocketed off the bat.
Ha-seong, feeling the satisfying impact, tossed the bat aside after his follow-through and began his jog to first base.
[Jeong Ha-seong throws the bat!! And the ball sails over the fence!!]
He celebrates his first home run in the exhibition game.