A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 229

58. A Real Man Doesn’t Study (4)

The next day, afternoon.

The final home game of the regular season was held at the KH Cannons Field.

While key Cannons players like Ryu Jang-ho, Jimmy Morris, Cheon Jin-woo, and Lee Soo-bin attended a fan signing event, Ji-seop was meeting with the ‘named fans,’ [Nuclear Bombs and Guided Missiles – a dedicated fan group], who were selected as the ceremonial first pitchers for the day.

“You’ve worked so hard this season.”

After a brief instruction on how to throw the first pitch, Ji-seop said to them.

“It couldn’t have been easy coming to the stadium for every home game… I’d like to express my gratitude on behalf of the players.”

“Oh, no thanks needed! We did it all because we wanted to!”

Kim Sang-hyuk, the leader of [Nuclear Bombs and Guided Missiles], waved his hands dismissively.

“We’re the ones who should be grateful. Thanks to the Cannons, we’ve been on TV and even got the chance to throw the first pitch like this.”

Please look forward to the Korean Series as well.

The Cannons’ unofficial cheerleading squad wore confident expressions.

“We went to a traditional Korean medicine clinic as a group yesterday and got some herbal medicine that’s good for the throat!”

“No matter who the opponent is, we’re going to crush their spirits with our vocal cheering!”

“Just you wait and see! You’ll probably hear that our Cannons dominated the cheering battle too!”

The people clenched their fists and shouted, ‘Let’s go, let’s go,’ full of determination.

Ji-seop was having a pleasant conversation with the Cannons’ named fans when suddenly-

Brrr-

A message came through to Ji-seop’s phone.

After checking the message, Ji-seop spoke to Deputy Kwon Dae-woong of the PR team.

“Deputy, please guide today’s first pitchers to the field before the national anthem starts.”

“Ah, yes, that’s no problem… Did something happen? You don’t look too good.”

“No, it’s nothing serious…”

Ji-seop pointed a finger at the ceiling.

“I’ve been summoned from up there.”

* * *

The person who sent the message to Ji-seop was ‘Sakhalin Park,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

And as always, his message was short and concise, almost to a fault.

-To my office.

While going from the indoor training facility to the CEO’s office, Ji-seop was thinking about the reason for Sakhalin Park’s summons.

Given the timing, there were too many things on his mind.

He wondered if it was because of the exclusive interview requested by ‘Cho-Mi’ Hwang Young-ju [a famous sports journalist], or because of the dinner with Ryu Jang-ho’s agent scheduled in a few days.

If not, it could be a problem related to the ceremonial first pitcher for the first game of the Korean Series, or the ‘Sakhalin Park fan art’ that was trending on the internet.

As he racked his brain, he knocked ‘knock, knock’ and entered the CEO’s office-

“Hey, Tsingtao!” [a popular Chinese beer brand, likely used as a nickname]

What Ji-seop heard was Sakhalin Park’s thunderous shout.

“Why the hell are you carrying a phone, huh?!”

“Yes?”

Ji-seop was already used to Sakhalin Park’s communication style, but when he came out of nowhere like this, there was no way to respond.

“What, what do you mean…”

“You can make calls with the push of a button! You can send messages with two presses! Ah, a guy who carries such a convenient thing in his hand…”

Sakhalin Park stared at Ji-seop.

“Why haven’t you contacted me until now?”

“No, but what kind of contact…”

“I heard it from Director Seo.”

The next moment, a word that Ji-seop had never expected popped out of Sakhalin Park’s mouth.

“You’re thinking of going to America, aren’t you?”

“Yes?!”

“The Boston Red Sox manager has made you several offers, right? If our Cannons win the Korean Series, you’ll come to America immediately and work together… Am I wrong?”

“No, that, that’s…”

At this time, Ji-seop couldn’t look Sakhalin Park in the eye.

It wasn’t that he was intimidated.

He had heard Sakhalin Park’s scolding hundreds of times, and there was no reason to be overwhelmed by his momentum now.

The reason Ji-seop couldn’t raise his head at this time was because of his human guilt towards Sakhalin Park.

‘If I think about it, I came this far thanks to the Vice Chairman.’

In fact, Ji-seop had intended to tell Sakhalin Park from the beginning.

That he had received an offer from Boston. That he had received an offer to work together. That it was a rare opportunity, and he wanted to work there.

However, knowing how Sakhalin Park felt about him, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

‘He doesn’t have many people he’s close to, and he’s the type who can’t even properly complain about being upset because of his pride…’

In a short moment, Ji-seop was filled with considerable regret.

He should have told him as soon as he made up his mind. It wasn’t a problem that would be solved by postponing it.

He knew the situation would turn out like this, so why was he being so indecisive?

Just as he was bowing his head and dwelling on his regrets, he heard Sakhalin Park’s blunt voice.

“What are you doing, you rascal?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you making such a face like the world is collapsing? Do you think I’m going to eat you up or something?”

Or what?

Sakhalin Park raised his eyebrows.

“Do you think our Cannons will collapse without you? You little brat, you’ve gotten quite arrogant these days, haven’t you?”

“No, Vice Chairman. That’s not what I meant…”

“That’s enough, you rascal. Stop hanging your head and sit down.”

He pointed to the seat in front of him, the acting owner of the KH Cannons.

