A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 180

47. Finding a Renowned Doctor (3)

About an hour later.

Ji-seop was in the ‘First Examination Room’ of Iwata Medical Center.

Lying on the patient bed with a nervous expression was KH Cannons’ ‘Fireballer’ Kang Jae-yun.

And carefully examining his elbow was Iwata Minoru, the ‘Second Director’ of Iwata Medical Center.

Director Iwata’s examination took longer than expected.

He repeatedly reviewed the medical records brought from Korea and had Kang Jae-yun perform various movements.

After about an hour, Director Iwata finally spoke to Kang Jae-yun.

“I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

He said with a warm smile on his face.

“There is some damage to the elbow ligaments, but… it’s treatable without surgery. The aftereffects shouldn’t be significant either.”

“R-Really? Will I be able to recover quickly?”

A player who has been injured can’t help but feel anxious.

Kang Jae-yun asked the interpreter with a trembling voice.

Director Iwata seemed to guess what he said and continued without asking the interpreter.

“Two years ago, Chae Jeong-soo from Yuseong Warriors came to us with the same injury. He recovered here in two weeks and went back.”

“Ah, Senior Chae Jeong-soo?”

The name of the senior player who was actively playing as a setup man [a relief pitcher specializing in the late innings] in Yuseong Warriors.

Kang Jae-yun’s expression brightened slightly.

“Before that, Min Sang-gyu from Geosan Mariners also came with similar symptoms. Min is also doing very well in Korea these days, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he moved teams with a FA [Free Agent] contract last year….”

A senior pitcher who had experienced an injury but overcame it well and even earned a FA contract.

Kang Jae-yun’s face now showed an expression of, ‘Ah, maybe I can too….’

“I understand, Director. I will work hard to receive treatment and become like those two seniors.”

“Of course, you should. Kang is younger than the previous two players, so I think the progress will be much better.”

Director Iwata turned to Park Myung-hoon, the head of the training team, and continued.

“We will start the full-scale treatment from tomorrow. The hospital room should be ready by now, so please make sure Kang gets enough rest today.”

“I understand, Director.”

Deputy Park Myung-hoon left the examination room with Kang Jae-yun.

Director Iwata, who had been seeing them off with a bright expression, turned his gaze to Ji-seop.

“Kim Ji-seop… was it? You are in charge of special affairs for the KH Cannons’ general manager.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As Ji-seop nodded, Director Iwata returned to his seat.

“I heard you had something to say to me separately… What is it?”

“Yes, I have a few things….”

Ji-seop had many questions about the current Iwata Medical Center.

But Director Iwata wasn’t stupid, and he wouldn’t readily reveal his situation.

So, the first question Ji-seop asked was this.

“First of all, it’s about our player, Kang Jae-yun….”

Looking straight into the other person’s eyes, Ji-seop continued.

“Roughly how long do you think it will take for Kang to recover?”

Ji-seop had read the Yuseong Warriors employee’s inner thoughts, but he had postponed his judgment on Iwata Medical Center a little.

That’s because there are many variables in the recovery of players’ injuries.

There may be differences in the individual player’s physical condition, or differences depending on the injured area.

Therefore, the Warriors player’s delayed recovery may not have been Iwata Medical Center’s responsibility.

“R-Recovery period, you mean?”

However, the moment he saw Director Iwata noticeably flustered by his question, Ji-seop was convinced, ‘Ah, there’s definitely something going on.’

“Yes, the hospital in Korea said about 4 weeks. About 6 weeks including the rehabilitation period? I was wondering how long Director Iwata is expecting.”

“Ah, of course, he should recover faster than that! That’s why he came all the way to Japan, isn’t it?”

“Yes, so how much is that ‘faster’ specifically….”

“S-Specifically, you mean?”

Just a moment.

Director Iwata picked up Kang Jae-yun’s medical records with an awkward smile.

Director Iwata began to look at the medical records with a serious expression.

He didn’t know it in his dreams, but at this time, his inner thoughts were being heard very vividly in Ji-seop’s ears.

[It’s definitely not a difficult patient. Originally, it would have been enough to recover from the injury in 2 weeks, and 4 weeks including rehabilitation training….]

[The problem is that the recovery rate of Korean players has been falling recently. I can’t guarantee that this friend will recover within 2 weeks.]

[It’s strange. All the other patients are fine, but why are only the Korean players recovering so slowly….]

Iwata Medical Center, which had grown significantly thanks to Korean players.

But the story that the recovery rate of those Korean players is falling.

Of course, Director Iwata himself was the most anxious, but Ji-seop, who heard this news, was also having a complicated time.

‘I heard that Iwata Medical Center is in a mess inside and out… Is that what this means?’

Since Director Iwata’s ‘inner thoughts official’ came out, it seemed necessary to make a quick decision.

Should he withdraw from Iwata Medical Center now and look for another hospital to replace it?

Or should he cooperate with Iwata Medical Center to identify and solve the reason why the players’ recovery is delayed?

‘Finding a new hospital is not easy either. If possible, it is best to go for the latter, but to do so….’

