Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 215

The Villain on the Mound – Episode 215

Thanks to Ha-sung’s performance, the Athletics were seizing control of the game.

[7th inning, the Athletics currently lead 5 to 1.]

[The Yankees’ pitching faltered early, and despite using multiple pitchers, they couldn’t contain the Athletics’ batting lineup, spearheaded by Jung Ha-sung.]

A score of 5 to 1 in the late innings.

It was a deficit that would be difficult to overcome under normal circumstances.

Since the Athletics boasted a strong bullpen, most observers believed the game’s outcome was already decided.

Attention now shifted from the game’s result to Ha-sung’s individual achievement.

[Looking at the current batting order, it appears Jung Ha-sung will have another at-bat in the 8th inning.]

[That’s right. Jung Ha-sung has already delivered a stellar performance today with 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run, but fans’ expectations are focused on something else.]

[That’s the 9-game consecutive home run record.]

[Yes. With potentially one chance remaining, Jung Ha-sung will try to seize this opportunity by any means necessary.]

If he misses this chance, no one knows when Ha-sung will have another shot at the consecutive game home run record.

It wouldn’t be possible in the short term.

In fact, it was highly likely that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in his baseball career.

‘Because there was no data on me, the pitchers have been aggressively challenging me. But once this season’s data accumulates, they’ll start targeting my weaknesses from next year.’

The analytical capabilities of Major League Baseball were unmatched.

It was common for players who burst onto the scene to decline after their tendencies were thoroughly analyzed.

Knowing this, Ha-sung was determined to capitalize on this opportunity.

‘The ideal situation is with no runners on base.’

If there are runners on base, there’s a high probability they’ll intentionally walk him, as they did in the 3rd inning.

If they avoid a direct confrontation and rely on breaking ball battles, it’s difficult for Ha-sung to hit a home run, even for him.

But if the bases are empty, the situation changes.

‘If they avoid a head-on match even when there are no runners, the pride of Major Leaguers will be wounded.’

The world’s premier stage, Major League Baseball.

The players who compete on such a stage possess immense pride.

Abandoning that pride and backing down from a challenge wasn’t an easy decision to make.

Unless the game situation dictated otherwise.

‘If there are no runners, they will definitely compete.’

That was why Ha-sung wanted the bases clear.

And in the 8th inning, the game unfolded as Ha-sung had hoped.

[The Yankees’ 5th pitcher, Hamels, takes the mound.]

The introduction of the 5th pitcher.

Hamels was a rookie player with imposing height and a strong build.

Like a typical rookie, he displayed spirited pitching.

Thwack-!

“Strike!!”

[A 95-mile fastball that blazes through the heart of the strike zone!]

[The ball has serious weight. And he’s brimming with confidence.]

[Pure rookie energy.]

It was a pitch that invigorated the viewers.

And Hamels himself was pleased with the situation.

‘My stuff plays even in the Major Leagues!’

He was a player who had been called up to the Major League this season.

Only two weeks had passed.

During those two weeks, he had only appeared as a relief pitcher and faced a variety of hitters.

And so far, he had maintained a perfect ERA of 0, earning him recognition as a tremendous prospect.

Clang!!

[He makes contact! But it’s a high fly ball! The center fielder makes the catch almost effortlessly!]

[The ball carries significant power. He clearly timed it well, but the bat was pushed back, resulting in a routine fly ball.]

The heaviness of the ball was remarkable.

Since he was only pitching one inning, he could exert all his energy into each pitch.

As a result, his pitches overwhelmed the batters with maximum force.

It wasn’t easy to attack a pitcher who was unfamiliar and throwing with everything he had for a single inning.

‘The ball itself is definitely impressive.’

Ha-sung, standing in the on-deck circle, was analyzing his impressions while watching Hamels’ pitches.

‘The spin rate is high, and the velocity is good too. Naturally, the ball has to be heavy.’

He was a pitcher with many strengths.

‘But the weaknesses are also clear.’

Hamels delivered the ball with a windup.

His pitches crowded the batter, securing a favorable count.

And Ha-sung was convinced by what he saw.

‘Because he trusts his stuff too much, he’s pitching honestly.’

It’s not easy to predict what kind of pitch a pitcher will throw.

Especially, the more veteran they are, the more they adjust their pitches based on the situation, leading to many deceptive deliveries.

But Hamels was straightforward.

He throws fastballs most of the time and occasionally mixes in sliders to try and get a swing and a miss.

He was essentially a two-pitch pitcher.

That was enough information for now.

They haven’t faced each other much, and there isn’t sufficient data.

In addition, Hamels himself is brimming with confidence.

He believes he can overpower the batter with just two pitches.

‘But not me.’

Ha-sung has been an elite pitcher in both his past and present lives.

Naturally, he was adept at understanding the psychology of pitchers.

For him, grasping the mindset of Hamels, who had just debuted, was as easy as boiling ramen [a simple and quick task].

‘As his confidence grows, he won’t change his approach even in the match against me.’

His momentum is soaring right now.

In that state, he won’t shy away from a challenge.

In fact, he’ll likely be consumed with thoughts of striking him out and making a name for himself.

‘This will be easy.’

A smile crept onto Ha-sung’s lips.

It seemed that fate hadn’t abandoned his pursuit of a new record just yet.

* * *

[Hamels, having recorded two outs, now faces Jung Ha-sung, the best hitter in Major League Baseball.]

[This opportunity is incredibly important for Jung Ha-sung.]

