A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 335

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 335

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 335

79. I’ll Give You 5 Minutes (3)

The news that the Tampa Bay Rays had acquired Vincent Hyama sent shockwaves through the league.

Whether people were fans of Tampa Bay or rivals, the reaction was universal.

“Wait, is that really true? Tampa Bay? They gave up Christopher Ben?” That was the reaction of Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Benjamin Oznovich when the news broke.

“That’s insane! Tampa Bay has Brian! How could that stubborn guy give up Christopher?”

“But it’s confirmed. The league office has already approved the trade, and Vincent Hyama is preparing to move to Tampa Bay.”

“Damn it, who orchestrated this? Who made such a ridiculous trade…?”

General Manager Oznovich paced around the room, looking utterly bewildered.

Suddenly, the face of the Asian employee he had met in Clearwater [spring training location] a while ago flashed in his mind.

“…Kim?”

Benjamin Oznovich’s eyes narrowed.

“Could it be… that guy?”

Just as the Philadelphia Phillies’ general manager was reacting so strongly, the news of Vincent Hyama joining the Tampa Bay Rays was also reaching the players.

“Vi, Vincent? Really? Is Vincent Hyama really coming to our team?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard! The article just dropped! The stadium’s going wild right now!”

“Oh, oh, oh…”

“Holy cow! My precious!”

The one who blurted out the excited exclamation was the Tampa Bay Rays’ ace pitcher, Victor Johnson Jr.

“That’s it, that’s it! Vincent can throw like ten different kinds of breaking balls, right? If that guy joins… I can perfect Revolution No.7 this year?!”

“Damn it, Victor! Are you thinking about new breaking balls at a time like this? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility as an ace?”

The one scolding his teammate was the team’s starting catcher, Alex Montero.

“The club gave up Christopher and signed Vincent, which means they’re serious about winning the championship this year. So we have to get our act together!”

As befitting a starting catcher, Alex Montero pointed out the key points sharply.

However, there was also a veteran on the Tampa Bay team who seemed to see right through his inner thoughts.

“Hehe, Alex! You don’t have to be so tense. Save your firm resolve for the postseason.”

A veteran hitter with a relaxed expression, munching on peanuts, it was Julio Asocar, who had battled his way through a long minor league career and established himself as Tampa Bay’s fifth hitter.

“You can enjoy yourself as much as you want today. You always say it like it’s a habit, right? That you wish you had just one more guy. That you wouldn’t have any complaints if you had just one more hitter who could knock it out of the park.”

“B, but isn’t every game becoming more important from now on? Shouldn’t we be focusing even more at times like this…?”

“Hey, stop that and just tell me this. How do you feel about Vincent coming? Good? It’s good, isn’t it?”

When Julio poked him in the side and asked, a bashful smile finally appeared on the face of the usually stoic starting catcher.

“…It’s good.”

Alex Montero admitted.

“No, honestly… I feel like I’m going crazy because it’s so great!!”

The general manager of the rival team felt like he was going crazy with frustration, and the Tampa Bay players felt like they were going crazy with joy.

Then there were the Tampa Bay Rays’ team employees, who felt like they were going crazy in a different way.

“Ah, yes! Next weekend’s game? It’s possible! Yes, how many tickets do you need?”

“Yes, the reservation server is unstable? I’m sorry. We’re experiencing a sudden surge of traffic…”

The reason was simple.

As soon as the news of Vincent Hyama’s acquisition was announced, the number of people trying to get tickets for the Tampa Bay game skyrocketed.

Even the outfield tickets, which usually didn’t sell well, were selling like hotcakes, and the ticket reservation server, which had always been reliable, was now struggling.

Impatient people even called directly to request ticket reservations, so Tampa Bay employees were having a hectic day.

“Wow, what’s going on…? I skipped lunch for the first time since I joined the company today.”

“You only skipped lunch? I can’t even go to the bathroom right now! Wow, is this kind of day finally coming to our team? Huh?!”

And it wasn’t just them.

Analysis broadcasts discussing the meaning and impact of this trade were being aired on sports channels.

Debates about the trade were raging on internet baseball forums.

Perhaps since its founding in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays were receiving more attention than ever before. The next afternoon arrived.

The two main culprits who had driven so many people crazy, Jisup and Vincent Hyama, were sipping coffee in a small lounge on the second floor of Tropicana Field [Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium].

“Kim, the reporters have finished entering. The inauguration ceremony will begin in 10 minutes.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jisup, after hearing the report from the baseball operations staff, gulped down the remaining coffee in his cup.

Then, he turned his gaze to the two-way ace, who was sitting comfortably on the sofa and looking out at the field.

“Vincent, let’s get ready.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Vincent Hyama got up and straightened his clothes.

Then, he suddenly asked Jisup with a serious expression.

“Kim, aren’t you nervous?”

“Nervous? Me?”

Jisup tilted his head.

“Well, I don’t think I need to be nervous? I didn’t move teams, and I’m not the one playing in the game…”

“Really? That’s a little different from what I heard?”

A strange smile played on Vincent’s lips.

