Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 60

Villain on the Mound – Episode 60

The first pitch was a 101 mph fastball.

The batter didn’t even react.

‘Damn it, he’s been throwing changeups a lot lately. And he throws a fastball to me?’

The addition of the changeup has made Ha-sung an even more fearsome pitcher.

Thanks to that, the batters had to think of several possibilities, and their timing was bound to be late.

[Jung Ha-sung’s changeup comes from the same motion as his fastball. The trajectory is also the same until the point where the batter can recognize it, making it difficult to distinguish.]

[He started throwing changeups this season, and the level of perfection is already this high. Jung Ha-sung is really amazing.]

Ha-sung went into his windup.

He was going to catch them off guard with a quick pitch while the batter was confused.

[He throws the second pitch!]

Whoosh-!!

The batter swung at the fast-flying ball.

But the ball seemed to stop in mid-air.

The batter was startled and tried to check his swing, stopping it abruptly.

That was a mistake.

Thwack-!!

[He hit it! But it’s a mis-hit! Shortstop grabs it and throws to first base!]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[It’s out! The ball was a little high, but Arnold handled it cleanly, and the out count goes up!]

Ha-sung walked to first base and held out his glove.

“Nice catch, Arnold.”

“Whew, I didn’t know the first ball would come up so high.”

“But you caught it well anyway.”

He lightly greeted Arnold and returned to the mound.

He could feel that the fielders were flustered.

‘Are they more conscious of my record than I am?’

It’s a new major league record.

Not only the person involved but also the team members can’t help but be aware of it.

‘I have to trust myself.’

Ha-sung’s eyes changed.

* * *

[Only two more outs remain until a new major league record tie.]

[He got the first out well.]

[He looks to be in good condition, right?]

[Maybe it’s because it’s his first appearance in a while, but his pitches have more power.]

Ha-sung wound up.

[Jung Ha-sung throws the first pitch against the second batter!]

Whoosh-!

Thwack!!

“Foul!!”

[It’s a foul. He reacted to the cutter, but it falls outside the foul line.]

[The reaction wasn’t bad. However, Jung Ha-sung’s pitching was better.]

Ha-sung, who got the first strike, stood on the mound again.

[Jung Ha-sung throws the second pitch!]

Whoosh!

Swoosh!

Thud!

“Swing! Strike!”

[Second pitch, a swing and a miss! Jung Ha-sung induces a swing and a miss with a changeup!]

[He mixed in a changeup at the right timing to induce the batter’s swing and miss. It was a very clever pitch.]

[Jung Ha-sung got two strikes, so what kind of ball will he throw for the third pitch!]

Ha-sung’s third pitch was a slider.

It was a bait ball that flowed outward from a high spot on the outside corner [a pitch designed to look like a strike but curves out of the strike zone].

The batter’s bat started to come around but soon stopped.

Thud!

“Ball!”

[It’s a ball. He checked with Trevor, the first base umpire, but the ruling is that he didn’t swing.]

[It was a good bait ball, but he checked his swing well.]

[One ball and two strikes, Jung Ha-sung still has a favorable ball count.]

From here on, there are many possibilities.

Even if he throws another bait ball, it will be two balls and two strikes.

There was also a way to throw a strike and end the at-bat altogether.

Whatever method he chooses, Ha-sung has been in an advantageous position so far.

But if it becomes two balls, the situation changes.

‘I don’t think I need to go to two balls and two strikes, because I’ll be at a disadvantage from then on.’

At two balls and two strikes, the batter is under even more pressure.

You might ask if there is a spare ball count, but that is not the case.

The pitches a pitcher can throw at two balls and two strikes are limited.

If another ball comes out, it will be three balls.

At that time, he would have to throw a strike and risk giving up a hit, so it was better to avoid getting to that point.

‘I have to go this way here.’

Trevor sent a sign.

But Ha-sung shook his head.

‘Let’s go with this.’

