Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 199

Mound Villain – 199

Mound Villain 199

The Major League Opening Day.

It was the day the baseball instincts, dormant during the winter, reawakened.

Baseball fans around the world eagerly awaited this day.

But this year, even more fans were anticipating the game.

The Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland Athletics, was packed.

The fans’ attention was laser-focused, with all seats filled well before the first pitch.

“Normally, the stands wouldn’t be full until well after the game started. But today, all the seats are already taken.”

“That means they’re expecting great things from Jung Ha-sung.”

“Do you think he’ll perform as well in today’s game as he did in the exhibition games?”

“It’s possible. C.J. Wilson, the starting pitcher for Texas, is a great pitcher, but Chris Lee was more threatening during the spring.”

“Texas must be kicking themselves for not holding onto Lee.”

“The Rangers invested in some strange places this year. Signing Brand Webb was one of them.”

Last year, Texas aimed to advance to the World Series.

But they failed and went on a signing spree in response.

Thanks to that, many new players joined Texas this season.

However, the general consensus wasn’t very positive.

Many people criticized their spending choices.

As such, Texas’s prospects weren’t highly rated this season.

But Ha-sung’s thoughts were different.

‘Texas will advance to the World Series again this season.’

He had experienced the future.

And he knew how powerful Texas would be during this period.

Their performance was so noteworthy that he’d heard about them even in Korea.

‘The lineup, led by Adrian Beltre, will explode offensively, and the pitching will be consistently solid. Because of that, they will reign as the American League champions.’

Unlike others, he knew the future, so he knew he shouldn’t underestimate them.

Knowing that, Ha-sung prepared to step into the batter’s box, maintaining his focus.

‘The first game is important.’

It’s his first official game as a hitter.

His performance here will significantly influence his role.

‘No matter how well I did in the exhibition games, the regular season is what matters. If I mess up in the actual game, the front office won’t support my two-way aspirations.’

Ha-sung had prepared to work in the front office before.

That’s why he understood their mindset well.

‘The front office can always oppose my two-way aspirations.’

In the current situation, he couldn’t easily disregard the front office’s decisions.

Of course, he had some alternatives.

‘If things go wrong, I can just leave the team.’

He was considering leaving the team to pursue his goal.

After all, the Athletics weren’t a team that could fully accommodate his ambitions.

The number of teams that could support him was small enough to count on one hand, even in the entire Major League.

Even those teams were questioning whether they could afford his salary.

But Ha-sung wasn’t worried.

‘The market logic is simple. If I become a unique star, teams will want me. When that time comes, I won’t have to worry about my salary.’

A unique star.

To become that, he had to succeed as a two-way player.

What Ha-sung had to do first was deliver a solid performance on the mound.

[Pitcher Jung Ha-sung is taking the mound!]

[Jung Ha-sung, who is starting his second consecutive opening game, seems to have more pressure on his shoulders this season as he challenges the uncharted territory of being a two-way player.]

[He needs to show a good performance here to continue his challenge as a hitter.]

A good performance in the exhibition games only guaranteed him a chance to start.

That was a fact that everyone, including Ha-sung, knew.

[Pitcher Jung Ha-sung, exchanging signs with the catcher.]

Ha-sung, on the mound, appeared calm and collected as usual.

He exchanged signs naturally and smoothly transitioned into his pitching stance.

The batter felt the pressure.

‘This guy, has he gotten bigger since last year?’

Texas was one of the teams that had faced Ha-sung many times.

Although it was only his third year since his debut, the Rangers players knew him well because they had played numerous games against him.

But seeing the pitcher in front of them appearing larger than last year, they couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

In addition, Ha-sung was a pitcher who had achieved tremendous success.

From the batters’ perspective, that added to the pressure.

And that pressure slowed down the batters’ reactions.

Thwack-!

“Strike!!”

[The first pitch is a powerful fastball that nearly hits the batter! The speed is clocked at 100 miles per hour!]

[As expected, Jung Ha-sung! He puts the pressure on the batter by throwing a 100-mph fastball right away!]

Ha-sung and Trevor, his catcher, immediately recognized the batters’ hesitation.

And they began to exploit that weakness.

Thwack-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout!! He strikes out the first batter and records his first strikeout of the 11th season!]

Starting with the first strikeout, the second batter grounded out to shortstop, and he got the third batter out after a 4-pitch battle.

“Heave-!!”

Whoosh!!

Thwack!!

Swoosh-!!

“Swing! Strike out!!”

[The batter’s bat swings in vain at the diving splitter! Jung Ha-sung easily gets the third out!!]

[Is there any pitcher who can get outs so easily against Major League batters? As expected, he shows a performance worthy of being a two-time Cy Young Award winner [Award given to the best pitcher in each league]!!]

The fans responded to Ha-sung’s dominant pitching with cheers.

A heated reaction occurred not only at the stadium but also online.

-Jung Ha-sung is awesome again this year.

-I was worried when he said he would be a two-way player. But there’s no need to worry.

-Worrying about Jung Ha-sung seems to be the most unnecessary thing to do.

-LOL, true.

-He’s throwing about 101 miles per hour effortlessly today.

-The Major League’s top batters can’t even touch the ball, lol.

-How did someone like him appear in Korea?

-Amazing.

