Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 24

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 24

Lunchtime in Oakland.

‘Kuh…! This is it!’

Ha-sung admired the feast before him.

‘Kuh-! They grill the steak right in front of me. And look at the freshness of these vegetables. Wow~ those fruits look sweet.’

He rarely saw such fresh vegetables and fruits in Double-A [Minor League Baseball, one level below Major League Baseball].

The disparity between rich and poor is most evident at the dining table.

With the same amount of money, you can buy a lot of junk food, but only a little fresh food.

This difference forces the poor to consume junk food.

‘For elite athletes, nutrition is as important as training. But without that foundation, it takes longer to catch up to Major League players.’

That’s why Ha-sung didn’t refuse his parents’ help.

Late teens.

The period of greatest growth.

If nutrition is lacking during this time, growth will inevitably be delayed.

‘Once I settle in the Major League, I won’t need support. I’ll achieve complete economic independence.’

The debut game was crucial for his goal.

What he shows in his debut game will determine whether he stays in the Major League or goes back down to the Minor League.

‘Let’s eat first. Gotta eat to have strength!’

Ha-sung filled his plate mainly with vegetables and meat, preparing for the game.

* * *

Korea.

Ha-sung’s parents were up before dawn.

The father was at the computer, and the mother, rubbing her sleepy eyes behind him, asked,

“Did you find a place to watch it?”

“It seems like there’s no domestic site to watch it. I’ll have to look overseas.”

“Oh… why is it so complicated? Why isn’t it broadcast on TV?”

“They have to sign a broadcast rights deal before the season starts. Oakland isn’t popular in Korea. Since no Koreans play there, there’s no reason to sign a deal.”

The mother sighed at her husband’s words.

“At this rate, I won’t even be able to see my son’s debut game.”

“Just wait a little longer. I’ll find a way, no matter what.”

The father was just as anxious.

He was about to miss his son’s once-in-a-lifetime Major League debut.

“Ah! I found it!”

After searching for a long time, he finally found a site where he could watch the Oakland game live.

He had to pay, but that wasn’t an obstacle.

“It’s coming on! It’s coming on!”

It was like finding an oasis after walking through the desert.

“Oh my, it’s already the 5th inning?”

“I know. I wasted too much time searching. But it’ll be okay. Our son will come out as a relief pitcher.”

As he answered, the father checked the score.

“Oakland is losing 4 to 0. The starting pitcher has thrown over 90 pitches, so Ha-sung might get a chance if he does well.”

“That’s right. Since there are no runners on base, they might give him a chance, right?”

“Exactly.”

Just then.

Clack-!!

A crisp sound came through the speakers, and the camera followed the batted ball.

The ball barely cleared the second baseman’s glove.

[He lightly hits the ball for a single. Dallas Braden, today’s starter, isn’t in good condition.]

[Braden was originally a bullpen pitcher. With the decision to rebuild, he was promoted to starter this season, so he’s unstable due to lack of experience.]

[Here, Oakland’s manager Tony comes to the mound. It’s a substitution, right?]

[It looks like he’s going to make a substitution. If the score widens further, they’ll have to give up today’s game. Oakland, where every game is important, needs to keep the inning scoreless.]

[He’s receiving the ball. Who will be Oakland’s next pitcher after Braden?]

The camera showed the entrance to the bullpen.

The parents’ eyes widened as they saw the player coming out of the bullpen.

“It’s Ha-sung!”

They shouted simultaneously.

Even though the player’s face wasn’t clearly visible because he was so far away, they knew.

It was their son running out.

And the commentators announced the fact.

[Oakland is making a surprising decision. They’re bringing up Jung Ha-sung, who was called up to the Major League today, as the next pitcher.]

* * *

Tony handed the ball to Ha-sung, who had arrived on the mound.

“We’re putting you in a tough situation for your first appearance.”

“Well, don’t relief pitchers come in according to the situation? Whether it’s difficult or easy, they have to come in anytime.”

A strange light flickered in Tony’s eyes.

‘He looks like a kid, but he talks like a complete veteran. Are all the guys from Korea like this?’

Tony had a long coaching career, but he hadn’t had any connections with Korean players.

So he just thought it was unique and moved on.

While Tony was organizing his thoughts.

Ha-sung lightly threw practice pitches, checking his condition.

‘I felt it in the bullpen too, but my condition isn’t bad.’

He thought he might be tired because of the long journey.

But his young body quickly recovered from such fatigue.

‘Young is the best, after all.’

Admiring his youthful body, Ha-sung finished his practice pitches.

Then, manager Tony said to Ha-sung one last time.