Trevor’s eyes, visible through the mask at Ha-sung’s sign, widened.

‘Really?’

‘Yeah.’

He nodded only after checking one more time.

[He throws the fourth pitch!]

From windup to kicking stride.

With a movement that flowed like water, his arm turned smoothly and released the ball.

Whoosh-!

The ball that left his hand flew at a fierce speed.

The batter’s bat also started to move.

He was committing to the swing, judging that a strike was coming this time.

But.

Suddenly!

The ball seemed to stop in mid-air.

Of course, that’s just how it looked to the batter.

Swoosh!

Thud!

“Swing! Out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung induces the batter to swing and miss by throwing a fourth-pitch changeup!!]

[I was wondering if he would try to overpower him here. He induces a swing and a miss with a surprising changeup.]

[Considering Jung Ha-sung’s usual aggressive style, I thought he would go for a showdown.]

Even the commentators thought he would go for a showdown [a high-stakes, power-vs-power pitch].

The same goes for the batter.

Ha-sung knew very well that his usual image was so ingrained.

‘Once an image is imprinted, it’s not easy to change.’

Ha-sung’s image was imprinted in the batter’s mind, so he expected a fastball to come in.

‘Now all that’s left is…….’

Ha-sung’s gaze turned to the electronic scoreboard.

Two outs were displayed.

‘One.’

One out remained until the great record.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung throws the ball to get the last out!]

His father’s fist clenched.

[Thwack-!!]

[He hit it!]

“Ah~”

“No!”

The employees around his father exclaimed all at once the moment the ball was hit.

[Foul!!]

[It’s a foul! It’s a foul!]

[It falls outside the line at the last moment. Thank goodness.]

“Haa…….”

“Thank goodness…….”

“Oh my…… my heart.”

His father also echoed the employees’ sentiments.

‘I can’t even show my emotions because I’m at the company…….’

Ha-sung’s game was continuing into lunchtime.

Thanks to this, they were able to watch it on TV in the company’s lounge.

Of course, it would be difficult under normal circumstances.

However, watching baseball games was possible due to special instructions from the president.

[Thud!]

[Ball!!]

“Ah-! Why is that a ball?”

“Didn’t it catch the corner?”

“Deputy Choi! You used to play baseball, right? Isn’t that a strike?”

“Y…… Yes, it’s a strike! The umpire is having a bad day!”

Today, that pitch location was consistently called a ball.

However, Choi had no choice but to agree with the section chief’s statement that it was a strike for the sake of his social life.

[Thud!!]

[Strike!]

“That’s right!!”

“Aja!! [fighting!/go!]”

“That’s what I’m talking about!!”

When the strike call came out, the employees cheered all at once.

‘There were fewer people who knew me even last year…….’

What about last year?

Even at the beginning of this season, there was not much interest in Ha-sung.

Of course, he attracted a lot of attention from baseball fans.

However, ordinary people only knew his name.

But the story changed as Ha-sung challenged the new major league record.

‘Now, no matter where you turn on the TV, you’re on it, son.’

As cable and public channels covered Ha-sung, even ordinary people became interested in baseball.

He realized that deeply today.

“Section Chief! Your son is so cool!”

“Is there any chance he’ll come to the company?”

“Section Chief! Could I get your son’s autograph?”

Young female employees also gathered to watch baseball.

And some of them, who had good social skills, even sent autograph requests to their father.

An employee making such a request to the section chief.

It was proof that Ha-sung’s popularity was that high.

[One ball and two strikes! Jung Ha-sung is in the same count as when he faced the second batter.]

The same situation as before.

Attention was focused on what pitch Ha-sung would choose here.

[He throws the fourth pitch!]

Ha-sung, who made the decision, threw the ball.

The ball that left his hand flew quickly.

The batter swung his bat as if he had been waiting.

[Crack!]

[The bat is broken! The ball is an easy ground ball! Third baseman grabs it and throws to first base!!]

