Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 267

Mound Villain – Episode 267

[New York Yankees Defeat St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5!]

[Yankees Lead Series 3-2 After Extra Innings!]

[Untouchable Ha-sung Jung! Grand Slam Saves the Yankees!]

[Game 5 MVP Ha-sung Jung! Laser Throw Prevents Team from Losing Points!]

The main highlight of Game 5 was, of course, Ha-sung’s laser throw.

[In the bottom of the 10th inning, Manager Joe Girardi puts Ha-sung Jung in as right fielder.]

[Wow~ I was really surprised at this moment. I never imagined that Ha-sung Jung would play as a right fielder.]

[It seemed like a move born of necessity, given the team’s limited options.]

[But this choice turned out to be a stroke of genius.]

The screen changed, showing Ha-sung’s throw.

[He caught the ball cleanly after it bounced off the wall. Up to that point, I thought they would concede at least one run. But look at what happened next.]

Ha-sung took a running start and fired the ball straight to home plate.

[Ha-sung Jung routinely throws 100 miles per hour from the mound. But this time, with a running start, he put everything he had into the throw.]

[I heard the speed of that throw was a whopping 107 miles per hour?]

[That’s right. It seems the speed was even faster than his pitches from the mound, thanks to the running start.]

[Wow~ Even with a running start, that speed is incredible.]

[What’s even more amazing is how perfectly controlled it was.]

[And wasn’t it a laser beam? He threw it from the fence to home plate without a single bounce.]

[I thought I’d seen everything Ha-sung Jung was capable of. I never imagined he’d pull off such a surprise in the World Series.]

Everyone was shocked.

Who would have thought they would see this side of Ha-sung?

[Now the Yankees only need one more win to clinch the World Series.]

[Shall we move on to the next stage now?]

[Yes. They will move to Yankee Stadium to play Games 6 and 7. And the Yankees plan to put their ace, Ha-sung Jung, on the mound for Game 6.]

[It remains to be seen whether Ha-sung Jung can maintain his ‘Mr. Zero’ form throughout the postseason.]

Mr. Zero.

Ha-sung had not allowed a single run in this postseason.

If he finishes Game 6 without allowing a run, he will end the postseason with a 0.00 ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance].

[Will Ha-sung Jung be able to lead the Yankees to the World Series championship? Please look forward to Game 6 tomorrow!]

Game 6 is just around the corner.

* * *

Ha-sung returned to New York.

He was still staying in a hotel with a panoramic view of New York City.

“I should look for a house next year.”

“Isn’t there a condition for that?”

“Of course, there’s the small matter of successful contract negotiations with the Yankees.”

Isabel nodded and brought the coffee to her lips.

“The Yankees are on fire right now. No matter how high we aim, they’ll have no choice but to agree.”

Ha-sung’s stock rose again during the World Series.

Shattering all expectations that he had already reached his peak.

“I’m leaving that entirely up to you. All I want is for no one to break my record for the next 10 years.”

“I’ll make sure it can’t be broken for at least 20 years.”

Ha-sung chuckled at Isabel’s confident words.

“I’m counting on you.”

Ha-sung looked out the window.

Yankee Stadium was visible in the distance.

‘I’ll finish it tomorrow.’

Ha-sung was already in battle mode.

* * *

The next day.

People flocked to Yankee Stadium.

But the number of people that could be accommodated was limited.

So people took seats all over New York City.

Almost every pub and restaurant had large TVs installed in preparation for watching the World Series.

Ha-sung took the mound in a game that drew the attention of the entire world.

[World Series Game 6! If the Yankees win here, the series is over! To complete that mission, the best pitcher in Major League history! Untouchable Ha-sung Jung takes the mound!]

A huge roar erupted as Ha-sung took the mound.

“Waaaaah-!!”

“Ha-sung! Finish the game!!”

“We believe in you!”

“Bring home the championship ring!!”

The Yankees fans’ tremendous support shook the stadium.

But Ha-sung couldn’t hear the sound.

He had been building up his concentration since before the game.

Thanks to this, his focus was so intense that he was oblivious to the surrounding noise and scenery.

“Play ball!!”

The game started with the umpire’s cry.

‘The Cardinals are really fired up.’

Starting catcher Martin thought as he watched the batter step up to the plate.

It wasn’t just the leadoff hitter.

The entire Cardinals team, waiting in the on-deck circle and dugout, was highly focused.

‘If we show even the slightest weakness, we’re done for.’

Martin knew better than anyone that this atmosphere was dangerous.

That’s why he signaled for Ha-sung’s most powerful pitch from the very first throw.

‘Let’s seize the initiative with a fastball.’

Ha-sung nodded after seeing the sign.

“Hoo…….”

He took a deep breath and slowly began his windup.

His movements were so deliberate that everyone’s attention was riveted on him.

Following the windup, Ha-sung paused for a moment as he twisted his body and began his kicking motion.

As if gathering strength.

As if fully charged, his center of gravity shifted forward, and he stepped toward the plate.

Whack!!

The spikes dug into the mound.

Whoosh!!

His body rotated rapidly.

