A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 125

야구단 신입이 너무 잘함 125화

33. Spotlight (5)

This year’s Winter Meetings were held at the Grand Maximus, one of San Diego’s most exclusive luxury hotels.

In the media room on the hotel’s second floor, the Boston Red Sox were making their ‘declaration of victory.’

“To the journalists who have joined us today, to our colleagues competing for the World Series title, and most importantly, to the Red Sox fans back in Boston who are anxiously waiting! Please, rejoice!”

It was the Boston Red Sox’s general manager, the one Tommy Damon called ‘The Bull.’

“We, the Boston Red Sox, are proud to announce the acquisition of our era’s greatest ace, two-time Cy Young Award winner… Ruben Acosta!”

The Boston GM grabbed Ruben Acosta’s hand, who was standing next to him, and raised it high, causing a roar to erupt in the media room. “Waaah!”

“Acosta! Acosta! Acosta!”

“Welcome to Boston, Acosta!!!”

The people shouting Ruben Acosta’s name and celebrating wildly were likely Boston’s staff.

“Breaking news! Get the breaking news out now!”

“Don’t be late! Post the article now!”

The reporters who came to cover the event were hammering away at their keyboards with incredible intensity, as if they were trying to wear them out. “Damn it, how did this happen? Boston signed Ruben!”

“No time to be surprised. Contact the GM now! If we hesitate, we might lose other pitchers too?!”

The officials from other teams who were aiming for Ruben Acosta were in a state of chaos, caught off guard by the sudden acquisition announcement.

Like kicking a hornet’s nest, like a huge bomb ‘thudding’ down, a commotion broke out in the 1,700-seat media room.

“Heh, well, this is… quite a spectacle.”

That was General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s assessment.

“Such a fuss over the news of signing one player… Seeing this makes me realize once again that Major League Baseball is truly a huge stage. Don’t you think so, Special Advisor Kim?”

“Yes, it really is…”

Ji-seop was also feeling it anew.

A place teeming with players worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

A place where the best talents engage in fierce competition to acquire such players.

And a place where thousands of people gather to report the news.

Truly the ultimate stage, Major League Baseball, filled with people crazy about baseball.

‘…Amazing.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t know it before, but witnessing it up close made him viscerally feel the intensity of the Major League stage.

In fact, this alone was quite a fresh shock to Ji-seop.

He was beginning to grasp what Jimmy Morris meant when he said, ‘Your eyes for baseball will open.’

However, the very next moment, an event occurred that would become a ‘turning point’ in Ji-seop’s baseball life.

“Excuse me… Kim? Are you Mr. Kim? From the KH Cannons of Korea…”

A voice from behind.

When Ji-seop turned around, a short, stocky white man came into view.

“Yes, I’m Kim…”

“Ah, hello. My name is Simon, and I work in baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox.”

Wiping the sweat from his cheek, the man named Simon continued, “This is sudden, but… would you mind coming with me for a moment?”

“Me? Why?”

“There’s someone on our team who’s been eagerly looking for Mr. Kim. They said they want to meet you right now…”

Please come with me.

Then, the man pointed to-

The main stage of the Hotel Grand Maximus media room.
The very place where the Boston Red Sox GM was holding a press conference.

* * *

‘Tommy must be looking for me.’

As Ji-seop crossed the media room following the man named ‘Simon,’ that was the thought that crossed his mind.

‘If he went to the trouble of sending someone to find me… should I assume that my idea played a significant role in acquiring Ruben Acosta?’

Thinking that, Ji-seop diligently moved his feet.

Sure enough, the one waving his hand wildly at Ji-seop from right below the main stage was Tommy Damon.

His old teammate from his independent league days, and now the senior manager of the Boston Red Sox.

“Hey, Kim! Where have you been? And why aren’t you answering your phone!”

Tommy Damon started nagging as soon as he saw Ji-seop.

Only then did Ji-seop realize that his phone was full of ‘missed calls.’

“Sorry. I was getting pushed around by people here and there, so I didn’t even realize the phone was ringing.”

Then, he offered a word.

“Congratulations on acquiring Ruben Acosta.”

“Congratulations, my foot. We couldn’t have dreamed of it without your help…”

In fact, Ji-seop could have fully anticipated this much of the conversation.

What made the situation flow a little differently from Ji-seop’s expectations was what happened at the very next moment.

“Kim, just wait a moment. The press conference just ended…”

“Press conference?”

“Yeah, ah, there he comes. David! David! Over here, over here!”

Tommy Damon shouted loudly at a man coming down from the stage.

The moment he saw the man turning and approaching after hearing the shout, Ji-seop could guess who the person who wanted to meet him was.

“David, this is Kim, the one I told you about. And Kim, as you know, this person here is…”

No further explanation was necessary.

