Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 245

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 245

Ha-sung’s relentless pursuit of his 27th win was fierce.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! He strikes out the first batter in the 3rd inning, recording his 5th strikeout of the game!]

It was a refreshing start.

He recorded 5 strikeouts against 7 batters.

It was the pace Ha-sung always showed.

Clang-!!

[He hits it! But it’s a weak hit! The center fielder catches it, and the 3rd inning ends scoreless!]

The batting order had gone full circle.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay batters failed to target Ha-sung.

[Pitcher Jung Ha-sung is overwhelming the opposing lineup with his dominant performance in today’s game! And now, in the top of the 4th, he comes to the plate to start the attack!]

What makes Ha-sung scary is that he also bats in addition to pitching. He’s a true two-way player.

Moreover, he wasn’t just filling a spot in the batting order but showing off batting skills at the highest level in the major leagues.

[He got a hit in his first at-bat but failed to score due to the lack of follow-up hits, but he’s still showing good hitting ability.]

[It’s unfortunate for Tampa Bay that Jung Ha-sung is coming up to bat first.]

[That’s right. Walking him as the leadoff hitter is like giving the opponent an opportunity to attack.]

[But it’s a burden to face him.]

A dilemma.

It was a dilemma that all teams facing Ha-sung, including Tampa Bay, had.

No one doubts Ha-sung’s hitting ability anymore.

So they have been choosing to avoid him, often walking him intentionally.

However, depending on the situation, avoiding him was impossible.

Just like now, when he comes up as the leadoff hitter.

‘I have no choice but to face him head-on,’ the Tampa Bay manager thought.

The Tampa Bay manager had hoped to avoid competing against him.

But he couldn’t now.

‘It’s not like the Yankees only have Jung Ha-sung.’

This season, the Yankees are recording a team batting average of 0.271.

This was a record that ranked in the top 5 in the entire major league.

In particular, thanks to Ha-sung’s influence, the team has recorded 242 home runs.

The media predicted that they would break the 250 home run record set by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010.

With more than 10 games left, it was definitely possible if they maintained their current pace.

It was too much to concentrate solely on Ha-sung against such a potent team.

‘I can’t let a runner get on base with no outs.’

The manager eventually sent a sign for a head-on match.

Matt Garza, Tampa Bay’s starting pitcher, had a gleam in his eyes at his sign.

‘This is how it should be to make it worthwhile.’

Matt Garza’s performance this season was solid.

He appeared in 29 games, winning 12 and losing 9.

However, his ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] was in the late 3s, and his overall stats such as WHIP [Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched, a measure of how many runners a pitcher allows on base] were somewhat high for the team’s second starter.

Still, he was undoubtedly a great pitcher.

‘No matter how great a hitter Ha-sung is, my pride won’t allow me to avoid him every time.’

First-class players also had strong pride.

That’s why they were dissatisfied with avoiding the match with Ha-sung.

However, they were accepting it for the sake of the team.

In this situation, permission for a head-on match was an opportunity to resolve their dissatisfaction.

‘I’ll crush you with all my might.’

Matt Garza’s motivation began to burn.

But his motivation didn’t last long.

Clang-!!

[He hits the second pitch hard!!]

Ha-sung was waiting for them to challenge him head-on.

‘The moment you feel impatient because they avoid the match, your hitting balance collapses.’

He was someone who learned how to live now through his past life.

‘Just seize the opportunity when it comes.’

That’s why he didn’t feel impatient.

He was just waiting and waiting for a chance to hit one out of the park.

And now, his bat swung fiercely and sent the ball flying.

[That’s gone!!]

The unobstructed ball flew straight out of the stadium.

[Jung Ha-sung records his 60th home run of the season!!]

It was the moment he achieved 60 home runs.

* * *

Tampa Bay’s team employee, Johnny, moved busily.

[It fell near row F, so go there quickly.]

“Understood.”

Johnny’s job, after confirming the instructions coming through the radio, was to recover the 60th home run ball.

‘He’s not our team’s player, but if we can’t recover the historic home run ball, there’s a high possibility of problems.’

The American sports market was vast.

So there was a strong fan base, and the trading of historical items was also active.

Player cards were sold for hundreds of millions, and Babe Ruth’s 50th and 60th home run balls were sold for enormous prices.

Various markets were being formed.

The problem was that it was not easy to secure items with such value.

‘It’s the first 60 home run ball from a two-way player with a historical pitching and hitting record. You may never see it again in modern baseball. Its value is well over $1 million.’

$1 million.

That’s 1.3 billion won in Korean currency [approximately $1 million USD].

