Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 73

Mound Villain – Episode 73

Mound Villain Episode 73

With his 50th save of the season, attention was focused on Ha-sung.

-50 saves before the season even ends?

-What? Is this an error?

-Looks like a subtitle mistake?

-Nope. The Athletics have a monster this season.

-헐…… So the 50 saves are real?

-And he’s a rookie, achieving 50 consecutive saves ㅋ

-Crazy…….

Ha-sung’s stats were historic.

However, his fame wasn’t nationwide.

Being a rookie was the first reason, and being on a small team like the Athletics was the second.

Even when the media highlighted him, it seemed only interested fans continued to pay attention because he wasn’t a player on a popular team.

But now, things have changed.

-Why are his stats like this?

-Is this real?

-Wait a minute. Isn’t this a record only possible in a game?

-You’d have to cheat even in a game, right?

-Is this even possible?

Reddit was divided into several boards.

Allowing people who enter specific keywords to have conversations.

But from the day after achieving 50 saves, questions flooded Jung Ha-sung’s board.

Users of the existing Jung Ha-sung board smiled contentedly upon seeing this.

-Finally, the true value of our ‘The End’ is being recognized.

-It’s strange that he’s only being recognized now.

-It’s because he’s in Oakland, can’t help it.

-Plus, he was a rookie.

-And he’s Korean.

-So, instead of just you guys knowing, who is he?

One of the newbies commented on the reaction of the veterans.

The veterans left comments one after another in response to the newbie’s question.

-The End, Jung Ha-sung.

* * *

There was another reason why Ha-sung’s fame rose so rapidly.

‘The seeds I planted are starting to bloom.’

As part of viral marketing, he started spreading his name through social media.

Of course, that in itself was effective.

The reason Vigor tried to recruit him as a model was also after seeing his fame on social media.

‘With 50 saves, people have really started talking about me. My story is already spreading on social media, so it’s easy for them to find information.’

No matter how much you talk about it on social media, if the public doesn’t pay attention, the marketing fails.

The same goes for Ha-sung.

No matter how much you pay people to post information on social media, it’s useless if the public doesn’t want information about Ha-sung.

The number of interested people may increase, but it won’t explode.

However, as the media focused on him, the seeds that had been planted sprouted, and public interest in Ha-sung began to concentrate in earnest.

‘From now on, the reaction to my performance will be immediate.’

The time had come to spread his name throughout the United States.

* * *

Chris received unbelievable news.

“What? Is that true?!”

“Yes! All the seats are sold out!!”

All the seats at the Athletics’ home stadium, Oakland Coliseum, were sold out.

“How long has it been……?”

“It’s been 533 days!”

The emotion was amplified thanks to Katherine, who provided the exact number.

“Finally…… the fans have returned!”

Chris raised his voice, overwhelmed with emotion.

The fact that all the seats in the stadium were sold out meant that the team’s financial situation was improving.

Of course, one game alone wouldn’t be enough to improve the team’s finances entirely.

The future was important.

“What kind of events can we plan starting today?”

“We only have the most basic ones.”

“Start with those for now. And find things that can be released from the warehouse, and summon the planning team and the public relations team.”

“Understood.”

They couldn’t afford to lose the fans who had come.

They had to make the best preparations for them.

While Chris was moving busily.

A sports car was entering the stadium.

Vroom-!!

The sports car, which entered with an engine sound close to a roar, was a red Ferrari.

“Who does that belong to?”

“I don’t know. Ah~ By the way, when is Jung Ha-sung coming?”

“What kind of car does Jung Ha-sung drive?”

“I heard it’s a Ford SUV?”

“Huh? Ha-sung is getting out over there?”

With someone’s words, the fans’ attention turned to the Ferrari.

The person who parked the car in the parking lot and got out of the driver’s seat was none other than Ha-sung.

“Wow! It’s Jung Ha-sung!”

“What? Did Jung Ha-sung change his car?”

“I don’t know, but I need to get an autograph!”

“Me too! Me too!!”

The fans flocked to Ha-sung.

The team staff who were waiting controlled the fans and helped Ha-sung get through.

“Ha-sung! Please sign this!”

“Please sign our kid’s jersey!”

The fans continued to call out earnestly to Ha-sung.

Ha-sung stopped walking and approached the fans to sign autographs.

“Please sign here too!”

“Ha-sung! I’m looking forward to your save!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll do it one by one.”

He calmed the rushing fans and signed autographs, and some fans and paparazzi captured him in photos.

‘As expected of America. Paparazzi follow you everywhere.’

Paparazzi were famous in the United States.

Not only Hollywood actors but also famous sports stars became their targets.

Paparazzi relentlessly followed them to the point where they had no personal life.

‘The fact that they’re sticking to me means I’ve also joined the ranks of celebrities.’

He was now shedding the guise of a rookie.

At least, that’s how he appeared to the public.

* * *

“Wow…….”

Bailey, who entered the bullpen, exclaimed at the tremendous roar that hit his ears.

“Our stadium is full of spectators. Is this real?”

“It’s real. It’s been a long time since it’s been full of spectators.”

“Has Sanchez ever seen this before?”

“Of course. I played here too. Bailey and Ha-sung wouldn’t know since they were called up this season, but it used to happen often in the early 2000s.”

The early 2000s were the golden age of the Athletics.

Based on Moneyball [a strategy of assembling a baseball team by valuing undervalued players], General Manager Chris’s godlike trades and the synergy of the players were demonstrated, and it was a time when they reigned as the American League’s strongest team.

In those days, it was natural for the stadium to be full.