“I don’t want to give up any more runs. We need to stop them here to have a chance to come back.”

“I don’t want to give up any runs in my debut game either.”

“That’s reassuring. I’m counting on you.”

Thump!

Tony patted Ha-sung on the back to encourage him and then went down the mound.

While the ball was circulating through the infield, Ha-sung stepped on the mound, filled with emotion.

‘Kuh-! I’m finally stepping on a Major League mound.’

Suddenly, his life before the regression came to mind.

He had refused the Major League’s offer and chose to stay in Korea.

When he became the best pitcher in Korea and earned the right to apply for posting [transfer system that allows professional baseball players to move to a foreign league].

He thought he had to go to the Major League to step onto a bigger stage.

So he gave it his all in the Korean Series, which he thought was his last stage.

He endured the pain and threw because he thought it was his last chance to repay the fans who loved him.

Thanks to that, he couldn’t step on the Major League stage.

That’s why this moment felt so special.

‘But…….’

Thwack!

Thwack!

Ha-sung put strength into his legs and dug into the dirt of the mound.

‘This isn’t the time to be sentimental. If I don’t get my head in the game and pitch properly, I’ll get eaten alive.’

Ha-sung turned around and rubbed rosin [a sticky substance used by pitchers for a better grip] on his hands.

It was his usual routine.

‘Get a grip, Jung Ha-sung. This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning.’

He steeled his mind and stepped onto the pitcher’s plate.

“Play ball!!”

The umpire’s shout signaled the resumption of the game.

As Ha-sung lowered his upper body, catcher Trevor sent a sign.

‘Aren’t we putting him in too tough of a situation for his first appearance? I feel bad for our rookie.’

His fingers moved quickly, and Ha-sung nodded.

[Oakland’s rookie, Jung, will have a difficult debut. Usually, rookies are put in when there are no runners on base to help them adjust, right?]

[That’s usually the case. But teams sometimes put pitchers they have high expectations for in somewhat difficult situations.]

[You’re saying Jung Ha-sung is that kind of player?]

[So far, it seems that way. We’ll know more clearly after seeing his pitching today.]

While the commentators were talking.

Ha-sung threw the ball to first base.

[Pickoff throw to first!!]

Thud!

“Safe!!”

[He’s barely safe. Ah~ that was a good pickoff throw.]

[It was very clean. There was no unnecessary movement in the pickoff motion, and the pickoff was executed accurately.]

[The course it took was good too, right?]

[Yes. He threw the ball to a position where the first baseman could just put his glove out, allowing for a quick tag.]

Ha-sung, who received the ball again, calmly followed his routine.

[Jung Ha-sung. It’s his first appearance today, but he’s very calm. Impressive.]

[Both the pickoff throw and the subsequent routine are hard to believe from a rookie.]

Most people get flustered during their first experience.

That’s why they forget their style and rush around.

Even if they gain experience in the minor leagues and come up to the major leagues, it’s the same.

But Ha-sung didn’t show any signs of rushing, so it felt different to the commentators.

Ha-sung, who rubbed rosin on his hands and stepped back onto the pitcher’s plate, didn’t forget to glare at the runner on first base before going into his pitching form.

‘Try to run. I’ll shut you down.’

Because the first pickoff throw was so good, the runner couldn’t widen his lead.

Ha-sung smiled inwardly as he watched that.

‘Don’t underestimate a rookie with experience.’

The problem was that only he knew about that experience, but he didn’t care.

The only thing he needed to focus on now was one thing.

Crack!

[Jung Ha-sung, good slide step!]

It was only to plant the ball in the catcher’s mitt over there.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!!

With a shout, he swung his arm with all his might.

And he caught the ball at the precise release point.

Swaaaaaaash-!!

The course Trevor wanted was the outside low corner.

The ball came in a little more towards the center than that.

It wasn’t a mistake, but it was a good target for the batter.

‘Got……!’

The batter, who had spotted the prey, started his engine to snatch it.

Whoosh-!

The moment his foot was firmly planted and his hips were about to turn.

Thwack-!!

The ball passed through home plate and was planted in the mitt.

“Strike!!”

Following that, the umpire’s sign exploded.

[First pitch strike! The batter couldn’t react to the 97-mile fastball!]

[The ball was a little centered, but the speed was fast and the power was good, so the batter missed the timing. Above all, it’s impressive that he brings the release point forward.]

[He threw the ball quite far forward, right?]

[Yes. I need to see the data for details, but I think the batter felt the perceived speed was 99 miles or more.]

The commentator was accurate.

