Villain on the Mound – Episode 41
Chris observed the bullpen pitchers with a keen eye.
Like a hawk, he captured every movement, missing no detail.
‘Their physical condition isn’t great. They’re releasing the ball too late.’
Someone didn’t meet his expectations.
‘Not bad. Good overall body balance. The power transfer is happening correctly.’
Someone pleased him.
He checked these aspects while examining the pitchers’ condition.
Of course, one pitching session isn’t the only factor.
They assess a player’s condition through multiple tests before deciding if they can play in the major leagues.
However, opportunities weren’t equally distributed.
Players with prior major league experience or higher salaries received more chances.
This was natural in a competitive environment.
“Ha-sung is coming over,” Katherine said quietly.
Chris turned his gaze in the direction Katherine indicated.
Ha-sung was approaching, dressed casually.
His physique was more apparent in a short-sleeved shirt.
‘Amazing.’
Even Chris, who had seen countless players, was impressed by his physique.
He wondered how Ha-sung had developed such a body.
However, he wasn’t entirely optimistic.
“Now that his body has changed, there’s a good chance he won’t perform as well as last year if he doesn’t adjust his mechanics, right?”
“Yes. Many experts are concerned about that. Ha-sung’s physical transformation was quite dramatic.”
Chris nodded at Katherine’s words.
Most Major League players disliked extreme changes.
They were unsure how changes in mechanics would affect their performance.
For that reason, teams also discouraged sudden player changes.
Moreover, there was another reason to worry about Ha-sung.
“We can also learn about potential injuries from today’s pitching.”
“The medical staff said there were no major issues, but his withdrawal from the national team suggests there might be a problem.”
“I hope it was just a rumor, as he said.”
On the first day of camp, Chris interviewed Ha-sung.
During the interview, Ha-sung confidently stated, “It’s a rumor.”
He also submitted his medical records from Korea.
There was no mention of any injuries, only a simple inflammatory reaction that required treatment.
However, suspicion lingered.
‘Korea has a strong sense of patriotism. Their attitude toward the national team is different from other places. Why would Ha-sung, who was born and raised in such a country, refuse to join the national team?’
An injury would be a valid reason.
But that wasn’t the case.
Then why did he refuse?
Everything was a question.
More than anything, why did they give up on him so easily in Korea?
The answer to that question would soon be revealed.
“Okay! Throw it anytime!”
Ha-sung nodded at the catcher’s shout.
Chris, looking at the catcher, asked Katherine, “Who is that guy?”
In the early days of Major League camp, many players gather.
Among them were minor league players and those invited from outside.
Even as the general manager, he couldn’t know everyone if he wasn’t in charge of personnel.
However, Katherine was different.
With her excellent memory, she knew most of the players.
“He’s a player named Zack Miller who was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A [Minor League Baseball levels] last year. In Triple-A, he played in 7 games and recorded 5 hits in 18 at-bats. He’s a player with great power, with 3 of those hits being home runs.”
“Ah, I remember. He was a guy whose catching ability was a bit lacking, right?”
“Yes. His throwing ability is excellent, but his blocking and leading skills aren’t Major League level.”
“It might be worth considering changing his position.”
A hitter with power could be a valuable asset to the team.
While keeping an eye on Zack, Ha-sung finished his practice throws.
The pitching coach next to him said, “Let’s go with about 20 pitches lightly.”
“Yes.”
It was his first bullpen pitching session.
There was no need to throw a lot.
It was enough to check his condition.
Ha-sung knew that well.
‘There’s no need to show everything from the beginning.’
His plan was to gradually reveal his capabilities.
Ha-sung lightly threw the first ball with a windup.
Whoosh-!!
Thwack!!
“Nice! Very good!!”
The ball hit the mitt with a tremendous sound.
Katherine watched the monitor outside and checked the data.
“The RPM [Revolutions Per Minute, a measure of spin rate] was 2377, and the speed was recorded at 90 miles per hour.”
“90 miles per hour on the first pitch. Not bad.”
“All the other data is excellent too.”
Ha-sung threw the ball in succession.
Each time, the ball’s speed, spin rate, and vertical movement were displayed on the monitor.
Except for the speed, all the figures were at the top level of the Major League.
This meant one thing.
‘There’s nothing wrong with Ha-sung’s body.’
If he was injured, he wouldn’t be able to throw a ball like that.
‘I can rest assured for now.’
Ha-sung would be a key player for the team this season.
They had no choice but to be sensitive to his physical condition.
But there were still things left to consider.
‘Will he be able to perform as well as he did last year?’
If he could maintain that level of performance, one worry could be alleviated: the significant burden of being a closer [A relief pitcher who specializes in pitching the final inning of a game].
Thwack!!
Ha-sung’s pitching sound echoed cheerfully in the bullpen.
* * *
Ha-sung gradually increased his intensity in the bullpen.
With the first pitch, he took time to check his physical condition while throwing a 90-mile-per-hour fastball.
And in the second pitching session.
Thwack-!!
“92 miles per hour was recorded.”
“His velocity is increasing compared to last time.”
He marked his best speed at 92 miles per hour, reaffirming that his physical condition was excellent.
“Jung Ha-sung is following a routine that doesn’t seem like a rookie. It’s his first camp, but he’s neither hasty nor too relaxed. It’s impressive how he follows his routine like a machine.”
“It’s only his second bullpen session, so we can’t be sure yet. But if what you say is true, then a truly formidable rookie has emerged.”
Chris hadn’t made a definite judgment yet.
Clearly, things had been good so far, but he couldn’t guarantee that this would continue.
However, his thoughts changed slightly during the third bullpen session.
