Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 248

The New York Yankees’ first-inning offense was underway.

Robinson Cano was at the plate for the Yankees.

Robinson Cano, boasting a batting average in the .300s this season, is a batter with excellent plate discipline and power.

“His batting average is high, and he’s hit 28 home runs, leading the Yankees’ offense, isn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

Robinson Cano stepped up to the plate.

He was a leadoff hitter with considerable power.

More importantly, he held the second-highest batting average on the team, just behind Ha-sung.

Although Ha-sung’s stellar performance had somewhat overshadowed him this season, Cano was still one of the best players in Major League Baseball.

‘Thanks to Ha-sung, my stats haven’t gotten as much attention, but the postseason is a different story,’ Cano thought.

Robinson Cano was a superstar in his own right.

Naturally, he craved the spotlight.

And he possessed the skills to earn it.

‘Matt Moore… He struggled a bit in his debut as a starter, but this is the Division Series,’ Cano mused.

Cano had faced Matt Moore before.

Matt Moore’s debut as a starter had been against the New York Yankees.

At the time, Matt Moore had pitched well, recording 9 strikeouts in 5 innings against the Yankees’ powerful lineup.

He allowed a home run to Ha-sung, but otherwise, it was a near-flawless pitching performance.

‘He definitely has good stuff, but can he handle the pressure of the Division Series?’

Division Series.

In this arena, the gateway to the postseason, the pressure is unlike anything felt during the regular season.

Cano knew this firsthand.

‘I wasn’t at my best in my first postseason at-bat. It’s the same for most players, not just me.’

The regular season is important, but each game in the postseason carries immense weight.

A single play can lead to defeat, and that defeat can quickly lead to elimination.

That’s why veteran players are so crucial.

It’s also the primary reason teams trot out their ace pitcher as the first starter.

But the Rays didn’t have that luxury.

“The Tampa Bay Rays used most of their key pitchers during the Wild Card race, didn’t they?”

“That’s right. That’s why they had no choice but to start rookie pitcher Matt Moore.”

“Matt Moore, who was called up to the big leagues this season, initially pitched in middle relief but debuted as a starter at the end of the season.”

“He made a strong impression, recording 9 strikeouts in 5 innings against the New York Yankees.”

“But it’s uncertain whether he can replicate that performance in the Division Series.”

“I agree. He’s a promising prospect, but the pressure of the postseason is a different beast.”

The commentators were emphasizing the pressure of the postseason.

The postseason atmosphere was palpably different from the regular season.

If a player couldn’t overcome the pressure, even the most talented could be reduced to mediocrity.

“What kind of performance will Matt Moore deliver today? The Yankees’ offense is underway!”

The answer was imminent.

* * *

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

“Strikeout! Matt Moore strikes out Curtis Granderson, the Yankees’ number two hitter!!”

“Wow! This is truly impressive. He struck out Robinson Cano, a key cog in the Yankees’ lineup, and now Curtis Granderson!”

“He’s making a statement by striking out two batters in a row!”

They say stars are born in moments of crisis.

The Tampa Bay Rays had made a daring push for the Wild Card.

As a result, their key pitchers were exhausted, leaving them without an obvious choice for the first game of the Division Series.

They turned to Matt Moore, the team’s top pitching prospect.

It was a risky move, but Matt Moore’s start was, in a word, sensational.

“Matt Moore’s fastball has been clocked at 95 miles per hour against these first two batters, showcasing impressive velocity.”

“He battled through a full count, but his command of the decisive pitch was excellent. He’s exhibiting better control than usual, which was previously considered a weakness.”

Matt Moore’s strengths were evident.

He possessed a blazing fastball and sharp breaking balls.

But his weaknesses were also well-known.

Namely, his control.

Matt Moore’s strikeout rate in the minor leagues was comparable to Randy Johnson’s [Hall of Fame pitcher known for his high strikeout rate].

But his control issues held him back.

His high walk rate led many to believe he wouldn’t succeed in the major leagues.

However, he was gradually improving his control in the big leagues.

After transitioning to a starting role, his control improved significantly, leading to excellent performances.

“Matt Moore’s control, which was a concern coming into today’s game, has been remarkably sharp.”

“You could say he’s in the zone today.”

“Matt Moore has handled the first two batters well. But his biggest challenge is now approaching the plate.”

The camera focused on a man walking from the on-deck circle.

“Waaaaaaah-!!”

“Jeong! Jeong! Jeong! Jeong!!”

Yankee Stadium erupted in a deafening roar.

The fans rose to their feet, chanting the man’s name.

“Jeong Ha-sung, who has ascended to become arguably the best player in Major League history with his phenomenal performance this season, is stepping up to the plate!”

The best player in history.

It wasn’t hyperbole.

Not only in Korea but around the world, Ha-sung was being hailed as the best player ever.

That’s how extraordinary Ha-sung’s performance had been this season.

“Jeong Ha-sung broke the record for the third-most home runs in a season, surpassing 60 home runs among players who haven’t been linked to performance-enhancing drugs.”

“More importantly, he shattered numerous other records, surpassing the marks set by legendary players.”

“Matt Moore now faces the daunting task of pitching to Jeong Ha-sung, who is even more dangerous at the plate. What approach will he take?”

Matt Moore felt a surge of nerves.

‘Jeong Ha-sung…’ he thought.

The weight of Ha-sung’s name was immense.

But that was true of all the established major league players.

To a rookie like him, facing these accomplished players felt like facing insurmountable giants.

But Ha-sung was different.

