A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 348

Baseball Team Rookie Is Too Good – Episode 348

Chapter 81: Need More Cowbell (6)

A few days later.

Approximately five hours before the home game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Alex Montero, the starting catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, was in the indoor bullpen, catching for the starting pitcher of the day.

Whoosh- Bang!

This was actually unusual.

For a Major League starting catcher to be geared up this early.

Since catching is a position that requires extreme physical exertion, it’s common to leave bullpen pitching to the backup catcher.

However, Alex Montero said he was too restless to just sit still.

The only reason: the starting pitcher throwing in the bullpen right now was Brett Evans.

“…….”

At first, Alex’s eyes sparkled, like a child going on a picnic.

He couldn’t hide his excitement at the fact that he could catch the ball of ‘Professor’ Brett Evans, one of the most renowned legends in Major League Baseball.

But as time passed, the Tampa Bay Rays’ starting catcher’s expression gradually darkened.

Then, when the curveball thrown by Brett Evans went far off course and hit the indoor bullpen’s wire mesh, Alex had no choice but to take off his catcher’s mask.

“Brett, your control is shaky.”

Alex probably didn’t expect it either.

That he would end up mentioning control issues to the great Professor.

“Your fastballs at least form some kind of cluster, but the curveballs keep slipping out of your hand.”

Of course, if he only made a simple status report here, he couldn’t be called the starting catcher of a team.

“There’s been some assessment that this season’s Major League official balls are much drier than in previous years. Could that be the reason?”

“Well, I don’t know. I’ve been holding Major League official balls since I was in the independent league.”

Brett Evans stared silently at the ball in his hand.

“It’s true that it feels different than usual. Originally, I should feel the ball sticking to my hand by now, but today it feels strangely slippery.”

At the veteran pitcher’s words, the expressions of Alex Montero, as well as the coaching staff and front office employees, darkened.

“…….”

It was the most ambiguous situation.

It would be better if he said that one part of his body hurt, so they could prescribe painkillers.

If he said that his pitching form seemed off, they could at least film it.

But if he mentioned ‘feeling’ like this, even the most outstanding staff couldn’t do anything about it.

“Then, how about buying some time?”

Coach Thomas Culkin, who had been watching the situation from beyond the wire mesh, said.

“What was that……? Manta ray? Whale shark? Anyway, let’s postpone that event where you take pictures with that fish to another day.”

The pitching coach was referring to the event prepared by Vice President Higgins.

“It was ridiculous from the start. How can you mobilize today’s starting pitcher, especially a guy who just came up from the minors, for such an event? Hey, Henry!”

Thomas Culkin turned to a front office employee in the baseball operations department.

“You can cancel it if you talk about it now, right? It’s not like fans are participating in the event anyway, it’s just a few photographers coming.”

“Yes, I’ll contact them. The marketing department also said that they prioritize Brett Evans’ condition above all else…….”

Just as the employee who answered that way was about to take out his cell phone from his pocket.

Brett Evans, who was on the mound, raised his hand to stop him.

“No, it’s okay.”

“It’s okay?”

In response to the pitching coach’s question, Brett Evans gave a relaxed smile.

“Coach, I’m in my 19th year in the Major League. I can solve this kind of trouble while playing the game.”

He lightly rotated his shoulder.

“And all the event is, is taking pictures, right? It’ll be over in 30 minutes, so it’s okay. There won’t be any problem preparing for the game. I guarantee it.”

“Is that so?”

At Brett Evans’ confident answer, Thomas Culkin slowly nodded.

“As expected…… the legend is different?”

* * *

And so, Brett Evans headed to the place where the day’s event was being held, the ‘Rays Touch Tank.’

He had shown a relaxed attitude in front of people, but in fact, his heart wasn’t very comfortable.

‘Damn it, the ball keeps slipping.’

When gripping the curveball, he had to feel it stick to his hand to pass the mark.

But even though he kept kneading the ball, that subtle feeling just wouldn’t come back.

In some ways, it might have been better to cancel all the events as the pitching coach advised.

However, the forty-two-year-old veteran pitcher didn’t want to show such a weak side.

‘I don’t have many cards left now.’

The overwhelming power of his prime was already gone.

The stamina to pitch 200 innings a season like eating a meal was also declining.

With all his abilities on the decline, all Brett Evans could show was his rich experience.

‘I have to show an unwavering appearance. I have to show a consistent appearance.’

That’s what people expected from a veteran pitcher.

Always unwavering, not even raising an eyebrow at most things.

A pitcher that young players can rely on, and that coaching staffs can trust and use.

To build such an image, Brett Evans needed to choose a head-on breakthrough that day.

Look, I’m this kind of pitcher.

Even if the feel of the curveball is dull, even if the team makes me do some ridiculous event.

With 20 years of experience, I can shake off all that and create a wonderful game.

That’s me. ‘Professor’ Brett Evans.

Of course, building such an image wasn’t so easy.

Perhaps because he couldn’t ask anyone for help and had to overcome it all alone, he felt a bit overwhelmed.

The moment he came out of the indoor bullpen and saw the manta ray tank far away, faces came to Brett Evans’ mind.

‘What are those guys doing?’

They were old friends.

Friends who, 20 years ago, still hadn’t shed their boyishness, holding cowbells in their hands and roaming around Tropicana Field like it was their own home.

Friends who rebelled against the team’s measure to ban cowbells, got drunk, and ran into that manta ray tank.

