A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 255

A Baseball Team Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 255 (255/512)

Chapter 65: Someday, Here Again (3)

Several weeks passed.

Jisub spent busy days.

“……”

With the departure date to the United States approaching, the team duties themselves had decreased significantly.

The handover was nearing its end, and the ‘final messages’ to be given to each of the players were almost complete.

During the free time created by the reduced workload, he spent it meeting the people he had been indebted to over the past two years.

-Coach, how have you been!

-Senior, I’m here!

-Yes, it’s Jisub!

The 2nd team coaching staff with whom he had formed a bond since joining the Cannons.

Senior Gong Hyun-baek, a university baseball teammate and the sales manager of [Perfect Swing].

Or even Mr. Hong Dae-jong, who worked hard as the manager’s exclusive interpreter this season.

People he was grateful to, people who had helped him, and people he would continue to live with in the baseball scene.

He met all of them, shared good drinks, and even went to karaoke to belt out songs.

-My rough thoughts and anxious eyes~ You watching them all!!!

-Wow, seeing that guy sing makes me anxious.

-What did I tell you? You shouldn’t go to karaoke with Jisub?

In the meantime, time steadily passed, and it was already early December.

As the off-season activity suspension period began, the atmosphere around the baseball field became very desolate, but still, quite welcome news was coming to the KH Cannons.

-Hey, Jisub! How have you been? Well, that… I signed a contract! I’m on my way back from signing the contract!

The first to start was ‘The Man Who Knows Broadcasting,’ Jimmy Morris.

Based on his performance in the Cannons over the past two years, he had agreed to a 3-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball in the United States.

“Hey, what is this? I was going to strike out my senior next year and raise my salary a bit… You can’t do this!”

“That’s right. I can get Senior with my eyes closed! Ah, one easy hitter is gone!”

“Hey, these guys can’t even welcome me…”

And a few days later, the one who returned to the Cannons locker room while being teased by his juniors was ‘Veteran Second Baseman’ Ahn Young-chan.

He had declared FA [Free Agency, allowing him to negotiate with any team] and left, but he was also a person who had a lot of affection for the Cannons.

When General Manager Seo Chang-gi, who came to the negotiation table, offered a 2-year contract, he shouted, ‘I will be buried in the Cannons!’ without saying a word.

“All the other teams offered a 1+1 year contract. Contract length is more important when you’re my age.”

“Hehe, it turns out the home team’s dugout is warm… Is that what you mean?”

“Warm. Very warm indeed!”

The very next day after Ahn Young-chan agreed to the FA contract, the news that everyone in the Cannons, as well as Korean baseball fans, had been waiting for arrived.

The news of the undisputed genius hitter Ryu Jang-ho joining the Boston Red Sox.

[KH Ryu Jang-ho, Agrees to Join the Boston Red Sox in the US… 6 Years, $100 Million]

[Largest Korean Posting Contract in History… “Ryu Jang-ho is Going”]

[KH Sends Ryu Jang-ho, 23 Billion Won in Transfer Fee “Jackpot”… Becoming a Big Player in the FA Market]

Ryu Jang-ho was in the United States for the contract, so the celebration was held at [Jeonju House, a well-known Korean restaurant] with all the Cannons employees gathered.

Everyone recalled Ryu Jang-ho’s rookie days, reminiscing about his incredible performance, and clinking glasses with happy expressions.

“I knew he was going to leave someday… But now that he’s leaving, I’m worried about next season?”

“Oh, Coach! A junior in the baseball world is going to a bigger stage, so let’s put aside our worries today.”

“And what are you worried about in the first place? We have 23 billion won in ammunition! You can just sweep the FA market with that, right? Hahaha.”

Ryu Jang-ho’s entry into the Boston Red Sox was undoubtedly the best event of this off-season.

Hundreds of related articles poured out, and internet communities were filled with stories about it.

What kind of performance will Ryu Jang-ho show in Major League Baseball? Will he be able to show the same destructive power as he did in Korea?

Around that time, when people who knew a thing or two about baseball were arguing noisily here and there.

The news that was very disappointing to the KH Cannons people was finally delivered, although ordinary baseball fans didn’t know it, or wouldn’t have known the exact meaning even if they did.

“Ah, yes! It’s me, Kim.”

A phone call came to Jisub, who was going out for lunch a few days after Ryu Jang-ho’s contract was finalized.

“Thank you, thank you, okay, see you then.”

The moment Jisub, who was standing still as if rooted to the spot, pressed the ‘End Call’ button on his phone.

The front office staff standing around him held their breath as if they had agreed to it.

“Special Assistant Kim.”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi didn’t bother asking where the call came from.

Since he answered in English, he could easily guess the other party of the call.

“Port Myers University, right? What happened? Did the results come out?”

“Yes, that, that’s…”

With a slightly dazed expression.

With a slightly moved expression.

And with a very slightly complicated expression.

The special assistant to the Cannons’ general manager opened his mouth.

“I passed… apparently.”

“Oooooh!!!”

“Special Assistant Kim!!!”

“You rascal, Kim Jisub!!!”

People rushed to Jisub as if they had been waiting and started putting him in a headlock.

It was the moment when the lunch menu, which had been planned as spicy fish stew, was ‘suddenly changed’ to 1++ grade Korean beef [the highest grade of Korean beef, similar to Wagyu].

* * *

That day, Jisub left work early.

He left the KH Cannons Field before 3 p.m., so perhaps this was the earliest he had ever left work since joining the company.

