A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 259

259 (Start of Part 2)

66. A Place Where the Sunlight is Warm (1)

The day I arrived in the United States.

The first news Ji-seop encountered regarding Major League Baseball was as follows:

-Wow, amazing! The Tampa Bay Rays are writing another legend!

It was from a radio broadcast that the taxi driver had on as he drove from the airport towards downtown Boston.

-Here’s news that our poor friends in Florida have failed to attract audiences again this year. An average attendance of 15,165 per game! This marks their third consecutive year at the bottom of Major League Baseball, isn’t it?

-The Major League Baseball organization must take special measures quickly. Like allowing Florida alligators to enter the stadium!

That was the reaction of the co-host.

-Aren’t there more than 1.5 million alligators living in Florida? If those guys come to the stadium, it will be a big boost to the Rays’ attendance!

-Wow, that’s a really good idea. That’s right, when you’re desperate, you have to get help from alligators! The Rays’ owner should carefully consider our kind offer! I heard that the new stadium construction project is also sluggish…….

It was a ‘spicy’ American radio broadcast, notorious for its harshness, especially when it came to baseball.

The hosts were clapping and overjoyed at the news of the local rival team’s box office failure.

The taxi driver, who had been quietly driving, also let out a burst of laughter, but at this time, a slight tension was rising on Ji-seop’s face.

‘They attracted an average audience of 15,000… and they’re still being told they failed to attract an audience?’

Last season, the KH Cannons’ average attendance was exactly 8,990.

An average attendance of 15,000 would be considered a huge success in Korean professional baseball.

But here, they were being ridiculed even after achieving such a tremendous number.

‘Well, when we were aiming for 9 million viewers, they had already surpassed 70 million…….’

So, Tampa Bay Rays,

Get help from the alligators!

Thanks to the Boston area radio host’s ridiculous joke, Ji-seop seemed to realize something anew.

That Major League Baseball was a much bigger stage than he had thought.

That there was much fiercer competition going on than he had experienced.

And that Major League Baseball would have much more troublesome obstacles waiting than he had anticipated.

‘Yeah, it won’t be easy.’

It seemed like he would have to pour out all the experience he had accumulated at the KH Cannons.

He would also need the kind of tenacity that wouldn’t bat an eye at most things.

And, depending on the situation, even the decisiveness to judge and act more coldly than ever before.

‘Hehe, there’s really a lot I need.’

As he steeled himself with such determination, Ji-seop looked out at Fenway Park, the home stadium of the Boston Red Sox, far away.

And then, three months later, just a few days before the start of the new season.

Ji-seop was facing his first real ‘obstacle’ since coming to the United States.

“Ah, I see. Asia-Pacific Area Head Scout… Are you saying you want to entrust this role to me?”

“That’s right, Mr. Kim.”

It was Kennedy Wright, the deputy general manager of the Boston Red Sox, who nodded.

“I apologize for the last time. It seems there was some kind of mistake on our part. Even though you served as a special advisor to the general manager, to only offer you the job of a scout in charge of Korea… That was not polite.”

So, we prepared this.

He quickly continued.

“While general scouts are basically part-time, head scouts are recognized as official employees of the Red Sox. So, various conditions are greatly upgraded.”

Flick, click.

Deputy General Manager Wright spun the pen he was holding around once and began to explain the specific contract terms.

The annual salary condition that guarantees a basic $180,000, insurance benefits, bonuses paid according to player contracts, and so on.

He continued to speak diligently without giving Ji-seop a chance to interject, then glanced at Ji-seop and said a word.

“Kim, trust me. This is a really good deal. Although there is a disadvantage that you have to work in Japan.”

Did he see through Ji-seop’s inner thoughts?

Deputy General Manager Wright was mentioning the very names that Ji-seop had in his head at this time.

“Former General Manager David Perkins and Mr. Tommy Damon would have told you the same thing.”

He continued.

“If they… were still here at the Boston Red Sox, that is.”

* * *

That’s right. It was true.

Tommy Damon, Ji-seop’s former teammate in the American Independent League [a minor professional baseball league not affiliated with MLB], and David Perkins, his strong supporter.

In a way, they were the two people who played a decisive role in Ji-seop’s entry into the United States, but at this point, they had already left Boston.

Less than a week after Ji-seop arrived in the United States, the Boston owner announced the replacement of the general manager.

The stated reason was ‘the expiration of General Manager Perkins’ contract,’ but few people believed it as it was.

In reality, there had been a conflict between the owner and the general manager for quite some time, and it had exploded in the process of discussing the championship bonus.

Anyway, General Manager David Perkins and Tommy Damon left the team, and Kennedy Wright, who was sitting in front of Ji-seop that day, was one of the people who joined Boston as their replacement.

“Kim, to be honest.”

Perhaps he realized that his persuasion was not working properly.

Deputy General Manager Kennedy Wright straightened his posture and opened his mouth again.

“When I first joined Boston, I was thinking of firing you.”

It was a story Ji-seop also knew.

Because his eyes had already looked into it more than a dozen times.

“I think you know the reason well. You are someone who came in on the recommendation of former General Manager David Perkins… It stands out no matter what. It’s not good for the owner to see either.”

Trying not to upset the higher-ups seemed to be no different in the United States or Korea.

“The reason I didn’t fire you was because of Jang-ho Ryu’s earnest request. He said he desperately needed your help to adapt to the American stage.”

“…….”

“Of course, I didn’t intend to employ you for the full three months that were originally contracted. I was thinking of cutting you off without hesitation as soon as Ryu Jang-ho’s adaptation was somewhat complete. But….”

