Chapter 90
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Historic Return
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[Wow... this is truly incredible. Look at that beautiful uppercut swing. With just a bit of editing, you could pass it off as a pro golfer's.]
[Absolutely. This uppercut swing has become Cha Tae-hyun's trademark by now. Yes... the Sparkles fans look pretty disappointed right now... Hmm...? What's that guy doing?]
As the ball sailed over the fence, footage showed Sparkles fans groaning in disappointment. In one corner of the screen, a fan in a red Phoenix uniform was thrashing around wildly.
The camera caught the bizarre sight and panned over...
-Hoo! Shout Tae-hyun God!
A single Phoenix fan in uniform was writhing like a maniac, yelling something.
[Oh boy, that might really rile up the Sparkles fans.]
[Honestly, it's kinda funny from our side, but it's the first-base stands. The Sparkles fans around him don't look too happy.]
No way, lol, he's actually doing it. What a madman lol
This is embarrassing ;;;
Ugh, Phoenix fans, stop dragging down the average lol
But didn't you guys tell him to do it?
Didn't think he'd actually do it lol
Wait, that's not tap dance lol
Doesn't look like he's trying to do tap dance. He just seems hyped and shaking like crazy?
This is it lol
Live GIF already up on Phoenix Stars lol preserved forever lol
The guy himself has no clue and is just dancing happily lol
I get it, I'd do the same lol
Agreed. Comeback game, first-pitch homer. Can't hold back lol
Legendary GIF. Phoenix fan going nuts dancing amid depressed Sparkles fans after Tae-hyun's homer lol This one's getting memed for 10 years lol
'What... what the hell was that...? What did I just see?'
The catcher, mask off and staring at the ball clearing the fence, couldn't help but question it.
It had been way low. Low enough that when Cha Tae-hyun swung, he'd smirked, thinking he'd nabbed a taken strike.
'But he nicks it and sends it over the wall...?'
He was a veteran catcher with a decade in the KBO. From behind the plate, he'd seen countless low pitches and batters fouling them off.
But that hit? Nowhere in his database. Completely off the charts.
'How insanely strong are his wrists? Why hasn't this madman gone to the majors...?'
Resenting Cha Tae-hyun for no reason, the catcher shook his head and hustled to the mound.
'Not the time for this.'
If even the catcher was baffled, how must the pitcher feel? Especially Kim Shin-hwa, who'd trash-talked in that interview.
"Shin-hwa, sorry. Circle changeup just wasn't the call. My bad."
Not that he was babying Kim Shin-hwa's mentality—it had some basis.
Kim Shin-hwa's circle changeup was tops in the league early season, especially nasty on righties as a lefty.
...Except the hitter, Cha Tae-hyun, was a freak.
'If only Shin-hwa didn't know that, his head wouldn't shake...'
"It's fine. Everyone hangs one now and then. I'll get him next time."
"Huh...?"
Contrary to the catcher's worry, Kim Shin-hwa looked relaxed—almost cocky.
"Hung it, and the wind pushes it out. Just bad luck."
'It wasn't hung that bad... and the wind...?'
A bit dubious, but the savvy catcher nodded along.
"Yeah, tough break. Happens to everyone. Let's get him next at-bat."
The catcher headed back to the plate, and Lee Sang-jin stepped in.
—Crack!
First pitch: tight inside four-seam at 153 km/h. Velocity and movement sharper than before the homer.
'Kim Shin-hwa... weird dude, but that mentality's solid.'
Second pitch: outside four-seam.
"Strii-ke!"
With a favorable count, Kim Shin-hwa fired the same circle changeup to the same spot.
—Whoosh.
Lee Sang-jin whiffed big.
[Whiff strikeout! Same changeup, same spot that gave up the homer to Cha Tae-hyun, and he gets the K! What confidence!]
This guy's form is trash lately fr
But Kim Shin-hwa's stuff looks good rn. That changeup was art
He's always been a whiff machine
Sang-jin stans defending so hard? Cha Tae-hyun hit homer on same pitch same spot. Pitcher elevated it for Sang-jin shield incoming
That was Tae-hyun being a god
Then hit like Tae-hyun
As if lol
"I know what you're gonna say, but what about pitch sequencing? Want me to call it?"
"You know, why ask? Same as always."
"Still, first time sitting out a game. And four straight complete shutouts? Korean first. Might be a bit nervous."
Shin Si-woo was a solid guy, decent catcher too.
If I were catching, I'd just tune out and let him do his thing. Too lazy otherwise.
"Just three games off. Like I'm rusty? And pressure? I've got this."
"Ugh... still annoying as hell after all this time. Fine, if you're so confident, finish the inning and do some tee work or something."
"Tee work? Said you didn't care last time, but Kim Shin-hwa's interview got under your skin?"
"Yeah, man. How could it not? We're on the brink of a sweep from that loudmouth dog."
A laugh slipped out.
"Why laugh? I'm serious."
"Down two, I'm pitching, and it's a 'crisis'? Hilarious. We already won."
"Ugh, that was peak annoying. Admit it."