[It’s his last chance to set a new consecutive game home run record.]

[That’s right. If he achieves this record, he will break the all-time Major League record.]

[Jung Ha-sung has already broken numerous records, but this would be his first in a major batting category.]

[But isn’t Hamels pitching exceptionally well?]

[That’s right. He’s delivering excellent pitches, easily retiring the previous two batters.]

Hamels’ dominant pitching made viewers uneasy.

-Hamels’ stuff is electric today.

-Even for Ha-sung, it won’t be easy to hit a guy like that.

-Is the home run record attempt about to fall short?

-Since his average fastball is over 95 miles per hour, it will be difficult to get a clean hit.

-Ha… I was really hoping for a consecutive home run…

-If he sets this record, it will be the first time a Korean has set a record in a major batting category.

-It’s a real shame.

Pessimistic reactions were already flooding online communities.

That’s how impressive Hamels’ pitching was.

And the first pitch between Ha-sung and Hamels mirrored the community’s sentiment.

Thwack-!

“Strike!!”

[He paints the outside corner with a low fastball! Hamels maintains his dominance with a 97-mile fastball!]

[He’s facing Jung Ha-sung, the best hitter in Major League Baseball, but Hamels’ confidence seems unshaken.]

Jung Ha-sung.

His name had become synonymous with Major League Baseball.

Naturally, the batters and pitchers who faced him couldn’t help but feel the pressure.

But occasionally, there were players who didn’t.

Hamels was one of them.

‘Jung Ha-sung, he’s definitely a great player, but anyway, he’s about the same age as me, right?’

He was a confident player.

Even with a superstar like Jung Ha-sung standing in front of him, he wasn’t intimidated.

‘No matter how great he is, he won’t be able to hit my stuff easily.’

The source of that confidence was his unwavering belief in his pitches.

A ball thrown with such conviction wouldn’t be easily hit by Ha-sung.

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[He makes contact with the pitch that was inside, but it goes foul!]

[It looks like he timed it well. It’s a foul ball because it was a mis-hit.]

[Jung Ha-sung is now in a two-strike count! A red light is flashing for his chances of setting a new record!]

No balls, two strikes.

The pitcher held an overwhelming advantage in the count.

Dark clouds seemed to be gathering over Ha-sung’s consecutive game home run record attempt.

But Ha-sung himself didn’t seem fazed.

‘His pitches are definitely deceptive.’

The opponent, Hamels, was impressive.

He wasn’t intimidated, even against him.

The expression “water has risen” [meaning someone is at the peak of their abilities] was fitting.

A situation brimming with confidence.

‘You have to be careful in times like this, but…….’

Ha-sung stepped back into the batter’s box.

Then, he adjusted his stance, lightly gripped the bat, and assumed his batting posture.

‘It’s difficult for rookies to handle these moments.’

His pitches were working.

Even against the best player in Major League Baseball.

That fact was enough to ease the pitcher’s nerves.

And it gave him confidence.

But if you become too consumed by it, it becomes a problem.

‘If I were him, I would throw a slider here to induce a swing and a miss. But if it’s a rookie full of confidence…….’

What kind of pitch will Hamels throw?

One pitch came to Ha-sung’s mind.

‘He’ll challenge me directly.’

The possibilities were narrowed from two to one.

Ha-sung heightened his focus.

At the same time, the scenery around him seemed to fade into darkness.

Only one thing was visible.

Only the ball that Hamels was holding.

Unaware of Ha-sung’s heightened focus, Hamels telegraphed his intentions.

‘I’ll strike him out right here.’

The catcher was momentarily hesitant.

The conventional wisdom would be to throw a breaking ball in this situation.

But Hamels was in top form.

It was also the catcher’s job to support a pitcher with good momentum.

The hesitation was fleeting.

‘Okay. Throw whatever you want!’

The catcher also believed in Hamels’ confidence.

With the catcher’s approval, Hamels began his windup.

[Hamels and the catcher exchange signals! He goes into a windup!]

[You have to watch out for a breaking ball here!]

The commentators also anticipated a breaking ball.

But the pitch that Hamels unleashed with a stride was a faster and more powerful fastball than ever before.

Whoosh-!

The ball hurtled from the mound, slicing through the air and reaching Ha-sung in an instant.

At that moment.

Whooong-!!

Ha-sung’s bat swung with incredible force.

And it connected with the ball as if to shatter it.

Clang-!!

With a resounding crack, the ball rocketed away.

Simultaneously, Ha-sung flung the bat, sending it spinning behind him.

[He hit it!! And……!! Jung Ha-sung throws the bat!!]

Ha-sung, having discarded the bat, stood and watched the soaring ball.

The ball, traveling like a clothesline, was rapidly clearing the outfield.

The center fielder attempted to track the ball but soon gave up.

Ha-sung, witnessing this, slowly began his run towards first base.

As he reached the halfway point, the spectators erupted from their seats.

“Waaaaaa-!!”

Simultaneous with the spectators’ cheers, the replay on the giant screen showed the ball landing deep within the stands.

[It’s goneeeee-!! Jung Ha-sung!! He crushes a 99-mile fastball in a no-ball, two-strike count!! Sending it over the fence!!]

The commentator’s ecstatic voice reverberated throughout the United States and Korea.

And a message appeared at the bottom of the live broadcast screen.

[Jung Ha-sung achieves 9 consecutive home runs!!]

It was the moment a new Major League record was established.