Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 223

Mound Villain Episode 223

Two days had passed since Ha-sung set a new record at the Home Run Derby.

But it was already fading from people’s attention.

-Is Jung Ha-sung going to the Yankees?!

-The Evil Empire is making moves again.

-Jung Ha-sung in pinstripes……!

-Did you see the list of players they gave up to get Jung Ha-sung?

-They were players who could immediately play on other teams.

-And the Yankees agreed to cover their salaries?

-Wow…… Even with all that money, is that possible?

-I heard it’s just a rumor, but they even gave cash.

-Seriously? Is that even possible?

-Even if it’s Jung Ha-sung, isn’t that too much spending?

-Experts are saying they got him cheap.

-Jung Ha-sung is great, but is he worth that much?

-Hank Steinbrenner seems to think so.

-He said they got the second Babe Ruth.

The press conference became a major issue worldwide.

The second Babe Ruth.

A player called the god of baseball.

He is considered the most influential figure in Major League history.

Because his appearance marked the beginning of the live-ball era and the age of the home run.

Hank’s remarks comparing him to Ruth caused a huge stir.

As the owner of the New York Yankees, his words became an even bigger topic.

But what shocked people even more was Ha-sung’s statement.

[Hank Steinbrenner expressed his anticipation for Jung Ha-sung by saying he acquired the second Babe Ruth. But it seems Jung Ha-sung didn’t like the owner’s remarks.]

[That’s right. He immediately retorted, saying he is not the second Babe Ruth but the first Jung Ha-sung.]

[Jung Ha-sung even disliked being compared to Babe Ruth, who is considered the god of baseball. All baseball fans around the world are focusing on what he will show in his first game wearing the Yankees’ symbolic pinstripe uniform.]

* * *

The day before the second half of the season started.

The current manager of the New York Yankees, Joe Girardi, tried to exclude Ha-sung from the starting lineup.

“I want to give you enough time to recover from the All-Star Game fatigue.”

The Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game.

He wanted to give Ha-sung time to recover his exhausted stamina.

It was a kind of consideration.

But Ha-sung, who faced him, shook his head.

“I’ll play right away.”

“Don’t you need to rest?”

“I’m only playing as a hitter, not a starter, so there’s no physical problem.”

“But…….”

“I want to show it as soon as possible.”

Ha-sung looked out the window.

The newly built Yankee Stadium’s splendid stadium was visible at a glance.

“That I came to the Yankees.”

Joe Girardi had met countless superstars.

All of them were full of tremendous pride.

But this man was different.

‘He doesn’t think he will fail at all.’

Given what he has shown so far, it was confidence he could have.

“If that’s what you want, I understand. Starting tomorrow’s game, you will play as the cleanup hitter.”

“Cleanup hitter…….”

“Don’t you like it?”

“No. It’s just that it’s the same number as that guy I sent away forever.”

The guy Ha-sung was talking about.

Alex Rodrigo.

A player who could have remained the best baseball player of the 21st century.

After retirement, he was expected to have his number retired by the New York Yankees and be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

But all of that was gone.

Only because of a person named Jung Ha-sung.

‘Of course, this guy didn’t directly report it, but it was triggered by this guy.’

Ha-sung’s one word started a snowball.

The snowball quickly grew and became uncontrollable for Alex Rodrigo and even the club.

“As you know, some Yankees fans still have that in mind.”

“It’s only been a year. I know there are still fans who haven’t forgotten him. Of course, there will be some on the team too.”

“Hoo…… That’s right. Rodrigo was kicked out for using drugs, but his influence in the clubhouse was great. And the players who followed him are still here.”

This was one of the reasons why some media outlets said Ha-sung’s trade to the Yankees would fail.

There are many players in the Yankees’ clubhouse who will become Ha-sung’s enemies.

Joe Girardi was warning him out of concern.

But Ha-sung didn’t care.

“I don’t have time to worry about the underlings licking the assholes of losers who have already disappeared from the industry.”

Ha-sung smiled and turned around.

“I came here to play baseball. There is only one goal, to win. If anyone interferes with that…….”

Ha-sung’s lips twisted.

“I’ll just blow away my teammates or whatever.”

With those words, Ha-sung left the manager’s office.

Joe Girardi, who was left alone, sighed.

“It seems like there will be a lot of headaches in the second half.”

Another uncontrollable guy has come.

Joe Girardi was already getting a headache.

* * *

Girardi’s concerns became reality.

“Hey.”

The day of the first game after the All-Star break.

A huge man approached Ha-sung, who had arrived at the clubhouse.

‘Mark Teixeira.’

It was Mark Teixeira, the Yankees’ starting first baseman.

As his nickname Tex, taken from T-REX, suggests, he was a huge player with a height of over 6’3″ (190cm) and a weight of over 220lbs (100kg).

The reason he came to him was obvious.

And the prediction was correct.

“I can’t believe a guy who sold out his teammates is wearing our uniform. Does that make sense?”

The bond between players who wore the same uniform was great.

In particular, Rodrigo had a strong influence in the clubhouse as a veteran.

