A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 19

7. Awl in a Pocket (1)

Around 10 a.m. the next day.

The new assistant trainees of the KH Cannons were gathered in the lobby of the hotel serving as the second-team dormitory.

“The second-team players and coaching staff are scheduled to arrive soon.”

With the head of the development team and other executives gone to greet them at the airport, Kim Pan-soo, the second-team manager, stepped forward to address the assistant trainees.

As part of the development team, he was in charge of the second-team players’ living arrangements and, above all, responsible for the training and instruction of the new assistant trainees.

Just the night before, he had been answering the assistant trainees’ questions with a bright expression, but as soon as the news of the players’ arrival came, a tight tension appeared on his face.

“As I mentioned yesterday… the atmosphere in the team will probably be very tense for a while.”

There was a good reason for that.

“No matter how good they are, they all would have wanted to join the first-team spring training camp.”

They were professional baseball players who always lived in fierce competition.

The fact that they joined the second-team spring training camp meant they had been passed over in the first evaluation of the season.

For players who had hoped to impress the manager at the first-team spring training camp and join the opening game roster, the current situation would not be ideal.

“In my experience… it takes about a week for the players’ mood to return to normal.”

The second-team manager gave a wry smile.

“Until then, please bear with the players even if they act a little sensitive. You all remember what our development team leader always says, right?”

At Kim Pan-soo’s question, several of the new assistant trainees spoke up.

Kim Pan-soo nodded with a faint smile after hearing their answers.

“That’s right. The baseball team’s front office is the players’ family. We must be like older brothers, older sisters, and even mothers and fathers to them. I hope you will remember that.”

As Kim Pan-soo finished speaking, his phone pinged with a ‘Kak-Tok!’ [Korean messaging app] message.

“Oh, the bus carrying the players has just passed the intersection ahead. Everyone, please stand in a line! Don’t forget to give the players a big round of applause and cheers when they come in!”

Following the second-team manager’s instructions, the assistant trainees lined up at the hotel entrance as if welcoming VIPs.

Not only them but also the KH Cannons’ front office staff, hotel employees, and even officials dispatched from Seogwipo City stood in groups.

Boooooom-

Soon, the KH Cannons’ team bus appeared at the hotel entrance.

As the bus door opened with a ‘Tsssh’ sound and the players began to appear one by one, cheers and applause erupted from everywhere.

“Welcome!”

“Welcome!”

“KH Cannons, fighting!!!”

To be honest, Ji-seop initially thought, ‘Why a welcoming ceremony for the second-team players?’

He had even clicked his tongue at the sight of the second-team manager running around trying to gather as many people as possible.

However, the moment he saw the players getting off the bus with their bags, Ji-seop had to nod in agreement.

“…….”

“…….”

The players, perhaps because they were starting the season in the second team, got off the bus with gloomy expressions.

However, when they faced the applause and cheers from the assistant trainees, hotel employees, and even government officials, their expressions brightened instantly.

“……Thank you.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Some were surprised by the outpouring of applause and cheers, and some were a little awkward.

However, the players, with noticeably brighter expressions, lined up and entered the hotel.

Of course, the players’ minds would change again once they started training, but Ji-seop thought that the positive change achieved with just this ‘event’ was worthwhile.

‘……Is this the role of the front office?’

Helping the players train in a good mood, even if it wasn’t outwardly visible.

Just as he was lost in thought, watching the second-team manager Kim Pan-soo patting the players on the back with a pleased expression.

“Waaaaah!!!”

“Waaaaah!!!”

From the second team bus that arrived next, a cheer erupted that was on a different level from before.

The orderly line collapsed in an instant, and people flocked to the team bus entrance.

“……What’s going on?”

Ko Chang-deok, who was standing next to Ji-seop, tilted his head and asked.

“What else could it be? It’s today’s main attraction.”

“Today’s main attraction?”

There was no need to even ask who it was.

‘Today’s main attraction’ began to appear in Ji-seop’s view as well.

Broad shoulders, sturdy physique.

Piercing eyes, a sharp nose.

In addition, a man with skin so white that it was hard to believe he was a baseball player.

‘Ah, that guy is…….’

The KH Cannons’ cleanup hitter [the batter who bats after the first two batters, typically the team’s best hitter].

‘Korea’s Trout,’ Ryu Jang-ho.

* * *

“Okay, louder! Louder!”

“Please take care of us!”

“Louder! How are you going to make it to the first team with that!”

“Please take care of usaaaaa!!!”

“Okay!”

Thwack-

The KH Cannons’ second-team spring training camp begins with light fielding practice.

While the players were engrossed in training on the main field of the Gangchanghak Stadium, the new assistant trainees were preparing snacks for the players to eat in the indoor gymnasium.

Checking the condition of the salads sent by the catering company and packaging nutritional supplements or drinks to eat with them for each player.

Even though it was mostly simple physical labor of carrying boxes full of food, the assistant trainees’ expressions were positive.

It seemed to be because of the excitement of seeing Ryu Jang-ho, who could be considered the KH Cannons’ biggest star, right next to them.

“Wow, the aura he gives off is different from the other players, isn’t it?”

They were talking about Ryu Jang-ho.

One of the assistant trainees who was carrying a box said in an excited voice.

“Did you see the muscles on his forearms? For a moment, I thought I was looking at a major leaguer.”

“Is he just a major leaguer in appearance? To be honest, there’s no outfielder in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] better than Ryu Jang-ho. In a few years, his move to the major leagues is practically guaranteed, so…….”

