Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 241

“The season is only a month away from ending.”

The Yankees’ clubhouse buzzed with players.

Addressing them was Joe Girardi, the Yankees’ manager.

“With the time we have left, we will seize the division title and advance directly to the Division Series in the postseason.”

There were two paths to the postseason.

Winning the division granted a direct ticket to the Division Series.

The alternative was to battle through the Wild Card Game for the remaining spot.

Naturally, every team coveted the direct route.

Navigating the Wild Card Game risked wearing down players physically.

“Everyone, let’s stay focused until the very end and keep pushing!”

“Yes!” The players responded in unison.

This was the danger zone when players’ stamina flagged.

As physical endurance waned, mental discipline often followed, tempting some players toward misconduct.

That’s why manager Joe Girardi felt compelled to address the players with a motivational speech.

Seeing their enthusiastic response, a satisfied smile touched Girardi’s face.

* * *

The Yankees’ first game in September arrived.

Ha-sung strode to the mound.

[If Jung Ha-sung wins today, he’ll clinch his 24th victory of the season.]

[That would set a new personal best.]

[Fingers crossed we witness it today!]

Twenty-four wins in a single season.

Such a feat was rare even in Major League Baseball history.

Especially in the modern “live-ball era” [referring to the period after 1920 when rule changes and livelier baseballs led to increased offensive output], securing 20 or more wins was exceptionally challenging.

Among the elite, only Pedro Martinez, Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax, and Fergie Jenkins had surpassed 23 wins.

[Jung Ha-sung is on the mound, casually gauging his form with practice pitches.]

[Jung Ha-sung is truly a pitcher of immense talent. He boasts the fastest fastball in Major League Baseball and the stamina of an inning-eater [a pitcher who can consistently pitch deep into games]. But, in my opinion, his greatest asset is his consistency.]

[Absolutely. Didn’t many experts and fans foresee a high risk of injury before the season even began?]

[Indeed. Pitching itself places tremendous stress on the human body, doesn’t it? And hurling a fastball amplifies that stress. Consequently, numerous experts predicted Jung Ha-sung’s injury.]

[And his declaration of being a two-way player [a player who both pitches and bats] only heightened those concerns.]

[Precisely. Yet, Jung Ha-sung has delivered consistently stellar performances this season, allaying those anxieties.]

Praise for Ha-sung continued to pour in.

Oblivious to the commentary, Ha-sung warmed up on the mound.

‘My body feels good today, too.’

Maintaining peak condition daily was a demanding task.

But Ha-sung was managing it.

His meticulous offseason preparation was paying dividends.

‘My team is the best, after all.’

The substantial investment in building the team was proving worthwhile.

“Are these practice pitches enough?”

“Yes.”

“You look sharp today. Go out there and dominate.”

“Understood.”

The pitching coach, observing from the sidelines, could see that Ha-sung was in top form.

After offering a few words of encouragement, the pitching coach stepped back, leaving Ha-sung to prepare, rubbing rosin [a sticky substance used by pitchers for a better grip] on his hands.

“Play ball!”

As he stood on the mound, the batter entered the batter’s box.

And with the umpire’s call, his quest for his 24th win commenced.

* * *

1st inning.

Ha-sung pitched with his usual intensity.

Thwack-!

“Strike!! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout!! Jung Ha-sung effortlessly dismisses the batter with a 100-mile fastball!]

[That was a superb pitch. He started with a fastball, followed by a changeup, then a slider, and finally another four-seam fastball, completely disrupting the batter’s rhythm!]

After securing the first out with a strikeout, he swiftly retired the subsequent batters.

Clang-!!

[He connects! But it’s a foul ball! Soaring high!!]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[The center fielder makes an easy catch, recording the second out!]

[Jung Ha-sung perfectly disrupted the batter’s timing with his signature splitter! He earns an out in just two pitches!]

It took a mere six pitches to secure the second out.

[Jung Ha-sung, having quickly secured two outs, now faces the third batter.]

[Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers steps up to the plate!]

[He was sidelined with an injury in August, but the incredible hitting streak he displayed in July remains fresh in our minds.]

[Since returning from injury, he’s recorded 4 hits in 8 at-bats with 1 home run in 3 games, proving his hitting prowess is still intact.]

Beltre was destined to become a legend in Major League Baseball.

As a notorious bad-ball hitter [a hitter who can hit pitches outside the strike zone], his on-base percentage wasn’t exceptional.

But his raw power left a lasting impression on fans.

[Let’s see what unfolds as Jung Ha-sung faces Beltre. Jung Ha-sung delivers the first pitch.]

Ha-sung was well-acquainted with Beltre’s reputation.

Beltre was a living legend in Major League Baseball, enjoying a long and successful career.

He remembered Beltre playing even after his own retirement.

‘He’s undoubtedly a great player, but…….’

Ha-sung, entering his windup, channeled all his energy into the ball.

‘He’s not my opponent today!’

“Hmph!!”

The ball, released with a burst of power, hurtled forward with incredible speed.

