A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 216

Chapter 55: The Legendary Ace (3)

Late afternoon the next day.

The head of the development team came to see Ji-seop.

“Special Advisor Kim, here’s a gift.”

“Ah, this is…”

What he handed over was a thick envelope of documents.

Ji-seop’s eyes widened as he checked the contents.

“Wow, Team Leader! Why so much…”

The results far exceeded Ji-seop’s initial expectations.

Data on the selection schedules and expected slots for development players from 10 clubs.

Application forms provided by KH Cannons’ partner company.

And even the contact information of baseball team coaches currently looking for assistant coaches.

It was full of information that would be like a ‘lifeline’ for players who didn’t get drafted professionally.

“Thank you so much, Team Leader.”

Ji-seop stood up and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry. You must be very busy, but you went to all this trouble for me…”

“No, what trouble?”

The head of the development team waved his hand.

“It’s all thanks to Special Advisor Kim’s usual good deeds. When they heard it was for Special Advisor Kim’s juniors, all our team leaders jumped in with fire in their eyes, you know?”

‘My own kids, if I ask them for a favor, they barely listen,’ the head of the development team thought.

The head of the development team scratched his half-bald head and smacked his lips.

But only for a moment, he looked at Ji-seop and continued.

“And Special Advisor Kim’s juniors… I can’t help but feel like it’s my own problem.”

“Yes?”

“Wouldn’t my son be in a similar situation? If he hadn’t been drafted this year.”

A kind of shared sympathy.

It seemed that the head of the development team showed particular interest in this matter for this reason.

“They’ve lived their whole lives watching only baseball since they were little, and suddenly that path is cut off… I wonder how they feel right now? And how their parents feel.”

The head of the development team sighed briefly.

“Even if they pretend to be okay on the outside, they must be a mess inside. So, go and comfort them well. So they can feel a little bit of strength.”

Then, the head of the development team patted Ji-seop on the shoulder.

Feeling his kind consideration, Ji-seop slowly nodded.

“I understand, Team Leader.”

* * *

And the following Sunday.

Ji-seop was entering the campus of Gongmun University, located on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.

“Wow, it hasn’t changed at all?”

It had been almost 10 years since he had visited his alma mater, but the scenery was not much different from what Ji-seop remembered.

The main stadium used as a physical fitness test site for baseball team freshmen, the liberal arts building where he dozed off during classes.

The student center building where he could get ramen and a bowl of rice for 1,500 won [approximately $1.20 USD], and the physical education department building where he was told, ‘You can’t graduate if you don’t submit your TOEIC [Test of English for International Communication] score?!’

‘Hehe, I’m glad I studied for the TOEIC back then… Otherwise, I would have had a hard time in America, right?’

Memories of his college days came flooding back to him wherever he looked.

Among them, the place where the most memories came to mind was, of course-

“…”

The Gongmun University baseball field.

In order to reach the threshold of the pros, in order to realize the dream of becoming a baseball player.

This place still held the four years of time he spent gritting his teeth and throwing the ball.

“Wow, this fan is still here? No, they said they would replace it since I entered school…”

The age of his early 20s had already passed his early 30s.

The pitcher who threw a terrible 128km/h [approximately 80 mph] ball had become the KH Cannons’ general manager’s special advisor.

The ground still retained its former appearance despite the long time that had passed.

“Haa…”

A strangely sentimental feeling.

When he was plucking a small weed that had sprouted near first base and throwing it out, ‘swish’.

“Hey, Ji-seop! Kim Ji-seop!!”

A voice came from behind.

When he turned his head, he saw a familiar face waving his hand from the top of the stairs.

It was Senior Gong Hyun-baek, the head of [Perfect Swing].

“What are you doing, being all sentimental by yourself? Everyone is waiting for you!”

“Come on, you idiot! Hurry!”

Following Gong Hyun-baek, who was waving his hand urgently, Ji-seop headed to the baseball team cafeteria where the ‘OB [Old Boys, alumni] Invitation Night’ event was being held.