The fact that a baseball has this much value meant that it had that much rarity.

And it was the same as saying that there were plenty of buyers who would buy it.

Above all, it would be difficult for the club if they failed to secure a ball with this meaning.

It was then.

“Johnny.”

“Ellie.”

A woman walked in the same direction as him.

She had a name tag around her neck that said ‘Staff’.

Ellie was an employee of the New York Yankees, not Tampa Bay.

“Has the location been confirmed?”

“It’s been confirmed to be in row F. I’ve told the staff around there to secure it in advance.”

“Thank you for moving so quickly.”

“It’s nothing. It’s a souvenir that will remain in Major League history. Of course, I have to move.”

Ha-sung is a Yankees player.

Securing his commemorative ball was also the Yankees’ job.

However, the Yankees were just an away team here.

Their authority was bound to be limited.

So they had no choice but to get help from the home team.

The problem was if the home team was uncooperative.

Of course, that was rare, but it was more difficult than recovering it in their own home stadium.

However, Tampa Bay was actively trying to recover the commemorative ball.

The fact that Johnny, a manager-level employee of the stadium, was moving himself and that a large number of employees were mobilized showed the Tampa Bay club’s intentions.

“I hope it works out well.”

“Recent souvenirs have been recovered without any major problems. I hope this one will be too.”

In the past, it was not easy to recover souvenirs.

Since they were items with monetary value, there were cases where people refused even if they were compensated to some extent.

Above all, souvenirs belonged to the person who acquired them, so it was impossible to forcibly recover them.

If they refused to donate, things would get complicated.

Knowing that, the two hurried to the scene.

* * *

Ha-sung, who hit his 60th home run, returned to the mound.

Thwack-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung, who took the mound in the 6th inning, gets his 12th strikeout of the game and is racing towards his 27th win!]

[Jung Ha-sung has achieved the great feat of 60 home runs, but his pace hasn’t faltered and he’s fulfilling his role faithfully! What great concentration!]

When a big event occurs, a player’s concentration is bound to be disrupted.

That’s why pitchers collapse rapidly after giving up a home run or allowing consecutive hits.

The event of recording 60 home runs was enough to disrupt concentration.

But Ha-sung’s concentration did not waver.

-What’s up with Jung Ha-sung’s concentration?

-I’m really impressed every time, but it’s amazing.

-How can his concentration not be disrupted even after hitting 60 home runs?

-It seems to be beyond human level.

-He’s already inhuman, starting with running towards 27 wins with 60 home runs in a season.

-By the way, there was an article that said they couldn’t secure the 60 home run ball. Is it true?

-Wow~is it real?

-Yeah, the acquirer refused to donate it.

-If it’s 200,000 dollars, is it about 200 million won?

-Yeah, it seems like it would be okay for that much.

-What do you mean okay? I think I’d get more if I sold it right away.

-If you keep it for a few years, the value will explode. There’s no reason to sell it.

-I agree.

-Wouldn’t it be over a million dollars at least?

-Even so, a million dollars seems impossible.

-Babe Ruth’s 500 home run ball was over a million dollars, right?

-He’s a legend.

-It’s still hard to compare Ha-sung to Babe Ruth.

-Above all, many players have hit 60 home runs before.

-But Ha-sung is the first player to hit it as a two-way player.

-Whatever it is, is Ha-sung’s 60 home run ball gone for good?

People’s attention was focused on the 60 home run ball.

It was the first 60 home run Ha-sung had ever hit, and it was a record he achieved in an unprecedented position as a two-way player.

Naturally, attention was bound to be focused on the commemorative ball.

Reporters moved quickly.

“Player Jung Ha-sung!”

The next day.

A reporter called out to Ha-sung as he came to the stadium.

“You failed to get the 60 home run ball back. How do you feel right now?”

“I’m not paying much attention to it.”

“Yes? But it’s your first record and a ball worth commemorating the record.”

“That’s right, but the club showed sincerity. It’s the acquirer’s freedom to refuse it, so I’m not paying much attention to it.”

Ha-sung showed an indifferent reaction.

And he didn’t stop there but went one step further.

“Above all, I don’t know why people are giving so much meaning to the 60 home run ball.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I’m going to hit more than 60 home runs in the future, up to 70 and 80 home runs. Even if I can’t, I don’t think 60 home runs is my best record.”

It was a bold statement.

More than 60 home runs?

It was a word that no one could easily say.

“Will the 60 home run ball be recognized for its value then?”

With a confident interview, Ha-sung headed to the stadium.