Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 47

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 47

Robinson Cano.

A second baseman who represents Major League Baseball.

Although he had a career-low season in ’08, he was still a threatening hitter.

‘He’s a drug user, too.’

But he also gets caught for doping.

Not now, but in the future.

‘It’s a story from a long time from now, but I don’t know if he was using drugs at this point or not.’

In any case, I had to be careful.

‘Anyway, what I have to do doesn’t change.’

I rubbed rosin on my hands and stood on the mound.

[I’m curious to see what kind of ball he will throw as the first pitch against leadoff hitter Robinson Cano.]

[He is likely to choose his fastball, which is his strength.]

The American media called Ha-sung a pitcher who loves fastballs.

That’s how high Ha-sung’s fastball ratio was.

And Robinson Cano was well aware of that fact.

‘This guy’s fastball is threatening. And he knows it’s a strong weapon.’

Cano organized his thoughts and took his stance.

‘The first pitch is likely to be a fastball.’

He’s aiming for the fastball.

‘According to the analysis data, his fastball comes in at a slightly higher point. I have to aim high.’

Before the game.

The power analysis team gave data on the pitchers.

Since the closer is fixed, Ha-sung’s data was imprinted in my head.

That’s why I knew that Ha-sung’s fastball had a high vertical movement.

[Jung Ha-sung throws the first pitch!]

Ha-sung threw the first pitch with a windup.

The ball left his hand and flew in with a fierce speed.

‘Got it!’

Cano smiled with satisfaction as he swung his bat.

At that moment.

Whoosh!

The ball curved and swerved outward.

I tried to change the trajectory of the bat, but I couldn’t.

It was a bat swung with all my might to hit a 100-mile ball.

The acceleration was greater than usual.

Of course, it was difficult to change the trajectory of such a bat.

Whooong!!

The bat turned.

Thwack!

The ball was embedded in the mitt.

“Swing! Strike!!”

[Cano’s bat makes a splendid turn on the first pitch!]

[He seemed to be aiming for the fastball, but the ball that came in was a slider.]

Ha-sung smiled as he looked at Cano, who had swung and missed.

‘Do I look that simple?’

I knew Cano would be aiming for the fastball.

His fastball percentage has been overwhelmingly high since Opening Day.

In particular, the first pitch fastball percentage was over 90 percent.

‘The Yankees are the best team. The players and the front office as well. The power analysis on me will be fast.’

That’s why.

I chose a slider on the first pitch.

‘I’m throwing it because I acknowledge you.’

Ha-sung changed his repertoire [the variety of pitches he throws].

With his own judgment.

A smile spread across Chris’s face as he watched the scene.

“Cano was aiming for the fastball. He even figured out the vertical movement! But Ha-sung caught him off guard. He’s not just good at throwing the ball, he’s smart too.”

“He’s a good player. He understands baseball.”

Catherine agreed.

“It’s a veteran savvy you can’t see from a rookie.”

[Thwack!]

[Ball!]

[The second pitch is a fastball that sticks to the body! It’s called a ball as it misses by half a ball!]

“This ball was good too. The high inside pitch is close to the batter’s eyes. Since it’s a fastball thrown after a slider, it must have felt faster.”

There was intention hidden in each ball.

It was amazing.

Most rookies can’t do that.

They have to put all their energy into just throwing one ball.

As a result, they don’t have mental 余裕 [yoyu – leeway or余裕].

But Ha-sung was doing it.

[Tap-!!]

[Third pitch! Hit! A high fly ball! The second baseman catches it almost in place! One out!]

“He threw a fastball and then a sinker to make it deviate from the sweet spot this time.”

“He saved the fastball and focused on breaking ball matchups. He changed his repertoire.”

Ha-sung’s different side was visible.

‘He still has hidden aspects even after coming up to the big leagues. And he throws while thinking. What if this guy starts as a starter?’

Chris is one of the managers who doesn’t trust the bullpen.