Thwack-!!
“95 miles per hour.”
“What’s the RPM?”
“It’s recorded at 2514. Higher than the previous best of 2441.”
“It seems you’re right. He’s gradually improving his condition. Is this a show of force, asking to be put in the exhibition game?”
“There are three more bullpen sessions scheduled. After that, it leads to internal practice games and exhibition games… The timing coincides similarly.”
Ha-sung was raising his pace to match the exhibition games.
That meant one thing.
‘Is he telling us to put him in the vacant closer position [relief pitcher who specializes in pitching the final inning of a game]?’
That was the only thing he could think of.
‘Interesting. Well then, show me what you’ve prepared in the exhibition game.’
If he continued to improve his physical condition at the current pace, there would be something interesting to see in the exhibition game.
He was looking forward to it.
* * *
As time passed, the camp began to bustle as the hitters joined.
It felt like the 본격적인 [full-fledged] camp had truly begun.
With many reporters gathering, it was more hectic than ever.
The reason why so many reporters gathered was because of the impressive lineup of players Oakland had acquired this season.
In particular, the acquisition of a star hitter named Matt Holliday drew a lot of attention.
“Matt! You’ve left the Rockies for the first time. Will you be able to perform well in Oakland this year?”
“Hahaha! Of course. My bat will be on fire even if it’s not in Rockies.”
“What’s the atmosphere of the Athletics, which you’ve joined?”
“I’m not sure. There are many players whose names I don’t know.”
Matt Holliday is a superstar.
A star who is certain to sign a long-term contract as a free agent at the end of this season.
Already, articles were coming out in the media that Boras [referring to Scott Boras, a well-known sports agent] wanted a long-term contract worth over $100 million.
The addition of such a superstar could be positive or negative for the team.
‘Each team has its own locker room atmosphere. But if an outsider comes in, that atmosphere can be broken. Unless a superstar can immediately take control of the locker room atmosphere….’
Ha-sung didn’t think Matt Holliday would be that kind of presence.
‘Looking at the Athletics’ financial situation, they can’t afford to keep Matt Holliday. He’ll definitely only play this season and leave.’
A method of bringing in a player who is about to become a free agent for a championship challenge, using them cheaply, and then sending them to another team.
It’s a common case in Major League Baseball.
‘What kind of performance did Matt Holliday have in Oakland?’
He tried to recall, but he couldn’t remember.
Ha-sung couldn’t know everything about the long history of Major League Baseball.
Moreover, the Athletics were a team he had no interest in.
It was even more difficult to know.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter much to me.’
Their positions are different.
There was little chance of him clashing with Holliday.
Ha-sung stopped paying attention and focused on his own work.
* * *
As time passed, the hotel began to empty out.
As the camp went on, players began to be eliminated.
The eliminated players here go down to the minor league spring camp instead of the major league spring camp.
Invited players either leave the Athletics and go to another team or pursue a transfer to another country.
Of course, it’s not a common occurrence.
Naturally, Ha-sung belonged to the group of survivors.
“Yo! Ha-sung!”
As he entered the locker room, there was a player who greeted him happily.
It was Jack.
He also survived the major league spring camp and continued to stay at the hotel.
“The exhibition game starts today. How do you feel?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking for advice rather than asking a question?”
“…Was I found out?”
“You look so nervous that if you go to the plate like that, you’ll be easy prey for the pitcher.”
“Damn it!”
Jack clutched his head.
“Haa… I haven’t been able to sleep properly since yesterday. My heart is pounding like when my girlfriend in high school called me over when her parents were out.”
“High school…?”
“Yeah. Why?”
He only knew baseball in high school.
For a moment, he suppressed his rising emotions and handed Jack a water bottle.
“Drink this and calm down. Even if you get a chance today in that state, will you be able to hit properly?”
“Sigh… Thanks.”
“As you know, hitting is more about mentality than technique. If you respond calmly, you can hit it, so don’t be too nervous.”
“Okay, okay.”
Ha-sung smiled reassuringly at Jack.
It reminded him of when he first came up to the first team.
‘I was like this guy back then too.’
Because of that experience, he wasn’t as nervous in his first exhibition game.
‘Alright, it’s showcase time.’
The time to show his true worth was approaching.
* * *
Ha-sung’s parents were sitting in front of the TV.
“Oh my! The game is starting!”
With his mother’s words, Oakland’s exhibition game began to be broadcast on TV.
Although it was a local cable broadcast rather than a public broadcast, his parents’ faces were flushed with the thought of being able to watch their son’s game live.
[Hello, viewers across the country! This is Kim Chul-ho, who will be broadcasting the Major League exhibition game, the home of baseball! Next to me is commentator Lee Ki-tae, who will be helping us with the commentary. Hello?]
[Hello.]
The broadcast began, and the camera showed the mound.
Dallas, who will be the team’s first starter, was on the mound.
“When will Ha-sung come out?”
“Well, since he’s likely to play as a reliever again this season, there’s a high chance he’ll come out in the later innings.”
His father’s prediction was correct.
The game between the Athletics and the Royals turned into a slugfest.
At the end of the 6th inning, the score was tied at 8 to 7.
[Thwack-!!]
[Well-hit ball, hits the fence as it is. With the extra-base hit, the runner on first goes to third. The batter safely reaches second.]
[He created an extra-base hit by pushing the fastball along the grain.]
[The Athletics are in crisis, and here the manager visits the mound.]
The manager who visited the mound took the ball and replaced the pitcher.
The camera showed the bullpen, and a player came out, opening the door.
[Jung Ha-sung comes out, opening the bullpen!!]
It was Ha-sung’s first appearance in the exhibition game.