‘In terms of experience, there isn’t a huge gap between us. But when I actually face him, he feels like an unscalable wall.’

Matt Moore had faced the New York Yankees as a starter before.

He had retired many batters that day.

But he couldn’t say the same about Ha-sung.

‘I faced him twice, and he hit a home run once and a double once.’

The skill gap felt too wide.

But Matt Moore wasn’t discouraged.

‘I can face him with the benefit of that experience.’

He had faced Ha-sung before.

This time, he could avoid repeating his past mistakes.

‘Jeong Ha-sung can hit pitches in any location. But he’s less likely to hit low pitches for extra bases.’

In the Division Series, every game is crucial.

The importance of scoring first is amplified in these high-stakes games.

‘If I allow Ha-sung to score the first run, I could lose control of the entire game.’

To prevent that, he needed to avoid giving up a long ball.

‘I’ll focus on low pitches.’

Kelly Shoppach, the Tampa Bay Rays’ catcher, had the same idea.

‘Ha-sung’s slugging percentage is above .400 in all zones, but it’s .300 on low pitches, which is lower than the others.’

It seemed absurd to call .300 “low,” but that was the reality.

Trying to get Ha-sung out was like threading a needle.

But they had to try.

No player is without weaknesses.

‘Okay,’ Matt Moore nodded and began his windup.

“Matt Moore with two outs! What pitch will he throw to the third batter, Jeong Ha-sung! He’s in his windup!”

With a leg kick, Matt Moore twisted his body and delivered the first pitch.

“Hmph-!!”

“He threw it!”

Thwack-!

“Strike!!”

“A first-pitch strike! A 94-mile fastball catches the outside corner, low in the zone!”

“Excellent command. He attacked a difficult location, the farthest point from Jeong Ha-sung and also the lowest.”

“Matt Moore’s control, which was a concern coming into today’s game, has been remarkably sharp.”

“He’s been locating his pitches well against the previous two batters, and he’s showing the same precision against Jeong Ha-sung.”

Ha-sung stepped slightly away from the plate and adjusted his stance.

‘He must be feeling good today. To locate a pitch like that in that location.’

Matt Moore’s top fastball velocity was around 97 miles per hour.

But he was throwing at 94 miles per hour, close to his maximum, and his control was excellent.

He was clearly in good form.

‘Matt Moore’s potential was rated higher than Bryce Harper’s or Mike Trout’s [two of the best players in baseball]. If he can harness his control, he’ll be a tough pitcher to face.’

Ha-sung returned to the plate and focused his thoughts.

‘But weaknesses aren’t easy to fix.’

In his previous life, Ha-sung had also had weaknesses.

Like Matt Moore, his velocity was high, but his control was inconsistent.

It took him a long time to improve it.

‘There were days when he was on a roll, but even on those days, he would still make mistakes.’

No matter how good a pitcher’s control is, they’ll make a few mistakes in a game.

But how many mistakes will a pitcher with poor control make?

Even on a good day, they’ll make more than that.

Ha-sung was waiting for that moment.

‘Patience is also a key part of baseball. If you’re impatient, you’ll be at the pitcher’s mercy.’

The most important thing at the plate is patience.

Success or failure at the plate depends on how well you wait for your pitch.

Ha-sung, knowing this well, stepped back into the batter’s box.

“Play ball!”

The game resumed.

* * *

People thought the game would be decided quickly.

Whack!!

“Ball!”

They expected Ha-sung, the best hitter in Major League Baseball, to quickly capitalize on Matt Moore’s inexperience.

But Matt Moore was pitching better than expected.

Clang-!!

“Foul!!”

“Foul ball! Matt Moore, who got ahead with two strikes early, is still challenging Jeong Ha-sung!”

“The battle between Matt Moore and Jeong Ha-sung is intense from the very first at-bat.”

The at-bat had already reached the 6th pitch.

“Matt Moore’s control has been impeccable through six pitches. He’s locating the ball precisely where the catcher wants it.”

“He’s gained the advantage by throwing pitches that are difficult for Jeong Ha-sung to hit.”

“But Jeong Ha-sung is not an easy out.”

“That’s right. He’s laid off some tough pitches and worked the count to two balls and two strikes.”

The first two pitches were strikes.

It seemed like Matt Moore was about to land a big fish.

But Ha-sung had shown great patience and evened the count.

‘It’s dangerous if it goes to a full count. Let’s finish this here.’

With the count even, Kelly signaled for an aggressive pitch.

Matt Moore nodded in agreement.

‘To get Ha-sung out here, I have to throw my best pitch.’

His best pitch.

He had to throw his most confident fastball with everything he had.

“Matt Moore gets the sign! He throws the 7th pitch!!”

With his windup, Matt Moore channeled all his energy into his fingertips.

He put more force than usual into the ball.

Whoosh-!!

The moment the ball left his hand.

‘Here it is!’

Ha-sung’s eyes lit up.

He recognized the extra effort in Matt Moore’s pitching motion.

Ha-sung’s swing, perfectly timed, was swift.

Whoosh-!

Unlike Matt Moore’s strained delivery, Ha-sung’s swing looked effortless.

A smooth swing that didn’t appear to require much force, and the bat sliced through the air.

And the moment of impact.

“Hmph!”

He focused all his power into the bat.

Clang-!!

“He connected!!”

With a resounding crack, the ball soared towards the outfield.

“This is……! It’s going, going, gone!!”

Division Series.

Ha-sung had hit a leadoff home run to announce his arrival.