There were also frequent cases of converting pitchers who showed talent in the bullpen to starters.

The reason is because it makes money.

‘Ha-sung’s value is high now. But if he can be converted to a starter, his value will increase even more.’

Of course, it’s just a thought at this stage.

It’s still early in the season.

‘Let’s watch what kind of pitching he does this season. We can seriously discuss it after the season is over.’

* * *

One out.

The second batter was Derek Jeter.

‘A legendary player. The Yankees’ eternal captain.’

There is no need to explain how great a player Derek Jeter is.

He finishes his career without any incidents on the field.

He is a player worthy of the title of the best shortstop of the 21st century.

‘Very good.’

He’s someone I’ve only seen on TV.

I’ve never faced him on the field.

I wonder if my ball will work on him?

I was curious.

‘If I catch you, my value will go up too.’

My salary will naturally follow.

Ha-sung, who rubbed rosin on his hands, stood on the mound.

‘A breaking ball again?’

He shook his head at Trevor’s sign.

‘Fastball?’

He nodded.

‘Outside low course.’

The exchange of signs was over.

‘I’m going all out.’

A one-run difference in the first inning.

And the opponent is one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball.

There was no reason to save energy.

“Hoo……!”

He took a deep breath and went into a windup.

Swish!

The moment leading to the stride of stepping out with a kick.

“Heup!!”

He inhaled to tighten the core muscles.

Crack!!

The moment the spikes were embedded in the mound, firmly fixing the lower body.

Whoosh!!

The accumulated power was gathered to the upper body by rotating the lower body, pelvis, and upper body in order.

In this process, the core muscle is important.

If the core muscle is weak, power is not properly transmitted.

But Ha-sung’s core muscle was trained enough to allow power to pass through.

Whooong-!!

The transferred power was gathered at the fingertips and released at once.

“Heut!!”

The ball left his hand with a short scream.

Swaeeeeek-!!

Jeter’s bat turned at the sharply flying ball.

Tap-!!

And he caught the ball as it was.

But the batted ball fell outside the line.

“Foul!!”

[First pitch is a foul!]

[The bat was pushed back a little.]

The speed is 101 miles.

To react even when throwing such a ball on the first pitch.

He was definitely a good hitter.

‘I can’t throw a faster ball at the moment.’

101 miles was Ha-sung’s top speed.

I couldn’t increase the speed any further than this.

Even if it were possible, the control would be shaken.

‘Let’s go with this this time.’

Ha-sung gave the sign first.

Trevor nodded at the sight.

[Jung Ha-sung gave the sign. What kind of ball did he choose?]

[Well. Considering what Jung Ha-sung has shown this season, it wouldn’t be strange to throw a fastball one more time.]

[Will he throw a fastball? Jung Ha-sung windup!]

Ha-sung threw the second pitch.

Swaeeeeek-!!

This time too, it was a ball that dug into the outside.

‘Is it a fastball again?’

Jeter swung his bat without hesitation.

Since the timing was late on the first pitch, he added more speed.

Whooong!!

The sound of cutting through the wind was heard sharply.

It was like it had the power to split the ball in half.

At that moment.

Whoosh!

The trajectory of the ball changed slightly.

It was such a close distance that it was difficult for a hitter named Jeter to react.

It slightly deviated from the sweet spot and hit the head of the bat.

Crack!!

“Keuek……!”

The bat couldn’t withstand it and split.

The split bat flew towards Ha-sung on the mound as it was.

[Ah! It’s dangerous!]

A dangerous situation that anyone could see.

Ha-sung lifted his foot with animalistic reflexes and blocked the head with the sole of his spike.

Thud!

And he immediately grabbed the rolling batted ball and threw it to first base.

Thud!

“Out!!”

[It’s out! Jung Ha-sung! He kicks the broken bat away with his foot and calmly gets the out count!]

[Ah-! It was a really dangerous situation. He responded calmly.]

