A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 209

54. The World of Synesthetic Imagery (1)

Last day of August.

A power enhancement meeting was being held at KH Cannons Field.

It was a gathering where field coaching staff and front office employees discussed the team’s operations.

“Hahaha, you wouldn’t believe it! Coach Kim’s expression at that time was priceless…”

“I’m telling you! You can’t just bet against these young players these days. Your wallet gets emptied in an instant!”

The atmosphere at the meeting that day was very good.

Perhaps it was only natural.

During the month of August, KH Cannons had a record of 16 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, achieving a winning rate of exactly 80%.

With this, the gap between them and the 2nd place UB Guardians had widened to 6.5 games.

The most wins, the highest winning rate, and above all, the first regular season championship since the team’s founding.

Almost all the glory that the Cannons had dreamed of was slowly becoming a reality.

“Now, all that remains is to decide how to structure the expanded roster starting tomorrow…”

Team Manager Seo Chang-gi said.

“Everyone has reviewed the reports from the development team, I presume… What are your thoughts? I’d like to hear your opinions.”

Expanded roster.

This was a system that allowed the first-team roster to be increased in preparation for the increasingly fierce competition in the second half of the season.

In the case of Korean professional baseball, 5 additional players could be included on the first-team roster, which was previously composed of 28 players.

Since this expanded roster was to be implemented from September 1st, the Cannons had to decide which players to call up from the second team.

“Although we can register 5 additional players on the first-team roster… in reality, 4 of them are pretty much confirmed, aren’t they?”

The head of the analysis team said, looking at the report.

“We already came to a conclusion about Jun-ho, Yong-gi, Cheol-min, and Kyung-soo in the last meeting.”

“Well, they’ve been consistently performing well in the first team, so there’s no reason to change our policy now.”

Then there was only one spot left.

Opinions were quickly presented on how to fill this one spot.

“Personally, I would like to recommend Jo Il-hyun.”

This was the opinion of the development team.

“He mainly plays as a starter in the second team, but he also has experience as a bullpen pitcher and closer when he was in the first team in the past.”

Like Ma Kang-sik from the UB Guardians, he was a pitcher who could be used in any role.

“If a player like this is included in the roster, wouldn’t it give the first-team pitching staff some breathing room?”

“Ah, Jo Il-hyun! Il-hyun is good. He’s a reliable guy.”

The pitching coach nodded repeatedly as if he liked the idea, but another opinion immediately popped up.

“Wouldn’t Lee Han-gook be a good choice too?”

This time, it was the opinion of the operations team.

“The only weakness in our Cannons lineup is the lack of a powerful pinch hitter. Especially a left-handed pinch hitter.”

Most of the winning pitchers in the 10 teams were right-handed pitchers.

Especially in the case of closers, all of them were right-handed pitchers, with the exception of one or two teams.

Considering this, the strategic value of a left-handed pinch hitter was considerable.

“Of course, I know that the manager doesn’t really like the so-called ‘left-right match-up’ that much… But even if there’s a left-handed slugger on the roster, it can put a lot of pressure on the opposing team.”

“Of course! That can’t be ignored! Absolutely!”

The Cannons’ hitting coach quickly raised his hand to show his agreement.

Team Manager Seo Chang-gi began to summarize the opinions of both sides with a gentle smile.

“Whether it’s a pitching resource that can be used in any role, or a left-handed pinch hitter that can be used in the later innings… It seems like we have two options.”

Team Manager Seo raised his head.

“What is the manager’s opinion?”

In this situation, the person with the final decision-making power was Manager Arthur Freeman.

To put it coldly, other people were just in a position to give advice to the manager.

As everyone’s eyes focused on one side, Manager Arthur Freeman took off his magnifying glasses.

“If I may offer my opinion…”

The answer that came out was slightly off everyone’s expectations.

“How about investing the last spot on the expanded roster for the future of our Cannons?”

“The future of the Cannons… Are you saying you’re going to use a rookie?”

At Team Manager Seo’s question, Arthur Freeman slowly nodded his head.

“That’s right. Wasn’t there one? That promising hitter that our Cannons development team has been putting a lot of effort into since the end of last season.”

* * *

About an hour later.

Ji-seop was seeing off the development team employees who were returning after the meeting.

“Drive carefully.”

In the underground parking lot of KH Cannons Field.

Ji-seop handed the development team employees the snacks he had prepared.

“I’ll visit Yeosu [a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea] before the end of the second-team league. Let’s have a drink together then.”

“Yeah, Special Assistant Kim! You have to come! You have a lot of fans in the second team! The manager too, and Coach Jang too!”

These were the people Ji-seop had shared hardships with, even if it was for a short period, when he was a second-team training assistant.

Ji-seop, who remembered them, readily nodded his head.

“I know, I know. I’ll go down for a tour soon.”

“Okay, then I’ll tell Coach Jang that. Take care!”

“Yes!!!”

As Ji-seop answered cheerfully, the car carrying the development team employees slipped out of the underground parking lot.

“Phew, that was hectic.”

After sending off the guests who had come from afar, Ji-seop was about to head to the team manager’s office to prepare for the game, when…

“Hmm?”

Over there on the other side, where the players’ cars were parked, a shadow of a person caught his eye.

A man was pacing around the parked cars, constantly exclaiming in admiration.