The batter had no choice but to miss the ball that came in faster than he expected.

[Rookie Jung Ha-sung, who showed a great first pitch, what kind of ball will he throw for the second pitch?]

Ha-sung, who exchanged signs, took a slide step.

There was no pickoff throw this time.

Nevertheless, the runner, who still had the first pickoff throw in his mind, couldn’t run.

“Hmph!!”

Swaaaaaaash-!!

Thwack!!

“Ball!!”

The umpire called a ball as the high-thrown ball missed by about half a ball.

[The second pitch is also a four-seam fastball. The speed was 98 miles. That’s a great speed.]

[It missed by about half a ball, but the power is terrifying.]

[He could throw a breaking ball around this point, but what kind of ball will he throw for the third pitch?]

Ha-sung threw the third pitch at a fast tempo.

“Hmph!!!”

Swaaaaaaash-!!

This time, the batter swung at the ball coming in towards his body.

Clack-!!

[He hit it! But the ball goes out of bounds.]

“Foul!!”

[Two strikes. Rookie Jung Ha-sung, who chose a 97-mile fastball again! Three fastballs in a row.]

[His fastball is quite good.]

Praise poured out on Ha-sung, who threw three fastballs in a row.

That meant it was a great ball.

[He’s shown fastballs in a row, so isn’t there a high possibility that he’ll throw a breaking ball around this point?]

[There’s a high possibility. And the Seattle bench knows that well.]

[They might try to steal a base.]

[Yes. So, a pickoff throw to reduce the runner’s lead here…….]

The commentator predicted that he would throw a pickoff throw.

But Ha-sung chose a pitch, not a pickoff throw.

Tap!

And at the same time, the runner on first base started running to second base.

But Ha-sung didn’t care and threw the ball.

“Hmph!!”

Swaaaaaaash-!

[He threw the fourth pitch!!]

The ball that left his hand flew to a position somewhat higher than the zone.

A ball flying to a position slightly higher than the zone is a good target for the batter.

The batter’s body reacted first to the tempting course.

Whoosh-!!

The batter’s bat swung sharply to snatch the carelessly thrown ball.

The moment the two trajectories were about to become one.

The trajectory of the ball changed slightly.

To be exact, the falling trajectory didn’t fall as much as expected, deviating from the trajectory of the bat.

Clack!!

Due to the very slight deviation, the bat hit the bottom of the ball, and the batted ball soared high into the sky.

“Mine!!”

“Go back!!”

The second baseman signaled that he could catch it, and the third base coach shouted to go back.

Only then did the runner, who had checked the batted ball, desperately turn around.

But it was already too late.

Thud!!

Almost at the same time, the second baseman caught the ball and threw it straight to first base.

Thud!!

“Out!!”

The first base umpire coldly called out as the runner who was trying to return hadn’t even gone halfway.

[Two outs in an instant!!]

[The batter reacted late to the ball coming in at eye level and couldn’t hit the ball properly. In addition, Jung Ha-sung’s ball had better power than expected, deviating from the trajectory of the bat.]

[Wasn’t that a really great ball?]

[That’s right. It was the first pitch that showed why Oakland put a rookie in this situation.]

The atmosphere was reversed in an instant.

The third batter entered the plate, but he couldn’t be Ha-sung’s opponent, who had started to gain momentum.

Thwack-!!

“Strike!!”

[The first pitch, a 97-mile fastball, is planted in the mitt!!]

Chris was watching Ha-sung, who was throwing the ball without hesitation, from beyond the fence.

‘He has excellent mic skills and star quality, and he also has the skills.’

Thwack!!

“Strike!! Two!!”

[This time, a 98-mile fastball!! The batter can’t even flinch!]

‘He’s good enough to become a new Oakland star.’

Ha-sung, who had two strikes, went into a windup to get the third out.

‘Cleanly…….’

Crack!!

With a stride, he stepped on the mound and threw the ball with all his might.

‘I’ll catch it!!’

Swaaaaaaash-!!

As the ball left Ha-sung’s hand, the batter swung his bat.

It was a swing filled with the determination not to miss this time.

The moment the sharp swing was about to touch the ball.

Swoosh!!

The trajectory of the ball changed, hitting the head of the bat hard.

Crack!!

At the same time, the bat broke in half, and the batted ball returned to Ha-sung.

[The bat breaks and it’s a ground ball in front of the pitcher! Jung Ha-sung easily catches it and tosses it to first base!!]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[The third out is up! Jung Ha-sung finishes his first Major League appearance with 7 pitches!! The emergence of a monster rookie!!]