Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 202

Mound Villain – Episode 202

[Pitcher Records a Cycle Hit!]

That was the headline plastered across the main page of today’s news portal.

Michael, sitting in his LA apartment, let out a disbelieving laugh.

“What is this nonsense? Are reporters just making up headlines now?”

Like Korea, the United States was also grappling with an increasing amount of fake news.

Naturally, internet users were growing weary of such sensationalism.

Michael, too, had become jaded after being fooled by countless fabricated stories, so he didn’t immediately believe the article’s claim.

“Huh?”

Michael’s eyes widened as he scanned the article he’d clicked on to investigate.

A familiar player was featured prominently, a photo of him at the plate, bat in hand.

“It’s Ha-sung?”

Jeong Ha-sung.

He was the hottest player in Major League Baseball at the moment.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, he’d broken numerous Major League records in a remarkably short time.

The fact that he’d declared his intention to be a two-way player [a player who both pitches and bats] before the season started was common knowledge among Major League fans.

“Did he really start?”

As a die-hard Dodgers fan, he primarily followed news about his team’s players.

That was why he was unsure if Ha-sung had actually started as a two-way player.

After all, the pennant race [the final stage of the regular season] had just begun.

“Let’s see…”

Intrigued, Michael read the article carefully.

[Jeong Ha-sung of the Oakland Athletics has achieved a Major League first.

He started as the starting pitcher and fifth hitter, pitching seven scoreless innings and achieving a cycle hit as a batter.]

Michael’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“Is that even possible?”

It seemed like an impossible feat.

For a pitcher to throw seven scoreless innings and simultaneously hit for the cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game].

[Jeong Ha-sung is the only player in Major League history to have achieved this record.]

“Of course!”

Michael wore a dumbfounded expression as he absorbed the article’s contents.

What kind of player could pull off such a feat?

“This isn’t a comic book…”

Even in a comic, such a record would be criticized for being unrealistic.

That’s how absurd the accomplishment was.

But to achieve it in reality?

“I can’t believe it.”

Michael went to YouTube and began searching for related videos.

Numerous videos had already been uploaded, making them easy to find.

The videos showed Ha-sung continuing his incredible hitting streak and completing the cycle.

Watching him, Michael couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Oakland has a player like this?”

The Oakland Athletics.

They were one of the small-market clubs that represented Major League Baseball.

It was hard to believe they had a player of this caliber.

“What are the Dodgers doing? They should buy a player like this quickly.”

Small market teams couldn’t afford to hold onto big players.

Their salaries were astronomical.

That’s why fans of big market teams were getting antsy.

Michael wasn’t alone in his thoughts.

Fans flooded the websites of big market clubs daily, posting articles related to Ha-sung.

-What is our club’s front office doing? Not buying Ha-sung!

-You should grab a player like Jeong Ha-sung early on!

-Move quickly!

-Get Jeong Ha-sung instead of guys like Victor!

-You have to bring him in no matter how much it costs!

The fans’ demands created immense pressure that began to suffocate the club’s management.

And in reality, even without the fans’ demands, the front offices were expressing interest in Ha-sung through various channels.

“What’s Oakland’s reaction?”

“They don’t seem to be considering letting him go right away. We offered conditions including a trade using players as well as cash, but General Manager Chris hasn’t budged.”

“Damn… Just as I expected.”

One of the teams actively pursuing Ha-sung was the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox were a team deeply rooted in Major League Baseball history, earning them the title of a prestigious club.

More importantly, they were one of the big market teams that represented Major League Baseball, and they could afford Ha-sung’s massive salary.

That’s why they were seriously considering signing him.

But Oakland wasn’t being cooperative.

“He still has service time left [the amount of time a player has played in the major leagues, which affects their eligibility for free agency], and although his salary of $20 million is a burden for Oakland, it’s at a manageable level, so they don’t seem to be in a hurry to sell him.”

“Above all, it is estimated that Jeong Ha-sung’s salary will jump by at least two times at the end of this season.”

Ha-sung’s salary this season was $20 million.

Twice that would be $40 million.

Before the season, such predictions were unheard of.

However, as the season began and Ha-sung embarked on his two-way career, public opinion shifted rapidly.

“A salary of $40 million…”

Red Sox General Manager Nick chuckled.

“Even Sabathia, the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball right now, can’t break $30 million. $40 million…”

Rodrigo, who was originally the highest-paid player, had his contract with the Yankees terminated this season.

If he had stayed, he would have earned a salary of over $30 million.

Regardless, the important thing was that $40 million was being mentioned as Ha-sung’s potential value.

“If his current performance continues until the end of the season, it won’t be just wishful thinking.”

“That’s right.”

“He also recorded 2 hits and 1 home run in 4 at-bats as a designated hitter in the second game, hitting home runs in two consecutive games.”

“The only way to describe it is amazing.”

Home runs in two consecutive games.

It’s not an easy feat even for seasoned hitters and slugger-type players.

But Ha-sung was continuing that streak after the opening game.

