A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 146

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 146

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 146

Chapter 39: The World of Views (1)

With the upcoming season, the KH Cannons were aiming for their first-ever Korean Series championship.

Their season preparation was progressing smoothly, as if sailing with the wind.

“Alright, second baseman! Get ready for fungo!” [Fungo refers to a baseball training drill where a coach hits balls to fielders for practice.]

“I’ll do my best, sir!!!”

Perhaps it was due to the warm weather in Florida, but there were no injuries among the players.

Since there were no injuries, all training could proceed according to the coaching staff’s plan.

If the training was systematic, the results were bound to be visible.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaaack!

Every time the fielders swung their bats, line-drive shots flew deep into the outfield, and

Swoosh- Pow!

Swoosh- Pow!

Swoosh- Powwww!

Every time the pitchers threw the ball, the sharp sound of the catch echoed loudly outside the bullpen.

“Hey, are we… really going to make something happen this year? The atmosphere feels unusual.”

“Seriously, you too? I feel strange lately. I keep looking forward to the season opener….”

Thanks to the players showing excellent condition, the front office staff was also filled with anticipation.

Although the spring camp was proceeding in such a positive atmosphere, not every member was having a smooth day.

“Young-joon, what are you doing?!”

Just like Ji-seop last year, many of the new recruits who came in as training assistants were making mistakes every day, and

“Hey! Eat this! You have to eat before you go!!”

There was also a trainer who had to sprint 100 meters every morning because the players didn’t take their nutritional supplements.

And,

here was another one.

’24-hour views… 967 views?’

This person, looking at her phone screen, let out a long sigh.

Her name was Kim So-min. 31 years old.

She was the main PD (Producer-Director) of KH Cannons’ YouTube channel, [CannonsTV].

* * *

Korean professional baseball teams started to pay attention to YouTube around the mid-2010s.

In the beginning, it was said that the youngest members of the PR team would upload one or two videos taken with their phones.

However, as YouTube’s influence gradually expanded, all 10 teams now have contracts with professional companies to manage their channels.

Kim So-min PD of [CannonsTV] was also affiliated with such a professional company.

“…….”

She was someone with a decent track record.

She hadn’t yet had the chance to receive the ‘Gold Button’ given to those who surpass 1 million subscribers.

However, she had already received the ‘Silver Button,’ given when surpassing 100,000 subscribers, several times.

In baseball terms, she wasn’t quite a cleanup hitter [a team’s best power hitter], but she had a track record good enough to aim for the 2nd or 6th spot in the lineup.

Based on such a track record, she was considered one of the better PDs in the industry—but she was now facing a crisis.

The number of subscribers to [CannonsTV], where she was the main PD, was only 76,000.

It was by far the lowest among the YouTube channels operated by the 10 Korean professional baseball teams.

“Hey, it’s not your fault, senior.”

When Kim So-min PD entered the editing room with a serious expression, her junior, Jung Byung-joon PD, offered comfort.

“Baseball team YouTube channels tend to follow the team’s popularity. Frankly, is there anyone who can say that the Cannons are a nationally popular team?”

Jung PD shrugged.

“Besides, the Cannons haven’t been doing well in baseball. The fans who had left are only now slowly returning… Shouldn’t we give our CannonsTV a little more time?”

“Well, I think so too….”

Kim So-min PD smiled bitterly.

“It seems the client doesn’t think so.”

“Client… you mean the Cannons?”

“Yeah, the CEO called me yesterday and said that the Cannons seem to be looking into other YouTube management companies.”

“Huh?!!”

Jung PD’s eyes widened.

“Then, what about our team? Are we being disbanded? Disbanded and scattered to other teams….”

Oh, that can’t happen?!

Jung PD grabbed Kim So-min PD’s sleeve and started to cling to her.

“Senior, I don’t want to work under another PD! I was planning to work in Kim So-min’s team forever!”

“Ugh, why is he being so annoying?”

Kim PD shook off her junior’s hand, dusting off her sleeve.

“Don’t make such a fuss. It’s not like contracts being terminated is a once-in-a-lifetime event. You just have to adapt when you go to a new team.”

“Hey, is it as easy as you say?”

Jung PD sent a resentful look.

“I can at least eat and sleep on time since I joined senior’s team. How can I go back to the old days now?”

“…….”

“Senior, why don’t you try to find a way! Like a plan that will surprise the Cannons people!”

Jung PD’s eyes sparkled, but the returning reaction was far from enthusiastic.

“Well, a plan that can be done with the Cannons… I wonder if there is such a thing?”

“Hey, you have everything in your head! Didn’t you always say you had too many things you wanted to do and were worried? Just take one of them out and use it….”

“Byung-joon, wait a minute.”

It was at this moment that Kim So-min PD interrupted Jung PD’s words.

Brrr- Brrr- Brrr-

Kim PD’s phone, placed on the desk, started to ring.

The caller was,

Kwon Dae-woong, Deputy of the Cannons PR Team.

* * *

About ten minutes later.

Kim So-min PD was visiting the PR team’s office located inside the Cannons’ dormitory.

At first, she was a little nervous, wondering if they were going to bring up the contract termination story, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Rather, it was the opposite.

“I was going to tell you over the phone… but I thought it would be better to tell you in person for this kind of story.”

Said Kwon Dae-woong, Deputy of the PR team.

“I heard that there’s a rumor going around that our Cannons are trying to change the YouTube management company… Kim PD, that’s completely unfounded.”

