A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 316

Chapter 75: I Can See His Hands, His Hands (4)

When do baseball players most diligently search for other people’s records?

After entering the pros? When competing for a starting position? Or towards the end of the season, when titles are being decided?

Players have different answers to this question, but on average, the most common response is:

The season before the professional draft. That is, the final year of high school or college.

It was only natural. The professional draft is entirely based on relative evaluation. Someone can’t be better than me, and I can rest assured if someone is worse than me. So, it’s a year when you pay more attention to other people’s records than ever before.

That was also true for Ji-seop, who was attending the MBA program orientation.

‘Ah, that’s right. I remember now.’

Once he realized that he was the 100th player on the list, it felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.

When he was a senior in college, who were the most watched prospects, and who among them performed the best?

‘Well, later on, there were a lot of talks about it being a historically poor season, but…’

Still, there were guys who played in the heart of a team’s batting lineup, and there were guys who were responsible for the starting rotation.

If he just recalled and checked the records of those guys, solving the assignment wouldn’t be a problem.

‘Professor, are you okay? I know you’re trying to push me, but…’

Isn’t it a bit too much? Won’t there be any backlash later? Just as Ji-seop was thinking that.

As if waiting for it, Professor Kevin Pryor looked around the lecture hall and said.

“The result is not what matters.”

Because this is school.

The professor continued.

“Finding a player with a high career WAR [Wins Above Replacement, a comprehensive baseball statistic] is important, but the process of finding that player is also important. Please attach your discussion process to the team report.”

Then, Professor Kevin Pryor sent a subtle look towards Ji-seop.

He gave Ji-seop a hint, but he didn’t mean for it to dominate everything.

Like father, like son with Sakhalin Park, Professor Kevin Pryor seemed to be quite strict.

‘Hmm, then…’

It’s not enough to simply say, ‘I remember that season,’ ‘So this is the answer.’

You have to pick 10 players based on your own logic and analysis.

It was not an easy task, so Ji-seop was also looking at the list of prospects with his chin resting on one hand when…

“Can I make a suggestion?”

Christine, who was sitting across from Ji-seop, spoke first.

‘Tap, tap’ The Boston Red Sox team employee lightly tapped the desk to focus the team members’ attention.

“I think I’ve found a way. How to pick the best prospects.”

It was a confident tone.

“If you all agree, I’d like to push forward with my method… What do you think?”

“According to Christine’s method?”

Nicholas of the New York Yankees replied in a slightly nervous voice.

“Is it just my imagination? I think there’s a hidden meaning in your words.”

“Oh, what hidden meaning!”

Christine waved her hand.

“I’ll find you an answer that’s more accurate than any other team. Of course, it will include a reasonable analysis. But in return…”

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

“I’d like to take on the role of team leader this semester… Is that okay?”

* * *

People say, ‘You can hear the sound of eyeballs rolling.’

That was exactly the reaction of the people in the American League East at this time.

[Ah, she’s going to take the team leader position?]

[Does that mean she’s trying to broaden her contact with Professor Kevin Pryor?]

[Well, if you become a team leader, you can contact the professor personally…]

People who are busy calculating in their heads.

Christine from Boston seemed to be thinking of seizing the opportunity at this time.

“Looking at the physical data on the list, it seems likely that these are East Asian players.”

She continued.

“Our Boston Red Sox have a business agreement with professional clubs in Asia. Of course, we have a lot of information about prospects. I’ll be able to figure out the source of this data in about 30 minutes.”

“Hmm, well? I’m not sure if it’s that simple?”

George from the Toronto Blue Jays stepped up to the plate with a sly expression.

“I agree that it’s data from East Asian players. But Christine, I don’t think you can find the same data even with Boston’s database.”

“Difficult?”

Christine’s brow furrowed slightly, but George’s attitude was full of ease.

“Look, the data isn’t consistent. Some players have records of the spin rate of the ball, while others don’t even have OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a common baseball statistic].”

As a public relations officer, he seemed to be paying attention to the format of the document.

“This is not data created by an authorized record company. It’s probably data that individual scouts have. This is not entered into the team database.”

“Th, then what do you think…”

As Christine took a step back, George opened his mouth with a gleam in his eyes.

“Come on, friends! How about leaving the team leader to me this semester? Then I’ll contact the Asian reporters!”

George took out his cell phone.

