Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 166

Dream Agency Training Camp (1)

Time flew by as I juggled annual salary negotiations, FA [Free Agent] negotiations, So Young-joon’s salary adjustment application, the recruitment of Donald Watson, and Seo Seong-min finding a team.

Before we knew it, the new year had arrived, bringing with it a biting winter chill.

Today was the day our agency was leaving for Guam for a training camp, a plan set in motion months ago.

Given that each club’s spring training was scheduled to begin in February, we aimed to hold our camp beforehand.

Thanks to the proactive support of FA contractees Na Jun-ho and Go Ji-hoon, we were able to plan a comfortable and well-equipped training camp.

Although the training camp was organized somewhat hastily, Jung In-gyu meticulously prepared everything, drawing on his coaching experience, ensuring a smooth departure.

Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-ju, Na Jun-ho, Go Ji-hoon, Choi Jeong-hwan, So Young-joon, Jang Su-young, and Seo Seong-min all decided to join us, as well as Michael Scott, Donald Watson, and even Choi Woo-jin.

With Lee Ju-hyeok managing interpretation and general affairs, and Jung In-gyu serving as the training coach, our team, though small, had everything it needed for a successful training camp.

Everyone headed to the airport together, except for Michael Scott and Donald Watson, whom we were scheduled to meet in Guam.

After arriving at the airport, we completed our baggage check-in and soon boarded the plane.

After about five hours of flying, we finally arrived in Guam.

Unlike Korea, where the cold was harsh and biting, we were greeted by welcoming warmth.

There was also almost no time difference with Korea, eliminating the need to adjust to jet lag.

After retrieving our luggage and exiting the arrival hall, we could finally experience the true essence of Guam.

Now, we scanned the area to find our two colleagues.

“Oh, my bro!”

Michael Scott, spotting us, dropped his carrier and ran towards us, shouting.

“My brother Scott!”

So Young-joon, Scott’s closest friend, was the first to rush forward.

“Bro, long time no see! How have you been?”

“It was so boring without Scott.”

The two embraced in the middle of the airport as if they were long-lost brothers.

“Were those two always that close?”

Go Ji-hoon, walking beside me, looked at the hugging pair with a curious expression and asked.

“They get along well in many ways. They’ve become the best of friends.”

“It’s nice to see them getting along.”

Before we knew it, Scott and So Young-joon were shoulder to shoulder, completely united.

It wasn’t just the two of them that caught our attention.

A large man could be seen walking slowly in the distance.

It was Donald Watson.

Watson had recently joined the agency, and given his Major League experience, we wanted to respect his routine for preparing for the season.

However, Watson expressed his desire to participate, wanting to bond with his new agency colleagues.

Instead, Watson’s family planned to join him in Korea after settling their affairs in the United States.

It would be a valuable learning experience for the other players to observe a Major Leaguer’s training methods firsthand, making it a win-win situation for everyone.

“Wow! It’s really Donald Watson.”

The players buzzed with excitement as they looked at Watson.

“He really looks like he could throw a punch.”

So Young-joon exclaimed.

Meanwhile, I took the initiative to approach him and say hello.

“Watson, thank you for coming all this way.”

“It’s nothing. The agency has given me such a great opportunity, so I should train with gratitude.”

While I spoke with Watson, with Lee Ju-hyeok translating, the other players, curious about Watson, approached one by one.

“Watson, I’m your fan!”

Park Seong-ju confidently approached him, despite his limited English.

“Thank you. Nice to meet you.”

Watson began to greet the players individually, starting with Park Seong-ju.

“His physique is incredible. Do you have to be that big to make it to the Major League?”

Oh Seok-hoon observed Watson more intently than anyone else.

“Okay, now that we’ve met all of our family members, let’s head to the accommodation.”

The players, including me, moved under the guidance of Lee Ju-hyeok and Jung In-gyu.

* * *

After about an hour’s drive in a rented bus, we arrived at the accommodation where we would be staying for the next three weeks.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get off.”

Jung In-gyu and I were the first to disembark.

Following us, the players exited the bus one by one and retrieved their respective carriers from the trunk.

Jung In-gyu went ahead and opened the gate wide.

As I walked in, I surveyed the accommodation, and,

“Wow, this is amazing. Absolutely amazing.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim.

It was a fantastic place, within walking distance of the training grounds, featuring pleasant buildings and a spacious yard.

Adding to the appeal, the warm weather and clear sky were in perfect harmony.

Jung In-gyu made eye contact with me and then stepped forward.

“Okay, everyone, go to your respective rooms, quickly unpack your luggage, rest for about an hour, and then we’ll do some light training.”

“What? Training?”

So Young-joon raised both hands in protest, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Is there a problem? Is an hour not enough to unpack?”

“No, Coach, that’s not it… How can we train on the first day, ignoring such an incredibly beautiful sky and warm sunshine?”

“Today, we’ll just be doing some light warm-up exercises. See you all later.”

Jung In-gyu patted So Young-joon on the shoulder and pushed his carrier into the accommodation.

“No, I’m so bummed.”

So Young-joon looked at the other players as if he still couldn’t believe it.