Yeah... fair.
Face heating up after saying it.
"Catcher! Hurry back or what!"
"Coming! Anyway! Don't overthink the shutout, just pitch normal!"
Our catcher asks so nicely.
Normal, huh...
Shutout it is.
[Yes! End of top 1st, Phoenix offense done. Now Sparkles at bat. They've been hitting lights out this series, fans expecting more. Will the momentum continue? Let's watch.]
—Sparkle Lee Sung-min~ Oh oh~ Sparkle Sparkle! Bouncy hits hits hits!
As the leadoff hitter entered the box, fans erupted in cheers.
Coming off a win against top-team Phoenix, the crowd was buzzing.
'...Should've told him to ease off first-pitch four-seams.'
Shin Si-woo sighed belatedly.
Post-Winners, Cha Tae-hyun's first-pitch down-the-middle four-seam was news fodder. Even Sparkles hitters knew.
Shin Si-woo called for a sign.
'Two-seam inside first.'
'Nah.'
Cha Tae-hyun smirked and shook his head.
'Ugh... this talented brat. Too good to argue with...'
To Shin Si-woo, Cha Tae-hyun's four-seam obsession looked spoiled.
But today, Cha Tae-hyun had his reasons.
'Three days off, shoulder feels fresh.'
First rest in three years. Record-chaser or not, on a rare peak day,
why not unleash full power?
Shin Si-woo set the mitt middle, Cha Tae-hyun nodded satisfied, wound up huge, whipped his arm.
—Sparkle Lee Sung-min~ Oh oh~ Sparkle Sparkle! Bouncy hits hi—CRACK!!!
A mitt-ripping thud echoed through the stadium.
Cheer track still played,
but screaming fans froze mid-chant.
Is this a ballpark?
The split-second silence stemmed from
"Wait... velocity busted...?"
The scoreboard fans gawked at.
[166 km/h]
[B... B! One sixty-six!! 166 km/h! What is happening? Cha Tae-hyun ties KBO record in Winners game, now shatters it in comeback! High school rookie? No way I believe it!]
Disgraceful but... he did it...
I came...
Wtf lol
But tbh Tae-hyun God hasn't thrown at full stamina much
Yeah SS is exhausting, full games prior, insane lol
3 days rest turns him Super Saiyan??
Don't compare Super Saiyan to Tae-hyun God. He'd win
Idk anymore... just worship...
'This crazy talented brat... unbelievable.'
Shin Si-woo, catching it, let out a disbelieving chuckle, staring into his mitt.
So fast he nearly bobbled it.
Reaction lagged; hand still tingled from the sloppy grab.
Despite the sting, his lips curled in awe at the 104-mph heat.
"Holy shit..."
Shin Si-woo flinched.
'Did I swear out loud?'
"A bit too casual with the cursing, no?"
"S-sorry."
Nope—the batter swore.
'Fair enough... I almost did too.'
Shin Si-woo tossed the ball back, reset.
-Down two, me pitching, sweep crisis? Laughable. Already won.
'Was super annoying...'
—Crack!!!
[Second pitch middle again! 166 km/h! Bat slices empty air!]
—Crack!!!
[Whiff K! 165 km/h heat, batter could only watch! Too much! Won't touch it without three spins!]
'Why does he look so damn cool... annoying.'
Cha Tae-hyun kept the gear high post-leadoff, toying with hitters over 100 mph.
[Yes... indeed. Cha Tae-hyun's third straight scoreless inning. Now I get why fans call him Shin Tae-hyun. This... is a baseball god!]
Sparkles' top order, Phoenix pitchers' nightmare, sliced like cake.
Shin Si-woo rose happily, mask off—Cha Tae-hyun suddenly thrust four fingers skyward.
[Oh! Cha Tae-hyun flashes four fingers! Declaring four straight shutouts today?!]
"Told that maniac to do it, and he actually teases the batter."
Shin Si-woo chuckled, but envied the star aura a bit.
Skills too freakish for envy or jealousy, but that flair? Yeah.
"Annoying as hell, but one cool bastard..."
'Sweep's off the table...'
Sparkles manager sighed at the mound.
Record rookie hype, once-in-a-century talent articles? Overblown.
Just halfway through month one.
15 games.
10% of 144. Unproven season. Praise premature.
But seeing it? Undeniable.
'Great is great...'
Sparkles manager rallied the team.
"Listen up. Tough game, you know. But! No one wants to be the team yielding four straight shutouts? Etched in history as that squad?"
"Yes!"
"Right... At least one run! No pride till then! Steal on chances! Squeeze! Home steal if desperate! Better ugly today than mocked forever?"
"Yes!"
Manager nodded, waved them to field, called cleanup Kim Tae-jin—team leader, top-tier Korean hitter.
Sparkles manager murmured,
"Tae-jin, small ball for one run needs contact... You gotta do it. That stuff... see it okay?"
Kim Tae-jin grinned confidently.
"MLB next year? Bet he's prepped for heat. I'll go deep."
Manager smirked, patted his back.
"Knew it. You're the guy. Please, Tae-jin."