“Kuh, this is it! This color, this gloss! Isn’t this the unique Italian sensibility? I don’t know who it is, but they have an eye for cars… Oh?!”

The mysterious man raised his head like a startled rabbit, feeling the presence of someone.

But that was only for a moment, as a happy smile bloomed on his face.

“Oh, Ji-seop!”

The man ran towards him with open arms.

Ji-seop also greeted him with a bright expression.

“It’s been a while, Manager Cha.”

* * *

It was Team Manager Cha Jong-min from the scouting team.

Whether it was because of his last name or not, he was the Cannons’ domestic scout who was crazy about cars.

Since he was in charge of the Seoul area, which had the most work, from this season, it had been a long time since Ji-seop had met him.

“I heard you’ve been very busy.”

As they headed to the team office together, Ji-seop said to Manager Cha.

“I heard there are quite a few promising prospects this year… Is it starting to get sorted out?”

“I think it’s going to be a nail-biting contest until the end.”

Manager Cha made a ‘tss’ sound.

“A player who we had marked as a first-round pick suddenly changed direction to the United States… Not just me, but the scouts from all 10 teams must be in a frenzy right now.”

He added that although the situation had become complicated, it was now time to finalize the nomination list.

The rookie draft for Korean professional baseball was in mid-September, only about two weeks away.

Manager Cha, who always worked in Seoul, said that was why he had come down to Yeongsan [likely referring to a location near the baseball field] that day.

“Anyway, it’s good timing to meet you.”

Ji-seop said.

“I was just thinking of giving Manager Cha a call.”

“To me? Why?”

Manager Cha snapped his fingers.

“Ah, are you going to change your car?!”

Manager Cha’s eyes sparkled.

“You’ve made a good decision! This year is also the perfect time to buy a car! Not only domestic brands, but also leading overseas car brands are offering various promotions right now…”

“No, no, that’s not it.”

Ji-seop quickly waved his hand.

“At the power enhancement meeting a little while ago, the players who will be included in the September expanded roster were confirmed.”

“Ah, the expanded roster? Well, it’s about that time.”

Manager Cha Jong-min had a nonchalant expression.

“But why is that? Most of the players who will be called up to the first team have already been decided, haven’t they? Mainly players who can help the team right away.”

It was a natural reaction.

In the case of top-ranked teams, the September expanded roster was usually used to secure players who could contribute immediately.

As a scouting team preparing for the future of the team, it was a topic that they couldn’t pay much attention to, but there was a reason why Ji-seop had specifically looked for him that day.

“Among the 5 players who will be called up to the first team tomorrow… there is a completely raw rookie included.”

“A raw rookie? That’s unusual?”

Manager Cha scratched the back of his head.

“So who is that rookie? Jung-woo? Gwang-hoon? Ah, is it Jun-gi?”

“No, it’s the player that Manager Cha put the most effort into for the nomination last season.”

“Me, me? Then maybe…”

Manager Cha’s eyes widened.

“Shim Seong-joon? Are you saying you’re going to bring up Seong-joon?!”

* * *

Ji-seop thought that Cha Jong-min would be very happy.

For a scout, there is nothing more welcome than having a player they picked being recognized by the world.

In particular, Shim Seong-joon was a player that only Manager Cha had insisted on nominating, while all other scouts were against it.

He thought it would be very special news for Manager Cha, but the reaction that came back was a bit unexpected.

“Ah, Seong-joon… you’re saying you’re going to bring Seong-joon up to the first team?”

He seemed to be lost in thought, stroking his face with his palm.

“I can’t criticize what the manager is doing… but I don’t think the timing is very good right now.”

“Timing?”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Shim Seong-joon, the development team’s evaluation is very good, isn’t it? It took time to switch from shortstop to outfielder… but now he’s showing quite decent defensive skills.”

Of course, to be evaluated as the ‘future of the Cannons’ by Arthur Freeman, a stronger impact was needed.

“I heard that his batting average in the second team has exceeded .380 in the last month. Isn’t this enough to give him a chance in the first team?”

“Actually… that’s what I’m worried about.”

The batting average is too high.

Manager Cha Jong-min continued.

“The reason I rated Seong-joon so highly was because he had a very mature batting philosophy for his age.”

“Batting philosophy?”

“Yes, the young man had a firm ‘zone’ of his own.”

A ‘hot zone’ that I can definitely attack.

A ‘cold zone’ that I can’t get good results from even if I touch it.

“He strongly hits the balls that come into his hitting zone, and just lets the balls that don’t pass… In a way, he was a very cold-blooded style player.”

“Hmm.”

“These players generally don’t have high batting averages. Instead of a slightly lower batting average, they show strengths in slugging percentage and on-base percentage.”

A type of hitter who is often referred to as ‘low batting average but high OPS’ [On-Base Plus Slugging, a common baseball statistic].

It was also the most popular style of hitter in the recent baseball scene.

“For a player of that style to suddenly record a batting average of over .380… It’s definitely a bit strange.”

“In my opinion, there are two possibilities.”

Manager Cha Jong-min raised his finger.

“Seong-joon suddenly awakened one day and acquired something like a ‘legendary deadly batting technique’ that can hit any ball for a hit…”

Ji-seop could fully anticipate what would follow.

“Or… to get up to the first team quickly, he started swinging his bat recklessly, ignoring his own ‘zone’.”

Even a three-year-old could tell which of the two was more likely.