“I heard from my agent yesterday about how the Tampa Bay Rays, who had been so protective of their prospects, decided to acquire me.”

“…Ah.”

“I heard that Kim’s presentation was decisive? That you gave a passionate speech about why I should be acquired in a meeting with the club’s higher-ups.”

“You’re well-informed.”

When Jisup replied with a wry smile, Vincent Hyama lightly shook his head and said.

“It’s not a matter of being well-informed or not. Tampa Bay’s move was clearly unusual, and because of that, people’s attention is focused on it.”

He continued.

“Since you’ve garnered this much attention, Kim will also be held accountable for the results of this trade. Aren’t you nervous about that? I’d think you’d be quite nervous.”

“No, that’s not the case.”

Jisup replied.

“The nervous and trembling feeling comes before throwing the ball. Once you throw it, don’t you lose that feeling? You just wait for the result and think about the next move.”

“Hmm.”

“Honestly, I’m curious about what kind of result will come out, but even if a bad result comes out, I’m prepared to accept it calmly. Anyway, I…”

Jisup straightened his back.

“As far as I’m concerned, I threw the best ball in the major leagues. Towards the target of winning the World Series.”

“Ah, the best ball?”

Vincent showed his white teeth.

“Wait a minute, Kim. Then what is it? Are you saying I’m the ball? And you’re the pitcher throwing the ball?”

“Why, can’t I be?”

Jisup retorted playfully.

“I heard that front office baseball is the trend these days? That field-centered baseball is already on the decline.”

“No, that’s not the right analogy here…”

Hahaha.

It was at this moment that Vincent burst into laughter.

“That’s exactly the same thing Jimmy Morris told me. Kim, he said it would be very interesting to meet you.”

He nodded.

“I threw the best ball in the major leagues towards the target of winning the World Series… Hmm, now that I think about it, it’s not bad. It’s a good assessment.”

Good.

He looked at Jisup.

“I’ll show you what I can do. I’ll prove that your choice was not wrong. So Kim, you too…”

“Do your best as a front office member?”

Jisup also nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’m also a person who has a knack for managing the condition of the players.”

“No, how did you know what I was going to say…?”

Vincent Hyama let out a hollow laugh, as if he was dumbfounded.

“What is it, Kim? Can you read other people’s minds or… something like that?”

“Well?”

Jisup just gave a sly smile.

“I don’t know.”

* * *

And so, Vincent Hyama, who had been exchanging lighthearted banter with Jisup, showed a more determined demeanor than anyone else at the inauguration ceremony that followed.

“I am well aware of the controversy surrounding this trade.”

That he was brought in by giving up the best prospect, Christopher Ben.

And that the player brought in that way can only be used for half a year.

This was Vincent Hyama’s answer to whether this was a wise choice.

“To be honest, yes. Perhaps I will be wearing another team’s uniform next season.”

He said very firmly.

He didn’t even offer the usual lip service about potentially signing a free agent [FA] contract with Tampa Bay.

“But everyone, please believe me. I came here with the determination to become a retired number player on this team.”

“Retired number?”

The reporters tilted their heads.

Retired number. He said he would only play for half a season, but retired number.

Vincent Hyama’s answer to this was very impressive to Jisup as well.

“Excluding Wade Boggs, who is a retired number for all major league teams, only Wade Boggs has received a retired number for the Tampa Bay Rays as a player.”

That was true.

Tampa Bay Rays’ No. 12. Wade Boggs.

A legendary contact hitter who was active from the 80s to the late 90s.

“But when I looked it up, I found out that this person only played for the Tampa Bay Rays for 2 years. Only 2 years out of 18 years of active service.”

He continued.

“Although his period of activity was very short, I heard that he was highly praised for leading the Tampa Bay Rays, which was a new team at the time. Owner, am I right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

There was some controversy, but.

Owner Jeffrey Taylor’s muttered comment was drowned out by the murmuring of the people.

“I’m going to challenge his legacy.”

Vincent said.

“Although the time I spend on this team will be ridiculously short, I will make that time the best memory for all of our fans.”

The best memory.

There was no need to ask what that meant.

“I will create the best moments as a pitcher and as a hitter, so that when I decide to retire as an active player someday… I will make sure that a phone call comes to my cell phone.”

“Hey, Vincent! Would you like to have your number retired by the Tampa Bay Rays?”

“All the fans of Tampa Bay are urging you to have your name on the retired number!”

Watching Vincent, who was continuing to speak in a very natural and perhaps very audacious way, Jisup was shaking his head.

‘Only playing for half a year and a retired number…’

He certainly wasn’t an ordinary human being.

It’s not normal to say that you’re going to leave the team as a free agent on the day you’re traded.

It’s also not normal to declare that you’re going to win the championship with that team and get your number retired.

Just as he was admiring his overflowing confidence, a voice came from behind Jisup.

“He’s a great guy. We have a really great guy in our Tampa Bay.”

“…Ah.”

Jisup, who was turning his head, was startled and straightened up.

Brian Spon, the general manager, the head of the Tampa Bay front office, was standing next to him.