A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 178

47. Seeking a Renowned Doctor (1)

The next day, around noon.

Ji-seop was on the phone with ‘Sakhalin Park,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

“I’m telling you, Vice Chairman. I haven’t received any calls from headquarters, I swear.”

How many times did he have to repeat the same thing?

A bitter smile spread across Ji-seop’s face.

“No, in the first place, why would the Chairman contact me? If it’s about the baseball team, he’d contact you or the General Manager.”

-Hmph, that’s because you don’t know the greed of the Ju family.

Sakhalin Park replied gruffly.

-If they think someone is decent and useful, the Ju family will do anything to keep them by their side. Isn’t that why I’ve been suffering all these years after being caught by them?

“Hold on, Vice Chairman. So…….”

Ji-seop switched the phone to his other hand.

“Are you saying the Chairman has been keeping an eye on me? That he thinks it would be okay to keep me around?”

-Oh ho, listen to this guy? You hear the Chairman’s name and your butt starts wiggling, huh?

The voice coming from the phone’s speaker had a hint of disappointment, but Ji-seop simply let out a ‘hehe’ laugh.

“Don’t worry. Where would I go without you, Vice Chairman? I know very well how much you rely on me.”

-Oh really?

“If you’re really worried, you could always raise my salary. To an amount that wouldn’t make me waver even if the Chairman sends me a love call……”

-You little rascal, you’re trying to play above my head now? I should just fix your manners…….

Ji-seop didn’t even bat an eye at the news that the Chairman of KH Group was interested in him.

Sakhalin Park, feeling reassured by Ji-seop’s reaction, was about to scold him in his usual voice.

And that’s when it happened.

Thwack!

A loud sound of impact came from somewhere.

Sakhalin Park asked Ji-seop.

-Where are you right now?

It seemed Vice Chairman Park had also heard the impact sound through the phone.

-It’s just past noon…… Isn’t it a bit early for the players to be doing batting practice?

“Ah, yes, Vice Chairman. I’m at the Icheon training field right now.”

“For the Cannons’ Futures League game.”

That day, the Futures League game between the KH Cannons and the UB Guardians was held at the Icheon baseball field.

The stadium felt deserted, with hardly any spectators besides the officials from each team.

It was about five minutes later that Ji-seop returned to the stands.

“You’re here, Special Advisor?”

As Ji-seop sat down, a large man who had been staring at his laptop screen slightly bowed his head.

His name was Park Myung-hoon. He had retired from active duty three years ago and was now working as a manager in the KH Cannons’ development team.

His position during his active years was catcher.

“Special Advisor, was the bathroom door locked or something?”

Park’s sudden question.

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Huh?”

“It happens sometimes. Since there are hardly any spectators at the Futures League field.”

Park continued.

“You were much later than I expected, so I thought the bathroom door might have been locked again…….”

“No, it wasn’t anything like that.”

Ji-seop waved his hand dismissively.

“I came back from the bathroom quickly, but I got an urgent phone call in the middle…….”

“An urgent phone call…… Was it from the team?”

“Yes, you could say that.”

He had only met Manager Park Myung-hoon about three or four times.

There seemed to be no need to reveal that he had been on the phone with the acting owner.

After brushing it off like that, he was about to turn his gaze to the field when Park sighed and opened his mouth.

“I’ve heard some rumors…… Wow, Special Advisor, you’re really amazing.”

“Huh? What suddenly…….”

Park clicked his tongue.

“I’ve been watching you since earlier, and the team keeps calling you…… How did someone as busy as you even think about coming to see a Futures League game?”

The General Manager’s special advisor coming all the way to Icheon to see a Futures League game seemed quite amazing to him.

Ji-seop jokingly said.

“Don’t praise me so much. I just ran away from the General Manager.”

“Haha, you don’t expect me to believe that, do you? What kind of escape leads to a Futures League field?”

Park laughed heartily and took a sip of his iced coffee.

His eyes were filled with seriousness as he put down the ice cup.

“Are you preparing for June in your own way……?”

Ji-seop nodded lightly.

“Yes, it’s almost time.”

As Manager Park Myung-hoon said.

The reason Ji-seop had come to the Futures League field that day was to prepare for the upcoming month of June.

‘It’s still early May, but…….’

For people in the baseball world, June was considered a ‘hurdle.’

The season started in April, so by June, some players would start to lose their stamina.

It was difficult for a player with low stamina to perform normally.

The increased risk of injury compared to normal could not be overlooked either.

Therefore, around mid-May, it was necessary to visit the Futures League and secure as many ‘new faces’ as possible to replace existing players.

That way, they could safely overcome the hurdle of June and steadily accumulate wins until the All-Star break.

“So…… How is it?”

Manager Park Myung-hoon asked Ji-seop.

“Were there any players that caught your eye? I’m curious about your opinion.”

“Well, I’d have to look at the data to give you an accurate answer, but…….”

Ji-seop turned his gaze to the field.

“First of all, starting pitcher Lee Yong-gi seemed to be in very good condition today.”