Then his arm became horizontal to the ground like a whip and shot forward.

“Hup!!”

With a shout, he released the ball, his fingertips gripping the seams.

Swaeeeeeek-!!

The ball shot from his hand, a white streak across the air, and passed over home plate.

Popp!!

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! The speed is 101 miles! Ha-sung Jung throws a fastball of over 100 miles from the very first pitch!!]

[It was a great pitch, perfectly placed. It was such a perfect ball that it was difficult for the batter to react.]

[Ha-sung Jung seems to be in top form today!]

Ha-sung, who received the ball back, threw the second pitch without losing his concentration.

“Hup!!”

Swaeeeeeek!!

Popp!!

“Strike Two!!”

[He watches again without reacting! Second strike!]

[Ha-sung Jung’s pitch demonstrates his determination to dominate today, clocking in at 102 miles!]

Second strike.

But that wasn’t the end.

“Hup!!”

Swaeeeeeek!!

‘This time……!’

The fastball came in for the third time as well.

The batter was also a major leaguer.

He had no intention of missing this one.

His bat swung quickly and efficiently.

But the ball passed just above the path of the swing and landed in the catcher’s mitt.

Whoosh!!

Popp!!

“Swing! Strike out!!”

[Strikeout!! Ha-sung Jung strikes out the first batter with three pitches!!]

World Series Game 6.

It was a game that could end the World Series, and Ha-sung showcased his dominance by striking out the first batter with three pitches.

Everyone was enthusiastic about Ha-sung’s pitching.

“Ha-sung, you’re the best!!”

“Send those Cardinals packing!!”

“The ring is yours!!”

The fans’ cheers grew louder.

But Ha-sung still couldn’t hear it.

His amazing concentration was at its peak.

And the result of that concentration was enormous.

Popp!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Ha-sung Jung strikes out the second batter with three pitches!!]

Ha-sung, who struck out the second batter with three pitches, faced Albert Pujols, the third batter.

Expectations were high for what kind of pitch Ha-sung would throw against Pujols, one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball.

The result was shocking.

Popp-!

Whoosh!!

“Swing! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout!! Ha-sung Jung strikes out three batters in a row with three pitches!!]

[Uh…… It’s amazing! He finished the first inning with only 9 pitches. And he struck them all out!]

[It’s also amazing that all those pitches were fastballs. The highest speed was 104 miles, and the lowest speed was a whopping 100 miles.]

The camera showed Ha-sung walking off the mound.

Unlike usual, there was no smile on his face, and there was a different aura about him.

[Ha-sung Jung is different today! I think he’s going to do something incredible!!]

The commentator’s words soon became a prophecy.

* * *

It was overwhelming.

Popp-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Ha-sung Jung records his 6th strikeout of the game! And he only needed 2 innings!!]

He struck out all the batters through the second inning.

The number of pitches was only 22.

What’s amazing is that he’s only facing batters with fastballs.

[I never imagined that he would face batters with only fastballs in Major League Baseball, even on the World Series stage!]

[What is the limit of this pitcher? I can’t see the end of it now!]

Ha-sung’s strikeout parade, which shocked everyone who saw it, continued.

He continued his perfect pitching by striking out all the batters through the third inning.

[Ha-sung Jung has struck out 9! The 1st batter, Gordon, is in the box!]

[Gordon, who struck out with three pitches in his first at-bat, has to approach this with caution, as it is his second at-bat!]

Ha-sung knew it well too.

That’s why he made a change in the 4th inning.

“Hup!!”

Swaeeeeeek-!!

The ball that left his hand dove sharply toward the batter’s body at a rapid speed.

This time, Gordon swung his bat efficiently, determined not to be fooled.

‘I got it!’

He had no doubt that there would be a satisfying crack as the path of the ball and the path of the swing intersected.

At that moment, the flying ball disappeared from view.

Whoosh!

Whoong!!

The bat weakly cut through the air.

Thud!!

The ball fell and landed in the mitt.

“Swing! Strike One!!”

[It’s a swing! The first breaking ball of the game is a 92-mile high-speed slider!!]

[The slider came out at a speed similar to that of a normal pitcher’s fastball!]

[The angle of the break was also artistic. It fell vertically and suddenly disappeared from the batter’s sight!]

It was a high-speed slider thrown at the perfect moment.

Thanks to this, Gordon’s face was filled with frustration.

‘Damn……. Is he starting to throw breaking balls now?’

The future looked bleak.

It was hard enough to anticipate only fastballs.

But now I have to keep breaking balls in mind.

‘Monster bastard…….’

Gordon was cornered, but Ha-sung threw the next ball without hesitation.

Poong-!!

“Strike!!”

As if not wanting to let the cornered rat escape.

His ball did not hide its sharp claws and probed at every corner of the strike zone.

Whoosh!!

Whoong!!

Thud!!

“Swing! Strike Batter Out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Ha-sung Jung achieves 10 consecutive strikeouts!!]

[He is showing the power to get all 10 outs with strikeouts!!]

[The Cardinals’ vanguard retreats without accomplishing anything!]

Ha-sung’s one-man show began.