Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 33

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 33

After hearing Chris’s words, Tony pondered and replied,

“Isn’t it too early? He’s just getting used to the major leagues. Using him as a closer could put a lot of pressure on him.”

The closer position is a high-pressure role.

Mental fortitude is crucial because it can determine the outcome of a game.

That’s why it’s difficult for a rookie to take on that role.

But it’s not impossible.

“Houston was also used as a closer in his rookie season. And he performed incredibly well.”

Houston debuted in the major leagues in 2005.

That year, he was Oakland’s closer, appearing in 67 games and pitching 78.1 innings.

His ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per nine innings pitched] was only 1.72, and only Mariano Rivera had a lower ERA in 2005.

Thanks to his performance at that time, he was able to become Oakland’s permanent closer.

“More than anything, this closer appointment is a kind of test.”

“For next season?”

“Yes. Houston did well enough in his rookie season, but after that, he became an ordinary pitcher, didn’t he?”

“Um… I understand. Then, if the situation arises, let’s try using Haseong as a closer.”

Haseong’s closer appointment was decided.

* * *

September.

Oakland was gaining wins at a good pace.

But that pace didn’t last long.

Thwack-!!

“Ah~”

[Well-hit ball! It goes over the fence!! A three-run home run adds to the score!]

After returning home, Oakland began to lose pace after Houston’s blown save.

They fell into a losing streak and began to move away from the wild card [a playoff berth awarded to the best teams that didn’t win their division].

-Oakland is ruined again this season.

-With this defeat, wild card entry is becoming increasingly difficult.

-Just give up baseball if you’re going to play like this.

-Houston is the problem!

-It’s a problem overall.

-Chris’s Moneyball [a data-driven approach to baseball management] doesn’t work anymore.

American Oakland fans expressed their disappointment with the team.

On the other hand, in Korea, complaints erupted as Haseong’s appearances decreased.

-Haseong didn’t play today either.

-They don’t put him in losing games, so it seems like he’s secured his spot?

-He’s been called up to the major leagues for less than a month, what spot are you talking about.

-Honestly, if I were the manager, I would have entrusted Closer Haseong.

-You know your baseball.

-There’s no one in the bullpen who pitches as well as Haseong right now.

-Ah-! Won’t they broadcast it?!!

Fans reacted sensitively to the broadcast.

As a result, broadcasting stations were also in a difficult situation.

“Should we acquire the major league broadcasting rights?”

“Isn’t it a bit ambiguous? He’s a relief pitcher.”

“That’s true, but there’s a lot of interest from domestic fans. With this level of interest, many advertisers will probably come on board.”

“Hmm…”

“More than anything, the broadcasting rights are cheap right now. It seems like it would be good to quickly negotiate and secure at least next year’s broadcasting rights.”

“No. The risk is still too great. He might not be able to come up from next season. Let’s think about it after next season starts.”

Public broadcasters were worried about the risk.

He’s doing well now, but he could fall apart from next season.

In that case, he could be sent down to the minor leagues and not be able to come up.

If that happens, the advertisements will naturally fall out and the broadcasting rights fees will go out as they are.

The broadcasting stations’ concerns continued, but one thing was certain.

Even though the team was losing, the interest in Haseong was not waning.

* * *

Oakland, which had begun to lose its winning pace, failed to advance to the wild card.

The Red Sox gained momentum and confirmed their spot.

With this, all the teams that would advance to the postseason in the American League were decided.

Naturally, the atmosphere in the Oakland locker room sank.

“Ah-! This season flew away like this again.”

“I thought I’d be able to enjoy the postseason a bit.”

The postseason is a big event for the players as well.

The reason they were able to make a spurt at the end was because the possibility of the postseason was alive.

As that possibility disappeared, the players’ energy had no choice but to drop.

But Haseong was not.

‘I had a really fulfilling season.’

He achieved everything he had aimed for.

Passing the minor leagues and advancing to the major leagues.

Those were the goals Haseong had set for this season.

‘With my performance so far, I can definitely be on the roster next year.’

