A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 307

Bottom of the 1st, one out, runner on first.

Baltimore’s star player, basking in the enthusiastic cheers of the home crowd, stepped up to the plate and—whack!

He hammered the Tampa Bay starting pitcher’s first pitch, sending it soaring over the right field fence.

Vincent Hiyama’s 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot to take the lead.

It was his fifth consecutive game with a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Hiyama!

Amid the roaring cheers that crashed like a tsunami, Vincent Hiyama quietly rounded the bases without any special celebration.

“Whew.”

Watching the game from the center field stands, Ji-seop couldn’t help but exhale in amazement.

‘He’s no joke.’

Ji-seop had watched Vincent Hiyama’s videos countless times while preparing the ‘Yellow Book’ [a scouting report].

But seeing him in person at the stadium was far more impressive than watching him on video.

“I thought he just focused on making contact… but once he connects, it instantly clears the fence.”

“Right? That’s what makes Vincent so scary.”

David Wilson, sitting next to him, shuddered.

“He doesn’t have the typical swing of a home run hitter. In fact, he barely hit any home runs early in his career. But through consistent weight training, he built up his body…”

“So, he’s reached a point where he can hit home runs even when focusing solely on contact? Seriously…”

A curse word slipped out involuntarily.

Why did a player like that have to be in the American League East?

If he were in a National League team, I’d only have to see him once or twice a year.

I felt scared, envious, and even had the ridiculous thought of ‘How great would it be if a player like that joined our team?’

As I watched Vincent Hiyama confidently touch home plate.

“Huh?”

John LaMar, who had been quietly munching on popcorn next to Ji-seop, raised his head.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

Crunch.

John LaMar stuffed popcorn into his mouth.

“It just seems like I’m noticing a lot of people from other teams today.”

“Other teams?”

“Yeah, people I used to study with at the Fort Myers graduate school.”

Ji-seop was reminded that John LaMar was his senior in graduate school.

“That guy sitting over there looks like Peter from the Dodgers, and the one in front of him looks like Billy from the Mets… It’s strange. The Dodgers and Mets are both National League teams.”

The fact that teams that wouldn’t be facing Baltimore anytime soon were sending scouts was odd.

Just as John LaMar was tilting his head in confusion, David Wilson flipped a page in his notes and answered.

“It’s nothing special.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t Vincent Hiyama a free agent [a player eligible to sign with any team] at the end of this season? Even National League teams need to keep an eye on him.”

“Ah, FA?” [Free Agent]

John LaMar nodded.

“Wow, Baltimore must be feeling pretty bad right now, huh? To have such a great player become a free agent and leave the team…”

“Well, Baltimore is in a slightly better position than we are.”

David continued.

“They’re probably already discussing a contract extension in Baltimore. They’ll be trying to keep Vincent from becoming a free agent at all costs.”

That would be the best-case scenario for the Baltimore Orioles.

Once Vincent Hiyama gained free agent status, they would have to compete with other teams.

Convincing Vincent Hiyama before other teams could approach him, and keeping him as a Baltimore player.

The Baltimore front office was likely working hard to achieve that goal.

“A contract extension… I don’t think it’ll be easy,” John LaMar said, reaching into the popcorn box.

“With Vincent playing this well, do you think his agent would agree to a small contract? They won’t even consider it unless it’s a huge amount.”