This was possible because of General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s consideration.

“Go home today. On days like this, you should have dinner with your parents.”

When he returned after lunch, General Manager Seo handed Jisub his bag and coat and pushed him out.

Thanks to this, Jisub was able to arrive at his parents’ home in Seoul before sunset, and for the first time in a long time, the whole family was able to sit down and have dinner together.

Of course, the atmosphere at the dinner table that day was much more brutal than Jisub had expected.

“No, Jisub, do you have a wandering star in your destiny? How long has it been since you came to Korea, and you’re going to America again!”

It was Jisub’s mother, Jin Young-hwa, who was complaining.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you just stayed put and met a nice young lady and got married? You’re always trying to crawl out of the country whenever you get the chance… Ugh, raising a son is useless!”

America, Japan, and China.

Jisub had been abroad ever since he became an adult.

Just when he thought he was finally settling down in Korea, he was leaving for America again.

From Mrs. Jin’s point of view, she seemed very disappointed with her second son.

“Hey, Mom! Don’t be like that! You always have your reliable eldest son, Ji-chang, right?”

He was usually a person who was of no help at all, but at times like this, there was no one as reliable as his older brother, Kim Ji-chang.

“Mom follows me when I go to the market, she’s next to me when I watch dramas… What did you say when we made kimchi last month? You said you didn’t need Kim Jisub? You said you only had Ji-chang!”

“Oh, did you really say that?!”

When Jisub made a face as if he was very disappointed, Mrs. Jin slapped her brother on the back, saying, ‘What is he talking about?’

“It is said that children are like fingers, but how can some be needed and some not? I want to keep them all in my arms.”

Mrs. Jin Young-hwa sighed deeply, but thanks to Kim Ji-chang’s glibness, she seemed to have calmed down a lot.

“I’m not going to say anything more since it’s already been decided… But at least stay home for about a week before you leave. You won’t be able to eat home-cooked meals for a while.”

Jisub knew it now.

The moment he refused this, he would completely ruin the dinner atmosphere today.

“Yes, I will.”

Jisub quickly nodded his head.

“I have things to prepare anyway, and I’ll have to leave from home… I’ll do as Mom says.”

Just as the Kim family’s two sons’ tag team play was easing their mother’s heart a little.

The father, who had been quietly watching the situation until then, joined the conversation.

“That’s right…”

Kim Bong-seok looked up at his second son.

“Then you’ll be leaving the Cannons… Have you said goodbye to the people at the company?”

“Yes, roughly.”

Jisub nodded his head.

“I’ve already had several meals with the people on the front desk side, and I’m planning to see the players next week. There’s a season wrap-up trip for 1 night and 2 days.”

It was usually an event held right after the season ended, but it had been pushed back due to the championship win and Ahn Young-chan’s FA.

Now that Ahn Young-chan has also signed a contract and returned to the team, the Cannons team’s annual event has resumed.

“I think it’ll be mostly finished after I meet the players…”

As he picked up the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] bottle and tried to pour a glass for his father.

The name that Jisub had been keeping in his mind for the past few days popped out of his father’s mouth.

“Then what about Vice Chairman Park?”

“Yes?”

Jisub looked at his father with a look of being caught off guard.

“Vice Chairman Park Hong-joo. The one who took you to the Cannons. Did you properly say goodbye to him?”

“Ah, Vi, Vice Chairman?”

Jisub, who always gave cool answers, couldn’t help but hesitate a little at this moment.

* * *

That night, Jisub washed his face roughly and returned to his room, smacking his lips.

‘Vice Chairman…’

‘Sakhalin Park’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-joo.

Jisub had been racking his brains over this grandfather for the past few days.

He used to be able to meet him with just one phone call, but he hadn’t been able to see his face at all since the Cannons won the championship.

-The Vice Chairman is very busy these days. It’ll probably be hard to reach him even if you call.

Even when he went to Secretary Yang and asked, the answer was always the same.

-I guess it’s because we won the championship. There are many places to say hello to, and there are many things that need to be promoted at this timing.

At first, Jisub thought, ‘I guess so.’

Sakhalin Park being busy wasn’t a one- or two-day thing.

He thought that he would call him when he was done with his busy work.

But as a month or so passed and the day to leave for the United States approached, Jisub was getting a little impatient.

‘I heard that he has business trips to Japan throughout December… Damn it, am I not going to be able to see him until the end?’

He thought it was time to start moving actively.

He couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Sakhalin Park, no matter what.

‘Okay, I’ll have to keep calling tomorrow with a brazen face.’

If I keep calling until he answers, he’ll answer at least once, no matter how busy he is.

He might hear some nagging, such as being a rude guy or an arrogant guy, but what’s the big deal?

‘That’s right, calling in the early morning is also the answer. He’s a person who gets up and moves from the crack of dawn…’

Then let’s call as soon as I open my eyes tomorrow.

Let’s call and ask when I can see him.

Jisub was falling asleep while thinking about that-

Brrr- Brrr- Brrrrr-

How long had he been asleep?

Jisub woke up to the sudden vibration of his cell phone.

‘What, a call?’

He couldn’t remember where he had put his cell phone because he had just woken up.

As he rummaged around his bedside, he suddenly grabbed his wristwatch.

The moment he pressed the ‘Light’ button to look around with the light of his wristwatch.

“……”

Jisub could vaguely guess who was calling him now.

‘It’s 4 a.m.?’

Right,

There’s only one person.