Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 66

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 66

With his 38th save of the season, Ha-sung became a player to watch in Major League Baseball.

[Mid-Season Event! Will Athletics’ Jung Ha-sung break the record for most saves in the first half?]

[Unreachable Jung Ha-sung, with a 100% save rate, challenges a new record!]

The expression ‘untouchable’ even came up.

Untouchable, meaning someone who cannot be touched; in baseball terms, it meant that his pitches were virtually unhittable.

It was a somewhat excessive nickname for a rookie who was only in his first year.

However, considering Ha-sung’s performance, it was also understandable.

[Jung Ha-sung in the first half can only be described as untouchable.

In 39 games, he has 1 win and 38 saves, allowing only 1 run and recording zero blown saves.]

A sub-1.00 ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per nine innings] and 0 blown saves were records held only by Ha-sung in all of Major League Baseball.

And Ha-sung had his 39th save opportunity.

[For the second day in a row, Jung Ha-sung gets a save opportunity.]

[The score is 3-0, a comfortable situation.]

Ha-sung, on the mound, threw his first pitch with a windup.

Thwack-!!

“Foul!!”

[First pitch is a foul. The batted ball falls outside the line.]

[The quality of the hit wasn’t bad. He needs to be careful.]

The batter’s condition wasn’t bad.

Ha-sung chose breaking balls for his second and third pitches against such a batter.

Thwack!!

“Foul!!”

[He hits the sweeping slider.]

Thud!

“Ball!”

[He threw another slider as a decoy, but the batter didn’t swing.]

One ball, two strikes.

With the count in his favor, Ha-sung looked around.

‘I don’t necessarily need to insist on a strikeout today.’

Ha-sung usually liked to strike out batters.

He was capable enough.

Ha-sung’s K/9 [Strikeouts per 9 innings] was 16.7, the highest in Major League Baseball.

That meant he was striking out an average of 16 batters per 9 innings.

This ability was the most necessary for a closer.

It meant he wasn’t letting batters get on base.

Once a batted ball landed on the ground, variables arose, so the most important thing for a closer was the ability to strike out batters.

‘But with a 3-run lead, there’s no need to insist on just strikeouts.’

To get a strikeout, he had to pitch with all his might.

He always did that with a 1 or 2-run lead.

If even one batter was on base, he didn’t know how the game would go.

But today was different.

‘Get them to hit it.’

Ha-sung chose to pitch to contact.

The reason was simple.

‘There’s also tomorrow’s game.’

It doesn’t end just because he gets a save today.

There was a game tomorrow as well.

After that, there would be a break, but it was necessary to conserve as much stamina as possible in today’s game.

[He throws the fourth pitch.]

The pitch Ha-sung chose was a changeup.

The ball, flying towards the batter, suddenly dropped.

And the bat caught that ball.

Thwack-!!

[He hit it! A well-hit ball!!]

The high-flying ball flew quickly.

But the ball soon lost its momentum and fell.

Thud!

[Caught by the right fielder! One out!]

[The timing seems a bit off.]

The first out was recorded.

Ha-sung mixed breaking balls and fastballs against the second batter.

Thwack!!

“Foul!!”

[First pitch, a 97 mph fastball! But it’s a foul into the stands on the third base side.]

Thud!

“Ball!!”

[Second pitch, a slider that goes outside.]

[He’s throwing a lot of sliders today.]

[The ratio of breaking balls is higher than usual.]

It lacked excitement.

But the effect of throwing breaking balls was certain.

[He throws the third pitch!]

Thwack!!

[A hard hit on a 98 mph fastball! But it’s right at the second baseman. The second baseman catches the one-bounce ball and throws to first!]

Thud!

“Out!”

[Out! The second out is recorded!]

By throwing breaking balls, he made the batter think a lot.

Perhaps that’s why he was able to steal the timing even when the fastball’s velocity decreased.

‘The third out is…….’

Ha-sung took a breath and stood on the mound.

Unlike the previous two batters, he continued to pitch with all his might against the last batter.

Swoosh-!

“Strike!”

