Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 205

Villain on the Mound – Episode 205

Ha-sung stepped up to the plate.

“Waaaaaaah-!!”

“Knock one over the fence!!”

“This is the chance!!”

The cheers of the crowd made the stadium feel like it was about to collapse.

It wasn’t just the expectation of scoring a run.

Fans were excited by the prospect of witnessing a scene that would go down in Major League history.

[While it wouldn’t be an official record, if Jung Ha-sung hits a home run or gets an RBI here, we could see the incredibly rare sight of one player leading the entire game, both pitching and batting.]

The best players gather and do their best to win the game.

That was the stage called Major League Baseball.

But a player pitching from the mound and then scoring the runs himself to win?

It was something almost unimaginable, yet it was about to happen in reality.

A situation that made even the spectators nervous.

However, Ha-sung, the person involved, stood at the plate with an expressionless face.

‘It would be ideal if I could hit one out of here…….’

A home run isn’t that easy to come by.

Ha-sung knew that very well.

‘If I deliberately try to swing for it, there’s a high chance I won’t get a good swing.’

The same went for swinging and pitching.

Not everything happens just because you aim for it.

It had to come naturally, as it did during regular training.

That’s why he was confident.

‘My amount of training surpasses that of other players.’

It’s true that all players work hard.

But there wasn’t a single player who had put everything on the line like he had.

He could be certain of that much.

He knew all about the development of skills carried over from his past life.

Because he had utilized and incorporated them so thoroughly, his efforts produced results that far surpassed those of others.

‘That pitcher doesn’t have anywhere to back down here either.’

Above all, he had a good grasp of the pitcher’s psychology.

This was a unique insight made possible by living a life prepared as both a player and a coach.

And this insight was highly accurate.

‘I have to capitalize on this moment.’

As Ha-sung thought, the pitcher was cornered.

‘I don’t mind giving up a run. But not to that guy.’

As a pitcher, he didn’t want to give up a run to another pitcher.

Especially not at a moment like this.

‘He’s starting as a pitcher and even batting? How much is he looking down on us?’

Ha-sung had never thought that way.

He was simply challenging the unknown.

But those around him didn’t think so.

Some players thought Ha-sung’s choice was arrogant.

That’s because everyone thinks differently.

Even when looking at the same thing, some people think it’s a challenge.

But others describe it as arrogant and unnecessary.

Ha-sung stood at the plate, receiving those two different perspectives.

[Jung Ha-sung is going through his routine and stepping up to the plate.]

[The bases are loaded; this could be a pivotal moment in today’s game.]

Amid the crossing of two gazes.

Ha-sung, standing at the plate, focused his mind and entered his own world.

‘Focus……. Focus……. Focus…….’

Pitching and batting.

The mechanisms are different, and everything is different.

But there was one thing they had in common.

That was concentration.

The outcome depends on how much you concentrate on the situation.

Ha-sung’s concentration was among the highest of all players.

That’s why he was able to produce the best results in both pitching and batting.

‘Focus…….’

After his regression [reincarnation or rebirth].

He faced a peculiar phenomenon.

That was that when a high degree of concentration was exerted, the surrounding scenery was dyed in darkness.

‘Focus……!’

And that was the case now as well.

It was the first time this phenomenon had appeared today.

A phenomenon that didn’t appear no matter how hard he tried to concentrate before.

The surrounding scenery was dyed in darkness, and all he could see was the pitcher.

Ha-sung’s concentration didn’t stop there.

‘More…… more…… more……!’

As he further increased his concentration, even the pitcher’s figure disappeared.

All that remained was the ball in his hand.

The ball slowly moved, drawing an arc towards a specific location.

And it flew with intense power.

‘I see it.’

The ball seemed to be stopped.

But it was moving slowly.

‘If it’s this trajectory…….’

Seeing the movement of the ball and predicting its trajectory.

It was an ability born from numerous experiences and an astonishing level of concentration.

Just because concentration increases doesn’t mean everything is over.

If the increased concentration isn’t matched by athletic ability, it’s all for naught.

But Ha-sung’s athletic ability was high enough to keep up with his concentration.

Whoosh-!!

He swung the bat according to the visible trajectory.

Like a hawk preying on its food, he snatched the flying ball.

Crack-!!

It was perfect timing.

That’s why a refreshingly pleasant reverberation echoed across the ground.

The moment the bat, having finished its follow-through to the very end, touched his back.

His concentration broke.

“Waaaaaaah-!!”

At the same time, the cheers of the crowd were heard, and he saw the batted ball flying far away.

Ha-sung watched it and threw the returning bat as it was.

Swish-!!

Along with the bat flying in a dazzling spin, the batted ball fell outside the fence.

[It’s a home run!! Jung Ha-sung hits a grand slam!! He creates a huge home run and seals his victory!!]

Ha-sung’s grand slam exploded.

* * *

The winning pitcher of the game hits a grand slam.

A situation that could only be seen in cartoons happened in reality.

-Wow, he really hit it lol

-Wow…… a home run here?

-Is Jung Ha-sung really human?

-Crazy lol

-How can he do that?

-Wow…… I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

He not only started as a pitcher but also hit a grand slam.