There was no way Ha-sung, who kicked him out of the major leagues, would look good to him.

But Ha-sung was not so easily intimidated by Teixeira’s pressure.

“I didn’t know there were still guys in the Yankees who followed a guy addicted to drugs.”

“What did you say?!”

“Or what? Did you do drugs with that guy too?”

“You little shit! You have a big mouth!!”

Teixeira grabbed Ha-sung by the collar.

And he tried to push him back.

But Ha-sung didn’t budge.

‘What…… What is it?’

Teixeira was embarrassed.

Teixeira was so strong that he even got the nickname Tex.

When it came to power in the major leagues, he was confident that he would not be inferior to anyone.

But Ha-sung in front of him didn’t budge.

Then Ha-sung grabbed Teixeira’s hand, which was grabbing his collar.

“I came to the Yankees to win.”

Snap!

“Ugh!!”

And he broke it.

Teixeira groaned without realizing it from the tremendous pain he felt in his hand.

Ha-sung released Teixeira’s hand, which was grabbing his collar with force, and continued speaking.

“If you want to play friendship games with that guy who has already been expelled, do it among yourselves. Don’t let the sparks fly on me.”

When he let go of his hand, Teixeira stepped back.

Ha-sung looked at the players gathered in the clubhouse and said.

“I don’t care whether you like me or not. I didn’t come here to play friendship games, but to lift the championship trophy.”

Ha-sung’s remarks were like a provocation.

The moment some players, provoked by those words, tried to step forward.

A player opened his mouth.

“You’re not the only one who wants to lift the championship trophy.”

I could tell who he was at a glance.

The Yankees’ eternal leader of the 21st century.

It was Derek Jeter.

The chaotic atmosphere in the clubhouse began to settle down at his words.

The Yankees were a team of many famous players.

Naturally, there were bound to be many players with strong personalities.

Even in such a place, Derek Jeter was a special player.

Even though he was an active player, he was no different from a player whose number had already been retired.

There was a reason why he was called the Yankees’ eternal captain.

Jeter looked at Ha-sung, who was looking at him, and continued speaking.

“I agree that you are a great player. But there is something you need to know.”

“What is it?”

“An individual can never be greater than the team.”

No individual is greater than the team.

This was one of the most famous sayings representing the major leagues.

Baseball was a team sport, and team harmony was the most important thing.

If the team’s atmosphere collapses, they cannot win no matter how much money they spend.

That was the general opinion.

“If you really want to lift the championship trophy, you have to respect your teammates. You can never win with your own strength.”

Jeter said in a quiet voice.

But he was teaching Ha-sung reality.

In other words, he also looked down on Ha-sung.

And there was no way Ha-sung wouldn’t know that.

“No individual is greater than the team…….”

Ha-sung turned around and took out his jersey.

“You guys are lucky.”

Ha-sung, wearing a jersey with his number 14 on it, closed the door of the locker room.

“Because you will see the first individual in Major League history who is greater than the team.”

Jeter frowned.

No, not only him, but all the Yankees players in the clubhouse frowned.

Ha-sung turned around and continued speaking.

“Let me be clear. I came here to win. If you want to do childish checks, do it in the game. You don’t like me?”

Ha-sung’s lips twisted.

“Then be better at baseball than me.”

Ha-sung declared war on the Yankees players who were checking him.

* * *

Joe Girardi, who arrived at the dugout, sighed.

‘The atmosphere is already fierce.’

I could tell as soon as I entered the dugout.

The team’s atmosphere was unusual.

Everyone was like a ticking time bomb that would explode at any moment.

The bomb would explode if anyone touched it.

Even in such a precarious atmosphere, only one person was fine.

‘He’s the only one who’s fine after creating this mess.’

The one person was, of course, Jung Ha-sung.

‘A guy who declares war on his teammates in the clubhouse.’

He was crazier than I expected.

I wondered how such a guy didn’t cause problems in Oakland.

But I soon found the answer.

‘There was no player in Oakland who could perform as well as him.’

Professionals ultimately talk with results.

There was no player in Oakland who performed as well as Ha-sung.

He was such a unique presence that no player could stand up to him.

‘But this is the Yankees.’

There’s a reason why they’re called the Evil Empire.

The Yankees’ salary could run two or three small-market clubs.

The reason for that salary was simple.

The players achieved that much.

‘There hasn’t been a player who has been as overwhelmingly successful as Ha-sung recently…… But there are some who are excellent in terms of accumulated achievements.’

No player has been better than Ha-sung in the last three years.

That is the general opinion.

But it’s different when comparing cumulative stats.

Ha-sung made a strong impact in a short period, but there were players who played at the top of the major leagues for a long time.

And there were many such players in the Yankees.

It meant that the situation was completely different from Oakland, which was made up of rookies.

‘To meet those guys in this atmosphere.’

Joe Girardi put the chaotic atmosphere of the dugout behind him and looked at the away dugout.

The Red Sox army was there.

The Yankees’ eternal rival, the Red Sox, were there.