A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 120

32. A New Beginning (4)

“What is it that you want…?”

The moment Ji-seop heard ‘Sakhalin Park,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju’s question, the image of Jimmy Morris flashed through his mind.

The foreign pitcher who was, without a doubt, the ace of the KH Cannons this season.

More precisely, it was the one thing he said to Ji-seop right before he returned to the United States.

-Ji-seop, how about coming to America?

It was on the way to the departure hall of Incheon International Airport to catch his flight.

-I can guarantee it. If you come to America, your perspective on baseball will change completely!

-More players, fiercer competition, a more meticulous development system… everything is prepared there to make you even more amazing!

Though it was a short time, Jimmy Morris tried to persuade Ji-seop with considerable enthusiasm.

Come to America. Let’s play on a bigger stage together. You are someone who can definitely do it.

However, Ji-seop, who had never thought about America since retiring as an active player.

When Ji-seop shook his head slowly with a faint smile, Jimmy Morris said this.

-Well… it would be difficult in many ways to move to America right now. Then how about this?

The next moment, a piece of advice that a former major league starting pitcher gave to Ji-seop.

-Participate in the Major League Winter Meetings this year.

He said that officials from all 30 Major League teams in the United States would gather in one place.

Free agent players also come, and agent companies representing their contract issues gather as well.

In addition, trainers, sports brand companies, and even media influencers who consider them potential customers all gather at the biggest baseball event in the United States.

‘I was about half giving up because the expenses were too high… but if things turn out like this, the story is a little different.’

Ji-seop’s thoughts reached this point.

He slowly raised his head.

And facing ‘Sakhalin Park,’ who was looking at him with an interesting gaze, Ji-seop opened his mouth in a clear tone.

“Vice Chairman, please send me to America.”

“What? America?”

“Yes, I heard from Jimmy Morris. The Major League Winter Meetings are scheduled to be held in California in mid-December.”

I want to go and see it once.

Ji-seop continued.

“I want to go and see what Major League players look like, and how the infamous Boras Corporation [a powerful sports agency] does business… I want to stay for about ten days and see with my own eyes how the American baseball scene works.”

“Hmm.”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju stroked his chin.

“You rascal, you say it nicely… but in the end, you’re saying you want to go on an American tour, aren’t you? With our company’s precious money.”

Vice Chairman Park’s voice was quite sharp, but Ji-seop had now reached a level where he was not intimidated by such pressure.

“Well, I won’t deny it. But since I’m going to America… I should at least visit the baseball stadium where Park Chan-ho [a famous Korean MLB pitcher] used to play. Eat a hot dog, buy a few commemorative hats.”

In fact, he was also thinking of visiting Disneyland, but Ji-seop didn’t reveal that much.

“But Vice Chairman, you ordered me to do the work of two people, didn’t you? Then I think it’s not too much to receive this baseball tour as a bonus.”

“Hehe, this guy. Your words flow like a clear stream.”

“If possible, please book me a business class ticket with a good feeling. Instead, I will work my best when I come back so that you don’t regret the price of the plane ticket… how about it?”

After finishing speaking, Ji-seop carefully examined the atmosphere inside the manager’s office.

“……”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, General Manager Seo Chang-gi, and Director Arthur Freeman.

The three leaders of the KH Cannons kept their mouths shut and said nothing.

No yes or no answer, no change in expression, just staring at Ji-seop’s eyes.

‘…What is this reaction?’

Is it a yes or a no?

Is it a yes, but the business class ticket is a bit ambiguous?

Just as Ji-seop was about to ‘intently’ look into their eyes to read their inner thoughts.

“Euhahahahaha!!!”

Suddenly, Sakhalin Park threw his back and burst into laughter.

The laughter was so loud that it felt like the manager’s office window was shaking slightly.

Sakhalin Park, who was laughing so loudly, turned to General Manager Seo and opened his mouth.

“General Manager Seo, did you see that? Did you see it? That’s why I said we should bring that Tsingtao guy to the baseball team!”

“Hehe, that’s what I’m saying. I thought I was getting goosebumps just now, Vice Chairman.”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi was shaking his head with surprised eyes.

Director Arthur Freeman, who had been informed of the situation by Secretary Yang, was also nodding with a pleased expression.

Only Ji-seop was tilting his head, unable to grasp the situation.

“Hey, Tsingtao.”

Sakhalin Park called Ji-seop.

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“It seems like you and I had some kind of relationship in our previous lives. How can our minds be so in sync? Hahaha.”

Sakhalin Park had a pleased expression.

However, Ji-seop narrowed his brows.

“Wh, what do you mean…”

“As the special advisor to the general manager of our KH Cannons… the first mission I was going to entrust to you was exactly that!”