Currently, Haseong’s record is 15 innings pitched in 12 games.

He has not given up a single run during that time, recording an ERA of zero.

He is the best performing prospect who has come up to the major leagues with the expansion roster [the period in September when teams can add players to their roster].

‘If they send me to the minor leagues next year with this record, the Oakland front office needs to have their brains checked.’

More than anything, the reaction to him in Oakland was very hot.

‘If I go to Korea after the season ends and shoot a few commercials, I can make some money.’

Haseong was already thinking about after the season ended.

He knew that many places were trying to contact him, so he was thinking of narrowing down the candidates among them.

‘I’ll need someone to handle these kinds of things too.’

If he plays a full season in the major leagues, it will inevitably become difficult to pay attention to these trivial things.

He needed someone to handle these things.

‘If I succeed in settling down in the major leagues, the money I earn in the future will increase exponentially.’

Haseong’s purpose in playing baseball is money.

To make as much money as possible and live lavishly.

That was Haseong’s goal in this life.

‘People say that money isn’t everything, but if you have money, you can live a really comfortable life.’

Haseong knew very well how important money was.

He needed money to live an interesting life.

‘I need a lot of money. To do that, I have to earn enough. I don’t know when I’ll get injured again in this second life.’

He plans to be as careful as possible.

But the human body can get injured anytime, anywhere.

It could be an excessive worry.

Because it’s only been a year since he became a professional.

But Haseong has a history of retiring due to injury in his previous life.

‘Even though I’ve eliminated the risks… there’s still anxiety.’

The memory of that time was vivid.

To the point where he never wanted to think about it again.

In any case, he had to make as much money as possible before that happened.

‘There’s nothing left after retirement. To live lavishly even after that, I have to make as much money as possible.’

Income decreases sharply after retirement.

That’s why he had to make as much money as possible while playing as a player.

‘Let’s finish this season well and think about what to do from next year.’

He hopes to finish the season smoothly.

Haseong prepared for the game with that in mind.

* * *

[Oakland is hosting the Angels at home and continuing a close game.]

The score is 3 to 2.

Oakland was leading by one point as they entered the top of the 8th inning.

[Oakland will bring up Jung Haseong here, right?]

[Looking at the recent pattern, that’s likely.]

The commentators predicted Haseong’s appearance.

But the player who came out of the bullpen was an unexpected player.

[Ah-! The player who came out of the Oakland bullpen is not Jung Haseong, but Houston Street. To bring up closer Houston in the 8th inning, what does this mean?]

[Um, there might be something wrong with Jung Haseong’s body.]

At that time, the Oakland bullpen was caught on the monitor.

Haseong was there, warming up.

[Jung Haseong is warming up normally?]

[It seems that Oakland has made a bold choice?]

[A bold choice?]

[Yes. I think they’re trying to use Jung Haseong as a closer.]

[Jung Haseong is a rookie, though?]

[It’s not surprising. Even Houston Street was in charge of closing from his first season in the major leagues.]

The commentator’s prediction was accurate.

‘I can’t believe they’re going to use me as a closer.’

This was something Haseong hadn’t expected either.

Even though postseason elimination was confirmed, changing the closer was a radical decision.

Moreover, entrusting a rookie in his debut season with a major responsibility was even rarer.

‘Either way, this is an opportunity. If I show a good performance as a closer, I can become a major league regular. Relief pitchers sometimes earn more money than closers, too.’

Although they are the same bullpen pitchers, the closer’s salary is higher than the middle relief pitcher’s.

‘The problem is that I have to fill my service time [the amount of time a player has been on a major league roster] right now, but if I become a closer, my recognition here will increase even more.’

If recognition increases, popularity will naturally follow.

This would likely be more advantageous for advertisements.

Above all, his star quality would increase, which would help in future salary negotiations.

‘If I’m going to go out today, Houston has to block this inning well and hand over the mound to me in the 9th.’

Haseong recalled when Houston went out to the bullpen.

‘He glared at me once before going out.’

He seemed quite shocked too.

Seeing him glare at himself when he left the bullpen after hearing the coach’s order.