“Alright, everyone! He’s finally arrived! Our Gongmun University baseball team’s proud superstar, the legendary ace! KH Cannons’ General Manager Special Assistant Kim Ji-seop!!!”

When he entered the cafeteria with Gong Hyun-baek’s exaggerated introduction, Ji-seop was so surprised that his eyes widened.

“Woooooah!!!”

“Senior Kim Ji-seop!!!”

“Welcome! Welcome!!!”

The Gongmun University baseball team juniors greeted Ji-seop with a loud voice that was almost deafening.

To put it slightly exaggeratedly, it was a welcoming greeting that made him not envious of Ryu Jang-ho at this moment.

* * *

“Oh my, you’ve worked hard to come all this way! Let’s have a drink first! We’ve prepared plenty of alcohol today, if nothing else!”

“Hey, Coach! Don’t be so formal! Ji-seop came here today as a member of our Gongmun University baseball team… Right, Ji-seop?”

“Yes, that’s right. Please speak comfortably, Coach.”

“R-Really? Ah, but you’re from a professional club…”

As soon as he entered the cafeteria, Ji-seop was led by Gong Hyun-baek to a table with the baseball team coach, supervising professor, and some seniors.

While receiving a glass of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] from the coach who had been leading the Gongmun University baseball team since last year, Ji-seop was secretly sighing in relief.

‘If I hadn’t listened to the team leaders, I would have been in big trouble.’

It wasn’t a joke, everyone who came to the ‘OB Invitation Night’ was looking at Ji-seop.

“I often watch KH Cannons’ games. I’m a little sad that I can’t see Ji-seop on TV these days.”

From the Gongmun University coach who laughed and clinked glasses with Ji-seop.

“I gave up this year because the timing wasn’t right, but I’m thinking of promoting a group visit to the baseball team next year. Would it be possible to inquire with Ji-seop?”

Passing by the baseball team’s supervising professor who asked with such a subtle expression.

[Wow, is that the Cannons’ general manager’s special advisor over there? I’ve only heard rumors that he was coming, but I didn’t think he would actually come.]

[He’s different from the start, maybe because he works in the pros… Ah, I’m so jealous! How great would it be if I could work in the pros!]

[I’ll probably be able to get a signed ball later, right? Ryu Jang-ho, Lee Soo-bin… Jimmy Morris is good too!]

Even the junior players who were glancing at Ji-seop while grilling and eating sizzling pork belly.

He had guessed to some extent, but he didn’t think he would receive this much attention.

Ji-seop couldn’t have felt more secure with the envelope of documents in his bag.

‘Hehe, I should buy the team leaders a meal later.’

In order to stand in front of people, some ‘preparation’ is necessary.

Before he realized it, he had become someone who was expected by others.

He felt a little burdened, a little proud.

And he also felt a little like he had become a ‘real member of society’.

While savoring such subtle emotions, he dipped a piece of pork belly that came out as a snack in soybean paste.

“Alright, Gongmun!”

“Eugh!”

“Gongmun!”

“Eugh!”

The unique cheering slogan of Gongmun University seemed to echo, and Gong Hyun-baek jumped up from his seat.

“Alright, junior players! Are you enjoying your meal!”

“Yes, Senior!!!”

The baseball team’s tradition seemed to be the same as before.

No matter how good their baseball skills were, their voices were always loud.

“It seems that the atmosphere has matured to some extent, so now we will take turns listening to the words of the OB seniors who have graced us with their presence today.”

Even while listening to Gong Hyun-baek’s comments, Ji-seop was eating pork belly with a relaxed mind.

Although not as many seniors came as in schools called ‘baseball powerhouses’, there seemed to be quite a few people older than Ji-seop.

Assuming that they all say a word, wouldn’t his turn come much later?

But what do you know, the sales manager of [Perfect Swing] shattered Ji-seop’s expectations.