However, fans stopped coming with the relocation of the team, and as income decreased, operating expenses were also cut.

As a result, a vicious cycle of declining team performance continued.

‘Now that the fans have returned, investment in the team will increase. The possibility of a second golden age has increased.’

One of the reasons for this fan reaction is that the Athletics’ ranking itself is high.

But the biggest reason is Jung Ha-sung.

‘Such stats in his rookie season…….’

1 win, 50 saves, 0 blown saves in 51 games.

The world was in awe of his incredible performance with a 100 percent save rate.

Sanchez, who watched his performance up close, was not only surprised by his stats.

‘When I watch him from the side, he often seems like a veteran who has played for over ten years.’

The difference between a rookie and a veteran is clear.

Rookies are impatient and have poor situational awareness.

As a result, they try to give their all at all times.

It can be called a rookie’s spirit, but in reality, coaches didn’t like this.

‘Giving your all is good, but sometimes you need to pace yourself. Otherwise, you’ll burn out too quickly.’

He had seen countless such cases.

But Ha-sung was different.

He was perfectly managing the season while pacing himself like a veteran.

‘Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t lost his stamina even as the season is nearing its end.’

It’s amazing.

It’s unbelievable that a rookie playing a full major league season for the first time hasn’t lost his stamina.

‘It’s thanks to this guy that the fans are coming back.’

A player emerges who has the power to bring fans to the stadium.

People call these individuals superstars.

Ha-sung had that power.

* * *

[The crowd filling Oakland Coliseum is starting to stir.]

[It means it’s time for the player the fans who came to the stadium want to see to come out.]

[Score 5 to 3 in the top of the 9th, Jung Ha-sung takes the mound to end the game.]

With Ha-sung’s appearance, his picture appeared on the stadium’s electronic display board.

The crowd cheered all at once upon seeing it.

“The End! Finish the game!!”

“Jung Ha-sung! I came to see you!!”

“Let’s finish today’s game cleanly too!”

“It’s The End!!”

The fans’ cheers were greater than ever before.

“Amazing.”

Tony, who took the helm of the Athletics this year for the third year, was also impressed.

“How long has it been since cheers like this have erupted?”

“I think it’s the first time since I came as a coach.”

It meant that this was the first time in at least a year that such a crowd had gathered.

‘If he gets a save today, the fans will have been rewarded for coming to the stadium.’

Manager Tony trusted Ha-sung.

That’s why he thought he would definitely get a save in today’s game as well.

And that was the same thought that most of the fans who came to the stadium had.

‘This is the most dangerous time.’

On the other hand, Ha-sung, who was on the mound, knew that now was a dangerous time.

‘The moment you think it’s obvious, the reversal happens. And I myself can become complacent.’

In fact, back in 2014, when Ha-sung had his career-high season.

As people poured out praise, calling Ha-sung the ace of the future, they expressed tremendous expectations.

Ha-sung’s shoulders tensed up there.

So the string of tension loosened.

But not today.

‘Increase your concentration.’

He whipped himself.

At the same time, he increased his concentration.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung will face three batters to end the game.]

[Two points are a very comfortable score for Jung Ha-sung.]

[That’s right. Jung Ha-sung, who has exchanged signs, throws the first pitch.]

With a windup, Ha-sung threw the ball.

Thwack-!

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! A 98-mile fastball is embedded in the mitt!]

[It was a ball that made the batter unable to move.]

[Jung Ha-sung quickly throws the second pitch.]

The batter had no time to rest.

As soon as he entered the plate, he finished exchanging signs and raised the tempo.

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[Second pitch is a foul!]

[The bat was completely pushed back. The second half has started, but Jung Ha-sung is still full of energy!]

He had a favorable count with two strikes.

Ha-sung decided on a finishing pitch, not intending to drag it out.

“Hmph!!”

[Throws the third pitch!!]

Whoosh!!

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

The batter checked the trajectory passing through the zone this time as well and swung his bat.

The moment the trajectory of the ball and the bat were about to become one.

Swoosh!

The ball slightly curved, hitting the head of the bat.

Crack!

“Ugh……!”

[The bat is broken! The batted ball flows weakly along the third base line! The third baseman dashes, catches the ball, and throws it to first base as is!]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[It’s out! Jung Ha-sung gets the first batter out with three pitches!]

[Ah-! He’s showing off his bat breaker side after a long time.]

[Jung Ha-sung really has a lot of nicknames. Super Rookie, Bat Breaker, and even The End.]

[That means he’s a player with that much personality!]

As the first out count went up, the crowd cheered all at once.

“Waaaaa-!!”

“Jung Ha-sung is awesome!!”

“I came to the stadium to see this!!”

“That’s right! This is exactly what I wanted!!”

The fans couldn’t help but cheer at the pitching that met their expectations.

But the game was not over yet.

Ha-sung maintained his concentration and returned to the mound.

[Jung Ha-sung returns to the mound to get the remaining two out counts!]

* * *

[Oakland Athletics’ Jung Ha-sung achieved his 51st save in front of a sold-out crowd. On this day, Jung Ha-sung unleashed his monstrous power, pitching his second perfect inning of the season.]

Second perfect inning of the season.

The fans who came to the stadium went home with a rare sight in their eyes.

And the next day.

Oakland Coliseum was sold out once again, and fans’ expectations were growing day by day.

‘Such crowd mobilization power……. This guy is no longer a rookie.’

Chris was shocked to see that.

Not just one day, but two days in a row were sold out.

And it was amazing that this phenomenon was achieved by one player.

‘Ha-sung is now a superstar representing the team.’

He had no choice but to admit it.