[First pitch, a 99 mph fastball!!]

Thwack!!

“Foul!!”

[Second pitch is a foul! The speed is…… 100 mph!]

Ha-sung, who had quickly collected two strikes, threw the third pitch with a windup.

Whoosh-!!

Whizz!

This time, the batter swung his bat with all his might, as if he was determined to hit it no matter what.

But the ball passed over the bat and went straight into the mitt.

Swoosh!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Three-pitch strikeout!! He finishes the last out with three pitches, achieving his 39th save of the season!]

[Ah-! That was a really great pitch!]

[With this, Jung Ha-sung renews the record for the most saves in the first half of the Major League season!!]

The next day.

Ha-sung added one more save, recording a total of 40 saves by the All-Star break.

* * *

[The All-Star Game is just around the corner.] ESPN aired a special program as a prelude to the All-Star Game.

[Which players should we pay attention to in this season’s All-Star Game?]

[We should pay attention to everyone.]

[Haha! That’s true. But there’s always a star among stars, isn’t there?]

[Among the American League hitters, we should pay the most attention to Joe Mauer. His batting average is still at AVG 0.373 at the end of the first half, so his hitting feel is great.]

Joe Mauer, the Minnesota Twins’ franchise star, was mentioned first.

He was having a career-high season, hitting .373 with 15 home runs in the first half.

He was the strongest candidate for the batting title and MVP this season.

With the absolute support of Minnesota fans, Joe Mauer will wear the mask at the All-Star Game.

[We should pay as much attention to Suzuki Ichiro as we do to Joe Mauer.]

A Japanese legend.

Suzuki Ichiro was also hitting .362 this season.

Although his home runs were only 6, half of Joe Mauer’s, his accurate hitting ability along with his laser throws were the reasons to pay attention to him.

After that, various players were mentioned.

Carlos Pena, who was ranked first in home runs, and Derek Jeter, the captain of the Yankees, etc.

They were players whose names alone made baseball fans’ hearts flutter.

[Then, who will be the starting pitcher for the American All-Stars?]

[Currently, Zack Greinke is the most likely.]

[Ah~ He’s a player who’s been performing incredibly well this season.]

[He’s recorded 10 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 2.12 in the first half alone. It would be difficult not to pick such a player as the starter.]

[I see it a little differently. We can’t leave out Roy Halladay.]

Zack Greinke and Roy Halladay.

The two players closest to the American League Cy Young Award were mentioned.

Roy Halladay also recorded 10 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 2.85 in the first half of this season alone.

It wouldn’t be strange if either of the two players were chosen as the starter.

As a heated discussion ensued, the caster changed the question.

[Then, who will be the closer?]

The two panelists, who had been engaged in a heated discussion until just now, looked at each other and answered at the same time.

[Jung Ha-sung.]

The two people’s opinions coincided.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung to participate in the Major League All-Star Game!]

[Jung Ha-sung, who is ranked first in Major League saves, will participate in the All-Star Game!]

[OBS Broadcasting Station Exclusive Live Broadcast of the Major League All-Star Game!]

Ha-sung’s participation in the All-Star Game became a big topic in Korea.

This was because there had been no Korean Major Leaguers who had participated in the All-Star Game during the Korean Major League drought.

-Kuh-! Finally, a Korean player is coming out in the All-Star Game.

-It’s going to be fun to watch the All-Star Game for the first time in a while.

-When is Jung Ha-sung coming out?

-He’ll probably come out in the second half of the game.

-Can’t he come out unless it’s a save situation?

-No, no, the All-Star Game is an event game, so he’ll come out.

-They’ll send him out even if they’re losing.

-There are a lot of people who don’t know baseball these days.

-Doesn’t that mean there are more newbies?

-Hoo-hoo! I smell newbies……!

Ha-sung chuckled as he looked at the comments.

‘Was this kind of playful banter popular from this time?’

Although he didn’t know, he agreed with one opinion.

‘Certainly, looking at the community these days, there has been an increase in the influx of ordinary people. KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] is slowly getting hotter in Korea too.’

