Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 220

Mound Villain – Episode 220

Mound Villain Episode 220

Four consecutive home runs.

His pace was extraordinary.

The fans’ expectations soared.

[Jung Ha-sung’s pace is incredible.]

[At this rate, we can expect more than 20 home runs.]

The commentators also began to anticipate how many home runs Ha-sung would hit.

And Ha-sung’s run lived up to those expectations.

Crack-!!

Crack!!

Crack-!!

The consecutive home runs ended at five, but his home run race didn’t stop there.

He quickly surpassed 10 and raced towards 15.

[Jung Ha-sung still has six outs remaining! Yet he’s already hitting 15 home runs; his monstrous power is astonishing!]

The rules of the Major League Home Run Derby often change.

Currently, the player who hits the most home runs within 10 outs advances to the next round.

In the future, there would be a time limit, but not yet.

Because of this, interest in the Home Run Derby was low.

Players would wait for good pitches, slowing down the tempo.

But today was different.

“Was the Home Run Derby always this fun?”

“This isn’t boring at all.”

“Until last year, the tempo was slow and boring.”

The audience was able to focus on the Home Run Derby.

Ha-sung didn’t wait for good pitches.

He swung at every ball that came into his zone.

Yet, the batted balls frequently landed in the stands.

Other participants who watched him shook their heads.

“Isn’t that guy completely insane?”

“Tell me about it.”

“He’s hitting almost every ball and turning them all into home runs.”

“At that pace, he doesn’t seem like he’ll be eliminated in the second round, right?”

“He’ll run out of energy.”

The Home Run Derby doesn’t end in the first round.

The second round and the final third round are held consecutively.

If you use too much energy in the first round, your stamina will drop in the next round, and you won’t be able to swing properly.

In other words, you need to conserve your energy.

But Ha-sung didn’t show any signs of that.

From start to finish.

He was swinging his bat with all his might.

At this pace, his stamina would definitely plummet in the second round.

But.

“Waaaaaah-!!”

“The crowd’s reaction is no joke?”

“It’s probably because there are so many home runs from the first round.”

“Honestly, if he’s hitting like that, I’d be cheering too.”

“I don’t think there’s been this much cheering in a Home Run Derby recently.”

The crowd’s reaction was hotter than ever.

The participants waiting felt their hearts pounding as they watched.

‘He’s pulling off something interesting.’

‘He’s already over 16.’

‘I can’t lose to a guy who’s both a pitcher and a hitter.’

‘I won’t let him hog all the spotlight.’

Superstar.

That meant they were players who represented the league.

It goes without saying that their pride was incredibly high.

They were the ones who always thought they were the best.

Above all, their competitiveness was beyond the level of ordinary people.

That competitiveness was why they were in their current positions.

They were watching Ha-sung’s performance right before their eyes.

It was only natural that the spark of competition would ignite.

‘I want my turn to come quickly.’

A hotter-than-ever sense of competition was making the Home Run Derby even more exciting.

And.

Crack-!!

[He hit it!! Jung Ha-sung makes his 17th home run!!]

Ha-sung’s race was not over.

* * *

Crack-!!

[He hit it!! The batted ball rises high!!]

[This one won’t make it over.]

As the commentator said.

The batted ball, which had risen high, quickly lost its momentum and failed to clear the fence.

“Out!!”

[The last out count is up! Jung Ha-sung’s first round of the Home Run Derby comes to an end!]

Ha-sung’s first round came to an end.

At that moment, the audience all stood up and applauded him.

“Waaaaaah-!!”

“The best!!”

“This was the most fun Home Run Derby ever!”

“Jung Ha-sung, you’re the best!!”

It was an incredible roar of cheers, even though the Home Run Derby wasn’t over yet.

It was only natural that such cheers would erupt.

[The audience is all standing and applauding.]

[It seems like a natural reaction. Jung Ha-sung hit a whopping 29 home runs in the first round, surpassing the 28 recorded by Josh Hamilton in the 2008 season, setting a new record.]

[A new record in his first Home Run Derby… That’s really amazing.]

[It’s really hard to gauge Jung Ha-sung’s limits.]

Single-round record.

Ha-sung set another incredible record.

It wasn’t just a new record.

Ha-sung hit 29 home runs and finished his round in a very short time.

In other words, he didn’t just wait for good batted balls.

Was that why?

[The second batter, Prince Fielder, steps up to the plate!!]

Prince Fielder, of course.

[The third batter, Robinson Canó, comes to the plate.]

Even Robinson Canó.

Most of the batters continued batting at a fast pace.

That didn’t mean home runs weren’t being hit.

-Isn’t this year’s Home Run Derby awesome?

-Seriously, the batters’ tempo is fast, and above all, it’s fun because they’re hitting home runs well.

-Most of them are hitting more than 10 home runs?

-This year’s Home Run Derby is no joke, lol [laughing out loud].

-But they still can’t surpass Ha-sung’s 29.

-It’s a Major League record. Who’s going to beat that? lol [laughing out loud]

-Agreed.

The fans’ reactions to watching the Home Run Derby were also enthusiastic.

Originally, the tempo of the Home Run Derby is quite slow.

But today was different.

The batters were all aggressive.

On top of that, home runs were frequent.

The fewest home runs hit by a player other than Ha-sung was nine, and the most was 20.