Beltre anticipated Ha-sung’s strategy.

‘He’ll come at me aggressively from the first pitch.’

Ha-sung’s aggressive approach was well-documented.

His first-pitch strike rate was an impressive 83 percent.

Beltre was aware of this through scouting reports.

That’s why he swung his bat with conviction from the very first pitch.

Whoosh-!!

His bat sliced through the air.

The trajectory of the swing aligned with the ball’s path.

‘I’ve got it!’

Just as Beltre thought he had made contact.

Swoosh!!

The ball’s trajectory shifted.

As if pulled from below.

It suddenly plummeted, vanishing from Beltre’s sight.

Whoosh-!!

Consequently, his bat met only air.

Thud!!

The ball nestled snugly into the catcher’s mitt.

“Swing! Strike!!”

[First pitch, a swing and a miss! Jung Ha-sung fools Beltre with a deceptive falling splitter!]

[Ah~ That was a brilliant pitch. Above all, the decision to throw a splitter instead of a fastball on the first pitch was a masterstroke!]

[It was almost a given that Jung Ha-sung would start with a four-seam fastball. But Jung Ha-sung exploited this expectation to his advantage, inducing a swing and a miss from Beltre!]

Throwing a splitter for the first pitch wasn’t solely about getting a strike.

‘Now you’re going to overthink things.’

Every player steps into the batter’s box with a plan.

What happens when that plan crumbles from the outset?

Confusion sets in, disrupting their rhythm.

An average player would likely lose their composure against Ha-sung at this point.

But Beltre was far from average.

Clang-!

[He connects with the 2nd pitch! But it’s a foul ball! Landing in the stands on the 3rd base side!!]

Beltre connected with the 2nd pitch that Ha-sung threw without hesitation.

Although the timing was slightly off, his swing remained confident.

‘So, he’s not an easy opponent after all.’

Ha-sung could sense Beltre’s resilience.

Despite his plan falling apart, he hadn’t lost his composure.

‘This is what makes it exciting.’

An opponent who crumbles after a single pitch cannot become a legend.

That’s why this was shaping up to be an intriguing battle.

Ha-sung focused his mind and delivered the next pitches.

‘No matter how great you are…….’

The ball was imbued with his unwavering confidence.

‘I am the best.’

His pursuit of his 24th win of the season continued.

* * *

Ha-sung’s dominant pitching in his quest for his 24th win was remarkable.

Thwack-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung concludes the 8th inning with his 17th strikeout of the game!!]

His pitch count through the 8th inning stood at 107.

It was higher than usual, but he was still pitching with formidable power.

This presented a dilemma for the manager.

‘His stuff is still electric, but for the sake of the team, the smart move is to replace him here.’

The team held a 3-0 lead.

The optimal strategy was to bring in the closer [a relief pitcher who specializes in pitching the final inning of a close game] and secure the win, rather than risking a tired starting pitcher.

‘But pulling the ace [the team’s best pitcher] at this juncture feels wrong.’

The ace held a special status on the team.

The pitcher you could trust implicitly in any situation was the ace.

No manager would willingly disregard such a dominant performance from their ace and replace him.

Moreover, he hadn’t conceded a single run yet.

‘I’m sticking with Ha-sung.’

Ha-sung wasn’t approaching him, seemingly wanting to continue.

Realizing this, manager Joe Girardi silently observed the field.

Seeing this, Ha-sung smiled and took a sip of his drink.

‘Looks like I won’t have to go to the manager and argue my case.’

If Girardi had attempted to replace him, he would have employed every persuasive tactic at his disposal.

Ha-sung was relieved to avoid such a tiring ordeal.

‘Only 3 outs remaining.’

Securing 3 outs would secure his 24th win of the season.

‘I’m going to set another record.’

Some people claimed Ha-sung had nothing left to prove.

But he felt there were still areas for improvement.

‘Major League history is littered with players who shone briefly and then faded away. I don’t want to become one of them.’

Ha-sung had been an ace for a considerable period in his previous life.

However, after retiring due to injury, he faded into obscurity, barely warranting a mention in the news.

After careful consideration, Ha-sung reached a conclusion.

‘Ultimately, I need to become a player who is constantly talked about.’

Living Legend.

He aspired to become a player whose name would forever be etched in Major League history through consistent excellence.

Arguably, he was already on that path.

‘I’ll be remembered for my unique journey as a two-way player and my immediate impact. But I can’t yet be compared to legendary figures like Cy Young or Babe Ruth.’

Ha-sung’s objective was clear.

To have his name inextricably linked to the annals of Major League Baseball.

To achieve that, he needed to maintain his current level of performance.

Therefore, this moment was crucial.

‘If I give it my all now, I’ll eventually achieve my goals.’

The goal was clear.

He knew the path he needed to take to reach it.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

The moment for 공수교대 [change of possession between offense and defense] arrived, and Ha-sung rose from his seat without hesitation.

“Ha-sung! I’m counting on you to finish this game.”

“Yes.”