“Unfounded?”

“Yes, I don’t know where that story came from… but anyway, our PR team has never considered that.”

Kwon Deputy continued.

“It’s true that our Cannons YouTube is a little behind other teams. But how can that be Kim PD’s fault?”

Kwon Dae-woong Deputy was saying the same thing as Kim PD’s junior.

“We know that Kim PD is working hard. There are ridiculously many restrictions compared to other teams… but you still upload one or two videos every week.”

“…….”

“So, don’t be upset by the rumors and just keep doing what you’re doing. If you need anything, please let us know anytime.”

Kwon Dae-woong Deputy was comforting Kim PD in the kindest voice in the world.

There was no consideration of changing the YouTube management company. Just keep doing what you’re doing in the future.

If it were the usual Kim PD, she would have bowed her head and turned around, saying, ‘Thank you.’

“…….”

However, at this time, Kim PD was feeling a little different than usual.

Was it because she heard for the first time that the Cannons were considering another company, even though it was false news?

Or was it because her junior, who had followed her well since college, was whining, ‘I don’t want to go to another team’?

Or was it because the videos she had edited for several nights were left unattended without anyone’s interest for a long time?

She didn’t know exactly which reason it was, but Kim PD was already bringing up a story that she would never have done normally.

“Can I really… tell you?”

“Yes?”

Kwon Deputy tilted his head.

“What are you talking about?”

“You just said that I could say anything if I needed something.”

At Kim So-min PD’s words, Kwon Deputy made an ‘Ah’ sound.

“Ah, yes, of course! We should definitely support you if you need anything! What do you need?”

Kwon Dae-woong Deputy was showing his unique, good-natured smile.

However, that expression didn’t last long.

Because a completely unexpected name popped out of Kim PD’s mouth.

“The Operations Team Leader.”

Kim So-min PD looked at Kwon Deputy and continued.

“Could you persuade the Operations Team Leader?”

* * *

As soon as the word ‘Operations Team Leader’ came out of Kim PD’s mouth, Kwon Dae-woong’s face turned pale.

“O, Operations Team Leader?”

It wasn’t just Kwon Deputy.

Other team employees in the office also froze for a moment.

They were looking at Kim PD with an expression as if they had been hit in the back of the head.

There was a good reason for that.

The person who took over as the Operations Team Leader of KH Cannons from this season was Department Head Cha Yoon-jin.

It was ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha,’ who was notoriously difficult within the club.

“W, why the Operations Team Leader….”

“You said it too. The restrictions imposed on our YouTube production team are not small.”

Kim PD continued.

“YouTube filming is only allowed during work hours in principle. The content is limited to training and game sketches, player interviews, and coach interviews. To produce content other than that, you must obtain prior permission from the Operations Team Leader….”

Kim So-min PD was listing the restrictions imposed on [CannonsTV] over the past few years.

Her gaze turned to Kwon Deputy.

“I want to make new content, Deputy.”

“New content?”

“Yes.”

“S, specifically what….”

Kwon Deputy didn’t seem to realize it yet, but in fact, Kim So-min PD was slightly embarrassed at this time.

None of the many ideas she had when she first took over [CannonsTV] came to mind.

‘I thought there were a lot of really good ideas… Am I getting old? Or have I lost my touch?’

However, Kim PD quickly recovered her mentality.

How many years has she been in the industry?

She could come up with ideas that could be introduced to a YouTube channel that only edited and uploaded training videos of players on the spot.

“There are many things, but… first of all, I want to shoot a video introducing this Florida spring camp.”

“Camp introduction?”

“Yes, with a concept like [Walking Into The World]. One player goes around the camp, introduces the training ground, introduces the restaurant, and has light interviews with the players they meet.”

Hmm, not bad.

Kim PD said to herself lightly.

“Training videos are good, and game videos are good, but I think it’s meaningful to show this kind of content to fans sometimes.”

“H, hearing that, it doesn’t seem like a bad plan….”

In order to promote this plan, he had to get permission from Operations Team Leader Cha Yoon-jin.

Could he handle ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’? Kwon Dae-woong was honestly not confident.

‘Damn it, what should I do? Our team leader is in Korea, so he won’t be of much help….’

Of course, he would report in advance, but it seemed likely that persuading the Operations Team Leader would be his role.

The PR team leader also thought it was very uncomfortable to face ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha.’

But Kwon Deputy was too nice to completely ignore Kim PD’s request.

‘I know the YouTube production team is having a hard time, but I can’t keep pretending I don’t know… Ah, that’s right?!’

Kwon Deputy snapped his fingers.

He took out his phone and seemed to be sending a message to someone, then turned to Kim PD with a bright expression.

“PD, so you’re saying you need the Operations Team Leader’s permission for a new plan, right?”

“Yes, that’s right….”

“Okay. Then let’s go right now!”

“Yes? Where to?”

“Where else? Of course, to the Operations Team Leader’s office!”

Come this way.

Kwon Dae-woong Deputy started to lead the way with a confident stride.

Kim PD couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed.

‘He was restless until a while ago… What’s gotten into him?’

The only hint she could get was just one.

The screen of his phone, which was slightly visible between Kwon Deputy’s thick fingers.

Special Reporter: Ah, Deputy?

Special Reporter: I’m at the Operations Team Leader’s room.

Special Reporter: What’s going on?