A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 292

72. Another’s Precious Child (4)

“David, is there really no way…?”

Tampa Bay Rays’ battery coach, Mr. Jose Cruz, pleaded.

“Surely, I wouldn’t do anything to harm our team, would I? Considering our past relationship…”

“It’s not possible, Coach,” David Wilson said, his voice firm.

“Please, at least tell us the general situation. Why the report needs to be modified. That way, our directors can make a decision. Don’t you think?”

Jiseop and John LaMar nodded quietly, backing David Wilson’s stance.

Coach Jose Cruz took off his hat and scratched the back of his head vigorously before letting out a long sigh. “Hoo.”

Then, he broached the subject. “I don’t know if you all know, but Alex Montero is from the Dominican Republic.”

The Dominican Republic. An island nation in the Caribbean.

Though only about half the size of South Korea, its importance in Major League Baseball was enormous.

The geographical proximity to the United States, the challenging economic conditions making it difficult to find good jobs, and the long-standing popularity of baseball.

These three factors combined to bring countless Dominican prospects to the United States, all dreaming of becoming Major Leaguers.

Dominican players now account for the largest proportion of Major League players after Americans.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ starting catcher was one of those many Dominican players.

“The day Alex first came to the United States from the Dominican Republic, I was the one who picked him up. At that time, I was a coach in the Rookie League.”

A story from six or seven years ago.

But Coach Jose Cruz said he remembered that day vividly.

“I’ve received many Dominican prospects, but I’ve never seen anyone as clueless as Alex.”

“Clueless?”

“Yes, he was hopeless. From his hometown in the Dominican Republic to St. Petersburg here, in less than ten hours…”

Coach Jose Cruz chuckled, still finding it unbelievable. “He took out nineteen insurance policies in that short amount of time. Nineteen! Can you believe it?”

“No, why so much insurance…?”

“Well, isn’t it obvious? The rumor spread like wildfire! Montero’s youngest son signed a contract with a Major League team and is going to the United States!”

From his father’s colleagues to his mother’s neighborhood friends, to his siblings’ acquaintances.

Anyone involved in insurance sales called him and begged him to sign up for their products.

Alex Montero, only seventeen at the time, was easily persuaded by the words ‘essential for a baseball player’ and signed up for the insurance.

“Originally, we were supposed to meet the manager and the president that day, but all schedules had to be postponed. It’s difficult to cancel insurance in the Dominican Republic after a day.”

“Well, minor league players are covered by the team’s insurance anyway… You must have gone through a lot,” David Wilson said, nodding slowly, then asked, “But what does that have to do with this report?”

“It’s related. Very deeply related.”

“You’ve probably heard it, right?” Coach Jose Cruz said. “Old habits die hard.”

Old habits die hard. A leopard can’t change its spots.

* * *

The story that followed was exactly what Jiseop had vaguely guessed.

The ‘gullible’ Alex Montero was still being swayed by others’ opinions even after becoming the starting catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.

“It seems like there are about ten people,” Coach Jose Cruz said. “Roughly that many people call Alex Montero and give him serious advice. There are probably even more people who simply give him their impressions after watching the game.”

They weren’t just nobodies.

They were said to be experts in developing catchers who held positions in the Dominican baseball world.

But too many cooks spoil the broth.

The ship named Alex Montero seemed to be in a similar situation.

“He must be confused. Some tell him to focus on framing [the art of subtly influencing the umpire’s perception of a pitch], some tell him to pay attention to ball distribution, and others tell him to check the runner’s movements.”

Coach Jose Cruz rested his chin on his hand. “Honestly, after reading your report, I realized the severity of the situation. Alex’s condition is much worse than I thought. He’s losing his mind with all the advice pouring in.”

Jiseop was reminded of what the game recorder with twenty-seven years of experience had heard from the umpires.

Alex Montero didn’t seem to be able to concentrate on the game.

He focused on framing in the first inning, ball distribution in the second inning, and then suddenly got up and adjusted his defensive position.

Now, he seemed to have a clear understanding of why he was acting like someone wearing a catcher’s mask for the first time, wavering back and forth.

“The problem is this. Once your report is uploaded to the database, Alex will also know his condition,” Coach Jose Cruz said, narrowing his brow.

“Think about it. Do you think Alex will stay still after reading the report? Do you think that gullible guy will quietly and calmly prepare for the next game?”

“It will be a disaster… right?” John LaMar muttered, and Coach Jose Cruz clapped his knee.

“Yes, it will be a disaster! He’ll call this person and that person, and the people who receive the calls will come up with their own solutions… By the time tomorrow’s game starts, Alex may be in an even worse state than before.”

So, please modify the report.

Change the data a little so that the gullible guy doesn’t waver.

This seemed to be the real reason why Coach Jose Cruz had rushed to the Future Strategy Planning Department.

“Of course, it’s not like I’ve been standing by idly. I’m discussing countermeasures with the manager.”

The Future Strategy Planning Department was slightly agitated by the story of the ‘gullible’ Alex Montero.

Coach Jose Cruz seemed to want to settle the matter definitively while he had the momentum.

“Countermeasures… like what?”

“Instructor. We’ve decided to bring in a catching instructor.”

In Major League Baseball, ‘instructor’ refers to people who coach players outside of the regular coaching staff.

People who coach a specific player, or coach for a specific period. People who can move relatively freely.

“He’s a very famous figure in the Dominican baseball world. He’s even called the ‘God of Catching Development’.”

“Ah,” John LaMar said, pretending to know.

“You mean you’re bringing in someone incredibly great? If such a person comes as an instructor, Alex Montero’s advisors won’t be able to easily interfere?”