As Ji-seop hesitantly approached and sat down, he continued.

“Chairman Ju Tae-san, the former chairman, used to say as a habit.”

Send horses to Jeju,

And people to Seoul.

Sakhalin Park smiled faintly.

“In the same vein, it would be right for me to send you to America as well. But I’m not as generous as Chairman Ju, so…”

He dropped a piece of paper in front of Ji-seop.

“Write it.”

“What… is this?”

“What are you doing with your eyes? Can’t you tell by looking at the title at the top?”

Ji-seop shifted his gaze to where Sakhalin Park was pointing.

The title that came into his view was as follows:

[KH Group Overseas Study Program Application]

* * *

“I had a conversation with Director Arthur Freeman about your career path a few months ago.”

Sakhalin Park said.

“At that time, the director said. Continuing a career in Major League Baseball is not easy. Especially for someone who has no ties to America.”

Honestly, at this time, Ji-seop thought of Tommy Damon of the Boston Red Sox, but at least in this regard, Sakhalin Park’s information seemed to be one step ahead.

“And he also said this. Don’t get involved in the general manager’s line until you’ve been recognized to some extent by the team.”

“Yes?”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Don’t get involved in the general manager’s line… What does that mean?”

“Isn’t that something you can easily predict? Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman… Those long-term general managers are so famous, but in fact, general managers in Major League Baseball have short lifespans.”

Sakhalin Park shrugged.

“If the team’s performance is bad, they get fired; if the performance is good but they can’t win the championship, they get fired; and even if they win the championship, if they have conflicts with the team’s board of directors, they get fired… Isn’t that what a Major League Baseball general manager’s life is like?”

So, the most difficult part for Major League Baseball general managers is securing the baseball operations part, that is, their direct subordinates.

If they make a mistake, they could end up on the street with the general manager, so most employees don’t even go near the baseball operations part.

Tommy Damon had never told him about these internal affairs, so Ji-seop’s expression couldn’t help but stiffen slightly.

“But shouldn’t we take that level of risk? The core of a baseball team is the baseball operations part.”

“Yes, I thought you’d say that, so I prepared this…”

The KH Group’s Overseas Study Program.

Secretary Yang, who had been silently silent until now, took over the explanation.

“Ji-seop, our KH Group selects talented individuals and sends them to study abroad.”

“Study abroad?”

“Yes, it’s to learn new technologies and to develop an international perspective… But in Ji-seop’s case, you can think of it as being for a stable life in America.”

Secretary Yang continued.

“If you register for graduate school in the United States and receive a master’s degree… Our KH Group will provide Ji-seop with tuition, living expenses, and 70% of your current annual salary separately.”

If you just register for graduate school in the United States, there are no restrictions on working for a Major League Baseball team.

In other words, no matter what happens to the Major League Baseball team, whether you get fired, disciplined, or whatever, Ji-seop can live stably.

“And this is just between us…”

Secretary Yang lowered her voice.

“The Vice Chairman seems to want to create a plausible ‘signboard’ [a prestigious credential or reputation] for Ji-seop.”

“A signboard…?”

“Do you remember? When you first joined the baseball team, how much trouble did you have because you were from the Chinese league?”

Secretary Yang gave a subtle look.

“Of course, Ji-seop has the skills to dispel all those misunderstandings. But there are also people in the world who judge people based on their signboard, even though they clearly see their skills.”

“…”

“If you’re an ordinary employee of the baseball team, you can just ignore those gazes, but someday Ji-seop may rise to a position where you have to embrace even those nasty people…”

“M-Me?”

Ji-seop felt a little dazed.

But he couldn’t savor that feeling for long.

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, who was looking down at the ground in the distance, was getting annoyed again.

“Ahem, Secretary Yang! Why are you saying such unnecessary things again! Just tell him the contract conditions quickly.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

Secretary Yang quickly bowed and turned to Ji-seop with a smile.

“The conditions are not strict.”

Secretary Yang said.

“In exchange for enjoying all these benefits, when you return to Korea someday…”

The next moment, Ji-seop could vaguely grasp where Sakhalin Park’s sincerity lay.

“You must return to KH Cannons… To KH Cannons Field here.”

“…That’s all?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

As Secretary Yang nodded, Sakhalin Park came back to his seat and said.

“I’ve already decided where you’ll register. Florida’s Fort Myers University! The professor in charge is Kevin Prior!”

“Ah, are you talking about Professor Prior?”

“Yes! I heard he hates guys like you who don’t study… I clung to his pants and got permission.”

Well, what are you going to do?

Sakhalin Park asked Ji-seop.

“I’ve prepared this much for you, so you’re not going to back out now, are you?”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju crossed his arms, puffing out his nose.

Looking at his triumphant expression, Ji-seop felt a mix of emotions.

Gratitude, guilt, and even the wonder of how such a relationship came to him.

To suppress all those emotions, Ji-seop made a slight joke.

“Well, to be honest, I’ve vowed never to study again since the second year of middle school…”

“What?!”

Ji-seop gave Sakhalin Park, who was glaring at him, a playful smile.

“I will, Vice Chairman.”

And then, one more word.

“Of course, before that… There’s one thing I have to do.”

Sakhalin Park didn’t bother to ask what that was.