“You remember that our team had a lot of Korean and Japanese players, right? I’m still in constant contact with the reporters who were in charge at that time. One call from me will quickly analyze and send you this data! How about it? Isn’t it good?”

I think that’s when it started.

The American League East prospects began to fight a war of nerves.

Finding fault with the other person’s proposal, and endlessly praising their own proposal.

“Isn’t it dawn in Asia now? How are you going to contact reporters who are sleeping soundly?”

“The idea of ​​trying to find answers with connections is wrong from the start. In this case, we should use our Baltimore database…”

“Wait a minute, is Baltimore the only one with a database? Our Yankees also have the best equipment in the industry?”

“Oh, really? No, why are you in third place in the division with such a good database?”

“What? Christine, aren’t you crossing the line a little bit now?”

Bright expressions, polite attitudes, and warm words.

It didn’t take long for their true feelings, which had been well-packaged with such things, to come out.

It was the American League East, where the most intense competition in Major League Baseball took place.

How many feelings have accumulated in the meantime, and how long have they been grinding their teeth at each other?

With those long-standing emotions melting in, it was an atmosphere that seemed like a big commotion would break out-

“…….”

Only one person, Ji-seop, was quietly smiling inside.

‘Cute friends.’

Ji-seop, who knew the answer, was able to watch the situation with the feeling of eating popcorn.

Was that relaxed feeling revealed on his face? Nicholas, who was arguing, turned his head towards Ji-seop.

“Kim, why are you staying still?”

It seemed like he was reaching out to Ji-seop because the discussion was at a standstill.

“Kim, please give us your opinion. Which method is better to choose?”

“Yes, yes! That would be good!”

George from Toronto also agreed.

“Kim is from Korea, so you’ll have a feel for this, right? Tell me anything! It would be even better if you support me!”

It was a kind of casting vote.

It was an atmosphere where anyone Ji-seop picked would be given weight.

However, Ji-seop was someone who didn’t need to raise anyone’s hand.

“Actually, I know the answer.”

“Yes?!”

People’s eyes widened.

Ji-seop continued without deliberately turning his gaze that way.

“Your analysis is roughly correct. This is the record of players who applied for the Korean professional baseball draft 12 years ago.”

Half were high school players, and half were college players again.

When Ji-seop said it clearly, Christine showed a wary look.

“How do you know that?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Do you have any evidence? You’re not just saying anything to take the lead, are you?”

“Of course not. I just remembered it because it was the time when I was playing as a player.”

Ji-seop took out his cell phone.

Then, he found the record of the player who performed the best among his peers and put it out in front of everyone.

“This is the record of the Korean college baseball championship 12 years ago. Please compare it with player number 23 on the list that the professor gave you.”

“Where, where…”

George took Ji-seop’s cell phone.

“Height 179cm, weight 82kg, batting average 0.372, 4 home runs, 22 RBIs?”

It, it’s real?

It was the moment when everyone’s gaze towards Ji-seop completely changed.

* * *

The Tampa Bay Rays’ Kim knows the answer.

The American League East people who learned this fact kept their mouths shut for a while.

“…….”

“…….”

Thanks to that, silence came to the noisy table, but Ji-seop could hear their inner thoughts.

[Damn it, if this happens, I won’t be able to be the team leader…]

[Professor, you’re too much, how can you bring data from the Korean amateur league?]

[Could it be… that friend Kim, does he have any connection with the professor? Is that really it?]

A situation where everyone is looking at Ji-seop and can’t easily speak.

At this time, Ji-seop was observing their reactions and quietly organizing his thoughts.

‘Okay, so what do I do now?’

There was also a way to monopolize everything, including the team leader, as it is.

If you search the internet a little, it’s not difficult to find a player who has an advantage in career WAR.

However, Ji-seop didn’t feel much attraction to doing that.

‘It’s not very meaningful for me to lead the discussion alone. It’s a merit I got because of the hint the professor gave me in the first place, right? Even if I use it, I won’t be able to get recognition from the professor…’

Still, wouldn’t it be possible to make good use of the advantages he had already gained?

Ji-seop stroked his chin with his finger and soon made up his mind.

‘Okay, that would be good.’

Ji-seop, having made up his mind, turned to everyone and opened his mouth.

“Everyone, I’m not very interested in things like team leader.”

“Yes?!”