The player who shocked Major League Baseball as a pitcher was now shocking them as a hitter.

“Keep contacting Oakland no matter what. Try to match their conditions as closely as possible and let’s make a deal to give them what we can.”

Nick was determined to acquire Ha-sung.

And Nick wasn’t alone in his desire.

All the clubs in Major League Baseball with deep pockets wanted Ha-sung.

It wasn’t just about his skills.

[Jeong Ha-sung, No. 1 in Major League Uniform Sales!]

[Jeong Ha-sung outpaces 2nd place with overwhelming sales, proving his star power!]

[American amateur baseball players are imitating Jeong Ha-sung’s bat flip!]

[The number of junior baseball players in the United States who want to be two-way players is soaring!]

Ha-sung’s two-way career began to influence the entire United States.

His star power skyrocketed, and he began to change the paradigm of baseball.

The proof was the increasing number of players challenging the two-way career, which had previously been considered taboo.

[Recently, the number of players trying to play both pitcher and hitter in amateur baseball has been increasing. What do you think about this?]

[There are parts that I am worried about and parts that I am looking forward to.]

[Shall we start with the parts that you are worried about?]

[The biggest concern is that players will be injured or their skills will decline if they try to play both pitcher and hitter too hard.]

Experts were most concerned about the potential decline in skills during amateur years.

Challenging a two-way career meant increased exposure to the risk of injury.

Since they had to play multiple positions, excessive physical exertion could occur.

If their physical strength decreased, they could be more susceptible to injuries.

Injuries sustained at a young age were a decisive factor that could degrade a player’s skills, so this was a major concern.

[Then are there only negative aspects?]

[No. First of all, playing both pitcher and hitter can be a decisive factor that can increase the demand for Major League Baseball.]

[So you’re saying that it can reverse the recent decline in popularity of Major League Baseball?]

[That’s right. The fact is that Major League Baseball has been going on without much change. Playing both pitcher and hitter can be a means to bring about a big change in Major League Baseball.]

[There are also statistics showing that the number of newly introduced fans is increasing due to Jeong Ha-sung’s two-way career.]

Ha-sung’s two-way career was creating a massive buzz.

This wasn’t just a problem for one team.

It had become such a significant issue that it could now influence the entire league.

In that environment, Ha-sung’s performance continued unabated.

[Jeong Ha-sung, who showed great performance in the first and second games of the opening series, has not yet recorded a hit in the third game.]

Expectations for Ha-sung were high, as he had hit home runs in two consecutive games.

But he was quiet in today’s game.

[In fact, it is difficult to record a hit in every game. Especially since Jeong Ha-sung continues to play in the game after starting as the starting pitcher in the opening game…]

It was as the commentator was defending Ha-sung that, as Ha-sung stepped up to bat for his third at-bat, he swung at the first pitch with all his might.

Thwack-!!

[He hit it!!]

Anyone could see that it was a well-hit ball.

And Ha-sung, the person involved, felt it most directly.

That feeling soon manifested as an action.

Whoosh!!

[Jeong Ha-sung! He threw his bat!!]

The bat flip, a violation of baseball’s unwritten rules.

Despite the lingering complaints from some players, Ha-sung was sticking to his bat flip.

And the fact that it came out meant that the outcome was already decided.

[The ball went over!! Jeong Ha-sung records home runs in three consecutive games!! The home run he had been waiting for explodes!!]

Home runs in three consecutive games.

His record streak continued while the afterglow of hitting for the cycle had not yet faded.

* * *

[Jeong Ha-sung achieves home runs in three consecutive games!]

[Jeong Ha-sung, who is leading the entire Major League in home runs after recording home runs in three consecutive games since the opening game!]

[Is he a pitcher? Is he a hitter?]

[Jeong Ha-sung, who is continuing his amazing performance as a hitter following his victory in the opening game!]

[His limits are endless!]

Praise poured in for him, who was performing exceptionally well as a two-way player.

The experts who had expressed concern when he declared his two-way career now published articles praising him with a change of heart, as always.

But there were still some who expressed concern.

[Jeong Ha-sung’s performance so far is amazing. But he has to prepare for his second appearance.]

[Will the second starting game, in which he has to pitch without rest, have an impact?]

[It is clear that there will be a problem in the starting game that he will be playing in without recovering his stamina!]

The grounds presented by the experts who expressed concern were the same.

That is, Ha-sung had not taken a proper rest since his first start.

When a starting pitcher pitches once, they inflict a huge amount of stress on their body.

They needed time to recover from this stress.

But Ha-sung did not have that rest period.

Naturally, the consensus was that his next appearance would be affected.

Meanwhile, Oakland was preparing for its second series.

[Oakland’s manager Tony confirms Jeong Ha-sung as the second pitcher in the series!]

[Ha-sung doesn’t rest even in the first game of the second series! It is confirmed that he will play as a designated hitter!]

[A schedule without rest after the first appearance! Will he be okay?]

Concerns were mounting ahead of his second appearance.

All baseball fans and officials were focused on him.