“That’s right, there are still a few years left before he can apply for posting [system that allows KBO players to negotiate with MLB teams]…… but they say major league scouts are already coming to watch him?”

Ryu Jang-ho had been building a truly legendary career since joining the KH Cannons as a high school rookie four years ago.

He won the Rookie of the Year award in his debut year with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, and the following year he recorded 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases, winning the season MVP [Most Valuable Player].

Since then, he has been posting overwhelming results every year and reigning as the KH Cannons’ only hope.

He is evaluated as having good contact, not to mention power, as well as top-class defense, speed, and arm strength in the league.

Like his nickname, he was a player reminiscent of Mike Trout, the best ‘5-tool player’ [a player who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, running, fielding, and throwing] in Major League Baseball, so it was not strange for these stories to circulate among the new assistant trainees.

“No, but…… why did Ryu Jang-ho come to the second-team camp?”

One of the assistant trainees said.

“I thought an article would be published today? About Ryu Jang-ho joining the second-team camp. But there’s no mention of it anywhere?”

“I thought that was strange too. Even if you only browse the KH Gallery [online fan forum], everyone is talking about Ryu Jang-ho, but there’s not a single article mentioning it…….”

“Could it be true that he had a falling out with the new foreign manager? Then the club would need to cover it up…….”

A superstar’s joining the second-team spring training camp.

However, the club made no mention of it.

While the new assistant trainees were speculating on the reason, a ‘Humph’ sound was heard from the corner.

“No, that’s not it.”

It was Oh Young-jin who spoke.

He was the only one among the new assistant trainees who had been drafted professionally.

After being thoroughly outdone by Ji-seop, he seemed to have been quiet, but he wanted to reassert his presence this time.

“How long has the foreign manager been here to already have a falling out? That’s not it.”

“Then…… what is it?”

Even so, Oh Young-jin was a former professional baseball player.

He was an unrivaled authority when it came to baseball connections, so Ji-seop also turned his gaze to him.

“I think you can see it as a kind of formality.”

“Formality?”

“It means it’s not a big deal.”

Oh Young-jin took off his gloves and continued.

“Everyone remembers, right? The day we were first called together, the operations team staff rushed out.”

“Ah, right. I think they said they were going to sign Ryu Jang-ho’s salary contract at that time…….”

“That’s right, that’s it.”

Oh Young-jin shrugged his shoulders.

“I heard that Jang-ho was the last of the KH players to sign the contract? Because of that, he couldn’t take the physical test that is conducted right before spring training camp.”

“Ah, so?”

Everyone had some knowledge of how the baseball world works.

With just this much explanation, they seemed to get a sense of what had happened.

“You have to pass the physical test to participate in the first-team spring training camp?”

“That’s right.”

Oh Young-jin nodded.

“For someone like Jang-ho, the physical test is a piece of cake. But what can you do if the salary negotiation was delayed and he couldn’t even take the test itself? For now, there’s no choice but to send him to the second-team camp.”

Rules are rules.

There are no exceptions for stars.

The club was trying to convey that message to the team.

“But if they release this as the club’s official position, it will become controversial in many ways…….”

There could be public opinion criticizing Ryu Jang-ho for ‘Why didn’t you sign sooner?’

There could also be public opinion criticizing the club for ‘Why didn’t you just accommodate the player’s wishes?’

He said that there was also the possibility of criticism such as ‘Are you still maintaining outdated systems like physical tests?’

‘Hehe, they say a baseball team is a place where you get criticized even if you just breathe loudly…….’

While Ji-seop was thinking that to himself, Oh Young-jin was coming to his own conclusion.

“There’s nothing particularly wrong with his body…… so he’ll probably be promoted to the first team in a few days.”

“Ah, I see…….”

It was at this moment that a slightly disappointed expression appeared among the rookies.

“It’s a fortunate thing for the team…… but it’s also a little disappointing.”

“Disappointing?”

“No, isn’t it? If Ryu Jang-ho was in a slump…… we might have had a chance.”

The assistant trainees smacked their lips.

“Giving a decisive hint to escape the slump, or saying a word to cheer him up…….”

“If we did well, wouldn’t we have had a chance to get Ryu Jang-ho’s attention?”

“That’s right, I heard there was a training assistant who joined the first team with Ryu Jang-ho’s recommendation two years ago…….”

Where do they get that kind of information?

The assistant trainees chattered, each saying something.

“No, if that’s the case…… Oh Young-jin is the most advantageous among us?”

One of the assistant trainees poked Oh Young-jin in the side.

“Huh? Me?”

“Seeing how well you know Ryu Jang-ho…… there must be some kind of connection, right?”

“That’s right, I knew it from the moment you called him ‘Jang-ho, Jang-ho’!”

“Haha, what are you talking about.”

Even while saying that, Oh Young-jin did not forget to subtly reveal his connections.

“I only saw Jang-ho once or twice in high school. I’ve greeted him occasionally since then, but…….”

“Hey, look at that! It’s all coming together!”

The rookies made a fuss.

“Oh Young-jin, don’t forget about us, make a spot for us before Ryu Jang-ho goes to the first team.”

“That’s right. We should at least say hello to Ryu Jang-ho.”

“Haha, well, I don’t know if Jang-ho will have time for that…….”

For some reason, Oh Young-jin’s gaze was directed at Ji-seop as he said that.

……What’s with this guy?