Christine from Boston reacted the most.

“You’re not interested? No, how big is the merit that the team leader can have…”

“Yes, I don’t care. But since I have the most information in this assignment, I’d like to make a suggestion to you.”

Ji-seop continued.

“Out of 100 players, I’ll pick the top 3 players with the best career WAR. But I’d like you to pick the remaining 7 players.”

“Why is that…”

To Nicholas’ question, Ji-seop replied with a relaxed smile.

“You heard what the professor said, right? He said that the result is not everything. He said that he will carefully examine the discussion process leading to that result.”

Ji-seop continued.

“If we simply fill the list with the players I chose, the discussion process will be poor. So, let’s review the list with your experience and knowledge and pick 7 candidates.”

It was a kind of compromise.

The story of satisfying the ‘result’ with the top 3 prospects and satisfying the ‘process’ with the remaining 7.

“Well, doing it that way will make the picture look pretty…”

Nicholas raised his eyebrows.

“What are you going to do with the team leader? If Kim doesn’t want it, shouldn’t we leave it to someone else?”

“Yes, that’s…”

Ji-seop put his hands together and rested his chin on them, making a sly expression.

“I’ll watch your discussions and make a decision.”

“Yes?”

“The person who makes the most reasonable argument, the person who shows the sharpest analysis… I’m going to entrust the role of team leader to that person.”

Ji-seop grinned.

“Since I have the most reliable information among you here, I think it’s okay to exercise this much authority… What do you think?”

Of course, there was a slight dissatisfaction on the faces of the team members.

Everyone has a sky-high pride. No one likes the fact that someone is evaluating them.

That’s not a great person like a professor, but being evaluated by the same student.

“Umm…”

But the opportunity to become a team leader was looming before their eyes.

The opportunity to get into Professor Kevin Pryor’s eyes was right in front of them.

If that’s the case, could they willingly suppress this much dissatisfaction?

“Kim!”

The first to speak was Nicholas of the New York Yankees.

“I think we should nominate player number 38. First of all, the hardware is in place, and the speed is coming out at over 95 miles per hour, so…”

If someone starts running first, the rest have no choice but to follow.

“No, Kim! I think we should nominate player number 12. It’s common sense to focus on college graduates in the upper rounds, right?”

“No, no! Kim, we have to look at this based on Major League Baseball? Considering Major League Baseball’s development system, the most suitable player is…”

Looking at his colleagues who were competing to express their opinions, Ji-seop was smiling softly inside.

It wasn’t just because he had given those high-nosed friends a blow.

‘Come on, please tell me slowly. How do you evaluate prospects?’

This was Ji-seop’s aim.

What evaluation criteria do the Earth rival clubs have for prospects?

If they are thoroughly trained by each club, they will surely know the club’s perspective best.

Considering the trade market that will come someday, knowing their perspective will definitely be a big help.

‘Hmm, the Yankees value hardware, and Boston values college players? Damn it, I need to take some notes…’

Just as Ji-seop was looking around for a notepad, Ronnie Cordell came into his sight.

Unlike his colleagues who were passionately arguing, the Baltimore team employee was somehow hesitating and unable to speak properly.

“Mr. Cordell, don’t you have any opinions?”

“Yes? Ah, that’s…”

Ronnie Cordell scratched the back of his head.

“I don’t have much experience in scouting prospects yet. I don’t have anything to say…”

That’s good.

Ji-seop stretched his lips long.

“If you stay still like that, you’ll lose your chance to become a team leader?”

“Ah, th, that’s right…”

“Don’t do that, please type out the story that’s coming out now.”

“Yes?”

“If you type, your thoughts will be organized, and then a good idea might come to mind, right?”

“Th, is that so?”

“Of course? Is that even a question.”

Ji-seop pushed his laptop towards Ronnie Cordell.

“Come on, hurry up! Isn’t it a shame to hear and miss a story?”

“Ah, yes!”

“I can see your hands, your hands! You have to type quickly.”

“Yes, leave it to me, Kim!”

The American League East people began to move according to Ji-seop’s instructions.

Ji-seop himself didn’t realize it, but it seems that there was someone watching this scene from afar.

‘That guy Ji-seop…’

This person is shaking his head as if he can’t stop it.

It was Professor Kevin Pryor.

‘He’s using his teammates very arbitrarily?’