-I had to change my underwear.

Reflecting the fans’ enthusiastic response, all kinds of metrics, including viewership ratings, were soaring.

It was the moment when Ha-sung’s marketability was proven once again.

And people’s expectations didn’t end there.

[Bottom of the 1st inning, the Athletics’ attack begins.]

[This attack is very important. Because it’s the moment when Jung Ha-sung can step into the batter’s box for the first time as a two-way player.]

[My heart is already pounding.]

[It’s a historic moment. There has never been a player who has attempted to be a two-way player in the 120-year history of Major League Baseball.]

[What about Babe Ruth?]

[Babe Ruth should be seen as a slightly different case. At that time, baseball was still developing.]

[Should we think of it as similar to outstanding players in high school baseball being two-way players?]

[That’s correct. Babe Ruth was a player who had talent in both pitching and hitting. Above all, he should be seen as a case where he switched to being a hitter from the moment he showed talent in hitting.]

With Ha-sung’s declaration of being a two-way player, comparisons to Babe Ruth often surfaced.

Perhaps because he was the only player in Major League history who could be compared to him.

Being compared to a legendary player highlighted how unconventional Ha-sung’s actions were.

Everyone’s attention was focused on whether he would actually step into the batter’s box.

And as if the baseball gods wanted to see it, the Athletics’ bats came alive at the top of the 1st inning.

Clang-!!

[He hit it! The lead batter easily advances to first base!]

With the lead batter reaching base, the Athletics had a runner on.

Clang!!

[A ball hit sharply down the 3rd base line! The 3rd baseman dives to catch the ball! He immediately gets up and checks 2nd base! But judging that it’s too late, he throws the ball to 1st base!]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[The first out is recorded! However, the lead runner successfully advances to 2nd base, getting into scoring position!]

[Good defense and aggressive base running on display.]

With one out, the runner is on 2nd base.

The 3rd batter stepped into the batter’s box, and the 4th batter was preparing in the on-deck circle.

And as Ha-sung appeared at the entrance of the dugout, the stadium erupted.

“It’s Jung Ha-sung!”

“Are we going to see him hit from the beginning of the game?”

“He really came out wearing a helmet!”

“If just one more player gets on base, we can see him!”

“Hitters, focus!!”

The Athletics players gained strength from the fans’ cheers and put pressure on the Rangers’ pitcher.

Clang!

“Foul!!”

[The 7th pitch is a foul, and the count remains at two strikes and two balls!]

[The lineup’s focus is evident.]

[In today’s game, the Athletics’ lineup is fiercely challenging the pitcher.]

[That’s right. It seems that the cheers of the home fans are a great help.]

The pressure eventually led to a mistake.

Thud!

“Ball! Base on balls!!”

[The pitch misses the zone!! After a 10-pitch battle, he gets on base with a walk! With 1 out, the runners are on 1st and 2nd base!!]

[The 4th batter is entering the batter’s box, and Jung Ha-sung is finally showing his face in the on-deck circle!]

The local camera focused on Ha-sung rather than the batter stepping into the batter’s box.

And the local commentators also emphasized his appearance.

[The Athletics’ ace, Jung Ha-sung, is standing in the on-deck circle today with a helmet and bat.]

[What was once only possible in imagination is happening in reality.]

[Who would have thought this moment would come?]

[Probably no one would have.]

[We are watching the first player in Major League history to attempt to be a two-way player.]

Ha-sung’s attempt to be a two-way player was something that even experts deemed impossible.

He kept saying he could do it, but people didn’t believe it because it was such a difficult feat.

But now that it was becoming a reality, expectations exploded.

People wanted to see it happen sooner.

The moment when Ha-sung makes Major League history.

Was it because that desire was so strong?

Clang!!

[He hit it! A high fly ball!!]

[It looks like the center fielder will be able to catch it.]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[He caught it! The second out is recorded, and the runners remain on 1st and 2nd base!]

[Finally, Jung Ha-sung enters the batter’s box.]

Ha-sung entered the batter’s box in the 1st inning.

* * *

The camera zoomed in on Ha-sung.

[Jung Ha-sung is walking to the batter’s box.]

The viewership rating soared with Ha-sung’s appearance.

Korean media outlets released breaking news alerts.

[(Breaking News) Jung Ha-sung to the batter’s box in the bottom of the 1st inning of the opening game!]

[(Breaking News) Historic first two-way challenge in Major League Baseball!]

News related to Ha-sung’s two-way attempt was also trending on social media.

-Jung Ha-sung is up to bat.

-Doesn’t he always play?

-He’s batting now.

-Really?

-Yeah. Two outs, runners on 1st and 2nd.

-If he gets a hit here, it’ll be amazing.

-Wow… he’s really doing it.

-Jung Ha-sung is a god!

The TV viewership ratings continued to climb, and the atmosphere at the stadium was electric.

Fans who couldn’t get into the stadium watched Ha-sung’s at-bat on large screens in pubs and restaurants.

Ha-sung on the TV screen stood in the batter’s box and slowly began his pre-batting routine.

The camera captured Ha-sung’s every move, not wanting to miss a single detail.

Following his routine, Ha-sung gripped the bat with both hands and assumed his batting stance.

[Jung Ha-sung has finished preparing and is standing in the batter’s box!!]