“That’s right! Exactly!” Coach Jose Cruz answered with a bright expression for the first time that day.

Unfortunately, that expression didn’t last long.

“It’s taking some time to find him, but once we find him, we’ll be able to bring him in quickly. The manager has promised the best treatment.”

“His whereabouts? I mean, in this day and age, are there people whose whereabouts can’t be found?”

“What can we do? He’s an old-fashioned person without even a common SNS account…”

The battery coach scratched his head.

It was the very next moment that a rather interesting story popped out of his mouth.

“I heard a rumor that he coached players from a Korean professional team in Arizona last spring, but I have no idea where he went after that.”

“A Korean professional team?”

“Yeah, if it’s a team that hired him, they might know the details……”

The expressions on the faces of the people in the Future Strategy Planning Department changed subtly.

“Coach.”

“Hmm?”

“You really came to the right place today.”

John LaMar said, boasting.

“The person who knows Korean professional baseball the best in the entire Major League is in our Future Strategy Planning Department.”

“Korean baseball? No, who……”

Ah!

Coach Jose Cruz was looking at Ji-seop and snapping his fingers.

* * *

Originally, the Future Strategy Planning Department was scheduled to leave work early that day.

Because the long-awaited first ‘Yellow Book’ [a detailed scouting report] was completed, to take a little rest.

In fact, two new employees left before 2 p.m., but the ‘first-string members’ of the Future Strategy Planning Department, including Ji-seop, did not enjoy such luck.

Another guest had come to the second basement floor of Tropicana Field.

Perhaps it was natural, but it was Tampa Bay’s pitching coach, Thomas Culkin.

“Hmm, I see. The spin rate of our bullpen pitchers is steadily decreasing… Now it’s becoming clear.”

The reason for the visit was also the ‘Yellow Book’.

Coach Thomas Culkin’s trust in Ji-seop’s group had deepened due to the Victor Johnson case.

Unlike others, he came directly to the Future Strategy Planning Department and questioned the report.

“Yes, the New York Yankees will also have this level of data. They will definitely dig into this, so it would be good to prepare for it.”

David Wilson was in charge of the explanation.

As he ran the simulation program himself and explained it step by step, a satisfied smile appeared on Coach Thomas Culkin’s face.

“Thank you, thank you so much. The data part was always difficult, but after listening to David’s explanation, I feel refreshed! As expected, a current player is different!”

Ha ha ha ha.

The pitching coach chuckled and patted David on the shoulder.

Then, his gaze turned to Ji-seop, who was standing a step behind them, watching them.

“Kim, I heard.”

“Yes?”

When Ji-seop raised his head, Coach Thomas Culkin gave a subtle smile.

“I heard you granted Jose’s request?”

Jose. Coach Jose Cruz.

Ji-seop nodded.

“Ah, yes, I had no choice because our report could increase the confusion of the starting catcher……”

“No, not that.”

Coach Thomas Culkin got up.

“I’m talking about finding an instructor for Alex Montero. I heard you’re going to help with that too?”

“Ah, is that what you mean?”

The pitching coach’s words were true.

The ‘big shot in the Dominican baseball world’ who coached players from a Korean professional team during the last spring camp.

Ji-seop had decided to help find that person’s whereabouts.

‘If it’s Arizona, it’s not the spring camp location of KH Cannons, so I’ll have to check with UB Guardians or Jin Yang Bucks……’ [These are likely Korean baseball teams.]

In any case, Ji-seop was one of the few people who could directly contact the Korean baseball world.

There was no reason for Ji-seop to refuse, but Coach Thomas Culkin seemed to be even more proud of himself.

“Now the battery coach will know too! How reliable our Kim is! Hey, I was so bored because no one recognized him……”

“Please take care of it.”

“Please find out.”

Coach Thomas Culkin, who was conveying his request, seemed to realize something strange.

“But… Kim, why do you have that expression on your face?”

“Yes?”

Ji-seop straightened his posture.

“Ah, maybe I took too much time? Oh, it’s been too long?”

“No, it’s not that……”

Since the topic came up, Ji-seop decided to resolve the question that had been lingering in his mind.

“About Coach Jose Cruz.”

“Yeah, what about him?”

“Why is he trying to bring in a separate instructor?”

Ji-seop continued.

“I understand if it’s a hitting coach or a pitching coach, because there are so many players to cover. But the battery coach is a little different, isn’t he?”

There were only two catchers on the major league roster.

Unlike other coaches, the battery coach only needs to focus on these two people.

But he’s going out of his way to bring in an instructor from outside.

Ji-seop couldn’t understand it.

“Isn’t it like passing on the most important task to someone else? It’s strange that the manager agreed to this decision.”

“Ah, that?”

Coach Thomas Culkin looked a little uncomfortable.

“Don’t be so strict. Jose, that friend, even though he looks like that, he’s a catcher who came up from the rookie league to the major league with sincerity.”

“Then isn’t it even stranger? That such a person is so passive about Alex Montero……”

Even David Wilson, who was sitting next to him, took Ji-seop’s side, and Coach Thomas Culkin smacked his lips.

“No, that’s……”

The pitching coach couldn’t speak clearly.

However, Ji-seop knew what to do to open this person’s mouth.

“Is it related to Alex Montero’s father?”

A word thrown casually while looking into the pitching coach’s eyes.

Coach Thomas Culkin looked at Ji-seop in surprise.

“Oh, no, that……”

Coach Thomas Culkin said.

“How do you know Alex’s father? Did Jose even tell you that?”

“I hear stories from time to time.”