“Originally, it’s right to proceed in order of school year, but respecting the wishes of the senior members who attended today’s event… Let’s hear from the most popular OB these days first!”

It was at this moment that Gong Hyun-baek’s microphone suddenly came under Ji-seop’s chin.

“KH Cannons’ General Manager Special Assistant Kim Ji-seop! Please say a word to our junior players!”

* * *

Ji-seop took the microphone and stood up from his seat.

What should he say? At this time, Ji-seop seemed to have realized something.

He was good at dealing with someone one-on-one, but he was terrible at speaking in front of people.

“Ah, yes, um… I’m Kim Ji-seop from the Department of Physical Education, who was just introduced.”

To be honest, he had a few prepared remarks.

The memos he had scribbled on his phone while riding the bus.

However, when a seat was suddenly prepared, Ji-seop didn’t even think about taking it out.

“First of all, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you…”

What should he say?

To the juniors who, like he once did, did not receive a professional nomination.

To the juniors who had to give up their baseball dreams that they had been pursuing since childhood.

“Um…”

Like Coach Arthur Freeman once did, or like Cannons’ captain Chun Jin-woo, Ji-seop tried to encourage the junior players with something cool.

But he soon changed his mind.

“I’m sorry, juniors. To be honest, I’m not good at talking.”

And Ji-seop’s next action was to take out the envelope of documents from the bag he had brought.

“Wouldn’t what you need now be a job application rather than a hundred words? So I prepared it.”

Ji-seop took out the data in the envelope and distributed it to the players sitting in the front row.

“In November, all 10 professional baseball teams will be recruiting development players at once. First of all, here is a summary of the schedule and expected slots.”

Oooooh.

A slight commotion began to occur among the junior players.

“Next is the job application form sent by our KH Cannons’ partner company. They are recruiting a lot of people with baseball experience, so I hope that any juniors who are interested will contact them.”

Wooooah.

Exclamations erupted from among the junior players who were looking at Ji-seop’s data.

“And this is a list of elementary, middle, and high school baseball teams across the country that are currently looking for coaching staff. I’ll leave the contact information of the coaches of the schools with the supervising professor, so juniors who are confident can visit the professor after looking at the list.”

After that, the ‘senior working in a professional club’ continued to give gifts.

There were also application forms from analysis equipment companies provided by the power analysis team, and video editor application forms provided by the YouTube production team.

Finally, after presenting the application forms for domestic and foreign independent clubs that Ji-seop himself had contacted and prepared, Ji-seop looked back at the juniors and said.

“Of course, there will be competition. You may have to take a test, or you may have an interview with the president. But if you juniors have done your best for the past four years, I think you can make good results.”

Ji-seop continued.

“Well, the baseball you play on the ground may be over. But the baseball you play outside the ground, the baseball you play in society, has only just begun in the second inning…”

Cheer up.

And,

I look forward to great games in the future.

When Ji-seop said that and handed the microphone to Gong Hyun-baek, a moment of silence flowed through the cafeteria.

“S-Senior…”

“To go this far for us…”

Everyone couldn’t continue speaking properly.

Some players were looking at the received data as if they couldn’t believe it.

Some players were staring at Ji-seop with teary eyes.

While looking at such juniors, Ji-seop also felt a corner of his heart moisten, right at that moment.

“Thank you, Senior!”

A player with a closely cropped head came forward and said.

Judging from his attitude and appearance, he was probably the captain of this year’s Gongmun University baseball team.

“I didn’t know you would care so much for us… Thank you so much!”

“Hey, no need to thank me.”

Ji-seop smiled lightly and waved his hand, but it was at the very next moment that he heard an unexpected story.

“B-But, Senior…”

The Gongmun University baseball team captain scratched the back of his head.

“We… We’ve already decided where to go after graduation…”

“Huh?”

Ji-seop blinked his eyes.

“W-What… What are you talking about?”

‘Give me back my emotions, you bastard,’ Ji-seop thought.

Ji-seop felt like grabbing the guy by the collar.