But, you see.

Deputy General Manager Kennedy Wright let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it himself.

“Watching from the side, I gradually began to understand. Why former General Manager Perkins was so determined to bring you in from Korea.”

He continued.

“Not to mention your English skills, your knowledge of baseball, and your understanding of data… Above all, it was impressive that you had gained such strong trust from the members of the club in such a short period of time.”

Everyone said Ji-seop was great.

Major League players, minor league players, coaches, and front office staff.

With the season opener approaching, it was added that Ji-seop’s contribution was significant in Ryu Jang-ho’s easy integration into the team.

“In fact, that’s why I’ve already told the general manager several times. Let’s recruit you as a baseball operations staff member. Just like former General Manager David Perkins had planned.”

Ji-seop could easily guess what would follow.

“It seems that persuasion didn’t go as well as you thought?”

“Yes, that’s right. Actually, Kim… This is partly your responsibility too.”

“My responsibility?”

When Ji-seop tilted his head, Deputy General Manager Wright clapped his knee and replied.

“Why did you do such a good job! There are so many compliments about you here and there that the owner seems to know your name too.”

You get the idea, right?

The deputy general manager leaned towards Ji-seop.

“It’s already noisy here and there that I kicked out the championship general manager, but now the Korean employee that the general manager brought in is showing excellent results… Wouldn’t this put the owner in a very difficult position?”

“That… could be the case.”

“Right? That’s why I’m telling you.”

Swoosh.

It was at this moment that Deputy General Manager Wright held up two fingers.

“Kim, it’s 2 years. Can’t you just work in Japan for 2 years?”

“Yes?”

“After that amount of time, your image will change a lot. You won’t be seen as David Perkins’ person anymore. Then there will be no more misunderstandings from the owner. You can also get the title of Asian expert, and above all….”

Uh, ahem!

The deputy general manager cleared his throat.

“When you come back, I’m going to do my best to support you. So much so that if someone who doesn’t know sees it, they’ll say, ‘Isn’t that friend Kennedy Wright’s right-hand man?'”

“Ah, the deputy general manager’s right-hand man?”

Ji-seop grinned.

“It sounds like that’s the deputy general manager’s real purpose to me?”

“Hehe, I won’t deny it.”

The deputy general manager also smiled, revealing his teeth.

“The Major League front office is originally such a place. You need people to climb higher. Especially Kim, you definitely need talented people like you.”

Perhaps he thought that some level of understanding had been reached between the two.

Deputy General Manager Kennedy Wright pushed the pre-written contract in front of Ji-seop.

“Mr. Kim, please trust me once. Just suffer for 2 years, and when you come back, I will lead you to the core of this Red Sox Nation!”

Well, what do you think?

Deputy General Manager Kennedy Wright was looking at Ji-seop with eyes full of anticipation.

* * *

-So, so what?!

About an hour later.

Ji-seop, who had left Fenway Park, was receiving a call from his old colleague Tommy Damon.

Perhaps it was only natural, but his voice was trembling quite a bit.

-So what did you decide to do? You didn’t accept Deputy General Manager Wright’s offer, did you?

“Hey, how could that be?”

He was coming out after dealing with a rather complicated matter.

Ji-seop rummaged through his jacket pocket out of habit, but realizing that he didn’t have any cigarettes, he just smacked his lips.

“How hard have I worked to come to the United States, how can I go to Japan now? I said thank you, but I’ll refuse.”

-Really? Whew, that’s a relief, but….

After letting out a sigh of relief, Tommy Damon’s voice began to fill with worry again.

-Wait a minute, then what happens? If you reject Deputy General Manager Wright’s offer, you won’t be able to work in Boston anymore, will you?

“Well, I guess that’s how it is.”

Ji-seop replied calmly.

“Since the role of Jang-ho’s personal interpreter was originally contracted until just before the season opener… when that’s over, I’ll have to be unemployed for a while.”

-…Ji-seop, I’m sorry.

Tommy Damon’s gloomy voice.

-You came all the way to America trusting only me, but I haven’t been able to find a decent job yet….

“Hey, it’s not your fault. If you think about it, it’s because your boss couldn’t control his temper, and the Boston owner threw away a good general manager.”

Ji-seop comforted him with kind words, but Tommy Damon seemed to have something to rely on.

-But don’t worry too much. I also got a call yesterday, and it seems that there are several clubs that have made an offer to our boss? Of course, because of the timing, it’ll only be a club advisor at best….

Still, he added that being a club advisor would secure jobs for about three or four people.

He also said that he would work there this year, and when General Manager David Perkins takes on a new role next year, he would work there in earnest.

In the meantime, Ji-seop only nodded, saying ‘Okay, okay’ to Tommy Damon’s proposal.

However, perhaps because he had personally realized the dynamism of the Major League stage only 3 months after entering the country.

At this time, Ji-seop was giving his old friend a slightly different answer than usual.

“Okay, there’s nothing better than being able to work with you.”

So far, it was the same as usual.

“But friend, I hope you can hurry a little bit. I’m thinking of looking for a new job right away from tomorrow.”

-A new… job?

Tommy Damon didn’t seem to understand easily.

-No, you’ve only been in America for 3 months, right? Do you have a route to find a job separately?

At this time, what came to Ji-seop’s mind was what Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju of ‘Sakhalin Park’ had once told him.

-In Major League Baseball, you can’t trust the general manager. The general manager’s head is cut off depending on the owner’s mood.

-So when you advance to the United States, you need to have an extra lifeline in your hand. Got it?