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

A typical rookie might be concerned about that.

But Haseong was not.

‘Okay, block the 8th well and hand over the mound to me in the 9th.’

Haseong waited for his time.

* * *

Top of the 8th inning.

Houston gave up one hit, but struck out three outs and finished the inning scoreless.

Oakland failed to score in the bottom of the 8th, making it a tough save situation with a one-point lead.

[Top of the 9th inning! Oakland, who can win if they block this inning, is putting Jung Haseong on the mound to finish the game!]

The camera caught Haseong on the mound.

[Jung Haseong debuted in the minor leagues this season and was called up to the major leagues in just five months. Jung Haseong, who started playing on the big league mound in September, has recorded an excellent record of 15 innings pitched in 12 games, allowing no runs and two hits.]

The commentators continued to praise him while Haseong was practicing pitching.

[He is by far the most outstanding pitcher among the players who were called up with this season’s expansion roster.]

[Yes. The fastball that throws up to 100 miles is also impressive, but the biggest strength of the pitcher is that he can throw his own ball on the mound.]

[He’s a pitcher with boldness that doesn’t seem like a rookie, right?]

[That’s right. In particular, the flawless inning in the game against the Red Sox was a game that showed his potential.]

[I’m looking forward to seeing how Jung Haseong, who has finished his practice pitching, will play in his first major league closer debut.]

Haseong put rosin [a sticky substance used by pitchers to improve their grip] on his hands and stood on the mound.

“Play ball!!”

The game started with the umpire’s shout.

He lowered his upper body and looked at Trevor.

‘Inside fastball.’

He nodded at his sign.

“Hoo…”

He took a deep breath and went into his windup.

Then, he concentrated his strength with a kicking motion that kicked his feet up.

‘If it’s a test…’.

He stepped forward, rotated his waist, and moved his strength to his fingertips.

‘I’ll pass it perfectly!!’

And he threw the ball with all his might.

Whoosh-!!

The ball that left his hand flew with a fierce spin.

The batter’s bat turned at the ball that pierced the inside.

However, the batter’s bat, unable to adapt to the falling ball, cut through the air.

Thwack!!

“Swing! Strike!!”

[First pitch fastball at 98 miles!! The ball is stuck in a perfect course!]

* * *

Chris was watching Haseong’s pitching from one side of the stadium.

‘I thought he would be nervous because it was his first closer debut. But there’s no sign of that at all.’

It was a satisfactory first pitch.

The ball was also powerful, perhaps because he had rested before coming up.

Thwack!

“Strike!! Two!!”

The second ball was stuck in the low outside course.

Chris’s gaze turned to the electronic display board.

’99 miles. The speed is also coming out very well.’

At this speed, he can be among the top major league closers.

Of course, assuming he maintains a full season.

Thwack!!

“Foul!!”

The third ball threw a slider [a type of breaking ball].

It barely caught the tip of the batter’s bat and went out of the foul line.

‘It was a good ball, but the batter reacted. The ball count is still good. You can throw another decoy to induce the batter’s bat again.’

What kind of ball will he throw?

Chris put a peanut in his mouth and watched Haseong.

“Heup!!”

With a shout, Haseong threw the fourth ball.

Whoosh-!!

The ball that left his hand quickly crossed the space.

And, like the first ball, it strongly pierced the batter’s body.

Thwack!!

“Strike!! Batter out!!”

Then the umpire’s hand went up.

‘He didn’t take the game long and ended it quickly. It’s a choice you can make because you have faith in the ball.’

It may be a dangerous choice.

There were many possibilities.

But Chris liked that even more.

‘A major league closer has to have that kind of guts.’

He knew the ball was good.

What he was curious about was whether he had the guts to take on the closer role.

And Haseong was showing that now.

* * *

[Jung Haseong saved the team’s victory by striking out three in one inning in his first major league closer appearance.

With today’s game result, he recorded his first major league save.

It remains to be seen whether he will be responsible for Oakland’s back door in the future.]

On this day, the Korean portal site featured an article about Haseong’s first save success, along with a photo of him pitching.