Even on average, an enormous number of home runs were hit.

Of course, it was bound to be fun to watch.

[The first round ended sooner than expected.]

[It’s thanks to the batters swinging aggressively.]

[But this could be a disadvantage for Jung Ha-sung.]

[Why is that?]

[The break time was too short. He hit 29 home runs in the first round. Of course, the physical exertion was great. He needed more recovery time.]

[We can see from Josh Hamilton’s case in 2008. Josh Hamilton hit 28 home runs in the first round. But in the second round, he only hit four and had to settle for second place.]

Energy conservation was also necessary in the Home Run Derby.

Because a person’s stamina is not infinite.

At that moment, the camera showed Ha-sung wiping away sweat.

[Jung Ha-sung is sweating like rain.]

[It seems like his stamina hasn’t recovered yet.]

It was a sight that caused concern.

But Ha-sung’s thoughts were completely different.

‘Can’t we start soon?’

He wanted to stand at the plate as soon as possible.

‘I want to explode this right now.’

Ha-sung was stimulated by watching the other players bat.

His competitive spirit was ignited by the sight of them running at full speed to catch him.

‘You guys are no match for me.’

He stood at the top of Major League Baseball.

In other words, his competitiveness was at the highest level.

Above all, Ha-sung didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

‘I don’t want to lose the spotlight in an event where so much attention is focused.’

The position of the protagonist.

[Jung Ha-sung steps up to the plate!!]

Finally, the wait was over.

Ha-sung stood at the plate to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.

* * *

Most people were worried about Ha-sung’s stamina.

But there was one thing they overlooked.

‘Stamina is not a problem.’

He had monstrous stamina and recovery ability to the point where he could be a two-way player [a player who both pitches and bats effectively].

‘The preparations I made to be a two-way player are helping me even in moments like this.’

He didn’t just increase his stamina to be a two-way player.

He pushed his cardiorespiratory endurance to the limit and put his heart and soul into recovery.

This level of preparation was absolutely necessary to play in every game.

Thanks to this, Ha-sung was able to play in every game without any stamina problems.

And that was still the case now.

‘I did use a lot of stamina in the first round, but…’

Ha-sung, standing at the plate, exhaled.

“Hoo… !”

And the moment he focused.

The surrounding scenery was dyed in darkness.

It was a phenomenon that appeared when in a state of extreme concentration.

Concentrating took a lot of stamina.

But Ha-sung didn’t have any major problems.

Above all, he had recovered to some extent while resting.

Even in a short amount of time.

Thanks to this, he was able to regain his extreme concentration.

‘Come.’

As if hearing Ha-sung’s request, Jack lightly threw the ball.

‘A very good course.’

The ball came in slightly high in the center.

If it were a normal game, it would be a mistake.

But the story is different in the Home Run Derby.

‘There’s no better ball than this…!’

Whoosh-!!

Ha-sung’s pelvis rotated as he fixed his legs with a stride.

‘No way!!’

Whoong-!!

And he swung the bat.

The bat, which spun with a tremendous whooshing sound, snatched the ball as it was.

Crack-!!

[He hit it!!]

The ball hit by the bat flew directly and crossed the fence, hitting the stands.

[It’s over!! Jung Ha-sung makes a line drive-like batted ball from the first pitch!!]

[It’s tremendous power. It flew almost like a line drive, but it still cleared the fence!]

[To think he still has this much power. It seems like we were worrying about his stamina for no reason.]

Ha-sung’s home run show began.

Crack-!!

[This time, a huge batted ball!!]

[This one’s over too!]

[Jung Ha-sung makes two home runs!!]

Ha-sung, who had regained his concentration, was hitting home runs at a pace similar to the first round.

At that sight, the community sites were turned upside down.

-Awesome.

-Doesn’t Jung Ha-sung ever get tired?

-No, how can he make home runs so easily?

-Jack is throwing well too.

-Ha-sung’s power is beyond human level?

-He’s already over 5.

-At this pace, he’s going to win?

-His pace is so fast.

Ha-sung added to his total in one fell swoop, hitting home runs in succession.

[Jung Ha-sung has hit 15 home runs so far! The out count has risen to 8.]

[At this number, winning is definitely possible!]

As he headed towards the second half, Ha-sung’s pace slowed down.

The impact of the first round was inevitable.

Nevertheless, Ha-sung’s home runs had already surpassed the Major League record.

Crack-!!

[This one’s over too! Jung Ha-sung makes 16 home runs!]

[Combined with the first round, he has hit 45 home runs.]

[He has already surpassed the Major League record.]

With Ha-sung’s performance this season, almost all Major League records were being broken.

To think he would break records even in the Home Run Derby.

No one had expected it.

‘Just a little more…’

Ha-sung didn’t stop.

He was fully enjoying the moment.

‘I want to hit more.’

He would set a record that no one could follow.

With that determination, Ha-sung’s bat spun fiercely.

Crack-!!

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung won the Home Run Derby with a total of 51 home runs. Jung Ha-sung, who set a new Major League single Home Run Derby record, hit 29 in the first round and 22 in the second round, beating Robinson Canó, who came in second place, to win. Jung Ha-sung is scheduled to play in tomorrow’s All-Star Game as the American League’s starting pitcher and third batter.]