People were enthusiastic about the cartoon-like performance.

But it wasn’t the first time.

-Wasn’t this the second time?

-Yeah, he hit a grand slam before when he was playing under National League rules, although he wasn’t a two-way player.

-It’s amazing that he’s done the same thing twice.

Ha-sung had already had the experience of becoming a winning pitcher after hitting a grand slam in the past.

Therefore, the shock that resonated with fans was bound to be slightly reduced.

Of course, it was still a great thing.

However, there was one thing that was different from then.

-But isn’t he going to achieve a perfect game at this rate?

Perfect game.

It was the best record a pitcher could achieve.

A record so difficult to achieve that it had only occurred a few times in Major League history.

But the player who hit the grand slam is simultaneously pursuing it?

People began to have expectations about this unbelievable fact.

-Is it really possible?

-It’s already the 7th inning. The possibility is high enough.

-Only 9 outs left.

-He’s already achieved the grand slam, all that’s left is to get the outs.

-Has there ever been a player who has achieved both a grand slam and a perfect game at the same time?

-Of course not.

-In the first place, the fact that a pitcher hit a grand slam is rare, right?

-Isn’t it? lol

There were even hitters who couldn’t hit a grand slam during their careers.

But a pitcher hits a grand slam?

It’s so rare that it can be counted on one hand in Major League history.

But a pitcher who simultaneously achieved a perfect game and a grand slam?

There was no way.

The first moment recorded in history.

Viewers were excited by the fact that they could be a part of that moment.

There was no need to mention the fans who visited the stadium.

[Jung Ha-sung, who hit the grand slam, is taking the mound in the top of the 7th inning.]

[I can’t believe I’m broadcasting such a scene.]

[Commentator, haven’t you been playing baseball for a long time? Have you ever imagined such a scene?]

[I think my imagination is poor. Not even once. I didn’t think such a scene would come out even in amateur baseball.]

A scene that is hard to even imagine.

But it became a reality and appeared before their eyes.

Boom-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Jung Ha-sung strikes out the first batter!]

The protagonist who created that scene was still dominating the mound with a powerful presence.

[Jung Ha-sung on the mound is the Grim Reaper himself to the batters!]

[I really wouldn’t want to face this player as a batter.]

It’s a situation that many people are looking forward to.

It wouldn’t be strange to feel pressured.

The manager thought so.

But Ha-sung on the mound showed no signs of it.

Boom-!

“Strike!!”

[A powerful ball is lodged in the mitt! The speed is 101 miles!!]

He shook his head at the sight of him throwing balls reaching his top speed one after another.

‘I thought a complete game shutout would be impossible since he’s even batting. I was underestimating him too much.’

In fact, it’s not the manager’s fault.

When Ha-sung declared that he would be a two-way player, everyone thought the same thing.

That they would no longer be able to see Ha-sung pitch a complete game shutout.

But Ha-sung easily shattered those concerns.

‘A perfect game…….’

A perfect game that is difficult to do even once in a lifetime.

He was already challenging it for the second time.

That alone was amazing, but Ha-sung had done even more.

Boom-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[The second out count goes up!!]

A perfect game pitcher who hit a grand slam.

Tony shook his head at the sight of him making this absurd situation a reality.

‘We can’t evaluate him with our common sense.’

It was the moment he realized that once again.

* * *

7th inning.

Ha-sung easily turned away three batters.

He had only 6 outs left.

The moment he achieves that, he will become the one and only player in Major League history.

[In the 130-year history of Major League Baseball, there has never been a pitcher who has achieved a perfect game twice.]

People’s expectations rose.

Conversely, the concentration of the players on the opposing team, the Blue Jays, increased.

“Two perfect games?”

The players also knew.

What kind of record they were becoming sacrifices for.

“No way.”

That’s why they raised their concentration.

“It’s true that he’s a great pitcher. But we’re also Major Leaguers. We can’t be sacrifices for two perfect games!”

José Bautista, who had become the new hero of the Blue Jays, raised his voice.

The current situation of the Blue Jays was very bad.

They sold players for rebuilding reasons and were passive in recruiting.

The locker room leader was absent, and there was a lack of driving force to unite the players.

But José Bautista was different.

He was a rising star and became a player with a huge salary.

Although he lacked experience, he had experience hitting 50 home runs.

His words were enough to boost the morale of the Blue Jays players.

“We won’t be defeated like this.”

“I’ll bring him down!”

“We can’t be sacrifices for a perfect game to a pitcher who even hit a grand slam!”

The Blue Jays’ morale rose.

* * *

Top of the 8th inning.

Ha-sung sensed something strange.

‘The atmosphere has changed.’

He sensed it from the 4th batter, José Bautista, who stepped up to the plate.

‘Has his concentration increased?’

He could tell just by looking.

That José Bautista’s concentration had increased significantly.

‘So, he’s not going to be easily defeated.’

Ha-sung raised his tension.

‘I’ve never underestimated him.’

He maintained his concentration and went into his windup.

‘If the opponent is strong, I’ll crush them in their strong state.’

The Blue Jays’ morale rose.

That became a catalyst that stimulated Ha-sung’s fighting spirit.