[The trainer and manager are coming out of the Athletics dugout. I guess they need to check on Jung Ha-sung’s condition?]

[That’s right.]

Ha-sung expressed to the trainer and manager that he was okay.

“I’m okay. I blocked it with the sole, so there’s no impact.”

“Take a step.”

“I’m really okay.”

He took a light step at the trainer’s words.

There was no pain at all.

The trainer nodded at the sight.

“I think he’s okay.”

“Hoo…… that’s a relief. Don’t overdo it in the future.”

“Yes.”

The manager went in and Ha-sung was left alone on the mound.

He rubbed rosin on his hands and looked at Alex Rodriguez walking out of the waiting batter’s box.

‘Come on, drug addict.’

A Major League superstar.

I didn’t have any particular grudge against him.

He was just a good prey for me.

‘If I catch you, my value will go up…….’

[Jung Ha-sung windup!!]

The ball left Ha-sung’s hand and flew in with a fierce speed.

Thwaeock-!!

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! The speed was 99 miles!]

‘As a result, my salary will go up too.’

Ha-sung smiled as he looked at Alex, who couldn’t even dream of it.

* * *

The first game against the Yankees was over.

[Jung Ha-sung succeeds in achieving his fifth save of the season against the Yankees!]

[Guardian Jung Ha-sung, who kept the victory without giving up a run today!]

[Super Rookie Jung Ha-sung! Subdues the Yankees’ superstars!]

The save against the Yankees became a bigger topic than ever before.

In a way, it was natural.

Because he caught Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, who can be said to be national stars.

This save caused a hotter reaction than ever before in Korea as well.

-Did you see Derek Jeter break his bat?

-Wow…… that was crazy.

-That’s not all. Did you see him block the broken bat with his foot? It’s not human reflexes.

-Is he a rookie? He doesn’t panic on the mound.

-LOL, how can he be so calm when the bat is flying?

-He was amazing when he faced A-roid [Alex Rodriguez’s nickname].

-He strikes out Roider [another nickname for Alex Rodriguez] with three pitches?

This game became a big topic not only in Korea but also in the United States.

Because it was broadcast nationwide through ESPN [Entertainment and Sports Programming Network].

-The Athletics’ closer throws well.

-His play is no joke.

-He succeeded in a tough save against the Evil Empire [nickname for the New York Yankees].

-Does he just subdue that monstrous lineup?

-The expression Super Rookie is perfect.

-He’s already broken two bats this season.

-He breaks the bat in front of Rivera, the original bat breaker, lol.

Was it because he gained strength from Ha-sung’s performance?

The Athletics’ lineup came alive in the second game.

Tap-!!

[He hit it! This batted ball is big! A good batted ball that goes straight through the left center!!]

[At this point, the second base runner will just come in.]

[The second base runner turns third base and heads home! He comes in easily! Oakland scores an additional point to run away!]

The Athletics, who won a great victory with a score of 7 to 2 in the second game, continued their early season surge.

* * *

Ha-sung had no chance to play in the second game.

There was no reason to play in a game that wasn’t a save situation.

Thanks to this, I was able to relieve the fatigue of the previous day’s pitching and recover my stamina.

“Hooahm…….”

The next day.

Ha-sung, who woke up from sleep before the third game, checked his smartphone.

There were several text messages, and one of them caught my eye.

‘It’s Isabel.’

It was Isabel from J&J Agency.

The content of the text message she sent was simple.

[I want to talk to you about the contract.]

A smile spread across Ha-sung’s face after checking the contents.

‘Well, that’s natural.’

Because they have no choice but to get excited about my performance early in the season.

Ha-sung also checked the contents of other text messages.

Ha-sung’s eyes lit up as he skipped through a few text messages.

“Oh ho…… this guy is contacting me.”

The number was not saved.

But thanks to the content written in the text message, I could immediately tell who the other person was.

[I want to talk to you. – Scott Boras -]

He was the biggest figure among Major League agents.