Just as Ji-seop’s thoughts reached this point, Director Iwata, who had been silent for a while, quietly put down the medical records.

“Um, Mr. Kim Ji-seop, Special Affairs?”

Director Iwata was trying to speak carefully while looking at Ji-seop.

Ji-seop, who understood his intentions, quickly took the lead.

“Director Iwata.”

“Before I hear the director’s answer, let me just say one thing.”

“W-What is it?”

Director Iwata, shrinking slightly.

Ji-seop continued in a soft but firm voice.

“Our KH Cannons have strong trust in Iwata Medical Center.”

“!!!”

Director Iwata flinched once, perhaps feeling a little guilty about the word ‘trust’.

Of course, Ji-seop didn’t pay attention to such reactions.

“We have been indebted to you a lot, so our KH Cannons will not be too concerned even if there are some problems with Iwata Medical Center. Rather, we will put our heads together and find solutions together.”

“Of course, if the problem becomes serious, we will have to find alternatives… But even so, if Iwata Medical Center tells us that it has been normalized at any time, we will come back right away. If there is still trust between us, it will never be difficult.”

So, Director.

Ji-seop looked at Director Iwata.

“Please keep this in mind and give me an answer. How long do you expect our Kang Jae-yun to recover?”

“T-That is….”

A drop of cold sweat dripped down Director Iwata’s wrinkled forehead as he trailed off.

Director Iwata, who couldn’t look Ji-seop in the eye and hesitated.

It was the next moment that he let out a long sigh as if he had given up everything.

“T-To be honest….”

Ji-seop was making a work call to General Manager Seo Chang-ki in Korea.

-Huh, this is embarrassing.

It was General Manager Seo’s voice.

-So… you’re saying that the recovery rate isn’t as good as before after moving to a new hospital?

Ji-seop replied.

“After checking, it seems that there is no significant difference in the recovery rate of other Japanese patients. The problem only occurred with Korean players.”

-Then, rather than a problem with the second director’s skills… it sounds like there is some external factor?

-So, what did Director Iwata say? Did he ask the former director for advice?

“Since the former director is currently hospitalized… I decided to try to figure out the cause together for now.”

-Hmm.

“However, since we may not be able to figure it out, I thought it would be better to report it to the general manager in advance….”

-Ah, I see. Okay. I’ll see if there are any other suitable hospitals.

Kim Special Affairs is having a hard time.

General Manager Seo Chang-ki, who was comforting Ji-seop for his hard work.

Then, as if he had an idea, he suddenly said this.

-Ah, that’s right! Just for your information, the score here is 7-1 right now.

-Our Cannons are winning! We’re playing against Yuseong Warriors right now. I heard it’s hard to watch Korean baseball in Japan?

Ji-seop turned his gaze to the clock hanging on one wall of the hospital.

The current time was 7:15. While struggling with the Iwata Medical Center issue, it seemed that the baseball game had already started.

“The score is high even though it’s still early in the game? Is the opposing pitcher not in good condition?”

-No. The Warriors pitcher wasn’t bad. It’s because our Cannons’ Terry Foster hit well.

General Manager Seo mentioned the Cannons’ foreign hitter.

-That friend is amazing right now! He hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat and a two-RBI triple in his second at-bat?

“A home run and a triple? Then, if he records a double and a single in the remaining at-bats….”

-That’s right, a cycle hit! He’s about to hit for the cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game]? Hahaha.

General Manager Seo laughed.

-Kim Special Affairs, find a way somehow! A great record is about to come out of our Cannons, and wouldn’t it be a shame if you couldn’t see it?

-Okay, then have a good time! Terry Foster is at bat right now! I’ll contact you again!!!

The phone hangs up.

The problem with Iwata Medical Center still remained, but at this time, Ji-seop felt his heart pounding for no reason.

‘A cycle hit….’

A cycle hit. Hit for the cycle.

A great record achieved when a batter hits a home run, triple, double, and single in one game.

It was meaningful in itself, but the news that foreign hitter Terry Foster was challenging the record felt even more welcome.

‘That friend Terry Foster has been worried because his batting average hasn’t been good lately….’

Ji-seop was a little disappointed.

The fact that he couldn’t watch Terry Foster’s great record live.

If it had been last week or next week, he could have seen it without much difficulty.

Why is this news being delivered when he is on a business trip to Japan?

‘Is there any way?’

Ji-seop took out his cell phone.

Just as he was moving to the hospital room where Kang Jae-yun was staying, entering search terms such as ‘watching baseball broadcasts in Japan’ on the portal site.

-He hit it!!!

A familiar voice was heard in Ji-seop’s ear.

-A ball that completely splits the left-center field! The third base runner has already entered home, and the batter is at second base, second base, second base… Safe! It’s safe!!! Terry Foster’s double!!!

The sound coming from inside the half-open hospital room.

“?!!”

If Ji-seop didn’t hear it wrong, it seemed that a Korean baseball broadcast was being played in the hospital room.

‘Korean baseball broadcast?’

Ji-seop tilted his head and started walking towards the hospital room where Kang Jae-yun was.

‘In Japan… wasn’t it said that it’s difficult to watch Korean baseball?’