And friends who, after a minor argument, couldn’t even make a comfortable phone call.

‘……Cheap bastards.’

Putting the ball he was holding into his team jacket, Brett Evans clicked his tongue lowly.

‘Even if you don’t like what the team is doing, can’t you come out for just one day? Still, your 20-year friend is returning to his hometown team.’

It’s not that he didn’t understand. When he heard the news that the 3rd floor upper deck was being closed, Brett Evans also felt his heart sink.

At least he jumped into the pros after graduating from college, but his friends often visited Tropicana Field even after that.

Still, he wanted them to come today. He wanted to show them his appearance in the Tampa Bay Rays uniform.

‘Well, is it inevitable now?’

Filled with regret, Brett Evans moved towards the manta ray tank where the reporters were waiting.

“Welcome, Mr. Evans!”

“Congratulations on joining the team, though it’s late!”

As he lightly returned the reporters’ greetings, Tampa Bay Rays’ front office employees approached him.

“Welcome, Mr. Evans!”

Team employees greeted him with welcoming expressions.

However, a slightly embarrassed expression then crossed their faces.

“I’m sorry. We were planning to start as soon as Mr. Evans arrived, but it seems you’ll have to wait a bit.”

“Wait? Why?”

Brett Evans had been showing a relaxed expression, at least in front of people, but at this moment, displeasure also surfaced on his face.

He needed to finish the event quickly and return, but who was he waiting for?

“Yes, the guests invited by the team suddenly said they had something to prepare and went to the bathroom…….”

“Guests invited by the team?”

“Yes, they suddenly informed us this morning that they would attend……. Ah, they’re coming over there! Those are the people coming from that way!”

“No, who could it be…….”

Brett Evans turned his head in the direction the team employee was pointing without much thought.

And the next moment.

“Huh?!”

The most welcoming expression ever was appearing on the veteran’s wrinkled face.

* * *

“Exactly 22,342 people……. The highest number of spectators for a weekday game this season.”

A few hours later.

Jisub was looking at Vice President Higgins’ flushed face in the future strategy planning department office.

“We haven’t achieved the weekday sell-out that we initially aimed for, but I’d say it’s still a success.”

“I heard that Mr. Brett Evans’ friends helped a lot……. Is that correct?”

At Jisub’s question, Vice President Higgins nodded his head with a pleasant ‘That’s right.’

“They made a lot of phone calls. To the colleagues who used to be active in the ‘Cowbell Boys.’ [A group of fans known for bringing cowbells to games.]”

Let’s go just this once.

It’s Brett Evans’ comeback game.

If we don’t go and cheer him on, who else will come and cheer him on?

It was said to be a phone call containing roughly that content.

“Not only that. They also demonstrated how to cheer using cowbells to our cheerleading squad, and they also picked out music that had a good response in the past……. In many ways, they were a great help in preparing for Cowbell Day.”

For Vice President Higgins, it was truly an unexpected stroke of luck.

The vice president, who had been telling the story with a flushed face, turned to Jisub and said.

“Kim! You’ve worked hard.”

He was wearing a beaming smile.

“Chief Executive Officer Brian Sphan was right. You really have great initiative. Haha! To completely captivate even Brett Evans’ colleagues.”

“…….”

“I owe you a great debt this time. If there’s anything you need my help with in the future, please tell me. I’ll do my best to help you.”

“I appreciate your kind words, but…….”

Jisub, who had been listening to the vice president’s story with a soft smile.

He continued, looking at the large screen in the middle of the office.

“Isn’t it too early to know for sure whether the event is a success?”

“Not sure?”

Vice President Higgins straightened his posture.

“What do you mean? If more than 20,000 spectators came on a weekday, that’s a success.”

“Hey, when did your standards get so low?”

Jisub chuckled.

“The ultimate goal of this event was to make those spectators continue to visit Tropicana Field, so that we wouldn’t be pushed back in the cheering battle even if we go to the post-season……. Wasn’t it?”

“The post-season, huh.”

Vice President Higgins smiled faintly.

He might have thought that Jisub was leaning towards baseball, no matter what.

“To achieve the goal of this event, Brett Evans needs to show a good performance. That way, the Cowbell Boys will continue to come to the stadium, and the cowbell cheering we prepared today will get a good response.”

“I see. You’re right.”

Vice President Higgins leaned forward and put his hands together.

“So, how is it?”

He asked Jisub.

“Does Mr. Brett Evans’ condition look good? I heard that he’s having trouble controlling his curveball.”

“Well, he’s just facing the first batter.”

The figure of Brett Evans was displayed largely on the screen.

A veteran pitcher receiving Alex Montero’s sign with a slightly nervous expression, and a slightly excited expression.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

With the sound of cowbells so loud that it drowned out the commentators’ voices, Brett Evans slowly went into his pitching motion.

With his right leg stretched out, his left hand firmly gripping the ball hidden behind his head.

Then, concentrating all the strength in his body on his fingertips, he swung his arm like a whip with a shout of ‘Euryah! [A Korean exclamation, similar to “Hiyah!”]’ right at that moment.

Whoosh- Pow!

A curveball that goes in really amazingly.

Watching the opposing batter strike out without being able to do anything, Jisub said.

“He’s in top condition.”

He may not have made it to the pros, but he was still a pitcher.

Jisub smiled, showing the curveball grip directly.

“It seems that the ball is sticking to his hand…… in that kind of state.”