[Thud!]

[Out!!]

“Waaaaaa-!!”

“We won!!”

“This is a new major league record!!”

At the same time as the employees’ shouts, a large caption appeared in the middle of the broadcast screen.

[Jung Ha-sung Achieves a Tie for the Most Consecutive Saves by a Rookie in Major League Baseball!!]

[Jung Ha-sung! At the age of 19, he sets a tie record for the most consecutive saves by a rookie in Major League history!!]

[Ah…… He’s really amazing! He finally did it!]

[It’s really amazing! Jung Ha-sung, who was a high school student just two years ago! He will leave his name in the 110-year history of Major League Baseball!!]

His father clenched his fist at his son’s record achievement.

Barely suppressing the urge to shout because it wasn’t just the company.

* * *

Major League Baseball boasts a long history.

There were many records, but the consecutive save record created a big buzz.

-I heard a rookie from Korea set a consecutive save record?

-Really?

-That’s not the whole thing, it’s a rookie record.

-Isn’t it great even if it’s a rookie record?

-Is it a big deal?

-How many saves is it now?

-21 saves. It’s a tie record.

-Wait, it’s June now, right? But 21 saves?

-Yeah, why?

-Can’t he also challenge the most saves by a rookie in the first half?

-How many is that?

-26. Jonathan Papelbon set it.

He tied the record for most consecutive saves by a rookie.

But there were still many records to break.

[How many records will record breaker Jung Ha-sung break?]

Baek Jun-ki’s article became a big topic in Korea.

Baek Jun-ki highlighted various records based on his Major League data.

[Jung Ha-sung appeared in the ninth inning of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays and retired all three batters, recording his 21st save of the season.

This is a tie record for the most consecutive saves by a rookie in Major League Baseball.

If he adds one more save in the future, he will achieve a new record in this category.

Jung Ha-sung’s challenge does not end here.

He is also challenging Jonathan Papelbon’s record for most saves in the first half of a rookie, set in 2006.

The previous record is 26, and if he saves 6 more by the All-Star break, he can set a new record.

It remains to be seen whether Jung Ha-sung, who is showing great skills in his debut year, will be able to break all the records.]

Baek Jun-ki’s article became a big topic in Korea.

-Record breaker ㅋㅋㅋ Is the nickname for real?

-But isn’t it true?

-He’s tied one all-time record and challenging another.

-Isn’t it possible for him to achieve a new record in the first half?

-It’s definitely possible at the current pace.

-The problem is that the team is terrible.

-Still, Arnold, who was called up this time, seems to be hitting a bit?

-There’s a high possibility that it’s just a hot streak.

-Anyway, Jung Ha-sung is the real deal.

-How did a guy like this come out of Korea?

-Korean netizens poured out praise for Ha-sung.

When interest in Ha-sung was increasing at home and abroad.

[The 2009 Major League All-Star Game voting has begun!]

Voting for the Major League All-Star Game has begun.

* * *

The Major League All-Star Game, a war of stars, is only attended by a select few players.

Naturally, only players representing both leagues participate.

-Fan voting has started-!

-If you’re Korean, let’s pick Ha-sung!!

-Is everyone ready?

-Where is the site link?

The Korean community was ready to vote for Ha-sung.

They were just waiting for the link to be posted.

But even after a long time, the link did not appear.

While they were wondering.

One post came up.

-Are you guys stupid? Pitchers who go to the All-Star Game are selected by the manager’s recommendation, not by fan voting.

-Why?

-That’s just how it is.

-Isn’t that how it is in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] ?

-That’s KBO, MLB has always been selected by manager recommendation.

While fans who didn’t know the Major League All-Star Game selection process were confused.

[Jung Ha-sung Achieves His 22nd Save of the Season!!]

[New Major League Rookie Consecutive Save Record!!]

Ha-sung etched his name in Major League history.