Starting pitcher Lee Yong-gi. Right-handed pitcher.

He was the very player who had caused trouble after drinking alcohol during the day and was taken into police custody at the beginning of the season.

At one point, it seemed like he would become a nuisance to the Cannons team, but fortunately, he had turned over a new leaf.

That day, he showed the possibility of returning to the first team by pitching five innings without giving up a run.

“I’m a little worried about his physical condition since he’s a rookie straight out of high school, but shortstop Shim Sung-joon was also good.”

Shortstop Shim Sung-joon. Right-handed thrower, left-handed batter.

He was the player that Cha Jong-min, who was considered the best scout in the Cannons, had picked in last year’s draft.

He was evaluated as having excellent hitting talent but a slightly rough defense, but that had also improved a lot.

That day, he also made several good plays, lightening the burden on the pitchers.

“Lee Yong-gi and Shim Sung-joon. Both players seem capable of playing their roles sufficiently even if they are brought up to the first team at any time. However, if we only consider today’s game, the most noticeable is…….”

Ji-seop looked at Park.

“Wouldn’t it be Kang Jae-yoon, who is currently on the mound?”

“As expected, you know your stuff!”

At the mention of ‘Kang Jae-yoon,’ Park nodded with a proud expression.

“Kang Jae-yoon…… He’s the friend our development team is paying the most attention to these days. If it’s Jae-yoon, I think he can be a big help to the Cannons’ bullpen.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yes, he still has the disadvantage of inconsistent control, but…… A fastball that reaches up to 157 km/h! Isn’t it a waste to keep a pitcher with a ball like that in the Futures League?”

“That’s right. It’s a waste.”

Listening to Manager Park Myung-hoon’s excited explanation, Ji-seop turned his gaze back to the field.

‘A maximum speed of 157 km/h…….’

Pitcher Kang Jae-yoon on the mound was putting on a great pitching performance that day.

The fastball that easily exceeded 150 km/h was attractive, but the fast pitching tempo was also pleasing.

He didn’t hesitate to throw the ball as soon as he received the catcher’s sign.

“If you throw like that, the fielders defending behind you will also get excited.”

Even while Ji-seop was watching the pitcher, Manager Park Myung-hoon’s ‘sales pitch’ continued.

“The interval is also quite short. I think most hitters will have a hard time catching the timing.”

A fastball pitcher discovered and nurtured by the development team.

Manager Park Myung-hoon seemed eager to send him up to the first team as soon as possible.

The more pitchers, the better.

Ji-seop was secretly thinking of reporting it to General Manager Seo Chang-gi when suddenly-

“Oh?!”

Manager Park Myung-hoon narrowed his brows.

“No, what’s wrong with him?!”

It was Kang Jae-yoon.

Immediately after striking out the second batter, he suddenly started gesturing towards the dugout.

For a pitcher to send a sign to the dugout.

That meant only one thing.

‘An injury……?’

Ji-seop was looking at Kang Jae-yoon with worried eyes.

That evening.

Ji-seop was receiving a call from Park Myung-hoon of the development team in the General Manager’s office at KH Cannons Field.

“Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you for your hard work today. Yes, then…….”

Click.

Ji-seop pressed the ‘end call’ button on his phone.

General Manager Seo Chang-gi asked Ji-seop with an urgent voice.

“What did Manager Park say? Did the examination results come out?”

“Yes, he said the results came out a little while ago.”

A look of relief appeared on Ji-seop’s face.

“Fortunately, Kang Jae-yoon doesn’t need surgery. He said they found a slight tear in the ligament in his right elbow.”

“The ligament in his right elbow…….”

It was certainly good news that he didn’t need surgery.

However, a look of regret appeared on General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s face.

“But if he needs rehab or something, it will take a considerable amount of time to return, won’t it?”

“Yes, he said he’s going to get a re-examination at another hospital tomorrow, but…… For now, that hospital said it would take at least four weeks.”

“Four weeks to recover, so considering rehab appearances, it will take more than six weeks to return…….”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi clicked his tongue.

“This is a shame. I wanted to put him on the first team as soon as June started and test him out.”

General Manager Seo’s head seemed to be getting complicated.

If Kang Jae-yoon was struggling, who was the pitcher who could come up to the first team in his place?

Which pitcher should he bring up to the first team to help the Cannons’ bullpen, which was starting to lose stamina?

“Hmm, this is…….”

Bullpen management was a very difficult task for any team.

Even the experienced General Manager Seo was unable to come to a conclusion easily.

“General Manager, if you can’t think of any resources to replace him…… How about considering advancing Kang Jae-yoon’s return?”

Cha Yoon-jin, the ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ director, who had been quietly watching the situation until then, opened her mouth.

“It will cost a little more, but I don’t think there’s no way at all.”

“Advance Jae-yoon’s return?”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi seemed to already know what that meant.

“Are you saying we should send Jae-yoon to Japan?”

General Manager Seo continued.

“To Iwata Medical Center?”