David Perkins.

The Boston Red Sox GM himself was giving Ji-seop a bright smile right in front of him.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim.”

The Boston Red Sox GM extended his hand to Ji-seop.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from this friend Tommy. This Ruben Acosta acquisition… I heard it was all Mr. Kim’s idea?”

It was a really great idea.

The Boston GM strongly gripped Ji-seop’s hand and continued, “The league’s best pitchers have a different perception of their weaknesses. The fact that you analyzed those weaknesses will give Boston even more credibility… Haha, how did you come up with such an idea?”

“…….”

“So I asked Tommy to do me a favor. I wanted to meet Mr. Kim before this press conference ended.”

“Me… you mean?”

At this moment, Ji-seop’s feelings were beyond description.

The feeling of receiving a direct thank you from a Major League GM.

The feeling of being recognized by someone at the pinnacle of Major League Baseball.

But even amidst all that, one question arose in Ji-seop’s mind.

“But why did you want to meet me now…”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t that right? There are so many people here, and it’s so chaotic… I thought we could have met later in a quiet place.”

From Ji-seop’s point of view, that would have been better.

If possible, in a quiet place, at a time when he could spend enough time, with the other members of the KH Cannons.

That way, he could have discussed the business partnership with the Boston Red Sox, which was one of the biggest goals of this Winter Meetings.

But the Boston GM seemed to see through Ji-seop’s thoughts.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve cleared my schedule for the afternoon. There will be plenty of time to discuss a business partnership with the Cannons.”

Then why did he look for Ji-seop at this moment?

Boston’s GM Perkins opened his mouth again in a soft tone.

“Actually, our Red Sox front office has a tradition.”

“…A tradition?”

“That’s right. When we welcome the best player to the team, everyone involved in acquiring that player gathers together to take a photo.”

In other words, a commemorative photo.

It may not be a big deal, but it was said to be a Red Sox front office tradition that has been going on for nearly 50 years.

“I was hoping that Mr. Kim would join us in that long tradition… That’s why I asked you like this.”

“Take a photo together… you mean? I’m not even a Red Sox front office member.”

“Hey, Kim! What are you talking about?”

It was Tommy Damon who intervened in the conversation on behalf of GM Perkins.

“Your idea was decisive in this Ruben Acosta acquisition! The commemorative photo would be meaningless without you, wouldn’t it?”

“Tommy is saying what I was going to say for me!”

GM Perkins laughed heartily and began to pull Ji-seop’s arm.

“Come on, come up here! Watch out for the stairs! We have to take the picture quickly and leave so the next event can proceed!”

“Yes, boss!”

Following the GM’s instructions, the Boston Red Sox front office staff ‘rushed’ up.

Ji-seop, who was instantly surrounded by a dozen or so people, was feeling a strange sensation.

“…….”

As he stepped onto the stage, things that he hadn’t seen before began to come into view.

He could feel the gazes of people who were packed tightly in the media room and far into the hallway.

He also noticed people who were flashing their cameras a little hastily, ‘flash! flash!’

But at this moment, what struck Ji-seop most strongly as he stood on the stage was-

‘This is… a spotlight.’

Spotlight. Attention.

A powerful light to make the person on stage stand out.
The very light that had been shining on Ruben Acosta, the best star in Major League Baseball, just a moment ago.

Looking back, this was the first time in his life that Ji-seop had stood under such a spotlight.

“…….”

Something that he, as a pitcher who threw a 128km/h ball [approximately 80 mph], could not even dare to dream of.

No, he might have dreamed of it when he first started playing baseball.

But it was something that had completely disappeared from his mind from a certain point on.

Being in the spotlight in front of so many people.

It was at this moment that Boston Red Sox GM David Perkins spoke to him in a quiet tone.

“How do you feel, Mr. Kim.”

He closed his eyes, felt the spotlight, and continued.

“I can’t leave Boston because of this tradition. When I stand here and receive the spotlight… I realize that I have won.”

That he had overcome the interference of other teams and obtained the best player.

That the guys down there are all losers who couldn’t beat me.

GM Perkins looked at Ji-seop with a sly smile.

“A place where you can receive the spotlight that you couldn’t receive as a player, a place that constantly makes you aware that you were a much greater guy than I thought… That’s Major League Baseball.”

“…….”

“Of course, it’s not always glory that follows, and it’s true that you have to feel pain like scraping your bones to enjoy the glory… But somehow, Mr. Kim, I think you can overcome it.”

That’s why I’m saying this.

As if he had met an old friend, GM Perkins put his arm around Ji-seop’s shoulder.

“I’m not saying right now. But if possible, in the near future…”

He gave a faint smile.

“Mr. Kim, would you like to work with the Boston Red Sox with me?”