But everyone was busy pushing their carriers into the accommodation.

“Everyone! Are you really going to train right away like this? Can’t you feel the warm sunshine? This is disrespectful to the Guam sky.”

So Young-joon shouted, but no one paid attention.

Only Scott approached So Young-joon and responded.

“Scott, what do you think?”

“So, we still have to train. He said we’re only doing warm-ups.”

“Scott… Are you going to be like this too?”

So Young-joon looked at Scott with a look of utter despair.

“Young-joon, let’s go in.”

Na Jun-ho even came over and ushered So Young-joon inside.

“Senior…”

In the end, So Young-joon was dragged into the accommodation by Scott and Na Jun-ho.

The players went to their assigned rooms and began unpacking.

With more agency players now, we had to assign two people per room, grouping players who we thought would get along well.

While the players were preparing, Lee Ju-hyeok and I posted the photos we had taken on the agency’s social media.

└Wow! Look at the weather. It’s crazy.

└It’s so cold in Korea, but it must be warm there.

└I feel like I could train like crazy if they trained me there too.

└So Young-joon looks like he doesn’t want to train??

└But who is that young friend? He doesn’t seem like a rookie pro, and I feel like I’ve never seen him before?

└He looks like the pitcher who pitched in the high school baseball finals.

└Seems like Choi Woo-jin from Soocheon High.

└Huh? Why is Choi Woo-jin following them there?

└Where did Ahn Beom-seok go, and he’s in there instead.

└Is that the player Kang Hyun-woo picked?

After a while,

“Okay, everyone’s here, right?”

Jung In-gyu counted the players and checked the attendance.

“Yes!”

Everyone answered energetically, but one person with a sour expression stood out.

“Haa… This isn’t right.”

So Young-joon was still shaking his head, seemingly unable to accept the reality.

“We’ll start by running five laps around the field lightly. Let’s run comfortably, thinking of it as a light warm-up.”

“Yes!”

“If you’re not feeling well or need a rest, please feel free to tell me at any time. We shouldn’t overdo it from the beginning and risk injury.”

Everyone was just stretching at Jung In-gyu’s words, but,

Only one person raised his hand.

“I think I’m not feeling well, so I think it would be better to rest today.”

So Young-joon looked at Jung In-gyu, his face clearly showing exhaustion, and then slumped his shoulders.

Then Jung In-gyu looked around So Young-joon and massaged his shoulders.

“Hmm… So Young-joon is in very good condition. He can run twice as much as the other players.”

“How do you know, Coach? I’m telling you I’m really tired.”

“How would I know? I’ve been watching you since you were in school. Do you think I can’t tell if your body is really not feeling well or if you’re pretending not to feel well?”

“No… Coach, I’m serious.”

Ignoring So Young-joon’s grumbling,

“Let’s run quickly. Start!”

At Jung In-gyu’s command, the players began to move.

“Let’s not overdo it and enjoy it!”

The players slowly began to circle the ground.

“The weather is so nice!”

“I was wearing a padded jacket until this morning and it was still cold, but it’s so nice to be training in just a short-sleeved shirt.”

Perhaps because it was a light training session, the players had smiles on their faces.

I also ran with them and chatted comfortably.

“Scott, are you feeling okay?”

“Perfect! I feel like I can fly.”

“How about Watson?”

“Good!”

Watson also gave a thumbs up with a bright expression while running slowly.

However, after starting to run a few laps, heavy breathing began to be heard.

Huff. Huff. Huff.

After passing the last lap, everyone was breathing heavily, with their hands on their knees.

The first day of training ended with a light warm-up, and in the evening, Jung In-gyu conducted individual interviews with the players.

It was the first step to properly understand their current physical condition and help them with the areas they needed to improve.

The interviews were primarily conducted with players who hadn’t yet found the best training methods for themselves, rather than those who already had established routines.

And full-scale training began on the second day.

Since we needed to be physically prepared for the club’s spring training, which would start soon, the main goal of our training camp was physical conditioning and weight training.

Even the stretching to prevent injuries was challenging.

“Huff. Huff. Huff.”

“Ugh!”

“It’s so damn hard.”

Not long after the training started, sweat began to pour down the players’ faces.

Physical training was always a demanding task.

In addition, individualized training was added as needed for each player.

Perhaps because the training lasted all day and was so strenuous, the lights in the accommodation were all turned off before late at night.

And before we knew it, it was the fourth day of the training camp.

As soon as I finished dinner, I gathered the players.

“Okay, our players have worked hard during the training camp, right?”

“Training is fun!”

“Coach’s training program is so good.”

“I want to rest for just one day!”

Among the enthusiastic responses from the training addicts, So Young-joon’s realistic plea was also heard.

Still, we couldn’t just train after coming all the way to Guam.

“If you want to train hard for the rest of the period, you need to have a day off, right? Tomorrow is free time.”

“Yay!”

The players cheered and rejoiced at my words.

“Please rest well and enjoy your free time tomorrow. Because we have to train hard again from the next day.”

Finally, it was the first day off during the Dream Agency training camp.