Business trip to America.

Participate in the Winter Meetings.

Sakhalin Park stretched his lips.

“I received a report from General Manager Seo. There are many things our Cannons need to do… and the most urgent thing is to strengthen our relationship with the American baseball world.”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju seemed to be thinking of forming an alliance with a Major League Baseball team in the United States.

If they could build a strong relationship with even one team, the Cannons would have a lot to gain.

“We can improve the player development program, and we can create new marketing strategies. There’s no need to mention that the process of recruiting foreign players will become smoother.”

So, that’s what he decided.

Vice Chairman Park looked at Ji-seop.

“Accompany General Manager Seo on a trip to the United States. See how the American baseball scene works, as you said, and take a break for a day or two.”

Ah, of course.

A playful smile appeared on Sakhalin Park’s face the next moment.

“Don’t forget to buy me a souvenir when you come back, okay?”

He continued.

“For your information, I really like American chocolate.”

* * *

For about two weeks after that.

Ji-seop was completely out of his mind.

“……”

The amount of work itself was also large.

With the duties as the director’s interpreter remaining almost the same, he also had to take on the duties of the special advisor to the general manager.

Attending coaching staff meetings, checking the plans for the finishing camp, checking the progress of player salary negotiations, and also taking care of the applications of people who would take over as interpreters after him.

But strictly speaking, what made Ji-seop’s mind restless was not the constantly increasing workload.

“Special Advisor~”

“Special Advisor~ Special Advisor~”

“Our Our Special Advisor Kim~”

It was the Cannons players.

Because Ji-seop’s new office happened to be located on the way to the ground, the Cannons players would often open the door and make a sound like a cuckoo, saying ‘Special Advisor~ Special Advisor~’.

“Damn it, can’t you stop making that cuckoo sound? It’s driving me crazy.”

Ji-seop couldn’t stand it and complained like this, but the players seemed to come to the office just to see that reaction.

“Hey, why are you doing this? We’re doing it to celebrate the fact that you became a special advisor to the general manager!”

“That’s right. From interpreter to special advisor in just one year! Wow, if you do well, you might even become the general manager in a few years?”

“If you become the general manager, please raise our salaries a lot~ Special Advisor~”

“Special Advisor~ Special Advisor~”

“Ah, I’m just going to kill those guys!!”

Of course, it wasn’t just the players who came.

The KH Cannons front office staff also came whenever they had a chance and ate snacks and drank coffee.

“Wow, Ji-seop! As expected, the office next to the general manager’s office is different… the quality of the snacks is different?”

“It’s not just the snacks that are different? The coffee is completely different too? Hmm, the scent is very luxurious!”

Starting with Go Chang-deok from the power analysis team, Deputy Kwon Dae-woong from the public relations team, and sometimes Deputy Cha Jong-min from the scouting team.

The people Ji-seop had been close to since he was the director’s interpreter seemed very satisfied with Ji-seop’s new office.

“I guess so? The director is almost always in the director’s office, so we couldn’t come to visit…”

“The general manager has a lot of work outside, right? Knowing that the general manager’s office is empty, we can come in with peace of mind!”

“Thank you, Ji-seop! Thanks to Ji-seop’s promotion… we have a place to hide from the team leader?”

Hahahahaha.

Colleagues burst into laughter.

“……”

At first, Ji-seop was annoyed and distracted by the visits of uninvited guests.

However, as time passed, Ji-seop gradually began to understand.

The players, the front office colleagues, were all sending Ji-seop congratulatory messages in their own way.

They were giving Ji-seop their support for being promoted to special advisor to the general manager in less than a year since joining the company.

‘Maybe I’m… a pretty lucky person.’

It was a situation that could be the target of envy and jealousy.
The fact that he had a relationship with the director, the general manager, and even the acting owner of the club was a situation that could create as much gossip as he wanted.

Despite such a situation, his colleagues were treating him with the same bright expressions as always.

At the same time as feeling grateful to such colleagues, Ji-seop was also feeling a bit of pressure.

‘I… have to do well.’

He had to do well.

He had to do his part as a special advisor to the general manager.

That way, he could face the people who had brought him this far, and at the same time, he could continue to receive the trust of his colleagues.

Perhaps the upcoming season would be an opportunity to properly prove Ji-seop’s capabilities as a front office member.

“Okay, then shall we… go out?”

Ji-seop picked up the suit jacket hanging on the hanger.

Looking in the mirror, he tightened his tie and straightened the golden badge of the KH Cannons on his chest.

Ji-seop finished preparing by packing his briefcase, cell phone, and airport ticket.

He took a short breath, ‘Hoo,’ and then knocked on the general manager’s office door, ‘Knock knock.’