As the national team achieved good results in international competitions, there was an increase in the influx of ordinary people who were not interested in baseball.

KBO was already in a festive mood, saying that the number of spectators would exceed 7 million this season.

Ha-sung’s performance was like pouring oil on the fire.

‘Well, it’s good for me if my popularity increases in Korea. I can already hear the sound of my value going up~’

Ha-sung’s interest was money.

Increased popularity meant that the endorsement fee would increase, and he could earn more money if that happened.

When he thought about that, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but reach his ears.

‘Anyway, the All-Star Game is…….’

Ha-sung was currently sitting in first class, heading to Busch Stadium, where the All-Star Game was being held.

Suddenly, he thought he had succeeded.

‘To continue to maintain this kind of life, I have to earn as much as possible.’

It was Ha-sung’s thought circuit that led to money.

He felt it deeply in his previous life.

How miserable and desperate a life without money is.

‘I can’t repeat it in this life.’

That’s why he couldn’t help but be obsessed with money.

Ha-sung looked at the city below and made a resolution.

That he would continue to perform as he does now.

* * *

St. Louis, where the All-Star Game is being held, was already starting to celebrate.

The All-Star Game is held the day after tomorrow, but the Minor League All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby will be held a day earlier.

Many people were interested in the Home Run Race, which is said to be the flower of baseball.

[Nelson Cruz is the first batter in the Home Run Derby.]

Ha-sung was sitting on the sofa in the hotel, leisurely watching the Home Run Derby.

The Home Run Derby was an event for hitters.

Unless someone threw batting practice, there was nothing for the pitcher to do.

“Wow…… look at the people.”

Ha-sung shook his head as he looked at the crowd filling the huge stadium.

“When I was playing, Corona broke out and I couldn’t even see those kinds of crowds at the end.”

He was unable to play in front of a full house in the Korean Series.

From Ha-sung’s point of view, his career finale was somewhat disappointing.

“Should I have a beer?”

He ordered simple room service, took out a beer, and watched the Home Run Derby.

The gamblers’ prediction was Albert Pujols.

Pujols advanced to the second round, but that was it.

The players who made it to the final round were Prince Fielder and Nelson Cruz.

“Who’s going to win…….”

The winner of the Home Run Derby was Prince Fielder.

He hit 7 in the final round to become the champion.

The home runs showed a tremendous amount of power.

“I’m glad he’s on the same team.”

Ha-sung had never met Prince Fielder before.

If he met him, he thought he would have to be very careful.

“Hmph…… Should I get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow?”

Ha-sung, who had watched all of the Home Run Derby, soon lay down on the bed.

He needed to save his energy for tomorrow.

* * *

The next day.

The Major League All-Star Game was held.

‘Wow…….’

Ha-sung, who arrived at the stadium, shook his head as he looked at the players gathered in the clubhouse.

‘All-Stars are definitely All-Stars.’

Roy Halladay, King Felix [Felix Hernandez], Verlander [Justin Verlander], Greinke, Wake Field [Tim Wakefield], etc.

The pitchers representing the American League were all gathered.

The hitters were also brilliant.

Jeter, Suzuki, Mauer, Teixeira [Mark Teixeira], Hamilton [Josh Hamilton], Crawford [Carl Crawford], etc.

He saw some of the players he had met.

‘I’m going to play with these guys.’

A smile spread across Ha-sung’s face.

Being with them meant that his value had risen to the same level.

Thud!

Then someone’s hand came up on Ha-sung’s shoulder.

When he turned his head, he saw a familiar bald head.

“Untouchable, let’s do well since we’re on the same team today.”

It was Mariano Rivera, the guardian of the Yankees.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with a legend.

A thrill ran through him.

But he had no intention of showing it.

“I hope you pitch well in front of me.”

“What, you little punk?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I have more saves. Ah, of course, I’m talking about this season.”

“Puhaha! This guy is funny. Okay, let’s do our best no matter what happens.”

He shook Rivera’s outstretched hand.

His first All-Star Game appearance was just around the corner.